In memory of Joe Salcedo

Our colleague in Manila, Joseph Enrick Salcedo, tragically died last week at the young age of 29. He had been hospitalised for a short time prior with an as-yet unknown illness.

Joe was extremely talented. He was a dedicated musician & a rising star in the technical side of audio production; creative and diligent in his work with us, he started his shift in the early morning to work with his colleagues in DC & NY. He was usually the vital final link in the long chain which ensures our podcasts are published to the highest standard.

As well as the shock of the sudden death of such a young man, Joe's family have been faced with huge costs related to his care & funeral.

Joe's cousin, Cito Beltran, has written of the difficulty Joe's family faced upon his passing in this column for The Philippine Star:

An Unholy Week to Die

Joe's colleague in Manila, Paolo Pascual, had this to say about Joe:

"An award-winning film scorer, a session guitarist and music producer, a versatile and a meticulous sound editor – these were just some of the many accomplishments Joe achieved at such a young age. He did not need a lifetime to make an impact; he did it in his own time, and in his own style.

Joe was part of the team that composed the music for the 2022 film Leonor Will Never Die, which premiered and won a special jury prize at the Sundance film festival. The team went on to win Best Music at the 46th Gawad Urian Awards, recognising the film’s outstanding musical score.

Joe became part of the Manila editorial team in 2024 to support the editing of several podcasts for FT.com. But Joe was not simply an audio engineer – he was a true craftsman of sound. He spent hours mixing, adjusting and refining the tiniest detail in our podcasts. He was not just being technical; it was personal to him. Every edit, every fade carried Joe’s touch and trademark rigour.

Joe’s time with us was brief, but his work remains. The mixes, the music and every podcast episode he helped shape stand as a reflection of his skill and dedication to the art of sound."

This fund has been established for us, Joe's international colleagues, to express our condolences to Joe's loved ones and to try and help in any way we can.