history of philippine mass media
TRANSCRIPT
History of Philippine Mass MediaReference: Philippine Communication Today
by Crispin Maslog (2007)
Newspapers in Spanish Period
Del Superior Govierno – started in 1811, the first regularly issued publication carrying news from the mother country Spain meant for the Spanish elite in the Phils.; more of a govt organ edited by the Spanish governor general
First act of censorship – the banning by the Spanish Cortes of the reprinting of news from foreign publications
Del Superior Govierno ceased publication in February 1812
Newspapers in Spanish Period
La Esperanza - 1st daily newspaper started in 1846; avoided trouble with the censors
Diario de Manila – started publication in 1848; staffed by competent men; lasted for 38 years; suppressed by the Spanish gov gen because it allegedly incited resentment of Filipinos against Spaniards
El Comercio – newspaper w/ biggest circulation & longest life span during Spanish regime – 56 years
Newspapers in Spanish Period
La Opinion – started in 1827; marked a milestone in Phil journalism; first opinion paper in the country; not fearful of govt censors; criticized Spanish friars & campaigned for ouster of religious heads
Magazines in Spanish Period
Known as weeklies, fortnightlies, monthlies, quarterlies, journals or reviews
Specialized in commerce, industry, agriculture, professions, religion, govt, arts and letters
Registro Mercantil de Manila (1824) - products and commerce; lasted 8 years
La Illustracion Filipinas (1859) - one of the 1st illustrated journals w/c promoted culture
Magazines in Spanish Period
El Trovador Filipino (1874) - 1st intellectual journal
El Bello Sexo (1881) - 1st women's magazine
Patnubay ng Katolika (1890) - 1st publication entirely in Tagalog
La Semana Elegante (1884) – satire magazines w/c hit important people then through sarcasm in literary pieces
Journalism in Spanish Period
Marked by censorship by the church and state
Characterized by financial instability Published in Spanish w/ limited circulation,
reaching only Spaniards in the Phils. & Spanish-speaking Filipino elite
By contemporary standards, newspapers in this period were more of literary organs; had literary style but faulty news writing; lacked sense of news values
Revolutionary Press
Rose in the latter part of Spanish rule and early part of American occupation (approx bet 1890 & 1905
La Solidaridad Kalayaan La Independencia El Renacimiento
La Solidaridad
Most famous of the revolutionary papers Published in Spain & written in Spanish;
read by the Phil. Elite or Illustrados both in Spain & in Phils.
Became the rallying point of Filipino intellectual expatriates in Europe
Graciano Lopez Jaena – first editor Contributors were Jose Rizal, Marcelo H.
del Pilar, G. Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce
La Solidaridad
Banned by Spanish authorities Smuggled into the Phils. Written in Spanish, limited circulation
Kalayaan
Secretly put out by Andres Bonifacio & Emilio Jacinto, leaders of the secret revolutionary society Katipunan
Entirely in Tagalog Only one issue came out but was credited
with having fanned the revolutionary fervor of the Filipinos
Bonifacio destroyed the printing press before Spanish authorities, who discovered its location could move in
La Independencia
Edited by Antonio Luna Became mouthpiece of Filipino rebels in
the war against the Spanish and Americans
Writers were Rafael Palma, Jose Palma, Leon Ma. Guerrero, & Cecilio Apostol
Suppressed by American authorities
El Renacimiento*
A nationalistic paper founded by Don Edgardo Ocampo
Edited by Teodoro M. Kalaw Famous in the early years of the American
regime due to aggressive staff of intellectuals
Papers founded during the American period were pro-American
Critical towards the Americans
El Renacimiento*
Freedom of the press in the Phils. was merely theoretical upon American takeover
Very strict libel laws making it easy for any govt official or private person to win in court
El Renacimiento was killed by a libel suit in 1908 due to an editorial entitled “Aves de Rapina,” w/c US Secretary of the Interior, Dean Worcester, interpreted as an attack against him
Newspapers during American Occupation
Manila Times (1898) - 1st daily newspaper in English; established by Thomas Gowan
Existed for 32 years Bought by first newspaper chain owner in
the Phils., Alejandro Roces, Sr. in 1927 Roces also owned Taliba (Tagalog daily),
La Vanguardia (Spanish daily) & Manila Tribune (English daily)
Roces disbanded Manila Times
Newspapers during American Occupation
Manila Bulletin – oldest existing newspaper (1900)
Started out as a shipping journal Founded by American Carson Taylor Developed a reputation as the mouthpiece
of the American community in the Phils. even after Phil. Independence was granted in 1946 and as long as it was ran by Taylor
Manila Bulletin
Bought by Hans Menzi in 1957 Modernized the paper's format Gave it a Filipino orientation
Philippines Herald
Pro-American papers in the American period
Phils. Herald published in 1920 Pro-Filipino newspaper; nationalistic Founded at the suggestion of Manuel L.
Quezon, who became Phil. president One of the early editors was Carlos P.
Romulo, who became president of the UN General Assembly; famous in Phil. diplomacy
Newspapers and magazines came to the Phils. by way of the colonizing countries – Spain then US
Movies and radio came to Phils. through the US
Movies
Period of the Silent Pictures (1897-1929) Talking Pictures Period (1929-1970) New Cinema (1970 onwards)
Period of Silent Pictures
Three Stages Dominance of the documentary film Rise of the feature film Establishment of Filipino film companies
Documentary Film
On Jan 1897, six movies were exhibited for the first time at the Salon Pertierra in Escolta
Documentaries shown in the Phils. featured
– the eruption of Taal Volcano in 1911
– local bullfighting
– gold mining in Paracale
– fiesta at Obando
– films on Napoleon, assassination of Pres. McKinley
Rise of Feature Film
Started in 1912 American-produced films
– La Vida de Rizal
– El Fusilamiento de Rizal
– Walang Sugat
– Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora
– Nena la Boxeadora
– El Filibusterismo
– Florante at Laura
Rise of Feature Film
Adopted stories from sarsuwela, awit, & novels
Historical events Drew subject matter from popular culture
associating Filipino film w/ pop culture
Establishment of Filipino Film Companies
Malayan Movies was founded in 1917 by Jose and Jesus Nepomuceno, first Filipino producers
“Dalagang Bukid” produced by Jose Nepomuceno in 1919
Based on sarswela starring original actors Atang de la Rama & Marceliano Ilagan
Establishment of Filipino Film Companies
Nepomuceno filmed “La Venganza de Don Silvestre(1920) & “Noli Me Tangere”(1930)
Other Filipino film producers
– Vicente Salumbides – introduced new camera techniques fm Hollywood
– Julian Manansala – produced movies on political & nationalist themes
– Carmen Concha – used authentic costumes & props for her movies
Establishment of Filipino Film Companies
Other Filipino film producers
– Silos brothers
– Carlos Vander Tolosa
– Jose Domingo Badilla
– Rafael Hernandez
Talking Pictures
“Ang Aswang” - first Filipino talking picture produced in 1932
Advent of big Filipino film companies Philippine Films produced “Zamboanga” in
1936 for local & int'l release Excelsior & Sampaguita Pictures were
founded in 1937 LVN Pictures (1938) X'otic Films (1939)
Talking Pictures
Significant developments
– Star system
– Rise of genre films• Action movie
• Melodrama
• Slapstick comedy
• Films based on the life of a hero or historical event
Talking Pictures
Japanese occupation 1941 – 1945 Movie companies stopped production “Tatlong Maria” was produced by the
Japanese War pictures like “Garrison 13” and “Camp
O'Donnel” were produced after the war
Talking Pictures
Fifties – Golden Age of Filipino Film Award-giving bodies
– The Maria Clara Awards of the Manila Times Publishing Co
– Filipino Academy of Movie Arts & Sciences (FAMAS)
Talking Pictures
Quality Filipino Films
– “Ifugao” by Gerardo de Leon
– “Anak Dalita” by Lamberto Avellana
– Directors Gregorio Fernandez and Ramon Estrella
Talking Pictures
Big Four film studios in the fifties – Sampaguita, Lebran, LVN, and Premiere Productions
Sixties
– Closing down of some of the big studios
– Proliferation of independent companies
– Genre films still being produced
– Towards end of 60's came the bomba films
New Cinema
Seventies New breed of film directors and actors,
some of w/c studied abroad Birth of new consciousness as the product
of activism in early 70's (Marcos era) Freedom of expression was curtailed
through censors Film artists were controlled
New Cinema
Ishmael Bernal - “Pagdating sa Dulo,” “Relasyon,” “Broken Marriage” - films on the middle class
Lino Brocka - “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag,” “Jaguar,” “Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim” - films on the lower class
Marilou Diaz-Abaya - “Brutal” and “Moral”- on the new generation
Peque Gallaga - “Oro, Plata, Mata” - period film
New Cinema
Short film After assassination of Ninoy Aquino,
documentary films exposing abuses of the Marcos regime
– The Arrogance of Power
– Signos
– Lakbayan
New Cinema
Feb 1983 – Lino Brocka organized the 1st Free-the-Artist, Free-the-Media rally
Brocka denounced the expansion of powers of Marcos' Board of Review for Motion Pictures and Television (Board of Censors)
Pushed to oust censors chief, Maria Kalaw-Katigbak
New Cinema
Jul 1983 – Free-the-Artist Movement became the Concerned Artists of the Phils. - the most militant artists group under the Marcos regime
April 1986 - Brocka spearheaded founding of Unyon ng mga Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino (MPP) – fought for economic rights of film artists and technicians
New Cinema
Films like “Broken Marriage,” “Brutal,” and “Moral” presented realities in society; “Sister Stella L” sought to awaken movie audience to political issues
Artists of the new cinema helped inspire the formation of protest organization during the Marcos regime
Film-related gov't agencies
Agencies formed under Pres. Cory Aquino
– Movie & Television Review & Classification Board (MTRCB)
– Video Regulatory Board (VRB)
– Film Development Foundation of the Phils, (FDFP)
– NMPC Color Laboratory
– Film Archives
Radio
Radio came first to the Phils. as early as 1922 during the American regime
1st Phil. Radio stations were set up by American Henry Hermann
In 1927 J. Amado Araneta bought 2 radio stations fm their American owners w/c started the trend in later years of “media monopoly” - Araneta also owned DMHM newspapers
Radio
In 1929, radio was introduced to the provinces, 1st in Cebu, set up by Radio Corporation of the Phils.
Before WW II there were 6 commercial radio stations in the country
Most prewar radio stations owned by Americans also staffed by Americans; language used was English; entertainment and newscasts
Radio
In 1942 during Japanese Occupation, all radio stations were closed except for KZRH renamed PIAM used by Japanese for their broadcasts
Radio became the news and info medium esp after the war in 1945
First call letters changed from “K” to “D” Radio became mainly an entertainment
medium
Newspaper Chains
Started during American occupation First Filipino newspaper chain owner
Alejandro Roces Sr. Sons Joaquin “Chino” and Ramon were to
inherit and expand mass media empire Roces chain was known as TVT (Taliba-
Vanguardia-Tribune) started in 1916 Tribune became one of the 2 leading
papers during American period
Newspaper Chains
The other leading paper was the Herald – part of newspaper chain, the DHMM (El Debate-Mabuhay-Herald-Monday Post)
TVT & DHMM competed w/ each other until the outbreak of WW II in 1941
First publication to be called a magazine was the Philippine Magazine (1904), first called Philippine Teacher
Newspaper Chains
Chain of magazines in the vernacular was started by Ramon Roces (1923)
Contents – fiction, entertainment, how-to-do articles
– Liwayway (Tagalog)
– Bisaya (E. Visayan region)
– Hiligaynon (W. Visayan region)
– Bannawag (Ilocos region)
Newspaper Chains
Philippines Free Press – founded in 1907, taken over in 1908 by Robert McCullough Dick
Leading English language magazine before martial law in 1972
Fearless crusader against gov't corruption Only Liwayway was the only prewar
publication allowed to publish during the Japanese Occupation; used for Japanese propaganda
Advertising
Beginnings as a form of mass communication date back to Spanish period
16th & 17th centuries – hand-painted bills displayed in markets & public places; “anuncios” were posted outside shops to announce goods for sale
18th century – merchants printed & distributed handbills to potential customers
Advertising
1st decade of 19th century- 1st printed ads in newspapers (“anuncios”) - for products & services in elite areas of Manila like Binondo & Escolta
1920s – one-man ad agencies, precursors of modern ad agencies
Frank J. Herrier – Napoleon of Philippine Advertising; led big & successful ad campaigns
San Miguel Brewery
Advertising
Manuel Buenaventura – first Filipino to handle advertising accounts
Philippine Publicity Service, Inc. - 1st ad agency
Two important names in Phil. advertising - Antonio Lagos & Pedro Teodoro
Philippine Promotions Bureau or Philprom (1945) - 1st all Filipino advertising agency organized after the war; became one of the top ad agencies in the country
Advertising
By 1948 – 12 recognized ad agencies In 1960s, Tagalog became more widely
used as a language of advertising; advertising in television developed rapidly, formerly dominated by radio
In 1974 – 41 ad agencies Growth in advertising seen in the 1960s &
1970s Closing of 5,000 business firms in 1984-
85, incl. less than 25% of ad agencies
Postwar Newspapers
Manila Chronicle – put up by prewar newspaper men in 1945; later sold to Don Eugenio Lopez, brother of VP Fernando Lopez
Manila Bulletin & Philippines Herald were revived
Joaquin Roces put up the new Manila Times to replace The Tribune
Taliba was revived
Postwar Newspapers
Roces put up Daily Mirror (afternoon paper) and Weekly Women's Magazine (leading women's magazine before martial law)
Postwar Period Television
Television arrived in the Phils. in the 50s 1952 – FEATI University opened an
experimental TV station 1953 – commercial television came to the
Phils 1st station DZAQ-TV Channel 3 was
opened by Alto Broadcasting System; owned by Antonio Quirino, brother of then Pres. Elpidio Quirino
Postwar Period Television
Fernando (Phil. VP) & Eugenio Lopez owned Chronicle Broadcasting Network bought Alto Broadcasting Network in 1957
ABS-CBN became the 1st radio-TVnetwork in the Phils., operating the only two TV channels at the time
Republic Broadcasting System owned by Bob Stewart, opened another TV station, DZBB-TV Channel 7 in 1960
Postwar Period Television
1st provincial TV station was Ch. 3 in Cebu by ABS-CBN
In 1968, ABS-CBN became the largest radio-television network in the Phils. - 5 TV stations & 20 radio stations
In 1969, ABS-CBN made television history when it covered live the landing of the first men in moon, in color
Phil. Mass Media before Martial Law
Martial law was proclaimed on Sept. 21, 1972
Mass media were privately owned and independent of gov't control
Multilingual but leadership was exercised by the English language press
Manila-centered and underdeveloped in the provinces
Phil. Mass Media before Martial Law
Enjoyed political freedom but controlled by big businesses
Lacked ethics and professionalism