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Max Soliven, second from left, chats with Matt Lussenhop of the US Embassy and Steve Lubetkin (far right) at the Public Relations Society of the Philippines 13th National Public Relations Congress, September 28, 2006. Soliven, a legendary journalist in Southeast Asia, died suddenly on November 24 while on a trip to Japan.

At left, face obscured, is Maloli K. Espinosa, vice president of corporate communications, ABS-CBN Television, chair of the PRSP National Public Relations Congress.

Professional Podcasts has produced a podcast tribute to legendary Philippine journalist Max Soliven, publisher of the Philippine Star newspaper and popular philstar.com web portal, who died suddenly on a business trip to Japan November 24.

Download the podcast here (38.8 mb stereo MP3 file, 00:27:37 duration).

Soliven, 77, wrote extensively on politics in Southeast Asia over a 50 year journalistic career. He filed his last column, about Japanese politics, the day before he died. As usual, he prepared the column on his beloved manual typewriter and faxed it to the newspaper.

He was recognized with a French Legion of Honor citation several years ago, and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo posthumously awarded him the Order of Lakandula, the highest civilian honor in the Philippines.

Steve Lubetkin, managing partner of Professional Podcasts, met Soliven during his recently completed speaking tour of the Philippines. Lubetkin and Soliven were keynote speakers at “Mindmap: Charting The Course of PR In A New Media Age,” the 13th National Congress of the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, held in Manila in late September.

During the trip, Lubetkin recorded several presentations and interviews for production into podcasts, but immediately focused on Soliven’s remarks when he learned of the publisher’s death.

“Max Soliven was a towering figure in journalism in Southeast Asia,” Lubetkin said. “I was glad I had the opportunity to meet him and hear about his career. We produced the podcast excerpting Max’s remarks so that others can benefit from his insights and his wonderful sense of humor.

As publisher of one of the largest newspapers in the Philippines, Max wrote a 2,000 word column six days a week. Max Soliven died of a heart attack in Japan on November 24, 2006. His last column, "Is a jingoistic Japan on the rise under Abe? Or is this aging powerhouse no longer dangerous?" filed from Japan, expressed concern about the rise of a new nationalism in the Japanese government. His newspaper, The Philippine Star, captured his essence in a tribute the next day.

Download the podcast here (38.8 mb stereo MP3 file, 00:27:37 duration).