DINO Ray Directo, motoring editor of Manila Times’ Fast Times passed away the early morning of October 11 due to a lingering illness. He was 51.
Before joining the Manila Standard in 1999 as its sole motoring reporter, Directo was a reporter for resurrected The Chronicle newspaper’s transport and shipping section under its assoicate editor, the late Enrique Romualdez who eventually became Malaya Business Insight’s executive editor.
He left the Chronicle in 1998 after the publication shut down due to a labor dispute. At the Manila Standard, he worked under Mon Tomeldan to actively set up its motoring page.
Loved by the beat for his antics, Directo was also appreciated by the automakers and motorcycle companies. He participated in the ASEAN motorcycle called the Jupiter MX ASEAN Touring-Indonesia as well as numerous road trips and foreign sorties for motorshows and vehicle launches.
He is survived by his wife Lorna, and daughter Bea.
