IN AN ERA where headlines are often buried beneath social media noise and algorithm-driven content, Panay News stands tall — proudly weathered but undeterred — as it marks 44 years of truth-telling, public service, and Ilonggo pride.
What began as a one-man gamble in 1981 has grown into Western Visayas’ most widely circulated regional daily. The late Daniel “Danny” Gumban Fajardo, founder of Panay News, once carried manuscripts on his shoulders — literally — from Manila to Iloilo. That image, equal parts symbolic and literal, captures the spirit of the paper he built: tireless, grounded, and never afraid of the hard work that comes with pursuing a greater cause.
The Mustard Seed That Moved Mountains
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible for you,” Fajardo once said, quoting Matthew 17:20. It was this faith — fueled by courage and vision — that launched Panay News on April 7, 1981, in a time when regional press struggled against both logistical odds and powerful adversaries.
Armed with neither a printing press nor a newsroom of seasoned journalists, Fajardo leaned on persistence. He visited every printing press in Iloilo City, asking for the lowest costs and the longest terms. Sometimes, he even flew the entire manuscript to Manila to cut printing expenses, returning to Iloilo with heavy bundles of freshly printed copies.
More than merely publishing, this was standing firm in the face of odds, about making Ilonggos feel that they, too, deserve a paper that reflects their truth.
In this mission, Fajardo found his strongest support system in his better-half. Maria “Madame Mary” Santillan Fajardo was with him since day one. She was there when the “eagle” took off, further expanding the frontiers of press freedom in Western Visayas.
Looking back, Madame Mary says Panay News had its fair share of struggles in the beginning.
“The success of the paper did not come overnight,” says Madame Mary, adding that it required arduous labor and a lot of patience.
‘Tell the Truth, Always’
Fajardo’s editorial philosophy was simple yet daring: Tell the truth, no matter what. He warned that the enemies of press freedom were powerful — armed with wealth, influence, and even the law. But to him, Panay News was more than a publication; it was a pillar of democracy in a region rich in culture and history, but also marked by political tensions and economic inequality.
“There are enemies of press freedom,” he warned, “and they are not ordinary people. They are big.” Still, he urged his team: “Don’t be cowed. Tell the truth.”
This resolve has made Panay News controversial to some, but indispensable to many. It has survived over 200 libel cases. And it has never stopped printing — pandemic, typhoons, floods, or political pressure notwithstanding.
Being the “alternative press” in Region 6, Panay News did not please everyone. But Madame Mary says she does not regret this. It was clear to them that setting up a media company means planting a “seed of truth” that will be sown over and over again through the years.
“We need to make the people in Western Visayas aware and get them involved, and that is through reporting what is true,” says Madame Mary.
Panay News shall continue to stay true to its mission – to inform and educate the public. “It needs to continue reporting the truth. It has to go on,” she says.
A Legacy of Evolution
Fajardo was no extinct dinosaur. Even as a staunch believer in the power of print, he embraced change. “Our world is a revolving machine,” he often reminded his staff.
He championed innovation: getting exclusive stories, improving layouts, growing advertising revenues, enhancing operations, and embracing technology — all while staying true to Panay News’ core: service to the Ilonggo through content that inform, educate, and inspire.
This blend of tradition and innovation lives on in today’s Panay News. From a fledgling weekly, it has matured into a multimedia platform: still rooted in print but soaring online, evolving digital while preserving its soul.
Inspiring Generations
The anniversary theme, “44 Years of Informing, Educating, and Inspiring,” is a testament, not a mere tagline.
It is seen in every nook and cranny where the daily Panay News is delivered. In the commentary pieces that spark discourse. In the tributes to heroes and the exposés that hold the powerful to account. In the countless young journalists who have cut their teeth under its banner, guided by Fajardo’s principles and today mentored by a new generation of editors bearing his vision.
The torch has been passed to Fajardo’s children, now company board members and corporate stewards. He called Panay News his “only legacy,” confident that the next generation would not only protect it but elevate it.
Still the People’s Paper
Through countless elections, disasters, challenges, and triumphs, Panay News has remained a steady companion to the Ilonggos. It is the voice in the morning and the conscience in the evening. It has inspired civic involvement, documented lives, and dared to ask difficult questions.
In the words of its founder: “A newspaper to be successful should be handled according to its challenges and demands.” And for 44 years, Panay News has risen to the occasion.
As the paper celebrates another milestone, the mission continues. The eagle in its logo soars higher — not only because of wide wings but also because of the powerful winds beneath them: truth, integrity, and the unwavering belief that journalism still matters.
To the next 44 years and beyond, Panay News soars on — informing, educating, and inspiring. (RJM/PN)
