Daily star marks
its 29th anniversary

Twenty-nine years ago, on April 12, media practitioners Ninfa Leonardia, Modesto Saonoy and Primo Esleyer began what a lot of people said was an “impossible dream” – an independent daily newspaper in Bacolod.

There were a lot of skeptics who doubted that the paper would last a year. “Give it three months”, they said. But the three who struggled as reporters, columnists and managers rolled into one, doggedly prevailed to keep the paper afloat. They were joined by other newspapermen like Rolly Espina, Monet Padilla, Santi Alacapa and Pert Toga and several civic leaders. Slowly the DAILY STAR won the trust and confidence of the local community as more professional journalists like Allen del Carmen, Mitchell Duran and Carla Gomez also hitched their wagon to the ‘STAR”!

And so, on its 29th anniversary, the DAILY STAR held a gathering of its pioneers and staff at the Santa Fe Resort. The staff headed by Ninfa, and Perla Leonardia, who manages STAR Printing, decided to stay overnight at the well-appointed cottages which offer comfy accommodations. Buddai and I attended the sumptuous lunch which was graced by the paper’s members of the Board, stockholders and pioneers Modi, Primo, Enrique Dy, Paeng Golez, Albert and Carmen Lim, Rolly Espina, Ben Ortega, Simple Gamboa, Bella Alacapa and even the Dumaguete Bureau staff was represented by Rene and Cecile Genove. Everyone exclaimed over what a difference 29 years can bring.

The once young and robust gentlemen are now grandfathers with graying hair (some even had no more hair!). Oh the stories shared by all! The staff recalled how they used to wait for hours until Ninfa could come and pay their salaries with her own salary earned from DBP! Despite all the hardships and sometimes threats from some quarters, the Visayan DAILY STAR has survived and has become a part of the people’s lives here in Negros. Cheers!*