along with his colleagues, started rebuilding the once-repressed Philippine press. Shortly after the assumption into office of Corazón Aquino, Soliven left the Inquirer to co-found the Philippine Star, where he remained until his death. Death After garnering many accolades in Philippine journalism, Soliven died at age 77 in Tokyo, Japan on November 24, 2006. He suffered a fatal acute and pulmonary cardiac arrest at the Narita airport. He was pronounced dead at 11:26AM (Tokyo Time) 24 November 2006, at the Narita Red Cross Hospital. The confirmation was brought about by consul Gina Jamoralin of the Philippine embassy in Japan. He died doing what he loved: being a journalist. He wrote his last article hours before his death regarding the rise of a more-assertive prime minister, Shinzo Abe. Bookie Soliven, son of second eldest brother, Willie, may have been the last person Max texted before he died. Max replied to Bookie's invitation to watch a Warner Brothers movie premiere replying, "Thank you for your invite. I will be back from Tokyo on the 27th. Love, Uncle Max." After his death was confirmed, various companies reacted. CNN announced his passing worldwide. Various newspaper companies mourned the death of one of the greatest journalists of the time. The Inquirer referred to him as its "founding publisher" in the article announcing his death. The Philippine Flag at O.B. Montessori Center, the school founded by his wife Preciosa, was on half-mast. His remains were cremated in Tokyo, Japan, and were brought home to Manila by his wife Preciosa on November 28 (The Philippine Star, Nov. 29), with full military honors (in recognition of his military service during World War II). He was buried in Libingan ng mga Bayani on January 10, 2007. Soliven was posthumously awarded the Order of Lakandula (rank of Grand Officer) by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She also hailed Max Soliven as an "icon of freedom" saying that free press wouldn't have been the way it was without him. See also Soliven's last opinion article published in The Philippine Star References External links Avid Soliven fan donates P40 to STAR's Damayan http://www.philstar.com/headlines/371053/soliven-dies-japan 1929 births 2006 deaths Recipients of the Order of Lakandula Ateneo de Manila University alumni Filipino Roman Catholics Filipino journalists Harvard University alumni People from Manila Filipino columnists Burials at the Libingan ng mga Bayani The Philippine Star people 20th-century journalists