| Betty Go-Belmonte |
A Truthful Tradition As a news correspondent, Betty Go-Belmonte braved Martial Law and fought the Marcos dictatorship that suppressed the freedom of the press. As an entrepreneur, she also confronted the barriers for truth and information, initiating a legacy that went on for the succeeding generations.Betty Go-Belmonte’s great love for journalism runs in the blood. Her father, Go Puan Seng, is a Chinese immigrant who eventually became one of the country's leading newspapermen. His father’s career spawned an important part of history when in the 1930s, her father was acquitted of libel charges that engendered a significant exposé on a government official’s corruption. The discovery eventually became the groundwork for the contemporary Philippine libel laws. Her family also owned several printing presses that could publish over 250,000 broadsheet copies a day. Consequently, Betty’s journalist persona unfolded early on. But it was during the height of the martial rule that her noble purpose for the “Fourth Estate” was significantly confirmed. During that time, arbitrary arrest, “salvage” murders, torture and abuse were rampant, but all major newspapers were dead silent and indifferent about the reality created by the Marcos dictatorship. The freedom of the press was then irrelevant, even useless, because of government censorship among the dailies. In the midst of the suppression of vital information and truth about the administration, Betty remained as one of the most persistent advocates of responsible journalism by writing stories that the government did not want people to read. At that time, there was no transparency in the government and the monopoly of news and facts were only available to pro-administration publications. Through the “mosquito press” or the alternative press composed mainly of opposition papers, the ouster of President Ferdinand Marcos was ultimately realized. In 1986, together with Max Soliven and Art Borjal, Betty established The Philippine STAR to give voice for truth and to set an avenue for the continuous commitment to press freedom. It was also inspired by her innate desire to uphold truth and fairness at ible journalism have become important ingredients to The Philippine STAR’s tradition of excellence. In 2006, The Philippine STAR was awarded Outstanding Newspaper of the Year by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption “in recognition of its invaluable service to the community by courageously sticking to the truth and to the basic tenets of professional journalism.” During the same year, The Philippine STAR was also conferred the Agora Awards Marketing Company of the Year Award by the Philippine Marketing Association. After her death in 1994, Betty’s mission for respectable and credible reportage is kept alive by her three sons Miguel, Isaac and Kevin, who are now the President and CEO, Editor-in-Chief, and Corporate Secretary of The Philippine STAR, respectively. Indeed, her legacy lives on as the passion that continues to burn stood the test of time. For her significant entrepreneurial contribution to the field of journalism, Betty Go-Belmonte was handed a posthumous award (accepted by Grace Glory Go, Executive Vice-President, The Philippine STAR) as one of the Most Inspiring Manila Entrepreneurs given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) at the recently held Go Negosyo sa Manila last Sept. 7, 2007 at the Philam Center for the Arts, UN Avenue, Manila. The Go Negosyo sa Manila is part of the ongoing Go Negosyo Caravan spearheaded by Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III. Go Negosyo sa Manila is presented by Globe, PAGCOR, Hyundai, Islands Souvenirs and RFM Corporation. Other partners for the event are The Philippine STAR, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Creativoices Production, Ideal Minds Corporation, and Full Circle Communications. |
