THE GUESTS had started to arrive and she was running late. So, amid the frozen traffic around Pasay City on Saturday night, Sandy Prieto-Romualdez decided to dare.
In a stunning red terno and on heels, the Inquirer president and CEO got off her car and took a jeepney. When that also failed, she hailed a tricycle. The driver she had convinced to take her to her five-star destination did a motorist’s equivalent of a Hail Mary: one wheel on the curb, the other on the road.
Like how she had surpassed her many challenges as the Inquirer’s chief steward through the years, Romualdez beat the odds and she arrived at 7:10 p.m.
“It was an unbelievable experience,” she said. “I had to haggle with the driver. I told him I have to be there because the Chief Justice was already there!”
The occasion was the launch of the Inquirer’s 30th anniversary commemorative book, which pushed through even as guests and Inquirer employees endured record commute times—some at least two hours, others close to four—to reach the venue.
Other guests had to walk the last few kilometers off the Skyway to the hotel, beating the traffic in their barong and Filipiniana gowns.
“Big, big thanks to all those who came and bore the horrendous traffic just to be with us,” Romualdez said.
Historic night
The adventure was an apt prelude to what was a historic night, when the Inquirer launched its thickest, most personal book yet: “The Inquirer Story: 30 Years of Shaping History.”
In 312 pages of words and images, the book carries the Inquirer’s voice through the years.
“We do not believe that there is such a thing as an ‘alternative press’—as a counterweight to a so-called ‘crony press.’ There is only one kind of journalism—and it is neither alternative nor crony. It is journalism that reports the facts, neither tailoring them to suit our friends, nor twisting them to dismay or destroy our enemies.”
The book also features pieces from historical turning points that marked the history of the paper and the nation. Banner stories include the 1989 death of Ferdinand Marcos, the July 1990 quake, the 1992 ejection of American bases, the 1998 independence centennial and the 1999 “Media Shakeup” under then President Joseph Estrada—when advertisers pulled out.
From the turn of millennium, the front pages selected include the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny, Manny Pacquiao’s 2008 victory over Oscar de la Hoya and democracy icon Corazon Aquino’s 2009 funeral.
And in this decade, memorable ones include Supertyphoon “Yolanda’s” 2013 devastation, the 2014 exposé on the pork barrel scam by whistle-blower Benhur Luy and Pope Francis’ visit in January.
“It’s the first that sort of strung together … stories about ourselves. It was nice to see how we felt about ourselves during that time,” Romualdez said. “It’s nice to be able to see it from that perspective. There are things there that (show) we’ve been able to evolve.”
FIRST COPY The first copy of the book “The Inquirer Story: 30 Years of Shaping History” is received by UP president Alfredo Pascual (right) from Inquirer president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez. The commemorative book was launched on Saturday. RAFFY LERMA
“We did a lot more of speaking about ourselves. In the past books, there’s a lot about our work. That’s still there. But this has a perspective (that’s) more personal and more like how we do our work, how we do things. That’s never been done before,” she said.
The anniversary book team got together in September to realize editor in chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc’s concept: Put together the Inquirer’s anniversary supplements from the very beginning.
“This is the biggest thing we’ve done so far. And we have a timeline that runs from 1985 to 2015 that can show you the Inquirer history,” said Ruel de Vera, publisher and editor of the new book.
“We’ve done a lot of stuff about our role in Philippine history but this book is really about the Inquirer as an organization. It’s the first one we’ve done that serves to pay tribute (to the people behind the Inquirer),” he said.
Thirty-four people from different departments—editors, writers, researchers, designers, photographers and editorial production assistants—worked on the book.
“It’s a great way to see the history of the Philippines for the last 30 years, not just the Inquirer … I’m so proud of the team. There’s so much talent,” Romualdez said.
The book paid tribute to Inquirer founding chair Eugenia Apostol: “There would be no Inquirer without her.”
The team also drew inspiration from late publisher Isagani Yambot “for the journalistic ethos represented in this book.”
“There are things we still try to learn. Looking back, it was nice to also see the spirit of the Inquirer still so strong after so many years. I think we’ve stayed consistent in that way,” Romualdez said.
1,000 copies
She said the book’s layout would engage readers through its multifaceted content: A photo here, a front page there, text on one side, a timeline below.
“So it’s very alive … . There’s so much (about) our history,” Romualdez said.
One thousand copies of the book were printed for the anniversary celebration, with copies given away at the launch as tokens to people who have been part—and subjects—of the Inquirer.
The first copy was handed to University of the Philippines president Alfredo Pascual as a donation to the state university’s library. The majority of college students given Inquirer scholarships are from UP.
Apart from Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, officials at the event included Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales—among the “Three Furies” or tough women in government selected as the Inquirer Filipino of the Year in 2014—Senate President Franklin Drilon and presidential candidate Grace Poe.
Romualdez said the book was for the Inquirer readers who continued to be the inspiration for the organization to soldier on despite challenges in the industry.
“I think the public has been very much a part of our history. I was asked before: What’s the one thing that has made the Inquirer successful? Because you know, it’s so hard to be No. 1 year in, year out,” she said.
“It really comes from the inspiration. Just when you feel like you’re giving up, someone’s gonna write you or someone’s gonna pull you aside and say, ‘Thank you for the Inquirer.’ So this is for them. I want them to enjoy this,” she said.
Hosted by actor Nonie Buencamino, Saturday’s launch featured world-class performances from the Philippines’ top artists, including the Manila Symphony Orchestra, black light dance group Zilent Overload, Joey Ayala, Gloc 9, Mitoy Yonting, Cookie Chua, Bayang Barrios, Jonalyn Viray, a capella group Pinopela, and Charice, who was also trapped in the traffic but caught up with the program.
The state-run Philippine Postal Corp. also launched the Inquirer’s 30th anniversary commemorative stamp, the country’s first ever printed with holographic design.
“It’s the first of this kind in the country. It has a hologram. We had to print it abroad because our printers here in the Philippines cannot do it. It was printed in Bangkok. It was released just 7 p.m. last night,” said Postmaster General Josefina dela Cruz.
The holographic feature is similar to security features on credit cards, she said. The stamp, available for P30 and may be used to send mail within the country or regionally in Asia, carries the Inquirer’s anniversary mantra, “Courage Beyond Words.”
“Anything we do for the first time is always collectible material and always becomes part of the exhibit that we have everywhere. So it will now be a permanent part of our exhibits,” Dela Cruz said.