An American Jesuit priest who lived in the Philippines since he was 22, James Reuter (1916 – 2012), taught at Ateneo de Manila University and was a well-known public figure: a writer, director and producer in theater, radio, print and film. He was also a prominent figure in the resistance against the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and played a key role in the 1986 People Power Revolution.
He educated and trained generations of students in creative works, inspired by Christian values. Father Reuter received the award for “Outstanding Service to the Catholic Church in the field of Mass Media,” personally given to him in January 1981 by Pope John Paul II. He was made an “honorary citizen of the Republic of the Philippines” in 2006.