Sunstar Pampanga@25: Moving forward amidst the pandemic

As

SunStar Pampanga celebrates its 25th founding anniversary today, I can only look back to the old better, old normal life which came into a halt since March of this year.

With the Covid 19 pandemic posing a lot of challenges in terms of world health, business, and the global economy, SunStar Pampanga comes out BLESSED, THANKFUL, GRATEFUL !

I experienced joy and the real meaning of newspapering at SunStar Pampanga. This was my best job ever. I feel that this office developed my skills further and allowed me to be my creative self and gave me a free hand to use my (unique) ideas for 12 year s.

I entered this office in March 1997 as a Lifestyle editor for a weekly, thriceweekly then to a daily community newspaper which was about to make a major turnaround in terms of editorial, marketing and circulation.

Just like an inspired student ready to learn, study, and conquer the world, I opened my avenues for writing for two months. Going to the office at lunchtime after attending weddings for coverage, or concerts at night, life was, yes, exciting! A perfect job indeed! If not for my past hotel stint, this chemist might not have survived this job.

My column became the source of local entertainment, introduction of a new company or feature of an existing one. I remember having so many activities in Pampanga, that I went to four events in a day. Sharing the lighter side of the newspaper, I featured businesses of all industries, restaurants, shopping malls, hairdressers, etc and covered a score of inaugurations, opening and anniversaries of companies as well as profiles of people who made a difference in the community. Of course! There were a lot of perks from satisfied clients and client friends. Gained many friends, and enemies, too!

Marketing was finally assigned to me, after months of connecting and familiarizing around the city. I still have my column, but later on, I focused more on marketing. I handled and trained four ad consultants and a marketing assistant. I taught them how to source clients, how to lay out ads, how to answer calls, how to develop business with a single client, how to increase sales, how to talk to people and in short, make money!Running big and mini supplements to Christmas countdowns, we started them all here!

Pandemic or not, let us keep the fire burning, especially now that we are faced with a difficult, different situation. Opportunity is here, creativity is, too.

---MARGE PARAZ SANTOS