TRIVIA; Fun Facts about Panay News

Volatile period

WHO was the Philippine president when Panay News was born on April 7, 1981?

It was Ferdinand Marcos.

It was a political season when Panay News made its debut. The then fledgling newspaper was one with the nation watching closely the developing events as President Marcos supposedly lifted Martial Law.

Hoping to convince the distrustful public and a wary international community that everything was normal and he was still in control, Marcos set the election on June 16, 1981 (but without giving up his post). He ran against a literal unknown (war veteran and retired military officer Alejo Santos), and of course, won. But the political exercise failed to give him legitimacy.

Four decades of political changes have not deterred Panay News from delivering news and opinion that matter to its readers. Trust us. You have a courageous newspaper and a free press.

‘Golden Horse’

On Jan. 17, 2014, Panay News founder Danny Fajardo received the Golden Horse Award from the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines (FPPCP) as the Best Provincial Newspaper.

It hailed the paper as “a fearless advocate of press freedom”. The award was presented by Roland Allan Sison, FPPCP president, to Panay News founder Danny Fajardo at Casa Pilar Beach Resort in Boracay Island.

Panay News has “captur(ed) the Visayas readership with its insightful coverage of issues and events in the region…” read part of the citation, and is “leading the way for recognition of the strength of the provincial press in the national media environment.”

From columnist to mayor

The late mayor of Bacolod City, Oscar Verdeflor, used to write a column for Panay News. It was named
“Maverick”. He was actually wiring for the paper long before he became mayor.

“Oca”, as he was fondly called by friends and colleagues, served as Bacolod City mayor from July 1, 1998 to March 13, 2001 and thus had to temporarily stop writing. He resumed his column after his stint at the Bacolod City Hall.

First jingle

Ilonggo band Kwatro Kantos sang the first jingle of Panay News, “Panay News Maaasahan Mo”.  

Its lead vocalist is Emman Abatayo, finalist in the Pinoy Dream Academy, a national reality TV competition for multimedia performers.

Working closely with then Panay News chief executive officer David Dan Elijah Fajardo, Abatayo and his band composed “Panay News Maaasahan Mo”, an upbeat tune with catchy lyrics, with a touch of punk and rock.

Single issue

FOUR months after its maiden issue on April 7, 1981 as a weekly newspaper, Panay News was forced to come out with only one issue for the month of August 1981 due to logistical challenges. This   issue was dated August 17-31, 1981 – the paper’s 13th issue.

The headline in this issue was a sensational crime in Kalibo, Aklan – the killing of a wealthy 74-year-old widow. She was stabbed 16 times on the chest inside her residence. The unknown assailant fled the crime scene, leaving the knife stuck on the victim’s chest.

The police believed robbery was the motive. The victim, who was into the money lending business, had gained a reputation as a very rich pensionada. She had been regularly receiving a huge amount from the US government since the death of her Navy husband in 1980.

First 10 pages

Panay News’ April 7, 1981 maiden issue had 10 pages and contained nine advertisements.

Page 4 of this issue was dedicated to news stories from Aklan province.

Another interesting fact: Pages 8, 9 and 10 contained articles written in Hiligaynon.

For Entertainment, this issue announced the top acting awards of the Oscars in 1981, with photos of the winners – Robert de Niro (best actor for “Raging Bull”), Sissy Spacek (best actress for “Coal Miner’s Daughter), Timothy Hutton (best supporting actor for “Ordinary People”), and Mary Steenburgen (best supporting actress for “Melvin and Howard”).

The four provincial governors in Panay Island welcomed the advent of this new local newspaper with messages – Enrique Zaldivar of Antique, Roberto Garcia of Aklan, Conrado Norada of Iloilo, and Cornelio Villareal Jr. of Capiz.

Name modification

DURING its first 12 issues beginning April 7, 1981 as a weekly newspaper, Panay News was known as Panay News Today.

It dropped “Today” on its 13th issue dated August 17-31, 1981. It was already then a semi-monthly publication due to logistical challenges. It shifted to semi-monthly publication in its 12th issue dated July 23, 1981.

‘Reklamo Publiko’

In the mid-1990s, Panay News expanded its reach via the public affairs radio/cable television program “Reklamo Publiko”.

Aired every Sunday morning, “Reklamo Publiko” invited as resource persons local and national government officials, police and military officers, nongovernment organizations, cause-oriented groups, etc. to discuss the hottest issues of the day.

Newsboys

Newsboys, newspaper boys or paperboys are the foot soldiers of Panay News’ circulation department. After the newspaper is printed, it is their task to deliver the publication to subscribers in their homes, offices, newsstands, and other places the paper is distributed.

Throughout Panay News’ metamorphosis from being a weekly paper initially until it became a daily, newsboys played a crucial role in seeing to it that the paper is visible and widely distributed.

Worldwide web

In the early 2000s Panay News penetrated the worldwide web to further expand its readership reach.

Through Panay News’ website, www.panaynewsphilippines.com, Ilonggos across the country and around the world updated themselves with what’s going on in Western Visayas.

The website was constantly being improved to make it more reader-friendly and informative.

Today, Panay News’ contents can be accessed through www.panaynews.net.

‘I-Style’

In 2005, Panay News came out with “I-Style”, a section that featured light but inspiring stories written by the youth for the youth. It touched on culture, people, modern lifestyle, and trends in fashion.

This section was a perfect balance to the “hard news” that Panay News is known for.

Corporate social responsibility

Public service that comes from the heart. This sums up Panay News’ core of operation. While it is in the noble business of journalism to inform, educate and influence people to action, the paper recognizes it could do more to the community it is serving and which has accepted and supported it through the years.

Through the Daniel G. Fajardo Foundation, Panay News is giving back to the community. Its yearly community outreach activities vary, including, among others, medical and dental missions, tree planting, supporting public schools through donations of school supplies and needed implements.

Foothold in Bacolod

For some three decades now, Panay News has been maintaining a branch office in Bacolod City. It is a recognition of the key role of Bacolod City and Negros Occidental in Western Visayas’ development.

Panay News’ Bacolod branch is on A. Parreño Building, Lacson Avenue corner P. Burgos Street.

Social media

Recognizing the power of social media, Panay News in 2012 joined Facebook and Twitter where links to the paper’s website and highlights, insights, photographs, and infographics of the day are shared.

Deciding to give its digital presence more muscle, Panay News in 2017 formed a social media team for its social media content production.

Digital marketing

In 2018, Panay News forayed into digital marketing, doing for clients live event video coverage of product launchings, business/store openings, and produced video advertisements.

The following year, PN Exclusives, a video-magazine program that features personalities, achievers, organizations, and events was launched.