The STAR at 40: Bongga!
The Philippine STAR’s 40th anniversary was “bongga” in its simplicity. An oxymoron, yes, but accurate.
True to the memo of the times, the milestone was celebrated with a festive yet intentionally understated flair at the Gallio Events Hall in Parañaque.
The event was sparked by the lively singing of Atasha Muhlach, leading lady of the forthcoming STAR production Bongga Ka ‘Day at the Newport Theater, who fittingly danced and sang the lead song from the musical. It was a reflection of the STAR journey. Bongga!
The celebration honored the people who started and initially guided the STAR journey, the founders, the late Betty Go-Belmonte (founding chairman), Max V. Soliven (founding publisher), and lawyer Art Borjal (founding president).
“We remember the founders this day,” said STAR president and CEO Miguel G. Belmonte, son of the founding chairman. “I also wanted to say ‘thank you’ to my father (former Speaker Feliciano R. Belmonte Jr.).
“I am thankful to him because he was the one who put out the capital to initiate the company. We can’t have a business without capital, right? I’d like to also say hello to my aunt Gracie Go. Auntie Gracie headed our advertising department for several decades,” Miguel pointed out.
Miguel also gratefully acknowledged MVP Group chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.
“He believed in our company. He invested in our company. And, it’s an honor for us also to be part of the MVP Group, which is a much bigger company, a conglomerate. I’m also personally thankful to Boss MVP because he trusted me. He trusted in my leadership.”
The celebration, catered by Chef Laudico, was employee-centric. Loyalty awards were given to employees who marked their own anniversaries with The STAR—from 10 to 40 years.
Miguel acknowledged the editors, and the marketing team led by executive vice president Lucien Dy Tioco and vice president for sales and marketing Jay Sarmiento, and senior vice president Tammy Mendoza.
“Everybody knows the print industry is greatly challenged. The ability to generate so much advertising is really tough. But, not too tough for our sales and marketing team which is, I’d always say, the best in the industry.”
He also put on a pedestal The STAR’s opinion writers.
“Our opinion writers are people who influence the thinking not just of people in government but also in business. Everybody, all the media, have access to the same news. There comes the challenge for our reporters to be the first to get the story, to get all the information, and for our editors to handle the story.
“But for me, what differentiates us is our stable of columnists. Columnists, especially opinion writers, have always been the strength of The Philippine STAR. From day one, that has always been our strength. And there’s absolutely no way that we’re going to relinquish that position or that dominant position—the Opinion Page.”
‘Truth shall prevail’
STAR editor-in-chief Ana Marie “Amy” Pamintuan, one of the pioneer employees honored during the anniversary, gave the closing remarks.
“If you are called venerable, you are very old,” she quipped. “But if you are venerable, I think it’s also related to trust and credibility, which has been a STAR brand, right? And I think that’s our strength; it has helped us survive.”
One of the five OGs, associate and lifestyle editor Millet Mananquil recalled to this writer, “I remember how Betty Go-Belmonte made the not-exactly-religious among us employees appreciate those spiritual moments when we would gather hand-in-hand, in prayer, before working. She brought God into the newsroom. Through words and deeds, Betty and her sons (former editor-in-chief) Isaac and Miguel taught us the art and heart of newspapering: how to be good journalists and better human beings. I was touched how Max Soliven showed appreciation for every little effort we did.”
As Amy said in her speech, “I think we will keep going with what we are doing, which is to maintain our brand, the trust, the credibility, the truthfulness. We are embracing the new multimedia landscape. We are adapting, we will change, we will grow.”
“As long as everyone will keep up their good work, we will survive, we will thrive, we will endure. Pareho ‘yan ng truth (Just like the truth), we will prevail.”
The ‘anchor’
If the celebration began by honoring the founders, it concluded with the STAR Media Group family honoring the man to whom the founders passed the torch, Miguel G. Belmonte.
The employees, to Miguel’s surprise, presented him with a plaque of appreciation, reading in part:
“Your leadership, integrity and steady guidance have not only nurtured this company—they’ve shaped who we are.”
“You’ve been our anchor—an inspiring presence to many of us, most especially during rough sailing. Through every shift, challenge and milestone, your dedication to The STAR—the legacy of your mother, our late founder Betty Go-Belmonte—has inspired us to show up with courage and pride every single day.”*
