The STAR gets comfy with its new Chair

The Philippine STAR’s editors, columnists and executives got comfy with the newspaper’s new chair, lawyer Ray Espinosa, during a relaxed “meet and greet” lunch at the Glasshouse of the New World Makati Hotel last Tuesday. The Glasshouse was a fitting setting for the meeting, for transparency is a hallmark of the newspaper.

“I read your columns all of you, and it is good to see the faces behind the names,” Espinosa began.

Espinosa, who represents the majority shareholders in the STAR, the MVP group, said “nothing has changed” as far as the management and editorial policies of the STAR are concerned.

“I am here to support Miguel Belmonte,” he continued,  “Miguel still runs the show, we are owners, but we are not inclusive. I don’t tell him what to do, he tells me what to do!”

A member of The STAR board since July 2011 and appointed chairman of the STAR last June, Espinosa has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Ateneo de Manila University Law School and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Michigan Law School. He placed first in the 1982 Philippine Bar examinations.

 “The MVP group believes in media, and part of its telecoms strategy is to care for the press. Business thrives in a democratic institution, and a free press is there to ensure democracy is alive,” stressed the new STAR chair.

He has always liked reading The STAR (“The only paper I subscribe to aside from BusinessWorld”) because of “the variety of opinions I get, diverse news, which is a balance of what you want to read.”

He said the MVP group was “fortunate enough to make an investment” in The STAR, and now owns a majority of its shares.

“That does not mean things would change. We don’t tell writers what to write about, for or against any person or party, that’s the thing we want STAR editors to follow.”

He acknowledged that though the group has “certain businesses in the limelight,” all it asks for from the paper is a “fair shake.”

“All we ask for are stories written fairly, not just for us, but for everyone. When a  story comes out, we want the paper to seek comments from those involved and only when you can’t reach them can you put out a story.”

This directive is reminiscent of that of the STAR’s late founding chairman Betty Go-Belmonte, who exhorted all her editors and reporters to always “get the other side.”

Espinosa has been a director of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) since Nov. 24, 1998, and is also a trustee, and the vice chairman of the Beneficial Trust Fund of PLDT. He is also a director of Manila Electric Company, Roxas Holdings Inc., Metro Pacific Investments Corp., and MediaQuest Holdings Inc., and also serves as an independent director of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company.

Asked his expectations of STAR’s editors and columnists, Espinosa said, “We believe in the editorial independence of the STAR, that’s the truth. All I can ask is for you to just outdo yourselves, put in that extra spice for whatever we’re doing. The STAR’s already the No. 1 paper.”

To this, Belmonte said, “Whatever the surveys may say, there is no doubt the STAR is the biggest revenue earner in the entire publishing business.”

Espinosa then decreed that the matter of bonuses was up to Belmonte!

***

The French National Day celebration in Makati was a triumph of all that is good about diplomacy, democracy and sportsmanship.

As French Ambassador Gilles Garachon raved about the beauty and fun in the Philippines, he also said Bastille Day (which is commemorated on July 14) “was like EDSA.”

Garachon also announced that President Benigno Aquino III would go on a state visit to France this September.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario confirmed this and said the President would also be going to Belgium and Germany.

On behalf of the French government, Garachon presented an award to former Philippine Ambassador to France Christine Ortega for her efforts at strengthening ties between the two countries. He also cited former Gen. William Hotchkiss of the CAB for working hard at the lifting of the ban on Philippine carriers to Europe.

Ortega said a direct flight of Philippine Airlines to Paris is forthcoming.

***

After the ceremonies, which culminated in a toast led by Del Rosario and the Dean of the diplomatic corps Papal Nuncio Archbishop Guiseppe Pinto, I espied two diplomats drinking exchanging pleasantries in one corner.

They were German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski and Argentine Chargé d’Affaires Monica Deregibus, just hours after Germany won the World Cup trophy, 1-0, in Rio de Janeiro.

“It was just a game,” said the Argentine lady envoy when I asked how Argentina’s loss affected ties with Germany, “and the relationship between our two countries amounts to more than that.”

The German ambassador nodded, but added, “It was a beautiful game!”

We were later joined by Matthew Cenzer of the US Embassy, making me wonder if the referee of the final game is American.

“No, he is Italian,” said Deregibus.

Over French champagne under Philippine skies at the French ambassador’s residence, we celebrated not only the triumph of Germany in the World Cup, but also of diplomacy and sportsmanship.

Our champagne glasses runneth over.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected].)