Family, friends mourn longtime journalist Larry Zabala, 85
Larry Zabala, 1931-2016
LOS ANGELES — Friends and family commemorated the 40th day death anniversary of Laurencio “Larry” De Venecia Zabala, Jr., 85, in a Holy Mass and tribute at the Dominican church in Eagle rock August 29.
Zabala passed away Thursday, July 21, 2016, at 1p.m. in the Intensive Care Unit of the Los Angeles Community Hospital.
During the 1960s, Zabala reported and wrote for the Manila Daily Bulletin, and during the 1970s and 1980s served as press attaché for the Philippine consulates in Singapore, Honolulu and Los Angeles under former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos.
Born January 9, 1931, in Manila, Zabala grew up in poverty in the provincial city of Dagupan, Pangasinan. Through talent, intellect and hard work, he rose above his meager beginnings to become an award-winning Philippine journalist and was eventually appointed as consul by then Secretary of National Defense, Juan Ponce Enrile, Sr.
In 1982, Zabala left the diplomatic service and returned to his first love as a journalist when he relocated to Los Angeles from Hawaii. In Los Angeles, he edited and wrote for a number of major publications, including the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, a William Randolph Hearst publication, and was editor-in-chief of several Filipino-American newspapers and magazines.
Throughout his illustrious career as a journalist, Zabala wrote stories exposing corruption by Philippine government officials and about issues affecting the FilipinoAmerican community. Well-known and respected by his fellow journalists, Zabala served as President of the National Press Club of the Philippines and President of the The Filipino American Press Club of Los Angeles (est 1978). Zabala also served as president of the Greater Dagupan Association of California.
“My dad was a humble man; he simply did what he thought was right. And love for his family was the core of his being,” said Laurie Zabala, his daughter. A beloved husband and father, Zabala is survived by his wife and three daughters, and five other children from his first marriage.
