By Pinky Concha Colmenares
Journalism has been defined as history written in a hurry. That popular definition of the craft is reflected in the 43,000-plus issues of Manila Bulletin since it started as a shipping news bulletin on Feb. 2, 1900.
Today, February 2, 2020, the Manila Bulletin marks its 120th anniversary – its news reporting tracing the development of media – from the deadline-bound stories to the 24/7 demand for more content in the age of digital media.
Meanwhile, MB’s production operations defined the development of printing technologies – from linotype press, to offset printing, to fully computerized production.
In the pages of more than 43,000 daily issues since it made its debut as a shipping newspaper in 1900, Manila Bulletin has published stories on the history of the republic, the milestones of many industries, the rise and fall of the powerful, and the stories of people who thought they were too small to be significant. But in the pages of the Manila Bulletin, no one who is the subject of a published story remains insignificant.
Many strong leaders have said – look to the past to guide the future.
In Manila Bulletin, we call that “past” the “timeless truths” which the newspaper published as timely stories that pushed change, influenced public opinion, and shaped our culture.
Today, with a strong reputation on credibility and integrity established through 120 years of journalism, the Manila Bulletin’s content has not veered away from truth.
Even with the demand for the fast delivery of information on social media platforms, MB’s content is evaluated and produced based on accuracy and a simple thought – “It happened; it’s true; it’s news.”
120 bits of history
In the past 120 days leading to our 120th anniversary today, we shared 120 bits of history through a daily box on the front page, titled – Timely Stories. Timeless Truths.
Each day, we featured a headline from the front page of Manila Bulletin whose name has changed from Manila Daily Bulletin to Bulletin Today, to Manila Bulletin – through the years as the “Exponent of Philippine Progress since 1900.”
Each story was a reminder of an event that had contributed to Philippine history, to nation building, or to the shaping of our culture.
Here are a few of those timeless stories:
May 20, 1937
1936 Revenues reach to total of P99,000,000
Customs in lead
P42,291,421 Receipts Represent Peak In Bureau's history
Revenue collections for 1936 reached an unprecedented total of about P99,000.000, representing an increase receipts, Secretary of Finance Antonio de las Alas told President Quezon in his annual report for last year. The report was submitted to Malacanang yesterday.
Collections for 1935 were P71,421, 281.61. This sum was P27,461,740.08 lower than the total customs and internal revenue income for last year, Secretary Alas said.
March 6, 1940
Sugar can pay national debt
Practically single-handed, the sugar industry in spite of the precarious situation it finds itself at present, can pay the national debt of the Philippines before the advent of independence in 1946, Oscar Ledesma, president of the Confederation of Sugar Planters Association, told the provincial treasures and assessors at their convention yesterday afternoon.
By 1946 the United States government will have collected on sugar export duty an aggregate sum of P55,508,779 and the national debt of the country at present, according to President Quezon, is P79,582,082 which can easily be covered by other taxes on sugar collected by the government, Ledesma said.
December 9, 1941
Japanese bombers strike six places from Aparri to Davao; hit Fort Stotsenburg, Baguio
“Enemy planes bombed Nichols Field and left it in flames at 3:10 a.m. today and were also reported to have dropped bombs on Fort McKinley. The air raid alarm sounded several minutes after the bombing was felt and heard in Manila.”
January 2, 1942
City waits occupation
Avoid hostility when foe arrives, city told
The inhabitants of the city should go about their ordinary pursuits peacefully and refrain from acts injurious to any troops of occupation, Secretary Jorge B. Vargas told the press last night.
July 16, 1948
Quirino to okay capital site bill
President Quirino will sign tomorrow the capital site bill which provides for the transfer of the national capital from Manila to Quezon City-Novaliches area.
January 3, 1949
Central Bank inaugural today
The Central Bank will be formally inaugurated at 4 p.m. today at the Philippine National Bank building on Escolta. Simultaneously, former Finance Secretary Miguel Cuaderno will be sworn in as governor of the bank.
April 29, 1949
Mrs. Quezon, ‘Baby’, nine others die in Huk ambush
Outlaws attack party on peaceful mission, rob bodies; casualties include QC mayor, other officials
July 18, 1959
10th World Scout Camp opens today
The 10th World Boy Scouts Jamboree will be formally opened this afternoon, with President Garcia as the guest of honor at the grand inaugural ceremony at Jamboree City area at Mt. Makiling national park in Los Banos, Laguna.
March 6, 1951
Fort Santiago is national shrine
Malacañang announced last night the signing by President Quirino of two bills recently approved by Congress. One of the new laws made Fort Santiago a national shrine and provided for the preservation of historical monuments in Intramuros.
November 13, 1953
Magsaysay thanks nation as Malacanan concedes
President-elect Ramon Magsaysay thanked the Filipino people for the “overwhelming expression of their confidence in our cause” upon being informed yesterday that President Quirino had conceded his victory.”
March 19, 1957
RM mourned by nation; Garcia assumes top post
CAMP LAPU LAPU, CEBU, March 18 – Thousands of mourning Cebuanos crowded into the Third Military area headquarters here this afternoon to pay their last respects to President Magsaysay.
The Chief Executive’s body and those of 25 others who perished with him in a plane crash Sunday morning were brought here this afternoon…from the crash site on Mt. Manungal northeast of Cebu City.
March 17, 1960
Elorde KOs Gomes, wins jr. lightweight crown
The long wait for a Filipino world ring champion ended last night as Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, a former houseboy who made good, battered Harold Gomes of Providence, Rhode Islad, for a complete and sweet knockout victory in the seventh round to become the world’s junior lightweight boxing champion of the world.”
February 17, 1964
Aguinaldo laid to rest in yard of Kawit home
“KAWIT, Cavite, Feb. 16 – General Emilio F. Aguinaldo passed on today from a living symbol to an inspiring memory. The revolutionary hero, whose achievements and existence had been – since the turn of the century the steadying hand in this country’s fight for independent statehood, was laid to rest at high noon in the yard of the historic house where he had proclaimed the First Philippine Republic on June 12, 1898.”
August 5, 1964
It’s June 12 Now; July 12 No Longer
“The Philippines will now officially celebrate Independence Day on June 12, the day the late General Aguinaldo proclaimed the First Philippine Republic in Kawit, Cavite, in 1898.”
September 29, 1965
Taal kills hundreds!
“Taal volcano, dormant since 1911, exploded violently in pre-dawn darkness yesterday, killing hundreds, and leaving volcano island (also known as Pulo) in Batangas and surrounding areas in desolation
July 3, 1973
President Marcos opens bridge linking Leyte and Samar
“TACLOBAN CITY, July 2 – President Marcos called on the people today to dismantle all barriers to unity. He made the appeal at the inauguration of the 2.16-kilometer Marcos bridge spanning the San Juanico strait between Leyte and Samar.”
January 17, 1981
Marcos ends 8 years of Martial Law
“President Marcos said yesterday he would announce the lifting of Martial Law at 10 a.m. today at Malacanang’s Heroes Hall, thereby ending eight years and four months of crisis government which he proclaimed Sept. 21, 1972.”
August 22, 1983
AQUINO SHOT DEAD
“MANILA INTERNATIONAL AIRORT, Aug. 21 – Former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., returning from the United States this afternoon, was shot dead by a lone unidentified gunman here seconds after he stepped off a China Airlines plane which flew in from Taipei.”
November 28, 1995
Skyway work starts next year
“Construction of the P30-billion Metro Manila Skyway, the first elevated tollway in the country, will start next year following the formal launching yesterday at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City in ceremonies led by President Ramos.”
August 18, 1997
1st RP satellite launch Tuesday
“Agila, the first Filipino-owned and managed international communication satellite, is set to be launched at 1:50 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, from Xichang, China, Press Secretary Hector R.R. Villanueva announced yesterday.”
February 1, 2015
Papal visit breaks Twitter records here
The recent visit of Pope Francis broke Twitter records in the Philippines, with over 3.3 million Tweets related to the Papal visit from January 13 to 20, 2015. The number of Tweets reached its peak on January 15 at 6:30 p.m. when the Pope arrived in Manila – with 3,664 Tweets per second, based on a report that Twitter shared through Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).
The most retweeted Tweet in the country also came from the Pope's recent Philippines trip through his @Pontifex account on January 16. His Tweet in the vernacular, “Ang Pilipinas ay patunay ng kabataan at kasiglahan ng Simbahan” (The Philippines is witness to the youth and vitality of the Church), had nearly 76,000 retweets and almost 90,000 favorites.
That same Tweet is also the Pope’s most Retweeted Tweet to date from the @Pontifex account. A tech-savvy evangelist, Pope Francis has recognized the big role of social media.
All those stories, as we said earlier, are a concrete demonstration of “history written in a hurry.”
More significantly it states Manila Bulletin’s place in society.
And so, the next generation of Manila Bulletin editors and content producers – as the reporters are now called – will continue to adhere to reporting real news, and timely stories, that will become timeless truths as Manila Bulletin continues into the next century.