To The Freeman on its 90th year - kudos!

Today, July 18, is the 90th year of the founding of The Freeman. It’s a great day for all of the paper’s personnel, but most especially for the man behind its continued existence – Dr. Jose R. Gullas, currently chairman of the board. Working in tandem with Mr. Miguel G. Belmonte, whose family owns the Philippine Star, Dr. Gullas has placed the paper on a solid footing that ensures its uninterrupted publication for years to come.

This is indeed a welcomed development for all freedom-loving Filipinos. For indeed, a newspaper with almost a century of tradition in fearless journalism is needed to safeguard democracy in this country. More than being a watchdog, however, The Freeman, like most credible newspapers, is committed to serve society in a larger sense, and this is, in the words of its founder, Paulino Gullas, the “development of that type of sturdy, honest, and God-fearing citizens.” This explains why this paper is always in the forefront in promoting the formation of the young towards clean living and upright thinking as well as towards positive awareness of the problems in the community.

In this task The Freeman staff go beyond verbalizing and have embarked hands-on in community service. Whether it’s blood-letting, medical service, environmental control, or campaigning for clean elections – they are there, trying to make life better for the less fortunate. These are secular concerns, of course, but these don’t keep TF workers unmindful of spiritual work too. The reason? Their Chairman is a highly religious man and his very presence in their midst inspires awareness of the role of God in human affairs.

Besides, the Chairman always takes his uncle, Paulino Gulllas, as his idol in his media ventures, and what better ways to honor the latter than to pursue his ideals through the newspaper?

For two decades after the outbreak of World War II, The Freeman was in hibernation. And it would have remained so even today had not Chairman Gullas taken the bold step to revive it in 1965. It was a brave attempt indeed. With a scant exposure to the intricacies of print media and without a solid source of funds, he did the impossible: Resumed the publication of The Freeman.

July 18th is the 44th year of this paper from the day of its resurrection. Every day from that time until today the paper has not missed a single scheduled issue, thanks to a dedicated crew of writers, reporters, printers and other personnel who labor day and night under the inspiration of Chairman Dodong Gullas. This is happening not because it has been a smooth ride all the way, but because despite great odds – such as Martial Law, the mass exodus of writers and reporters, typhoon Ruping and others – their drive to serve has never faltered.

Talking of odds, the most critical, as revealed by Dr. Gullas himself was the threat to arrest him and Mr. Juanito Jabat, the publisher, for allowing the publication of anti-government articles during Martial Law. This came about after Manila-based Ninez Cacho Olivares started lambasting the Dictator through her column. Fortunately, the military for unknown reasons, changed its mind on the planned crackdown. And the paper went on coming out with articles derogatory to the government, thanks to the courage of its management and staff, who in effect were courting the ire of the Dictator. But to Dodong Gullas and his staff exposing the truth was more precious than their personal safety. What strength of character! Surely, one is reminded of Shakespeare’s line which says: “Like a strong and virtuous soul,/ A seasoned timber never gives…”

“Fair and fearless,” a declaration emblazoned on the masthead of The Freeman, is therefore a commitment proven time and again in the paper’s ninety years of service. Even these days with the Gullas family being sympathetic to the current leadership, the paper every now and then prints materials that lampoon government malfeasances. News report on bureaucratic corruptions have been amplified on its pages, while commentaries that damn the perpetrators of government irregularities have been given ample spaces.

These critical write-ups may have doused cold water on the relationship between the Gullas family and some individuals in the power circle. But even that Chairman Gullas has chosen to place under risk in the interest of press freedom. His thinking is that a newspaper founded on the ideals of social service and love of country should be completely unfettered in pursuing such ideals.

As expected, a number of its writers have been hailed to courts for alleged libelous write-ups. But this has not diminished in any way their determination to expose the truth because they know that the truth shall set them free.

 In this context and on the occasion of its 90th anniversary we say, more power to The Freeman and God bless the people behind it!