Looking back at 25 years

Your DAILY STAR is twenty-five years old today. It's been a long time. Looking back at the heartaches, the birth pangs, and the glories, it can be said, DAILY STAR has gone full circle.

The true story behind its birth has not been fully told, fearful we would be stepping on some sensitive toes, especially when some people involved were still living.

They were not personal conflicts, though, but conflicts of business interests. Some planters group who bankrolled the operation of the then Visayan Times were right in working for their own interest.

But as journalists, we also had our own interest which was to have the paper run professionally. That we must be only after public interest, following the tenets of journalism. This was where the conflict was. So, three of us, Modi Sa-onoy, Ninfa, and myself decided we would try to prove that a newspaper can be run without the vested interest. On its own merits.

We then believed that when a newspaper had earned its credibility, the respect that it is not controlled by some private interests, the public would support it by subscribing to and advertising in it.

***

We proved it. In a program today or later I hope to tell the whole story, if only to provide future generations which we hope will carry on the torch, the knowledge of how The STAR was born. When the papers were ready and the first issue was to come out, Modi, Ninfa and myself sat down. The two asked me how the corporation would be set up. I said, I would prefer to be board chairman. Modi was president and Ninfa was treasurer. She was working with a local bank then, but being the best journalist among us three, she was taking care of the paper like a mother hen.

I was the first editor but said, I would like to be assisted by Allen del Carmen to whom I would later turn over the editorship.

We also were lucky to have a tie-up with Albert Lim who then was leasing Canla-on Press which was burned in less than a month after DAILY STAR opened.

***

You get strong-willed people together and conflicts could not be avoided. This was what happened to DAILY STAR. Bert Lim got out. Modi got out. And only Ninfa and I were left. I was always the pacifier.

The board was reorganized. Ninfa became President and editor-in-chief. She resigned from the bank. It was necessary because DAILY STAR was running out of money. It was in a crisis.

Ninfa saved it. Not only hard work but prayers too. I knew that when there were problems, the first thing she would do was to run to Hua Ming to pray to San Lorenzo Ruiz. And problems were solved.

Since then Ninfa was given by the board blanket authority to run the paper. And the board has been very satisfied with the way she runs it. Why will you not if you get every year 100 percent dividend from your initial investment?

When DAILY STAR opened and we were looking for investors, many put in their money although told, not to expect profit. Not even to expect to have their money back but were assured, the paper would be run professionally.

Many who were after profit did not invest.

***

DAILY STAR is an independent newspaper. It stays up there beyond partisan politics. Of course, individual writers have their own opinion and we can't take that away from them.

Our editor Carla Gomez and advertising head Maja Dely who are also stockholders joined DAILY STAR on its first year.

On many occasions my hackles were raised when Carla and Maja were not treated according to their position. They have sacrificed a lot for the paper. I recall when we started we had an agreement with Ninfa that we must maintain a daily column because columns, well-written, are the things that sell the paper.

It's not an easy thing to do. But, it was a commitment and it has to be done. Even when abroad, I always saw to it my column was not missed.

DAILY STAR has no majority stockholder. This way no one controls it. And with this the public must be assured, DAILY STAR will always follow what it fought for 25 years ago, professionalism.

Criticisms against DAILY STAR on partisanship never bothered us. We know DAILY STAR can stand on its feet and on its integrity.

We look at our Silver Anniversary as a victory. But more also as a challenge, especially now when, I understand there are very many readers abroad judging by the reactions received from them.

My own happiness is that the dream that we had, the sacrifices that we organizers made are at last rewarded.

DAILY STAR succeeded because of the help of very many people. I am sorry I can not name you all. But thanks just the same.*

back to top