REGINA “Rina” Jimenez-David, a former columnist at the Philippine Daily Inquirer and former editor in chief of the Varsitarian, died on Nov. 12. She was 68.
Her death was confirmed to the Varsitarian by her daughter, Miya.
“She was a very loving mom, slightly protective, but she let me explore my interests and never pressured me to follow her footsteps,” she said.
Jimenez obtained her journalism degree from the University in 1976.
She served as editor in chief of the Varsitarian from 1975 to 1976.
Sandra Castro Puno, one of Jimenez’s close friends during her time at the Varsitarian, called the longtime columnist “an icon” who championed causes she devoted her life to.
“Had someone foretold that later we would be such tight friends, I would have dismissed it with laughter,” Puno wrote in a Facebook post. “Yet, here we are 50 years hence, bosom friends with the other ladies who called ourselves The Media Girls of Cardinal Sin, the Angels of Felix Bautista.”
Former Varsitarian associate editor Pennie Azarcon-Dela Cruz recalled Jimenez to be a “staunch feminist” who became her “sister-in-arms.”
“It was this deep sense of empathy that would make Rina such a sympathetic figure in the women’s movement, despite a comfortable background that put her worlds apart from the poor, often battered women she regularly wrote about in her column,” Azarcon wrote in a Facebook post.
“As a staunch feminist, Rina knew that the personal is political and lived by it,” she added.
In 1988, Jimenez joined the Philippine Daily Inquirer, where she served as a columnist for over 30 years.
Writing under her column, “At Large,” Jimenez became known for her advocacy for women’s rights.
Fellow women’s rights advocate Elizabeth Angsioco described Jimenez as an “important feminist voice.”
“The Philippine feminist movement lost another of our strongest advocates,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “Rina used her voice and pen to push for women’s rights and social justice.”
“She was quiet but unwavering,” Angsioco added. “She was always mild-mannered even when she got excited or felt strongly about something.”
Jimenez received the “Best Columnist for Excellence in Population Reporting” prize in 2004 during the Global Media Awards.
In 2013, she was feted “The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service” award, which honors women who have “shown outstanding dedication, exceptional talent, and a history of contributing positively to society.”
Jimenez attended the Varsitarian’s 95th Valik-Varsi grand alumni homecoming on Jan. 14, where she led the ribbon-cutting of the publication’s exhibit.
A Mass for Jimenez will be held on Nov. 22 at the Diocesan Shrine of Jesus, the Divine Word – Christ the King Seminary in Quezon City.
