A tale of two presidents

MANILA, Philippines - Since its inception 25 years ago, The Philippine STAR has always been one of the country’s media institutions at the forefront of protecting democracy and upholding the truth through balanced and fair reporting as well as incisive analyses that not only informed opinions but also helped presidents make crucial decisions.

Former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in separate interviews, said The STAR has always been an important part of their daily activities, from the time they were in Malacañang and up to now, not just to get the latest news but also to get insights and feel the pulse of the public.

Ramos recalls that the late founders of The STAR, Betty Go-Belmonte, Max Soliven and Art Borjal, played a role in the 1986 People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

At the time, he said, mass protest actions were sprouting all over the country and the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos announced in December 1985 that he was calling for snap elections.

“Max contacted me and said he and Betty Go-Belmonte wanted to meet me so we had lunch in her house in Quezon City. The four of us were there, including Sonny Belmonte, that day, 22 February, in a room reserved for visitors, and talking about the situation and the events, for about two hours,” Ramos recounted.

He said his family and that of Betty’s were close since they went to the same Cosmopolitan Church along Taft Avenue in Manila.

He said he and Max had differences over the latter’s articles but Betty wanted both of them to work out their issues “after all we were both on the same track” of seeking reforms and the restoration of democracy.

“They (Soliven and Belmonte) were asking what I would do, and at that time, my sister Letty (Leticia Ramos-Shahani), vice minister under the MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), already resigned that day and was talking about supporting Cory,” he said.

The two, who were in the thick of the anti-Marcos dictatorship campaign, were asking him what is keeping him from breaking away from the Marcoses. He impressed upon them that he was waiting for the proper time since he controls over 100,000 troops and would not want any blood spilled.

Several hours after the meeting, he and then defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile announced their defection and the rest was history.

Ramos said that since that time, The STAR has always played a role in the protection of democracy and human rights, and in purveying truth since it was founded.

“Reporting events as it is, reporting history as it unfolded and presenting different points of view and analyses empower the people in a way and help them make better decisions and exercise their freedoms responsibly,” he said.

“This is possible because of the dedication of your founders, Betty and Max, Sonny and the others, and dedication and hard work of the present people – Isaac, Miguel and the rest,” he added.

When he was in Malacañang, Ramos’ staff would fan out as early as 2:30 a.m. to get copies of local and foreign newspapers and make clippings of news and opinion articles, that when compiled would be a few inches thick.

Most of the time, many of the clipped articles would become memos when the former President would write instructions to the Cabinet official concerned on the margins of the piece.

The practice of gathering newspapers at 2:30 a.m. and making clippings continues to this day but this time they are sent to his office of the RPDEV Foundation in Makati City.

“I read The STAR opinion columns first because they are already the integration of all the issues, points of views and information have been collected and analyzed in The STAR opinion columns,” he said.

“The editorial of The STAR is always a must-read for me,” he added.

Ramos said he admires most, if not all, STAR columnists and reporters, and specifically mentioned Amy Pamintuan, Marichu Villanueva, and this writer.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose relationship with the media when she was still President was not always smooth, said The STAR always had her respect even if some of the articles were unfavorable to her.

“I read The STAR after I get a summary from my staff, which can happen at any time of the day and anywhere. I begin with the articles and columns on the subjects I find relevant based on the summary, because I consider reading it as primarily part of my work,” she said.

“If in the process of going over the heavy stuff I chance upon something interesting in the fun sections like Entertainment and Lifestyle, then I read it, too, or set it aside to read when I have time later. That’s when reading becomes not just part of my work but part of my relaxation,” she said.

When asked what was the most constructive article or column she read in The STAR, she said: “There have been so many good pieces that I’d be hard-pressed to single out any particular one.”

She said has met and liked many of The STAR’s reporters and columnists. “Naturally, I like the ones who’re fair in their columns and articles.”

Asked whom she wanted to meet, she said: “All the ones I have not met. Not for a specific interview but for an off-the-record getting-to-know you session. That is something I wanted to do even when I was President but hardly had the luxury to do so.”

For Arroyo, there were too many memorable issues of The STAR for her to enumerate. She said The STAR “was and continues to be a leading institution in what is one of the freest media environments in the world.”

“The STAR demonstrated that when I was President. We lived in the most vibrant and robust democracy and Asia. I hope the newspaper continues to stay that way. And while I might not always have liked what it wrote about me, I respected its right to say it,” she said.