Senators honor veteran entertainment writer Ricky Lo

Two senators on Wednesday honored veteran entertainment columnist Ricky Lo, who passed away on May 4 at the age of 75.

Senator Grace Poe remembered Lo as a dear family friend who remained humble despite his milestones in his career as an entertainment journalist.

“Tito Ricky was like family to us. Not only did he write about almost all of our family’s milestones, he celebrated them with us,” Poe, daughter of action star Fernando Poe Jr., said in a statement.

“Tito Ricky always knew how to put his interviewees at ease and treat them with respect. The name Ricky Lo became synonymous with the latest showbiz scoop because he always prioritized the truth and highlighted the positive values of his subjects. He was a credible and prolific writer,” she added.

“It’s heartbreaking to lose a true friend and champion of the entertainment industry.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto likewise praised Lo, tagging his columns as the “first drafts of the history of Philippine cinema.”

“Compile them and the results are the authoritative annals of the local film industry, by someone who penned it with a keen eye and a sense of fairness from his front row seat. His daily reportage, if pieced together into a film reel, would tell the complete story of an industry whose impact on people and influence on society are great,” Recto, husband of actress and now Batangas Representative Vilma Santos, said.

The lawmaker said Lo’s way of writing comes like moving pictures and as entertaining as the acting on the silver screen which he spent 50 years writing about.

“Stars come and go, film companies rise and fade, but Ricky Lo had staying power because of the respect he earned from the admirable practice of his craft,” Recto ended.

Lo was a columnist for The Philippine Star's "Funfare" column and a highly regarded reporter.

He was also the host of GMA-7 show Startalk from 2008 to 2015 and was also a host for comedy talk show CelebriTV. — BM, GMA News