Max Soliven

Maximo Villaflor Soliven (September 4, 1929 – November 24, 2006) was a Filipino journalist and newspaper publisher. In a career spanning six decades, he co-founded both the Philippine Daily Inquirer and The Philippine Star (1986), serving as the latter's publisher until his death.

Background Soliven was born on September 4, 1929, at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Philippines. His father Benito, who died from aftereffects of the Bataan Death March and imprisonment in Capas, Tarlac during World War II, was elected to serve in the pre-war National Assembly. Soliven spent his undergraduate years at the Ateneo de Manila University, where he received the OZANAM award for writing. Soliven received a Master of Arts from Fordham University and Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced and International Studies.

Soliven was proficient in Spanish, as it was one of the languages used by his Ilocano grandparents.

Max was the eldest of ten children. His brothers and sisters were Guillermo, Regulo, Manuel, Mercedes, Teresa, Augusta, Victorio, Ethelinda, Benito. Victorio Villaflor Soliven (b. November 26, 1938- d.November 13, 2010, the husband of Purita Ramirez Soliven b. November 20, 1942-d.June 12, 2022) are the owners of VV Soliven Group of Companies, including VV Soliven Towers located near the Santolan–Annapolis station along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

His youngest sister, Ethel Soliven Timbol, is also a journalist. She was a writer and Lifestyle Editor of the Manila Bulletin from 1964, retiring in 2007.

Marriage While studying in New York City for university, Max got engaged to an American woman. One week before the wedding, the woman asked Max to consider her wish to live in the US. Max said, "No ifs or buts; my life is in the Philippines. I must serve my own country and that is where I need to be." When she did not agree to the decision, Max cancelled the wedding. He also went on to receive a master's degree from Fordham, a Jesuit school in New York City.

After his death was confirmed, various companies reacted. CNN announced his passing worldwide. Various newspaper companies mourned the death of one of the greatest journalists of the time. The Inquirer referred to him as its "founding publisher" in the article announcing his death. The Philippine Flag at O.B. Montessori Center, the school founded by his wife Preciosa, was on half-mast. His remains were cremated in Tokyo, Japan, and were brought home to Manila by his wife Preciosa on November 28 (The Philippine Star, Nov. 29), with full military honors (in recognition of his military service during World War II). He was buried in Libingan ng mga Bayani on January 10, 2007. Soliven was posthumously awarded the Order of Lakandula (rank of Grand Officer) by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. She also hailed Max Soliven as an "icon of freedom" saying that free press wouldn't have been the way it was without him.