Punchline
Walking down PUNCH’s memory lane
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
IT’S SUNDAY PUNCH 52nd anniversary this month!
My father, Ermin Sr., was at the helm for 10 years, from July 15, 1956 until he was shot by a politician in May 20, 1966. Then my uncle Gerry took it on for two years until I finished college in 1968.
The day after I received my diploma, I found myself boarding a Pantranco bus in Quezon City for the trip to Dagupan City, ready to take on the management of the paper yet not knowing where it could lead me and those who stayed on to keep the paper alive.
Looking back, I never would have thought the PUNCH will still be here today after what we’ve been through and still going through – from difficulties in finances to staffing to coverage.
It has always been a roller coaster ride for us over the years but each time we leave our editorial office after each presswork on Fridays, we always roll down our sleeves happy with the thought that we had another opportunity to prove that we remained true to the commitment defined by my father in 1956.
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Yes, we’ve come a long way.
The PUNCH’s maiden issue in 1956, using 8.5″ x 11.5″ paper format with 16 pages printed using the letterpress, had a masthead that was obviously crudely designed by hand, and was sold at P0.20. Annual subscription was offered at P10!
Today, the same typography illustrated in that masthead has been retained in our masthead today with the aid of a computer, and our 9.75″ x15.5″ copies printed using offset process, averaging 14 pages weekly and now sells at P6, or for an annual subscription of P500!
In its editorial box, only four names were listed, namely, Ermin Garcia, editor; Romulo M. Villamil, associate editor; Gerardo E. Garcia, assistant editor; and Oscar S. Coquia, business director. Today, we have at least 10 with an online version to boot! Note: My uncle Gerry is the lone survivor from the orig batch and continues to write his column today.
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Notably, the first issue had many of the province’s who’s who writing for the PUNCH. The list included Lt. Col. Job Mayo, PC provincial commander; Atty. Numeriano Tanopo Sr., College of Law dean of Orient Colleges; Victorino Daroya, past president of the Rotary Club of Dagupan and College of Commerce Dean of Dagupan Colleges; Rene “Wagwag” Lichauco; Leon O. Ty, Manila journalist; Toribio Jovellanos, Rotary Club of Dagupan, Romulo Villamil as columnist and Luz Aquino for the Society page.
The advertisers in that issue, largely greeting the paper on its maiden issue were: Pantranco, Cruman Shoes, Luzon Hotel, Mendoza Printing Press, Espino Music Store (of Antonio Espino), Dagupan Rotary Club, Magno Equipment & Supply.
Among the features were on Rufino Gabot, the first Pangasinan cycling hero to win the Tour of Luzon; Vital Bernardino as president of the Dagupan Rotary Club; E.P. Nava as the first subject of ‘People of Consequence’.
In its society pages, reported were the visit of Jose D. Aspiras, president of the National Press Club, to the city; the arrival of the third child of couple Jorge and Librada Coquia; the silver wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Raymundo V. Paras; and a cocktail party hosted by Don Rafael Gonzalez of Pantranco.
(Note: The ‘Punchline’ column started only in the second issue written then by ‘Ernog’).
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But we note that nothing much has changed in the affairs of the community and in the country since 1956. Note:
Head – “Bogus R.M. kin, once local maid”- it was about a woman impostor who claimed to be the adopted daughter of President Ramon Magsaysay, and duped politicians.
Head – “Vices & Rackets in Pangasinan”- exposing vice and crime rings operating in the province.
Head – “Local Private Schools”- a discussion on the state of private schools, the problems posed by diploma mills in the province.
Head -“The Gabot Story” – the story behind the marathon bike race.
Head – “The Church Should / Should Not Influence Elections” – a discussion on the role of the Catholic Church in governance.
Head – “3-Year Old Tot shot by Mother’s Cousin” – a report on a drunk 16-year old who pointed the gun at a family and shot a child in the family.
Head – “P1 Million for Public Works” – a news item on the budget allocated for Dagupan City by the Department of Public Works.
Head – “Lab Tests show Opium in PC Haul” – a report on the raid in two opium centers in Dagupan City.
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On reviewing these articles, one can sense that with the exception of the dates and names of the news subjects and topics, we have not really left where we left off in 1956.
For this reason, I feel that the PUNCH is constantly publishing its maiden issue, after 52 years, expressing the hope for better times for our people in Pangasinan!
(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/
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