Be just, always

ONE hundred and twenty years ago, on was born. It folded on Feb. 19. 1930. Vergel Santos, a former editor of the wrote that The Manila Times Company was bought by the owners of the rival newspaper the Roceses, to kill the competition. But if the Roceses killed the they eventually resurrected it, but after a great tragedy.

During the Japanese occupation,

owner Alejandro Roces Sr. was forced to turn over the to the Japanese; thus, the newspaper became a mouthpiece of enemy propaganda. Then, on July 8, 1943, Don Alejandro witnessed how his son, Alejandro Jr. and wife were ambushed and killed in front of their house. Don Alejandro literally was shocked to death; his heart stopped.

As the Japanese destroyed the printing presses, it fell to the youngest son of Alejandro, Joaquin Roces, otherwise known as “Chino,” to soldier on. But the reputation had been so destroyed by collaboration that when it re-emerged on May 27, 1945, just three months before the war’s end, it came out as the resurrected then quickly in just months, to twice a week and then daily, when it was launched

- nila daily. It was selling 30,000 copies a day at 10 centavos each.

Chino, the man who built the post-war

was guided by the motto his father left him behind, “— Be just, always.”

Before the war, Chino was the assistant manager and treasurer. In

Olivia Hubilla Tripon and Raul Contreras wrote that as treasurer, “he was deemed too generous for he kept on signing checks and or advances.” He was replaced by his sister “who handled the purse strings tightly.” But as assistant manager, Tripon and Contreras added, “Chino learned the business fast. He worked just like any hired employee, never acting like the publisher’s son.”

Vergel Santos, who also authored the book said that

with its employees, especially its publications’ editorial staffs. He often sided with them… [He] was no nominal publisher but actually did bother to understand newspapers and newspaper people.” Yet, he did not attend editorial meetings so, despite being hands-on, he maintained

- dependence of his editors and writers.

He also improved the look and the style of the In 1959, while visiting Jim Copley, a publisher in San Diego, he admired their editing and make-up techniques. He then invited Copley’s director for training Howard Taylor, who for two months assisted in changing the typographical design, the writing and editing of the Roces newspapers:

and with illustrations like graphs, poll surveys and typhoon paths. With this, according to Santos, “the combined circulation of the three other national dailies did not come to even half the 200,000, and that number alone validates the core doctrine

credibility, credibility on editorial independence, and editorial independence on character of ownership.”

Inevitably, as a gatherer of news, Chino became involved with some of the biggest news of his time. He was left with his radio in his car in Pampanga while his young reporter, Ninoy Aquino, proceeded with a Huk guide to meet with Huk leader Luis Taruc in 1954, which led to the latter’s surrender. There was also the time when some fugitives from Ilocos Sur declared, “We will surrender only to Don Chino,” and when they saw him go to their lair, they immediately dropped their guns. His newspaper was also tough on crime and corruption. The student reaction to the burning by a political clan of Barangay Ora Centro and Ora Este in Bantay, Ilocos Sur in 1969 was comprehensively covered by his newspapers and his TV station, Channel 5. Student leaders like Edgar Jopson, Chito Sta. Romana and Lorena Barros became famous as the student movement’s activities were covered by the

But aside from all these, Chino was known for his response to many disasters, in person. When an earthquake brought down the Ruby Tower which was located near the instructions to the rescue workers and volunteers. He reiterated, “Don’t call me Don, in a situation like this, there is no Don.”

The proclamation of Martial Law in 1972 killed the at the height of its golden age. But when the life ended, Chino’s journey to immortality began as he became one of the main icons of the struggle for the restoration of justice, democracy and the freedom of the press — the old Don battling water cannons with the people.