Nestor Mata

Nestor Mata (January 16, 1926 – April 12, 2018) was a Filipino journalist whose writing career spanned six decades. He was also known as the only survivor of the 1957 plane crash that killed President Ramon Magsaysay, and 25 others.

Education Nestor Mata graduated from the University of Santo Tomas where he obtained a degree in philosophy and letter. He has also had masteral studies on foreign affairs.

Journalist career Early years Mata worked with a government radio station before becoming He covered topics which involved politics and foreign affairs. He suffered second and third degree burns all over his body It took eighteen hours to transport the injured Mata down the mountain.

From 1986 to 1999, Mata penned as a regular newspaper column for the Manila Standard and from 1999 until his death wrote for the Malaya.

Career outside journalism Mata worked as an associate professor who taught subjects on politics such as the creation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and talks on resolving the North Borneo dispute. He taught until 1972.

He was also involved in chess having won executive chess events in the 1970s. He also became a board member of the now-defunct Philippine Chess Federation and led the Philippine delegation to the Chess Olympiad in 1994 in Moscow, Russia.

Death Mata died on April 12, 2018, at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Hospital in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Personal life Mata had six children.