Silver Star

Today marks the 25th anniversary of this great newspaper. This is really a milestone that calls for a grand celebration. But more importantly, it is also an occasion to be grateful for the big stride it has taken since it started 25 years ago. As far as I can remember, it has its humble but auspicious beginnings a few months after the historic 1986 people power revolution triggered by the Ninoy Aquino assassination that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

At that time a group of dedicated and nationalistic publicists and journalists led by Betty Go-Belmonte, Max Soliven, Louie Beltran, Art Borjal and Tony Roces among others, were so much concerned that Filipinos may again lose their newly regained freedom because of lack of full and proper news and information about the current events and because of the absence of constant reminders about the important lessons learned from the past. So when their cooperative arrangements with a rival publication collapsed, they decided to put up a separate newspaper and called it the Philippine Star. They envisioned a newspaper with high standards of journalism that would not sacrifice truth and accuracy for sensationalism and bigger profit in a more vigorous and free-wheeling atmosphere of a newly restored press freedom. Its Founding Chairperson was Betty Go-Belmonte while Max Soliven was its Founding Publisher, now both enjoying eternal happiness with our Creator.

Indeed, Betty Go-Belmonte, Max Soliven and their co-founders must really be so happy from where they are now looking at the Philippine Star they formed. After 25 years, the Star is really so dazzling and radiant, serving as the beacon light to a nation that continues to fix its correct bearing in its pursuit of peace, justice and prosperity. Living up to its byword that “truth shall prevail”, the Star has really become the bearer of accurate news and information and the builder of solid public opinion that promotes the common good. Much of the Star’s brilliance and success can really be attributed to the dynamic, dedicated and energetic team ably running it led by a new generation of Belmontes.

Miguel Belmonte, the President/CEO, who apparently did not expect to take the helm of the publication at such a young age, is actually doing a good job obviously because he uses both his head and his heart in managing the company just like his late mother. The same is true with the self-effacing Isaac Belmonte, the Editor-in-Chief.

Miguel is assisted in running the business by Executive Vice President Grace Glory Go, Vice President for Advertising Lucien Dy Tioco, and Vice President for Circulation, Fernando R. Lopez. Isaac on the other hand is expertly backed up in coming out with the daily edition of the paper by Executive Editor Ana Marie Pamintuan, Managing Editor Antonio E. Katigbak and several Associate and Senior Editors.

Personally, today is big day for me too. It is a day to be grateful for having been given the opportunity to be one of the columnists in this newspaper. I have been writing this column in the Philippine Star since April, 1987 or for more than 24 years now. It was my good fortune at that time to have met Mrs. Betty Go-Belmonte, who readily gave me this rare privilege. She only requested me to write my articles with clarity, charity and humility which was really in keeping with her deep spirituality founded in her strong belief in God’s word as contained in the Holy Bible. I was indeed so thrilled and honored to be writing in the same Op-Ed pages together with the top journalists and commentators of that time: Max Soliven, Louie Beltran and Art Borjal. Initially my column came out weekly then bi-weekly, Wednesdays and Sundays. Later on, I thought it would be more appropriate for the Sunday column to deal with the Divine rather than human law. Hence I changed the Sunday column’s title to “God’s Word Today” and invited some priests particularly Fr. Ruben Tanseco, S.J., Fr. Jess Fernandez S.J. and Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD, to write it. Subsequently Fr. Rudy Horst and Fr. Jess Fernandez begged off due to time constraints, so their slots were filled up by several Jesuits, specifically Fr. Manuel V. Francisco, S.J., Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J., Fr. Jonjee Sumpaico, S.J., Fr. Aris Dy, S.J. and Fr, Francis Alvarez, S.J.

When the column already came out on a daily basis, Monday to Friday, I write on two sets of topics: (1) cases of people involving issues of facts and of law that have already been decided by the Supreme Court (SC); and (2) current events occurring in our country also involving acts and conducts of public official and or private individuals that have legal implications. The first is for information and education while the second is for the shaping of public opinion upholding justice and the rule of law.

Generally my first set of topics is not controversial because they deal with decisions of the Supreme Court which, under our rule of law, finally and conclusively settles either or both issues of fact and of law. So readers do not question my writings on these topics any more even if they disagree with them because they are already considered part of the law of the land. All they can do perhaps is talk about them. And the much talked about topics here are some exceptional cases decided by the Supreme Court (SC) which even to non-lawyers appear to be contrary to the clear provisions of law, like its decision on whether the President can make appointments within the two months preceding the elections. Another much talked about SC decision is the conversion of some municipalities into chartered cities. The public is really somewhat confused when the SC changes its decision several times.

Controversies however surround my comments on some acts and conducts especially of public officials and government bodies mainly because the pros and cons are sharply divided on the issues arising from them with each side refusing to see and accept the merit and validity of the other side’s argument. These controversies linger on especially when legal experts are divided on the question of its constitutionality. The best examples here are the RH bill and the propriety of amending the Constitution as well as particular amendments to be made therein.

Writing this column for the past 24 years has indeed been very challenging but most rewarding. I hope to go on for as long as I can even after writing almost 7,000 articles. Thanks and congrats to the Philippine Star which is really shining brightly like silver after 25 years.