Colleagues, friends pay tribute to publishing pioneer Sari Yap

MANILA, Philippines — Friends and colleagues from the publishing and lifestyle industry paid tribute to the late One Mega Publishing Group founder and editor Sari Yap, who passed away on Monday, September 9.

Host and socialite Tim Yap posted about one of his last conversations with Sari, whom he affectionately called “my Mrs Yap.”

“When I visited Sari months ago, she told me she was ready to go. She would save her energy to do one thing per day, and that day she had planned to see me, and that was it for her entire day. Sari told me she stopped going to parties and events and the only way we could see each other was if I visited her at home,” Tim wrote.

“That afternoon we chatted endlessly about our current and future endeavors. It was a proper catch up between friends who used to see each other every Monday night to set goals and follow up with each other for progress. We traveled together and worked on a lot of projects, the Mega Pinoy Pride Ball being one of them.”

Tim said it was Sari who prayed for him that day, since he was going through something. “She was given 3 months to live but ended up battling cancer for 3-4 years. A true fighter, indeed you are Sari.  And while her body was battling the big C, she continued to heal others with her strength, her determination and her faith. You will be missed, my Mrs Yap.”

 

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When I visited Sari months ago, she told me she was ready to go. She would save her energy to do one thing per day, and that day she had planned to see me, and that was it for her entire day. Sari told me she stopped going to parties and events and the only way we could see each other was if I visited her at home. That afternoon we chatted endlessly about our current and future endeavors. It was a proper catch up between friends who used to see each other every Monday night to set goals and follow up with each other for progress. We traveled together and worked on a lot of projects, the Mega Pinoy Pride Ball being one of them. In the course of our catch up, I told her I was going through something (I don’t remember now what it was) and then there she was, on the spot, she started to pray for me. She was that kind of a friend, always open, asks the most questions, is the most honest and always reaches out to help. “I think I have done my work. This is my mission. To heal others.” She was given 3 months to live but ended up battling cancer for 3-4 years. A true fighter, indeed you are Sari. And while her body was battling the big C, she continued to heal others with her strength, her determination and her faith. You will be missed, my Mrs Yap

A post shared by Tim Yap (@officialtimyap) on Sep 8, 2019 at 8:47pm PDT

 

Lifestyle writer and former Mega editor Liza Ilarde shared a photo of herself with Sari and some friends.

“Thank you, Sari. You were more than a pioneer in the publishing industry. You were God’s gift to the people whose lives you have touched. “

 

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at home, among my framed photos of family, friends, and famous people (naks), is this photo of sari, lorraine, and me, taken in sep1999. the scene is a bit chaotic but it perfectly captured our relationship. in our respective families, sari is the panganay, lorraine is the bunso, and i am the middle child. and when the 3 of us were together, those were the roles we assumed. people who have worked with us in the 12 years i was in mega will completely understand. • thank you, sari. you were more than a pioneer in the publishing industry. you were god’s gift to the people whose lives you have touched.  #restinpeace #sariyap

A post shared by ilardeliza (@ilardeliza) on Sep 8, 2019 at 9:36pm PDT

Makeup artist Leo Posadas posted: “Thanks for the Good FriendShip. We Love You!!!”

 

Leo also shared some photos of Sari and their friends.

TV host Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, who was once editor for teen magazine Meg tweeted: “Rest in love, Sari.. Thank you so much for everything.”

 

Rest in love, Sari.. Thank you so much for everything.  pic.twitter.com/VXiDgDZsih

— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) September 9, 2019

Tina Ocampo posted: “These are photos I remember during my years in Mega Magazine. Today I received a sad news about my former boss the CEO of Mega Magazine Ms. @sarivyap passing. May she rest in peace  Thank you for the opening doors for me to discover my passion in creating accessories. I will be forever grateful.”

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These are photos I remember during my years in Mega Magazine. Today I received a sad news about my former boss the CEO of Mega Magazine Ms. @sarivyap passing. May she rest in peace  Thank you for the opening doors for me to discover my passion in creating accessories. I will be forever grateful. . . . #restinpeace #sariyap

A post shared by TINA CAMPOS JEWELRY ️ (@tinacamposjewelry) on Sep 8, 2019 at 7:10pm PDT

Fashion designer Oz Go said: “It was always a pleasure being in your presence @sarivyap Always full of wisdom and words of encouragement for young designers like me. May you rest in peace.”

 

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It was always a pleasure being in your presence @sarivyap Always full of wisdom and words of encouragement for young designers like me. May you rest in peace  #sariyap #megamagazine #fashion

A post shared by Oz Go (@oz_go) on Sep 8, 2019 at 8:06pm PDT

Sari founded Mega, which later grew into the magazine empire One Mega Group, Inc.

A pillar in the local magazine industry, Sari graduated with a degree in Mass Communication from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She took a Masters degree in Media Management from the University of Navarre in Spain. Mega was a result of that degree. — Rappler.com