WHY READING THE PHILIPPINE STAR MATTERS
Old habits die hard, like flipping through the pages of The Philippine STAR at 6 a.m. and being immersed in the smell of ink on paper.
As much as you can click, swipe and browse for the latest news today on shiny digital replacements, there’s just something nostalgic about the whole (sensory) experience of a physical newspaper. This, and the fact that the “paper you read from cover to cover” has a place in a society that cares about quality journalism, are just some of the reasons why reading The Philippine STAR still matters — 35 years and beyond.
Vice President Leni Robredo
Happy anniversary, The Philippine STAR! Congratulations on 35 years of unwavering commitment to always shed light on the truth and tell the story of the Filipino people. Your role has never been more pivotal as we strive to bounce back from the gravest crisis of our time. Thank you to the men and women of STAR for continuing to deliver accurate, timely and relevant news and information that help save and improve lives, especially during this extraordinary times. Yes, the challenges we face are great, but because we face them together, because you are staying the course and upholding your journalistic mission, I have faith that there is nothing we cannot overcome. Mabuhay po kayong lahat.”
Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo
“The Philippine STAR has been one of my reliable sources of information and opinions on many issues of significance. Its commitment to truth is reflected in the objectivity and fairness of its reporting. In the slogan, ‘Truth Shall Prevail,’ the Court finds commonality of conviction and purpose.”
Senate President Vicente Sotto III
“I read STAR every day for up-to-date and contextualized news, and incisive columns. It is a good source of balanced, fair and responsible news.”
Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez
“Why do I read The Philippine STAR every day? News is factual and well researched, objective not biased. News, in the proper context. Not slanted to create intrigues and misinterpretations. Not leading. In other words, real objective news. Also with a reader-friendly layout and write-up. It’s easy to read and understand.”
Senator Bong Go
“I commend your paper for playing an important role in nurturing a well-informed citizenry. May you continue to uphold transparency while ensuring that ‘Truth Shall Prevail’ all the time. Congratulations at mabuhay po ang The Philippine STAR!”
Villar Group chairman Manny Villar
“I start my day by keeping myself up-to-date with the latest local and global happenings by reading The Philippine STAR. For me, there’s still no substitute for the most time-honored source of news — the newspaper.”
Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. president and CEO Robina Gokongwei-Pe
“Why should I not still read it? The Philippine STAR has been my reliable morning companion since its inception in 1986. And it doesn’t answer back.” (Laughs)
Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo Puyat
“For 35 years, The Philippine STAR has been a trustworthy source of information, but I’ve always been especially drawn to its Lifestyle section, which brings readers into the lives of interesting personalities and features noteworthy subjects in the world of Philippine fashion, art and design, and food. There are a thousand different things to read online, but I find myself going back to STAR with the topics and manner of coverage and writing that I’ve grown to love from reading them in print and now online.”
Deputy Speaker and Antique Rep. Loren Legarda
“The Philippine STAR has long been a part of my mornings. It has a brand of journalism that is fair, timely, accurate, the kind of journalism that we need especially in these challenging times. For over three decades, STAR has remained relentless in coming up with insightful and balanced news and feature stories for the Filipino people. These are the reasons why, up to now, I still find time to browse and read its pages.”
Bench founder Ben Chan
“I still like the smell of ink on paper. It still feels more real when I read my news holding a copy of STAR. I always look forward to the Lifestyle section because it features relevant and interesting stories that give a “feel good” vibe to our society. Every day of the week there are some new features revealed, chronicling topics from arts, fashion and food, to travel.”
Gourmet Corner founder Bettina Osmeña
“We have been reading The Philippine STAR forever. We still receive the paper version. We like the ‘full newspaper’ feeling that we grew up with. Since the pandemic started, your newspaper has been publishing the daily COVID cases, which gave us a good idea of whether the situation was getting worse or getting better. Your vaccine news update has also been very informative. My husband Senator Serge Osmeña reads every single opinion column and highlights points taken. He also follows the Business section front to back. Since I hate bad news, I only follow the Lifestyle section, especially food and design. My daughter Andi used to write for STAR, too, until she got too busy with school. And who doesn’t miss Ricky Lo’s latest? (Laughs) We look forward to reading STAR in the many years to come.”
Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones
“I believe in the integrity of The Philippine STAR when it comes to truth in delivering the news.”
Deputy Speaker and 1-Pacman party-list Rep. Mikee Romero
“With so much fake news going around, we need a credible source of information, and The Philippine STAR is my daily source of truthful and fair news!”
House disaster resilience committee chair and Leyte (4th district) Rep. Lucy Torres Gomez; and husband Ormoc City, Leyte Mayor Richard Gomez
“The Philippine STAR keeps us up-to-speed with the latest in news and current affairs, enabling us to be more effective in fulfilling our duties as public servants.”
Ayala Corp. president and CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala
“I have always relied on The Philippine STAR as an important source for our local news. I start each day checking some of the headlines, then go to the Opinion sections. I appreciate its balanced reporting.”
Robinsons Land Corp. president and CEO Frederick Go
“Reading The Philippine STAR is one of the first things I do every morning. It is informative and interesting.”
Alliance Global Inc. president and CEO Kevin Tan
“Reading The Philippine STAR early in the morning starts my day. Going through the pages, this broadsheet is complete, insightful and well-balanced in terms of news and features. It is very updated on current national issues, including business. It also has very strong Lifestyle, Entertainment and Features sections, which makes it a ‘must-subscribe’ national broadsheet today. And by the way, I still read the actual newspaper, not online.”
Presidential Chief Communications Operations Office chief secretary Martin Andanar
“I read STAR to know the opinions of other renowned columnists of the land. This way I develop a better appreciation of current issues.”
MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos
“I read The Philippine STAR daily because of its balanced reporting, credibility, and well-written articles by some of the best journalists today. It has been and remains one of the best sources of reliable information in the midst of the proliferation of fake news. Happy anniversary, STAR! More power!”
Rustan Commercial Corp. chairman Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco
“For years, The Philippine STAR has been one of my main sources of news and information. I have always kept myself updated with what’s going on in the country. Beyond the news, however, I also look to the paper for new and fresh discoveries on the lighter side of life. I enjoy reading about lifestyle, arts, culture, fashion, food, home and other pursuits most women enjoy. I consider it a source of relaxation and entertainment.”
JGSHI president and CEO Lance Gokongwei
“I read The Philippine STAR every morning because it’s a comprehensive and credible news source, with excellent business coverage and columnists.”
Stores Specialists Inc. president Anton Huang
“I read The Philippine STAR for its concise, thorough and expertly curated stories about the Philippines and the world. Being updated with current events both at a national and global level is extremely important to me. STAR allows me to do just that.”
Rustan Commercial Corp. president Donnie Tantoco
“I have been and I continue to read The Philippine STAR because it is a trustworthy source of competently and well-researched facts and important news. I also respect the analysis and opinion of its writers, especially the editorial team. Beyond presenting the facts, there is clearly a stand being made for what is right in our society versus what is wrong. The STAR helps me have a thoughtful and well-informed perspective of whatever the critical issues are at any point in time. I like the storytelling approach of the newspaper. The quality and light literary approach to its writing is most present in its Lifestyle section. I enjoy reading stories while also understanding what’s going on at a human, lifestyle and aspirational level in my community and also in myself.”
Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez
“The Philippine STAR is one of the most trusted broadsheets in the country because of its balanced, complete and detailed news for the Filipino people.”
First Life Financial Inc. president and CEO Peter Coyiuto
“Taking my cup of coffee and flipping through the pages of The Philippine STAR start my day. Reading the news is such a staple for me because it provides wide-ranging benefits, not just for business people like me but for everyone. First, it sets the tone. Either we read it first or learn of deeper facts from STAR. Be it local and international economy, current events, business, lifestyle, politics and, of course, showbiz buzz.
My grandkids do enjoy the Sunday comics a lot. All-in-one. Second, STAR mirrors life. For the moments we live in. For those who demand nothing less than the facts straight. STAR has about 40 sections and subsections — News, Business Lifestyle, Health & Family, Youth (Young STAR) — that say, ‘life writes its own stories.’ Third, it humanizes the news. So many events are happening in our country and around the world. These are scattered events. Some are good, while some aren’t. But the team of journalists, writers, editors and all the people behind STAR bring these information right at your doorstep and through electronic devices in forms and styles that connect the
readers to the world through their well-written articles, opinions and features. Congratulations to The Philippine STAR on your 35th anniversary. Let the banner ‘Truth Shall Prevail’ fly on for many more years.”
San Miguel Corp. president and CEO Ramon Ang
“Congratulations to the management and staff on this meaningful milestone. It’s been a challenging year for all of us, but it’s good to know that despite the pandemic, there are many things that have been part of our lives as Filipinos that remain the same. That includes The Philippine STAR. Thank you for continuing to serve us, your readers, with journalism we can trust. I’ve been reading STAR, since it came out after the Edsa revolution, and apart from news, there’s always a lot of interesting, intelligent, and balanced opinions in the newspaper. The Business and Sports sections are of course always interesting to me, and it’s from the Lifestyle and People sections that I get my daily dose of positive, uplifting stories. To everyone in The Philippine STAR family, thank you and keep it up!
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
“I read The Philippine STAR for its balanced reporting.”
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu
“I read The Philippine STAR because it is very comprehensive and truthful. I read it ahead of other newspapers. Nandiyan na kasi lahat kaya binabasa ko from the first page up to the last page.”
Senator Sonny Angara
“In times of uncertainty, it is human nature to turn to familiar sources, names, brands and personalities. These provide some sense of security. It’s the same with The Philippine STAR, which has built up a well-deserved name and reputation for providing accurate news and interesting commentary and features. I can always count on it for articles that are relevant, on point and balanced. From front page to Opinion, Sports, Business, Lifestyle and Entertainment, it’s truly the paper you read from cover to cover. Hopefully, STAR will be able to withstand the challenging business environment, which has posed an existential threat to many enterprises.”
Senator Cynthia Villar
“As a Senator, I need to be informed and updated on the various issues and happenings both in local and international scenes. The Philippine STAR helped me a lot in that aspect; that is why it became my morning habit to read the newspaper every morning. STAR is complete and has variety. Very interesting.”
Senator Nancy Binay
“News and entertainment are part of my morning plate. And what I like about The Philippine STAR is that you get to read everything from serious political commentaries and news, to something light and entertaining. Kumbaga, all flavors are on your plate and table. Sakto sa panlasa, balanse ang timpla, at kumpletos rekados na.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto
“I prefer to read The Philippine STAR first thing in the morning. It keeps me abreast of the burning issues of the day, especially on governance and politics, as well as on economics. I like the way its columnists analyze and ‘laymanize’ complex issues for easy reading and better understanding of the readers. I particularly find useful STAR’s recap of the Philippine Stock Market, which is a good indicator of the direction of the economy. Happy 35th anniversary! Here’s to many more years as Filipinos’ trusted source of information and in-depth news.
Senator Risa Hontiveros
“The Philippine STAR has been a bastion of the free press, a publication that has upheld the tenets of journalism such as objectivity, impartiality and accuracy. It has maintained the standards it has set for itself — from its articles to its design — unperturbed by the pressures to resort to gimmickry or novelty. In this age of mis- and disinformation, of click-baits and deliberately divisive slants on stories, The STAR’s stubborn dedication to the simple, unsensationalized act of news gathering and writing is what many admire most about the paper and what I think will keep it alive for many more years to come.”
Senator Francis Tolentino
“Dekada na po tayong mambabasa ng The Philippine STAR. They are providing the public with unbiased information. Very informative, especially the Sports and Foreign News sections.”
Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
“Happy 35th anniversary to The Philippine STAR. Along with my coffee in the morning, STAR equips me with the latest news and information I need throughout the day. My breakfast isn’t complete without it.”
Cinderella executive Therese Coronel Santos
“I never miss reading STAR every day. Whether I’m in Manila or out of the country, the Lifestyle section is where I get the latest fashion news and directions from young and upcoming local and foreign designers. The Food section every Thursday is also my favorite because I get to know the new restaurants and their specialties.
Presidential son and Davao City Rep. (1st District) Paolo “Pulong” Duterte
“I read The Philippine STAR because of its fair news reporting and sensible opinion pieces.”
Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano
“I always read The Philippine STAR. I like this newspaper because it provides the latest news and events, as well as entertainment and bits of relevant information that aid us in our daily tasks and concerns. By reading it, one can also feel the idealism and patriotism of its founders: veteran journalists Betty Go-Belmonte, Max Soliven and Art Borjal, which thus further strengthens our resolve to strive for genuine development of our country and people. And, most of all, I appreciate very much The STAR’s ensuring of truth in its reporting, which is guided by its motto: ‘The Truth Shall Prevail.’ On behalf of the Pasay City Government, I congratulate and salute the management, staff and all the people behind The Philippine STAR on its 35th anniversary, as I express my hope and wish for you to remain a vital pillar of our society in many years to come. Mabuhay!”
Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez
“The Philippine STAR is one of the most trusted broadsheets in the country because of its balanced, complete and detailed news for the Filipino people.”