The STAR celebrates

The Visayan DAILY STAR celebrated its Pearl Anniversary with a meaningful program and a delicious lunch at Planta Centro Hotel in Bacolod City yesterday.

It was a red-letter day for the DAILY STAR staff. Employees and guests came in red attire with matching pearls, to commemorate 30 years of journalism with a passion.

Gracing the happy occasion were Negros Occidental Gov. Freddie Marañon Jr., Bacolod Mayor Bing Leonardia, Vice Mayor Thaddy Sayson, Board Member Salvador Escalante, Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz of the Bacolod police, Msgr. GG Gaston, Fr. Felix Pasquin, one of DAILY STAR’s original staff members Mitchell Duran, who is now connected with the International Labor Organization based in Manila, the newspaper’s stockholders, staff, guests and well-wishers.

Lunch at 12:05 was blessed by Fr. Pasquin, DAILY STAR Editor-in-Chief and president Ninfa Leonardia gave the welcome remarks, then the messages of Gov. Freddie and Mayor Bing.

Token Lizares rendered a beautiful song “And I Love You So”, with Bagguer Villaruz at the piano, while Modesto Sao-noy read the message of Karl Malakunas, Philippine bureau chief of the Agence France-Presse, who was supposed to be the event’s speaker but had to cover the standoff at Scarborough Shoal.

After the response by Paeng Golez, everybody joined Lizares in singing “Look for a Star” that signaled the end to this bonggacious affair to remember.

Remember: The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.*