Teddyvic Silva Melendes (November 9, 1960-December 25, 2020), a veteran newsman, passed away on Christmas day.
He was 60.
Melendres, a proud son of Lipa, Batangas, was the former sports editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, taking over in 2003 after a stint as Libre’s editor-in-chief. And after shaping the section into what it is today, he took on a more challenging role by joining the news desk in 2017 until the rare and debilitating Lou Gehrig’s disease forced him into calling a premature end to a distinguished newspaper career.
“Inquirer Sports wouldn’t have gotten to where it is today without his leadership and dynamism,” said Francis Ochoa, who inherited the sports section when Melendres went to the news desk.
“His work ethic—especially his attention to detail and excellence in writing—was one of the best that we have seen in the sportswriting profession.”
Besides sharing the tales of the athletes, Melendres also groomed the next generation of sportswriters.
Some of his proud products are Rappler Sports editor Jasmine Payo and PFF broadcast and production head Cedelf Tupas – both of whom were once part of Inquirer’s sports section.
“If not for sir Ted, I wouldn’t get into mainstream sportswriting. He took a chance on me, so I’ll forever be grateful to him,” expressed Payo.
“I owe sir Teddyvic my career. He took a chance on me when I was a young, ambitious sports reporter from Bacolod in 2008,” said Tupas, who started with The Daily Star.
“That decision changed my life.
“He was tough when he needed to be and kind with compliments when he felt that work was done well. He called the staff a family and treated each member like one. He was quiet and unassuming even though he held one of the most sought-after editorial jobs in the country. We shared a deep love for football and he encouraged me to write more about the sport at a time when the Azkals weren’t a household name. He was more than just a boss to me, he was a great friend,” continued Tupas, who was with the Inquirer from 2008-2020.
Melendres was one of the best in the sportswriting fraternity, starting out as the editor of the defunct Champ Magazine. He later on recruited to join the “Dream Team” sports section of the Daily Express in the mid-1980s under the late Tony Siddayao.
And after that paper folded up in 1987, Melendres joined the People’s Journal as its assistant sports editor before being promoted to the news desk of what was then the No. 1 tabloid in the country.
“With his vast experience as a sportswriter and news copyreader, Ted was the ideal candidate when the Inquirer searched for a sports editor,” said Jun Engracia, the retired Inquirer news editor who was principally responsible for handing Melendres the reins to the sports desk.
“Unassuming and low key, he was comfortable to stay behind the scenes and sit behind the desk, presiding over the Inquirer’s most memorable sports coverages in the 21st century.”
In the early 1990s, Melendres’ talent as a reporter and deskman saw him included as one of the few members of the first batch of recruits of the Hong Kong Standard, where other Filipino journalists who later took jobs there were measured by the same efficiency and dedication that he worked with.
“As my assistant, Ted made things a lot easier for me,” Joe Antonio, the long-time People’s Journal sports editor, said.
“He was a good sportswriter, a good man and a great friend.”
Melendres reported on the Beijing (2008), London (2012) and Rio de Janeiro Olympics for the Inquirer. The Brazil Games in 2016 were his last foray in the sports beat before he strengthened the news division until his retirement.
He is survived by wife Maria Nelanie and sons Ted Andrei, Ted Leonid, and Ted Sergei, and sisters Julie, Myrna, Emmie and Glacie.
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