Who We Are
‘If you shine and give light to this world, you are a star’
When you think of The Philippine STAR, you usually don’t think of just one shining star. You think of a galaxy. A firmament.
Founded by the late Betty Go-Belmonte, Max V. Soliven and Art Borjal, it shone from Day One, though it was all of eight pages and did not have a Sunday edition.
Its North Star was truth, and as Soliven would say, “It was the only paper run by God.”
“All our meetings were run by Betty, who was the chairman, and before that, we would all have to pray,” Soliven once recalled.
According to an article by now associate editor Doreen G. Yu, “Art Borjal served as the ‘recruiting officer,’ interviewing applicants for reporters, deskmen, editors, etc. Belmonte and Soliven brought in other staff members, and a newsroom was set up in the cramped ground floor of the office on 13th Street in Port Area, sharing editorial space with Ang Pilipino Ngayon, a tabloid that Belmonte had earlier set up.”
Betty Go-Belmonte was a star. Armed with faith, she saw the paper through, until it became the country’s leading newspaper, supervising its operations even as she valiantly fought cancer.
Betty Go Belmonte founded The Philippine STAR on guidance she received from a Bible verse, and she would face life’s many trials with discernment she got from the holy book.
The daughter of the esteemed Go Puan Seng of the Fookien Times, Betty would edit Movieworld, the STAR! Monthly magazine, the Fookien Times Philippines Yearbook, and The Philippine STAR.
She is perhaps the only woman who founded the two leading papers in modern Philippine history — The Philippine STAR and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which she left to establish The STAR in July 1986.
“Mom’s courage in the face of all the things that she experienced throughout her life is one thing I can never forget,” said her firstborn child Isaac, now head of the editorial board.
Betty, who passed away in 1994, founded The STAR on guidance she received from a Bible verse, and she would face life’s many trials with discernment she got from the holy book.
“Her absolute, unflinching faith and devotion to our Lord” is her second son Kevin’s most vivid memory of his mother, who passed away at age 60.
“I would say the most important lesson I learned from my mom is to always pray for God’s help and guidance and to put complete faith in Him. To care for others, especially those less fortunate that need help more,” says her youngest son Miguel, now The Philippine STAR president and CEO.
“I would sincerely say that prayers and our faith in God’s guidance is the biggest secret of our success. That, I learned from my mom.”
In one of her editor’s notes in the pre-EDSA STAR! Monthly magazine, Betty wrote: “While others call you people, we here at STAR! choose to call you stars. In other words, no matter your station in life, if you shine and give light to this world, you are a star.”
Those words pretty much summarize how Betty Go-Belmonte treated her fellowmen (and women). She regarded them with importance. She treated them all like they had light to share — from the shoemaker in front of the newspaper office in Port Area, to the President at Malacañang.
Soliven, for his part, was named one of the acclaimed Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for journalism in 1960. Then with the Manila Chronicle, he later wrote for the Manila Times, where his column “By the Way” was born. It remained the title of his column in The STAR. Soliven was imprisoned along with Ninoy Aquino during the start of martial law.
“He was in his glorious or prime years as a journalist before martial law and then everything stopped,” recalls his daughter Sara Soliven de Guzman, who now writes a column for the paper.
It was as though death struck him; even his closest friends abandoned him. After martial law, he started to write but the road was very rough until Tita Betty and he put their good forces together for The STAR. It was a period of rebirth.
“It was like death struck him, even his closest friends abandoned him. After martial law, he started to write in the Inquirer but the road was very rough until Tita Betty and he put their good forces together to open The STAR. During that time, he was in a period of rebirth. As The STAR was born, he, too, was going through a rebirth of some sort.”
“He regained his spirit, he used his talent and he conquered,” says Sara. His star shone brighter.
Stricken with polio at age three and dependent on crutches and a wheelchair from then on, founder Art Borjal walked tall.
A lawyer and a former congressman, he was the principal author of Republic Act 7277, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, a landmark measure that made life easier and more dignified for those with physical disabilities. He became the newspaper’s president from 1988 to 1990 and was a member of its board until 1999. He passed away in 2002.
Founded by stars who shone in their own right, The STAR continued to emit light — and a huge following as the years went on.
Keeping the legacy alive
Miguel G. Belmonte became president and CEO of the newspaper in 1998, infusing fresh vigor while keeping true to its founders’ vision.
“We have been extremely blessed over the past 35 years, and no doubt that blessing comes from God. Of course, it helps to always work hard, that is a given,” says Miguel, who hasn’t missed a day of work despite the pandemic.
It’s been a journey of faith and faithfulness to The STAR troopers and readers for Miguel, especially these past two years. He believes taking care of the staff is at the core of his leadership.
“We cannot always give them what they need or want, like recently when we even had to downsize. But they should be treated fairly and with dignity all the time.”
The son of two journalists (his father, former Speaker Sonny Belmonte, also once pounded the police beat for the Manila Chronicle), Miguel says he is no stranger to challenges, humps and bumps, “but I just consider them par for the course.”
“Generally speaking, The STAR has been very steady with its growth and fruitful in terms of profit-making,” he asserts.
The pandemic rocked the world, but Miguel has kept a steady grip on the wheel of his ship.
“No doubt, this pandemic is tops on the list of biggest challenges to our company,” he shares, adding that bottom lines turned red for the first time in decades. But hope is shining like a star in the dark sky.
“Looks like 2021 will be a different story,” he adds.
The STAR has also faced up to the challenge of the sure and sudden growth of digital and social media. To which he says, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” The STAR now boasts several new media platforms.
Miguel believes his star is brighter because he has met many people who added to its luster.
“Because of The STAR, I have met top people in government – six presidents since 1986 – business and even showbiz. Practically all industries. But everyone I have met along the way, including our employees, clients, news dealers, suppliers, and so many others, have all contributed to the person I am today.
“But I have to give special mention to Mr. George Ty, founder of Metrobank, for believing in me and always treating me like part of the family. I served as an independent director of his holding company GT Capital for nine years and have been a member of the board of advisers of his school Manila Tytana Colleges for about 12 years,” he shares.
He adds, “I have to mention my boss, MVP. It was because of his interest in our company and confidence and trust in my ability to manage the company that so many blessings, financial and more, have come my way. He is one who leads by example and an inspiration for me to always do my best. Nothing less is acceptable.”
Belmonte is also president and CEO of BusinessWorld.
Pioneering star
Ana Marie “Amy” Pamintuan, a cum laude Journalism graduate of the University of the Philippines, and one of the company’s pioneers in 1986, became its editor-in-chief in 2012. She describes the last decade as “seismic” as far as the information cycle is concerned.
“January 16 next year marks a decade since I assumed my post as editor-in-chief of The Philippine STAR. That decade has been marked by a seismic shift in information consumption and the news cycle,” she says, adding, “The shift was driven largely by technology, and those of us in traditional or legacy media found ourselves challenged by new sources of information on social media platforms. Print has been particularly vulnerable; many newspapers, especially in advanced media markets, were forced to shut down or downsize drastically.”
Gritty Amy grew up in Tondo, on the streets of Antipolo, Oroquieta, and Torres Bugallon, honing her for the tough road ahead in her career. Though she first dreamt of being an interior designer, the “accidental journalist” was honored by her alma mater, the University of the Philippines, as one of its outstanding alumni during its centennial.
“The best lesson journalism has taught me is that this profession is one of the best ways to change the world,” she told Bum D. Tenorio in an interview for PeopleAsia magazine, which named her one of its People of the Year for 2020. “When we were young, we wanted to change the world. This is one way to do that.”
Thus, changing the world also meant being able to cope with change. However, Amy found that digital technology “provided more platforms but did not change journalism, which is governed by stringent rules and ethics in providing accurate, fair, timely, relevant and interesting news, in-depth analysis and images on a wide range of subjects.”
She adds: “The STAR is now on multiple platforms. I have crossed over into broadcasting. With my stage fright, never in my wildest dreams did I see myself co-hosting a live-streamed talk show on news and current affairs. But I want to set the example to our editorial team in learning new skills to keep up with the rapidly evolving media environment. The adaptation has been difficult but rewarding, and we should all be prepared for more changes and challenges ahead.”
A former police and Malacañang reporter, Amy cannot pinpoint the one big story that has come her way in the past 35 years.
“Since our country lurches from one crisis to another, with some causes for celebration, there have been many unforgettable headlines and unforgettable moments in the newsroom.”
Since she has been with The STAR since Day One, this is one person who truly knows what “unforgettable” is.