Manila Times
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Manila Times is the oldest newspaper in the Philippines that is still published. A broadsheet, it was founded in late 1898.
The Manila Times is the oldest English-language newspaper in the Philippines. It was first published on October 11, 1898, shortly after news was received in Manila that the Paris Conference had started and would finally approve the treaty that would transfer the Philippines from Spanish to American sovereignty.
[edit] History
Thomas Gowan, an Englishman who had lived in the islands for sometime, published The Manila Times to meet the demand from American servicemen for an American paper in Manila. Gowan hired a small printing press, Chofre y Compania, to put out the paper. The press was located on Calle Alix, now Legarda Street in Sampaloc. The paper, however, had a downtown office on the Escolta.
The First issue The first issue of The Manila Times had a sheet of two leaves, or four pages, measuring about 12 by 8 inches, each page divided into two columns. The first page was taken up by announcements and advertisements. Page 2 was the editorial page. It contained the editorials and the more important news of the day. Page 3 was devoted to cable news from Europe and the United States all bearing on the Spanish-American War.
The first editorial read:
“Since the United States forces have been in the Philippines, there has been a keen demand for an American newspaper here with a daily supply of American news. Several schemes have been talked about, but we have come to nothing. We have not talked about The Manila Times but we have been working, and hoped to complete the arrangements in a few days. Now we have the news of such importance that we feel compelled to publish it promptly, instead of holding it back until completion of our plans. The Manila public will readily see that news in this issue [is] of such a nature as to demand immediate publication, and to excuse defects in the manner of publishing. What The manila times lacks in quantity, it makes up in quality, today at any rate. We have made arrangements for a daily service of telegrams from the United States, and we undertake to continue that as long as the public desires. We cannot guarantee to provide as great a piece of news each day as we give today, for Paris Conferences do not sit often, and the United States does not acquire territories every day.”
The paper was shut down when martial law was declared by Ferdinand Marcos in 1972. The Roces family resumed its publication after the 1986 people power revolt.
The Manila Times under the Estrada presidency was a paper under siege.
When The Times published a story calling the former movie actor an “unwitting godfather” to a supposed fraudulent deal, Estrada sued The Times for P101 million.
Terrorized by Estrada’s wrath, the Gokongweis were forced to apologize to stop him from harassing them on their alleged tax problems.
The printed apology prompted Estrada to withdraw the libel case. The Times publisher Ermin Garcia Jr. pointed out that the paper did not retract the story that drew Estrada’s ire.
On July 23, 1999, the nation’s most trusted newspaper closed up.
The 180 employees of The Times mourned the demise of the paper which had been critical of the Estrada administration. Clad in black, The Times workers posted banners in the newsroom that said “Defend Press Freedom.”
In an earlier interview, the editor in chief, Malou Mangahas, said the purchase of the paper by a group headed by the businessman Reghis Romero 3rd was part of an effort to stifle newspapers that were critical of the government.
Months before The Times’ closure, Mark Jimenez, an Estrada crony, was said to have already shown interest in buying the paper but wanted to remain an undisclosed partner.
Reports said Jimenez even paid a visit to John Gokongwei as early as April 1999.
A member of Estrada’s inner circle confirmed that Jimenez indeed bought The Manila Times.
But Jimenez’s wish to be an unidentified buyer would be granted. From October 11 until November, The Times was operating under its supposed owner Romero, who reportedly fronted for Jimenez.
In the last week of December, after a series of critical stories against Estrada’s friends, the lawyer Katrina Legarda, who was also editor in chief, went public claiming she was being pressured by The Times owners regarding editorial policies and which story should get published.
Just before the millennium, 10 Times editors resigned, citing increasing pressure from the owners. Legarda followed suit.
Eventually, Jimenez admitted ownership of the paper before the May 14 election.
On August 8 Dante A. Ang formally sat as publisher and chair of The Manila Times.
