BECAUSE of its longevity and its history of delivering relevant news daily, Panay News is an integral part of its readers’ day and an unshakeable life habit. Some share that their routine is not complete if they don’t go out and buy the regional paper and read it from cover to cover.
One of them is Myrna Solinap, a resident of Barangay Purok II, Pavia, Iloilo who has read Panay News every day since she first subscribed to the newspaper in 2013.
Even when she is busy fulfilling her job as the secretary of Pavia mayor Michael Gorriceta, Solinap takes time to sit down and read Panay News so she’s updated with all the latest news and happenings not only in Iloilo City and the region but also across the globe because of the World section of the paper.
Aside from the front page, Solinap says what she reads first most of the time are the daily Lapsus Calami musings on the Opinion page, followed by the World and Sports pages. Solinap also routinely checks Panay News for the daily Lotto results.
When she fails to open her copy of Panay News, Solinap shares that she gets a feeling of having an incomplete day, as if she’s unaware of all the relevant news and events happening around her.
“Kis-a indi ko kabalo sang news sa politics kag mga news sa abroad kon indi ko kabasa sang Panay News,” said Solinap.
That she lives near the plant site of the newspaper, and the newsboy can easily deliver her copies daily, is an advantage for Solinap.
With Panay News celebrating its 37th anniversary this year, Solinap is offering her congratulations to the triumphant publication and its hardworking staff.
Like Solinap, the day of Jennie Piñol, a resident of Barangay Purok II, Pavia, is not complete without reading her copy of Panay News.
Piñol shares that in her five years as a subscriber of the regional daily, she’s become accustomed to leafing through the pages of Panay News, especially since she lacks the time to watch television because of her busy schedule and many responsibilities.
She can sit down and read anytime she wants, especially when she gets some downtime — this, Piñol said, is the advantage of newspapers, which is unlike the television where she has to follow a news program on its specific schedule and time slot.
“Waay ako daan nakagwa. Kapin pa talagsa lang ako nagatan-aw sang TV at least kon may PN, updated ka gawa sa balita,” said Piñol.
Piñol likes Panay News because it focuses on local news. She’s also always intrigued by the Lapsus Calami section, which delivers snippets and gossip about Iloilo politics daily.
“Ginahulat ko pirme ang inyo Lapsus. Basta kanami lang kay ang ginasulat updated gid ya. At least mabal-an mo kon naga-inano na ang politiko,” added Piñol.
As Panay News celebrates another milestone year, Piñol simply wishes that the newspaper continues its good work and responsible, fair journalism – always taking all sides of the people involved in issues.
“The best gid. Keep up the good work. Indi sila biased kay ginakuha nila side sang isa kag isa,” concluded Piñol.
Another subscriber is Robert Ouden, a native of Holland in the Netherlands who has chosen to live in Barangay Balabag, Pavia with the love of his life.
Ouden shares that as an adopted resident of Iloilo and Panay Island, it is only right that he gets to know his new home and be informed about and aware of all the news and events around him.
“Because I’m living in Panay. And I think, if you are living in certain area, you should know things about the area and that’s what Panay News is [giving me],” said Ouden, who has been a subscriber for almost half a year now.
It’s not new for Ouden to read a newspaper every day, as it has been a habit of his since he was in his home city of Holland. This is why when Ouden chanced upon a newsboy delivering papers one day, he didn’t hesitate to subscribe to Panay News.
Ouden doesn’t regret his decision to subscribe after he’s found a liking to read the news and features Panay News publishes daily. He especially likes to be informed about the roadwork done around the city and wants to be aware of any accidents that occur along highways.
Ouden also finds the simple and seamless layout of Panay News appealing, noting the paper’s modern look that’s easy to read.
The Netherlands-born Ouden is excited to read in Panay News more about the most beautiful tourist spots Western Visayas and the Philippines has to offer. By reading the regional daily, he hopes to find out more about the many beach destinations and ecotourism sites of the island before he visits them himself.
Ouden says that for a foreigner like him, being aware of his surroundings in a foreign land – his new home – is a must and he can’t wait to get to know it and explore it with Panay News./PN
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This article was first published in print on April 6, 2018.
