The media is playing a key role in the great task of nation-building.

This was highlighted by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin during the inauguration of the new headquarters of The Philippine Star in Paranaque City on January 22, 2025.

Attended by political and business leaders, the event stressed the indispensability of media and the traditional press in Philippine society.

Bersamin said the Philippine media, especially those committed to journalistic integrity, like the Philippine Star, not only helps in keeping Filipinos informed and engaged but also fosters transparency and accountability in government.

“In today’s complex political and social landscape, [the] media should offer itself as [a] vital platform for meaningful discourse and a deeper understanding of the issues that help shape the consciousness of all Filipinos involved in the great task of nation-building,” Bersamin said.

The official implied that the Philippine press is both a witness and participant in the collective drive to attain full economic development.

In a compliment to the paper and a nod to the responsibility that Philippine media holds, Bersamin said that the “Star has chronicled our nation’s journey in times of triumph and turbulence with unflinching candor and directness,” he said.

“It has been a witness to all our struggles in those decades. It has celebrated our triumphs and has been a relentless advocate for economic progress,” he added.

According to Bersamin, like the other examples of excellent journalism in the country, “its stories have been informed and inspired because it has aimed at shaping the consciousness of generations of Filipinos involved in the giant task of nation-building.”

The event also featured a video message from First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos who praised the Philippine Star for inaugurating a new home which marks “a new chapter in its storied history and a testament to its continued growth.”

Also gracing the event were Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Senator Cynthia Villar, and tycoons Tessie Sy-Coson, Hans Sy, Fernando Zobel, Jaime Zobel, and Manny V. Pangilinan whose MediaQuest group has a controlling stake in the paper.

The Star’s new home is located at the Amvel Business Park in Paranaque City. |PND