WOW. Has it really been that long?
Gold Star Daily is now 36 years old.
There was a time when many thought the paper wouldn’t last. People assumed it would eventually die a natural death. That’s what usually happens to newspapers in this part of the world — especially daily ones.
I’ll admit, I was one of the doubters. I had seen it before — the fate of others who tried and failed before Gold Star Daily. I thought this paper would be no different.
But a few years later, I started to change my mind. The paper was still around. I saw newsboys selling copies in the streets of Cagayan de Oro, right alongside national dailies from Manila.
Then came the moment that changed everything for me. One clear day, I witnessed Col. Alexander Noble and several hundred men, in full uniform, marching through the major streets of the city. It was like a declaration: Mindanao was now a separate state, different from the rest of the country.
What? I thought. This is no laughing matter.
Historical records say it happened on Oct. 4, 1990.
And Gold Star Daily was there — covering the event and capturing it on its pages. I even read in one issue that they were coming out with another edition that same day.
What? A local daily producing two editions in one day? That made me think — this paper must really be something.
As we know, Noble and his men wanted to send a message: Mindanao cannot be taken lightly. He even had the backing of local figures like former Mayor Reuben Canoy and other officials.
Of course, the declaration didn’t last long. Then-President Corazon Aquino made sure it didn’t. Mindanao remained part of the country. Noble and his fellow renegade officers were later dealt with accordingly.
Gold Star Daily reported all of it.
Over the years, it continued covering not just local news, but national events too. Eventually, I became part of the paper myself, overseeing coverage in Iligan City and nearby areas. That’s when I came to know Ernesto ‘Toto’ Chu, the man behind it all.
He’s not like other newspaper owners I’ve met — those who tried and failed to build something like Gold Star Daily. Toto believes in small victories leading to bigger ones. One of his favorite lines: “We need all the help we can get.”
He’s got a good sense of humor too, which reminds me of the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Running a daily newspaper is no easy task. He never said it directly, but you could tell — during meetings with editorial staff and correspondents in the Cagayan de Oro office — that he understood the weight of it all.
He made the effort to personally write to bureaus about ways to improve, even visiting them when necessary.
That was all before the internet changed everything.
Toto also knows how to find good editors. Today, we have Editor-in-Chief Cong Corrales, alongside people like Ben Balce and others. Their editing sharpens every story — making it compelling without resorting to sensationalism. Readers love it.
Of course, Toto has strong support from his family. His wife, Ma’am Bebotte Chu, plays a key role. Gladys Chu and Catherine Chu are actively involved in management. And Lisa, though based abroad, keeps Gold Star Daily close to her heart.
As we celebrate this 36th year, we must also thank the people who made it possible — our readers and clients. Without them, this paper wouldn’t have survived.
And yes, with the rise of digital media, Gold Star Daily has kept up with the times. We’re online, too.
Happy 36th anniversary, Gold Star Daily!
Email: nora.lady@yahoo.com or contact 09073384874 | 09277983167
