PHOTOJOURNALIST Amerlito “Itoh” Son died on Friday morning, January 9, while covering the activities of the Feast of Jesus Nazareno.

Reports said that Son suffered heart attack and collapsed near Quirino Grandstand while the Traslacion or the procession of the image of the Jesus Nazarene was ongoing.

He was immediately rushed to Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.

His fellow journalists said that days prior to his death, Son had been experiencing flu symptoms yet still continued to cover pre-Traslacion activities including the Pahalik.

His family announced that Son’s wake will start on January 10 at Sto. Domingo Church. They also requested for privacy as they grieve together as a family tonight.

“We are truly grateful for your prayers, understanding, support, heartfelt condolences, and love during this time of mourning,” his family said on a social media post.

A call to pay attention to health

Meanwhile, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) released a statement of condolences following Son’s death, lauding his dedication for work that until the end, never faltered.

“Ang kanyang dedikasyon sa kanyang propesyon sa kabila ng kanyang karamdaman ay patunay ng kanyang pagmamahal sa kanyang trabaho at sa paghahatid ng mga mahalagang kaganapan sa publiko. Ang kanyang hindi matatawarang serbisyo sa larangan ng photojournalism ay magsisilbing inspirasyon sa iba,” the statement read.

The task force also reminded media practitioners to monitor their health.

“Nawa’y magsilbi rin itong paalala sa lahat ng media workers na maging mapagmatyag sa kanilang kalusugan at kaligtasan habang ginagampanan ang kanilang mga tungkulin. Sa gitna ng matinding dedikasyon, huwag kalimutan ang kahalagahan ng pag-aalaga sa sarili upang ipagpatuloy ang paglilingkod ng may pag-iingat at malasakit para sa kapwa,” it added.

Son worked for tabloid Saksi Ngayon. He was 55.