CITY OF SAN FERNANDO–The Capampangan In Media, Incorporated (CAMI) launched a 75-page book of Kapampangan Journalists which asserts and proclaims that Pampanga was a cradle of Philippine Journalism during the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awards (MOKA) night yesterday.
Jose P. Cortez, CAMI secretary general, said that each page of the book is a veritable treasure trove of historic gems that were hidden, but added, it was fortunately found in their painstaking search for the roots of Capampangan journalism.
“Dacal pung salamat quing biniye yung tiyempo quecami, banting upayang aipaquilala miya ing maimpis dapot maulagang librung pipawasan ming seliksik quing caquewan da ring documentong macasalicut caring cumbento at biblioteca da ring miyayaaliuang congregacion at orden da ring kaparian (Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to present the thin but an important book of our history which we have painstakingly searched for the Capampangan journalism which were hidden in old churches and congregations),” Cortez said.
The book bared that the first xylographic printing presses were introduced in La Pampanga and operated in Manila, Lubao, Bacolor and Abucay, Bataan.
It says that the father of Philippine journalism, Tomas Pinpin is a Capampangan, taught by the Dominicans in the processes of printing. He produced the first newsletter, Succesos Felices antedating Western publications by scores of years
Many Kapampangans wrote in Spanish and for Spanish newspapers, despite the harsh censorship during the three centuries the country was under Spanish dominion.
It was in the latter part of the 19th century, that the genius of Kapampangan writers-revolutionaries like Juan Crisostomo Soto and the brothers Tolentino blossomed and poured forth their longings for freedom and independence from colonialism.
It says that Kapampangans like Jose Alejandrino wrote for La Solidaridad and helped Jose Rizal in publishing the latter’s novels.
The book also bared that Andres Bonifacio, the Katipunan Supremo, was of Kapampangan lineage, a scion of proletariats from Masantol, Pampanga.
“We have a noble heritage to nurture and the Kapampangan nation, though scattered throughout the whole world, has reason to be proud,” Cortez added.
The officers and directors of CAMI are as follows: Crispulo Icban Jr., chairman; Fred dela Rosa,
vice-chairman; Federico Pascual Jr., president, Ernie Tolentino, vice-president; Ashley Jay Manabat, VP for provinces; Jose Cortez, secretary general; Dionisio Pelayo, treasurer; Vittorio Vitug, auditor; and directors John Manalili, Al Pedroche, Jake Espino, Antonio Lozano, Fred Roxas , Virgilio Vitug and Max Sangil.
By Joel P. Mapiles
