For this belated celebration of the Tribune’s 45th anniversary (it should have been March 4, 2026 during the first issue of the 46th volume), we wish to thank every single reader who has patronized this paper during the last four-and-a-half decades, from the locals who have always wanted the feel of a real newspaper to those outside the island and elsewhere who have to make do with the PDF copy or the posts on the Tribune website or on social media.
Without you, there would be no one to justify this paper’s continued existence. You are the primary beneficiary of our goal to report significant incidents occurring in this part of the globe as well as air our views on the current issues of the day.
The same gratitude also goes to members of the Gianan family who remain committed to their roles, especially in the distribution of the paper to its outlets.
This includes our remaining newspaper distributor, Rafael Medrana, who tirelessly delivers the tabloid to his clients along Rizal Avenue from Rawis to the public market where he displays the remaining copies on a discarded wooden stand by the fish stalls every Wednesday morning.
When I started helping my father, the late Fredeswindo T. Gianan Sr., with covering events, taking photos, and editing copies, the job also entailed helping manage about 30 to 50 newsboys who crowded the Gianan residence’s terrace every Wednesday.
The Tribune copies, packed in several layers of brown paper, were fetched from the ferry and the pages have to be assorted in sequence by the newsboys.
It also bears mentioning that for two decades now, the cost of each Tribune copy has remained at P10 although it costs about twice as much to produce right now.
It is unfortunate that not many local businesses, except for a few like San-Yang Furniture at the Catanduanes Home Depot, Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital, Regina Shipping Lines, Marem Pension House and CTL Trading, are keen on supporting the survival of this storied newspaper far into the next 55 years.
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While this paper has maintained its website on the Internet for 25 years now, its presence has not contributed much to the revenue stream.
Perhaps, the next generation of Tribune publishers, editors and news reporters who are adept at modern technology would prove to be better at exploiting the potentials of online publications to the maximum.
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It also worth emphasizing that 2026 marks the 10th year of the cyberlibel case filed against this writer and then columnist Rosulo Manlangit, a few details of which are discussed in the frontpage story of the paper’s anniversary.
The case is on appeal at the Supreme Court en banc where it has been elevated by the Third Division.
For eight years now, I have also been prevented from traveling abroad due to the Hold Departure Order (HDO) against me that was issued by the court on motion of the complainants.
I have been unable to apply for a Philippine passport for sometime now due to a law that denies that common privilege to those convicted of a crime.
When I applied for a passport last year, the DFA system just allowed me to pay but denied my request.
There is nothing to do but wait for the final judgment.
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GUESSING THE WIFE’S AGE. A man bought his middle-aged wife a new line of expensive cosmetics guaranteed to make her look years younger. After painstakingly applying them over a period of hours, she said: “Darling, tell me honestly, what age would you say I am?”
He studied her carefully before replying: “Judging from your skin, twenty; your hair, eighteen; and your figure, twenty-four.”
“Oh, you flatterer!” she gushed.
“Hey, wait a minute!” he said. “I haven’t added them up yet.”