Columnist, editor, author Leandro ‘DD’ Coronel, 70

Leandro “DD” Coronel, political columnist, passed away on September 3, 2018 after a brief illness. He was 70. Coronel was an active participant in online discussions of the burning issues of the day, a steadfast advocate of freedom of expression and unwavering respect for people’s rights.

He was a political columnist of the Manila Bulletin.

He is survived by his sister, Alice Paras, Gregoria (Baby) de Luna, Rosario (Charrie) Reyes and Asuncion (Nini) Nuqui, and in-laws, nieces, nephews, and his siblings’ grandchildren.

Coronel’s wake will be held at the residence of his sister, Alice, in Barangay San Antonio, Floridablanca, Pampanga, from September 3 to September 6.

His remains will be cremated and inurned at the Eternal Covenant Memorial Park in Floridablanca.

Coronel applied for work at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., as an undergraduate student.

He capitalized on his writing skills to rise from the ranks to become a writer/editor and finally, senior press officer and spokesman.

The World Bank is a multilateral organization, with more than 100 member nations, tasked to assist poor countries in developing their economies through lending and technical assistance for specific projects.

Coronel helped organize the World Bank-IMF Filipino Association even when forming national groupings were frowned upon by the two multilateral organizations based in Washington, DC.

He was elected founding president of the association.

While he was based in the United States, he was an activist against the regime of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

His newspaper column, “Observer,” which was critical of the Marcos regime, was published by major FilipinoAmerican newspapers, including the Philippine News, based in San Francisco, California.