History

REVISITING THE PAGES OF THE INDUSTRIALIST

Just like its pages all throughout the years, the student publication of Honorians has had its history through back and white with a touch of grays in between. Mother Nature was good enough to have blessed the paper with all its elements- buried earth, blown by the wind, burned through the fire and soak by water- strengthening it, polishing it through the years. If there is one publication whose history is as colorful, if not as shaded, as the four color of cyan, magenta, yellow and black, that would be the Industrialist.

Many may think why the student’s publication has been named The Industrialist. Trend during the early years of student journalism, student publications’ names were based on how they would best describe the studentry they represent. University of the Philippines has named its own as “Collegian”, meaning college students; Polytechnic University of the Philippines with “Catalyst” as for Chemistry, the precipitating agent; Bulacan State University das “Pacesetter”, because they “ set the pace”; and the University of Santo Tomas has “Varsitarian”, general term for a school team.

In case of DHVCAT, since most of its students then were taking up technical and vocational courses, and were said to be “industrious”, the word “industrialist” was used. “Industrialist” is a synonym of “industrious” or “hard-working” in layman’s term.

Said to be one the oldest student publications in the Philippines, The Industrialist has experienced so much changes that it can make its own history book. But its pages are not yet enough to be displayed in local libraries, so far now, all we can do is reminisce all that was Indus through years.

DARK CHAPTER

Although it has existed for so many years, The Industrialist’s history is still unknown and a big puzzle up to this very moment because of all the tragedies and calamities the publication has been through.

Oldest copy existing was dated March 1962, but former editors said there were a number of issues published further than what was recovered. But there was no way to identify if there were really newer issues other than what remained. Based on the volume of the only remaining copy, next issues were then patterned to it; thus a tear in the pages of The Industrialist history.

Dark chapter started when the Japanese colonized the country six decades ago. Then communist invaders from North Asia occupied the college and put up a military base of their own. When the Allied Forces defeated Japan, retreating Japanese soldiers burned most of the college’s buildings including the publication’s office. Documents and back issues of The Industrialist were put into ashes, and history was forever lost. 

As if bearing the curse of fire, a couple of years later, the school was once again torched down by a fire accident. Again, vital data and information about the recovering publication’s history were turned into ashes. History of The Industrialist was blown into dust and its history was lost in eternity. Fire was not enough to stop the student publication of Bacolor from publishing. Its editors and writers persisted on their job of delivering true and quality articles and continued to write the new pages for The Industrialist’s history

Worse than the flames of hell, in 1972, then late President Ferdinand Marcos declared Proclamation 1081 putting the whole Philippines under Martial Law. Media was gagged with the closure of press offices, warrantless arrests, abductions and murder of journalist critical to the Marcos Administration. Just to survive the age of martial rule, The Industrialist was forced to cover the bad image of government and publish articles in favor of Martial Law, painting a pseudo-image of what supposed to be a beautiful life three decades ago.

Lies ended when people walked out in the streets to protest against the Marcosian rule. Streets of EDSA were filled with democracy-loving Filipinos and cried never again. People Power revolution toppled the dictator off Malacanang Palace and the spirit of democracy was free again. Right to free speech was enjoyed again; thus the rebirth of press freedom. It was during the post-Marcosian government when regular columns like “Point of Order”, “Mga Hagupit ni Juan Makulit”, “Huffs and Puffs”, and “Tinig Mag-aaral” graced the pages of The Industrialist. These concerned and talked about the local and national issues and the daily struggle of students. The student publication started to serve as the Honorians’ (moniker given to DHVCAT students) medium to voice out and express their feelings and ideas.

But as they said “good things do not last long.” After some years of productive publishing, Mt. Pinatubo erupted, spewed lahar like forever, erasing, burying in meters deep all that comes in its way. Bacolor was the most ravaged town affected by the onslaught. About twelve-foot deep mud covered and buried the once progressive town of Pampanga. DHVCAT was also badly affected when almost all of its buildings were covered with lahar, paralyzing education to thousands of students.

Wanting to help the best way it knows, The Industrialist, proving as it can withstand the toughest of times, assisted lahar victims by publishing maps of areas of Bacolor so not to get lost. It also wrote articles of encouragement to enlighten the depressed Kapampangans who were left with the trauma of the tragedy, saying Mt. Pinatubo was not the end of their dreams.

Either destroyed by fire, blown in thin air by the wind, soaked out wet by flood water or buried twelve-feet below, The Industrialist stood tall throughout time.

Emblem

 The Industrialist - Emblem

For many years, The Industrialist, the official publication of our school existed and has been through many experiences both challenging and inspiring.

At this very day, no living person can tell of the history of the publication. Nobody can tell when the first issue of the Industrialist was published, who were its first staff members and who the first adviser was.

The oldest known remaining copy was dated March 1962 and volume number on it suggests the Industrialist first published an issue in 1940. But all of these are merely calculations, estimates and guesses.

For its long estimated years of existence, it’s was only in 2003 that the publication staff created an emblem to signify Indus as a whole. The logo was said to be something that completed the identity of the publication, and would epitomize the ideal of this great and striving publication.

The letter “l” that is the main figure in the logo is the first letter of the name of the publication. It also embodies strength and stability. It connotes integrity, independence and impartiality. As the slogan goes, “Independent, Impartial, In good faith.”

The wheel symbolizes progress, development and industry. The wheel express the name of the publication itself. The name Industrialist came to be because DHVTSU is recognized as a school of industry.

The pencil emblems the very powerful writing instrument used in writing. It serves as a weapon against the publication’s continuous battle and search for truth, as the main task of the organization is to write by using the medium for the betterment of all DHVCAT students.

These symbols summarize certain ideals the Industrialist stands for. It also describe what the Industrialist is.

This complete identity of the publication is another milestone not only for the publication staff members but also for all Honorians. This may be a symbol of all the principles the school fought and fight for; for the hardship the publication overcome; for the challenges that will continually besiege all its members as a student publication and most of all to the founders of the Industrialist whose identities have been forever lost. To these people we owe the existence of this prestigious publication. The Industrialist.

 

Awards

Staff

The Industrialist

Editorial Board

A.Y. 2019-2020

 

Jiro Michael B. Maniago
Editor-in-Chief

Cresenta M. Dapdap
Associate Editor

Exzur N. Ulayan
Managing Editor - Internal

Ervin Patrick U. Cui
Managing Editor - External

John Derrick J. Cordova
News Editor

Ethel P. Lapuz
Features Editor

John Zenrick N. Valdez
DevCommEditor

Daniel Louis Y. Mallari
Sports Editor

Joanna Marie B. Sitjar
Literary and Capampangan Editor

Jerwin F. Bangeles
Art Director

Brix Deniel C. Mendoza
Head Photojournalist

Ryan Joseph C. Cordova
Multimedia Editor

Charry Joy P. Pestaño
Chief Lay-out Artist

Frances R. De Leon
Circulations Manager

 

Ms. Antonia B. Fernandez
Publication Adviser

Dr. Chona M. Navarro
Publication Adviser