Dean Armando Malay

Born in the midst of the first world war in 1914, Armando Malay's career in journalism began when he wrote the column "We" in the Torres Torch during his high school days in Tondo, Manila.

His destiny was later sealed when he became editor of the Philippine Collegian in 1934. From there, he started a life-long career in the print media.

Armando Malay began as a beat reporter for The Tribune and he rose to become editor of post-war Daily Mail and later as columnist in newspapers such as the Manila Chronicle, Star Reporter, We Forum, Evening Chronicle, Weekly Women's Magazine, Malaya, Philippine Review, Manila Times, Bagong Abante, Manila Standard, and many others.

Highly regarded for the breadth of his knowledge and experience in the practice of journalism in the country, he was considered one of the legendary editors of the pre-Martial law Manila Times under Don Alejando Roces.

A champion of a free and independent media, Armando Malay's enduring legacy, however, can be found in the hallowed halls of the academe - as a professor of journalism at the Far Eastern University in 1948 to 1953 and later on, at the University of the Philippines from 1954 to the early 70s.

It is at UP where he became the Dean Malay who taught and nurtured some of the most respected Filipino mass media practitioners today. His commitment to training journalists continued even after his retirement from the University, having served at the Philippine Press Institute as a training officer from the 70s until the early 80s.

Source: Search for Outstanding Journalists 2001 (Souvenir Program)

A graduate of the University of the Philippines where he obtained his degree in Philosophy in 1935, Armando Malay was a UNESCO fellow at the Centre d' Enseignement Superieur du Journalisme in Strasbourg, France, and an AID fellow at the California Polytechnic and Ohio University in Ohio, USA.

His advocacies include, among others, being Chairman of KAPATID (in behalf of political detainees, 1978-1980), member of the Council of Leaders of the National Alliance for Justice, Freedom and Democracy in 1983, and vice-chairman of SELDA (an organization of ex-political detainees) from 1990-1992.

He was a recipient of such awards like the Gintong Ama, Sampung Ulirang Nakatatanda, Alay sa Aming Gabay (from the Movement for Press Freedom), among many others.

In recognition of his contribution not only to the University of the Philippines but to the field of professional journalism, a permanent repository of his works has been established at the UP Archives.