PN founder Danny Fajardo’s crusade will go on, says Sonza

Daniel G. Fajardo, Panay News founder

ILOILO – “Danny G. Fajardo is gone, but his crusade and work go on.”

With these words Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Demetrio Sonza paid tribute to the founder of Panay News, the biggest regional daily in the Visayas.

Fajardo, a prime exponent of a strong regional media industry, passed away on Sept. 10. He was 72. He founded Panay News in 1981 “to expand the frontiers of press freedom.”

“For many years Panay News struggled through various challenges and obstacles but Danny persevered and succeeded in making Panay News what it is today,” said Sonza, a lawyer, writer and historian.

It cannot be gainsaid, according to Sonza, that Fajardo managed to make Panay Newsthe most credible and profitable periodical in Western Visayas.

“Indeed, he was a successful entrepreneur as his hometown of Mina had honored him on its 50th anniversary,” said Sonza.

Panay News has “the most modern printing press in the region,” stressed Sonza, and is “highly respected in the corridors of power – in Congress and in Malacañang.”

Proof of this high repute was the fact that Panay News reporter and columnist Sammy Julian was elected president of the Malacañang Press Corps.

Fajardo, who served as president for several years of the Iloilo Press Club (IPC) – the oldest press club in the country – also established Panay Balita (formerly known as Hublas nga Kamatuoran), the weekly Files magazine and the popular radio-cable television public affairs program Reklamo Publiko.

“A keen analyst of politics and current events, Danny’s Reklamo Publiko was decidedly the most listened to public affairs program on radio and television in Iloilo. His incisive mind and quick wit had helped much in forming sound public opinion on countless concerns and issues of great import,” stressed Sonza.

A graduate of Central Philippine University and Silliman University, Fajardo started his journalism career as a correspondent of Manila Bulletin, according to Sonza.

“I saw him struggle sa iya nga pagtinguha nga ang Panay News mapadaku ‘ya. We called each other ‘Primo’. Makasiling ako nga close ako sa iya. Bal-an ko iya inagihan kag nadangtan,” said Sonza.

He heaped praises on Fajardo as an “eminent Ilonggo journalist”, “media icon of stellar position” and “staunch defender of press freedom.”

“A gauge of Fajardo’s eminence as a journalist and media leader is the list of positions and distinctions he held over the years,” said the Provincial Board member.

Aside from heading IPC, Sonza said, Fajardo also served as executive vice president of the Publishers’ Association of the Philippines; chief executive officer of the National Book Development Board; commissioner of the Commission on Filipino Language; and director, Media Division, Commission on Culture and the Arts.

Fajardo was also a Philippine media delegate to the United Nations’ 50th Anniversary, added Sonza.

“Danny Fajardo is gone but his crusade and work go on…His ideas and words remain intact for seekers to find…The printed word is like an image carved in stone; it may not be erased in a thousand years,” said Sonza.

SOURCE: Panay News

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