Jose Mari Velez
José Mari Uhler Vélez (May 27, 1942 – June 3, 1991)[1] was a Filipino lawyer, journalist, business executive, and activist best remembered for his long career as television newscaster anchoring The Big News on ABC 5 (now TV5), he's a former TV host on a Public Affairs Program called Velez This Week and also a former news anchor on News @ 7 Aired both on GMA Network Channel 7 and both produced by GMA News & Public Affairs (now GMA Integrated News & Public Affairs) and for his service as an oppositionist delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention of 1971.[1][2] He was one of the opposition delegates at the convention, which was why he was one of the first to be arrested when Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial law in September 1972.[3][4][5] In April 1989, Velez became one of the first recipients of the Ninoy Aquino Fellowship Award for his accomplishments in journalism, with President Corazon Aquino stating that she believes he "share[s] in Ninoy's vision of preserving and strengthening our democracy."[6]
DeathVélez died on June 3, 1991, at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City after battling lung cancer.[7] Personal LifeHe was a graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman and of the Center for Research and Communication, which eventually evolved into the University of Asia and the Pacific.[1] References
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