ROMMEL Marvin Rio, a TV news producer, journalism educator, and former Varsitarian associate editor, died on Friday, Oct. 28, due to a brain aneurysm. He was 30.
His death was confirmed to the Varsitarian by his sister, Roma.
Rio obtained his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University in 2012.
He earned his master’s degree in marketing communication from De La Salle University in 2016.
Rio was taking up law at the San Sebastian College – Recoletos de Manila when he died.
He was the Varsitarian’s associate editor from 2011 to 2012. He also wrote for the publication’s Science and Technology and News sections.
In 2011, businessman Edgardo Angeles filed a libel case against Rio and former Varsitarian editor in chief Cliff Venzon for publishing a story about the dispute between UST and Selegna Holdings, Angeles’ company that operates the University’s multi-deck carpark.
READ: UST sues carpark operator, tenants
The Makati City prosecutor’s office dismissed the libel case on July 5, 2011, for “lack of probable cause.”
READ: Libel case vs ‘V’ editors dismissed
Rio worked as a producer for several news programs on TV5 from 2014 to 2021 and on Bloomberg TV Philippines in 2016.
He was as an executive producer for Cignal TV’s news programs, such as “The Big Story,” “One News Now,” and “Rush,” from 2018 to 2022.
Rio also taught journalism courses at the Far Eastern University.
TV host and anchor Gretchen Ho recalled Rio’s passion for journalism and teaching.
“At this young an age, he was already wearing so many hats — from doing TV production work to being a journalism professor to being a breadwinner for his family and, all the while, pursuing his dreams at law school. He tried to balance it all,” Ho said in a Facebook post on Oct. 28.
“He was always brimming with passion [every time] he’d talk about his students or the top stories of the day, but what I loved about him most was his open-mindedness and ability to listen,” she added.
Felipe Salvosa II, assistant publications adviser of the Varsitarian, said Rio helped transform the publication into a digital-first campus news organization.
A wake will be held for Rio at the Sympathy Chapels and Memorial Park in Angono, Rizal, starting Oct. 29.
His remains will be interred on Nov. 3.
