Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed city council Resolution 238, s. 2024, expressing the city’s sympathies and condolences to the family of the late veteran journalist Kathleen T. Okubo who passed away on April 7 at the age of 71.
Okubo embarked on her journalism career as a cub reporter for the Baguio Midland Courier, founded by her uncle Sinai Hamada in April 1947, where her father, Bernardo, oversaw printing operations.
Her dedication to journalism led her to become one of the founding members of the Cordillera News Agency that later became an integral part of the Cordillera News and Features. She also played a crucial role in the transformation of Northern Dispatch from a simple news packet to a reputable community paper where she served as editor-in-chief for nearly a decade.
“Okubo’s unwavering commitment to truth and justice was exemplified throughout her career as she fearlessly reported on human rights violations and abuses in the Cordillera region despite facing threats, detention, and imprisonment during the Martial Law era and subsequent administrations,” the measure stated.
It added that her significant contributions to journalism were recognized and honored by various media institutions like the National Correspondents Club of Baguio with the Distinguished “Gintong Tala Luminary Award”, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the profession and community.
“Her legacy transcends her professional accomplishments, embodying a guiding light for budding journalists and activists, championing press freedom and social justice throughout her lifetime. Her steadfast dedication to truth and justice remains a source of inspiration for journalists and media professionals, resonating not only in Baguio City but across the nation, as they endeavor to uphold the pillars of integrity, transparency and social responsibility in their endeavors,” it stated. – Gaby B. Keith
