Jover Laurio Voted as Inquirer’s ‘Filipino of the Year 2017’, Marawi Soldier’s Wife Reacts

Maria Josephina Vergina Laurio, aka Jover Laurio was chosen by Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) as “Filipino of the Year” of 2017. She is the blogger behind Pinoy Ako Blog (PAB), a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte. Next to her are the Marawi soldiers who fought against the Maute terrorist group. With this, a wife of one of the fallen soldiers reacted.

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According to PDI, 20 out of their 51 editors voted for Jover Laurio as Filipino of the Year, while 17 voted for the Marawi soldiers and police officers, dubbed as Defenders of Marawi. Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio and Sister Ma. Juanita Daño of the Religious of the Good Shepherd with Centerlaw garnered six votes each.

“The choice was meant to stand not only for the PAB blogger but also for anyone who speaks out for truth and facts, and fights lies and deception that threaten our democracy. It is our profession’s fight for survival — the profession of journalism and the institution that is traditional media.” The PDI editors who voted for Laurio said.

PDI started the “Filipino of the Year” award in 1992, wherin the first awardee was volcanologist Raymundo Punongbayan. Also previously awarded are Senator Manny Pacquiao, and all the post-Marcos era presidents - the late president Corazon “Cory” Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph “Erap” Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

PDI noted that the annual selection is based on the postive impact that the winner has made to the country during that year. Jover Laurio rose to fame last October, when RJ Nieto, aka Thinking Pinoy exposed her identity. Prior to that, she wrote the blog post “Seven Deadly Sens,” accusing 7 senators of not signing a resolution condemning extrajudicial killings (EJKs).



Meanwhile, a certain Mila voiced out her dissappointment on Laurio’s “Filipino of the Year” award. According to her, her husband and other fallen soldiers in Marawi are more deserving to receive such honor. “Ano bang positibo ang ginawa nya para sa bayan? Mas bayani ba sya kesa sa asawa ko at mga kasamahan nya?” She wrote as comment on the Inquirer’s post.

Contributed by Cherry Luz Alcantara