NEED TO KNOW
- Jan Cuyco, 25, a journalist with Agence France-Presse in the Philippines, died on Dec. 8, according to her family
- She served on the news agency’s fact-checking team, reporting on misinformation and disinformation in the country
- “While her absence leaves an unimaginable ache in our hearts, we are comforted knowing she is now at peace, surrounded by light and grace,” her family stated
A 25-year-old journalist who died after a monthlong illness is being remembered as a “gentle soul” who left her mark on those who knew her, according to her family.
Jan Cuyco, a member of Agence France-Presse’s (AFP) fact check team in Manila, Philippines, died on Monday, Dec. 8, an online memorial fundraiser stated. Her illness has not been disclosed at this time.
The platform shared a statement issued by Cuyco’s family, confirming the young woman’s death “with deep love and sorrow.”
“She was a gentle soul whose love radiated quietly yet deeply, leaving an imprint on everyone fortunate enough to know her,” the family said. “Her memory is a soft light that will continue to guide us through the days ahead.”
“While her absence leaves an unimaginable ache in our hearts, we are comforted knowing she is now at peace, surrounded by light and grace,” the tribute continued.
Cuyco is survived by her mother, Jeanette, her father, Chito, and her elder sister, Fatima, according to the fundraiser.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Cuyco stated that she began her career as a digital verification journalist with the AFP in 2023, reporting on misinformation and disinformation circulating in the Philippines.
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Among her fact checking, she previously reported that clips from older earthquakes were being used to falsely depict the intensity of a quake that struck the Philippines on Sept. 30, as well as clips of purported Philippine anti-corruption demonstrations that were actually from protests in Sri Lanka and Nepal.
“Passionate about equipping the public with strong verification skills, one story at a time,” Cuyco wrote on her page.
Before joining the AFP, she graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She was a journalist fellow for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, according to her LinkedIn.
In a Wednesday, Dec. 10 Facebook post, the Filipino online news website Rappler paid tribute to Cuyco, their former intern who worked with the business and economics team.
“Rappler extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Ma. Jan Felicia D. Cuyco. We join them in mourning her passing and remembering her with respect and gratitude,” the news outlet’s statement read.
A funeral service for Cuyco is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, according to an announcement shared by Fatima.
PEOPLE contacted the AFP and Fatima on Thursday, Dec. 11, for additional comments.
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