EVERY great institution begins with a single, bold step. For Panay News, that journey started 45 years ago with a simple mission: to provide the people of Western Visayas with a reliable voice.
As we celebrate our 45th anniversary, we are honored to remain the region’s most trusted daily reading companion and the No. 1 regional newspaper.
For 45 years, Panay News stood for truth, integrity, and stories that matter. With gratitude for the past and hope for the future, we remain committed to inform, inspire, and serve our community better.
Here’s a brief overview of Panay News’ history and growth.
April 7, 1981 – Panay News was born, the brainchild of Danny Gumban Fajardo and better half, Maria Santillan Fajardo.
It began as a weekly newspaper called “Panay News Today” and became known for its adversarial content and robust exercise of press freedom. Jeremias “Jerry” Taclino was its first Editor-in-Chief. After two issues, Vicky Primero took over. The “Today” in the masthead was dropped. Primero was succeeded on the last week of April by Herbert Vego.
1986 – Panay News adapted the Eagle as its symbol, perfectly representing the paper’s courage and strength as it overcomes logistical and operational challenges and remains steadfast.
1990 – Now the undisputed leader in the local print media industry, Panay News became semi-weekly, coming out Mondays and Thursdays.
1991 – The publication’s frequency increased to three times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays – to meet the growing demand of the reading public for fearless journalism.
1995 – Asserting its dominance, Panay News became a daily newspaper (with issues from Mondays to Sundays) while at the same time adopting the desktop publishing method. It also diversified its content, affirming its reputation as the public’s reliable source of up-to-date news.
2002 – Panay News became the first newspaper in Western Visayas to feature a full-color front page, setting it apart from other local publications.
2003 – On September 29 of this year, sister publication Hublas Nga Kamatuoran was launched. It was a pioneering (first and only) Hiligaynon newspaper in the country, captivating Ilonggo readers with its extensive reporting of crimes and entertaining Hiligaynon columns.
2011 – Panay News was recognized by the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. as the best Regional Newspaper. Also on this year, a new paper administration dawned under the leadership of Daniel Fajardo II, with the editorial office and printing site moving from Mandurriao, Iloilo City to Barangay Mali-ao, Pavia, Iloilo.
2012 – Embracing social media, Panay News joined Facebook and Twitter, sharing links from the paper’s website, and highlights, insights, photographs and infographics. It also released a quick response or QR code that allows access to the paper’s website using mobile devices.
2014 – On January 17 of this year, Panay News received the Golden Horse Award as “Best Provincial Newspaper” from the Federation of Provincial Press Clubs of the Philippines. This year, the paper acquired computer-to-plate imaging and web-fed offset printing machines, a first in Western Visayas.
2015– Improved distribution in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental by hitting the newsstands as early as 4 a.m., earlier than national papers and the rest of the local papers there.
2017 – To give its digital presence more muscle, Panay News formed its social media team for media content production.
2018 – Digital Marketing was introduced, doing for clients live event video coverage of product launchings, business/store openings, and produced video advertisements.
2019 – “PN Exclusives”, a video-magazine program that features personalities, achievers, organizations, and events, was launched. Also this year, Panay News, Inc. takes over the management of Bacolod City-based Watchmen Daily Journal, thereby becoming a sister publication of Panay News.
2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic tested Panay News’ resilience. The paper persisted despite the prolonged lockdowns to become the “last newspaper standing” in Western Visayas.
2021 – “PN Wrap-up” was launched. This is a weekly digital news program that eventually evolved into the Monday-to-Friday “PN Tonight”. Panay News also took over the management of Watchmen Daily Journal.
2024 – Panay News clinched three major awards in the Philippine Press Institute’s (PPI) 2023 Community Press Awards – Best in Editorial Page, Best in Reporting on Migration Issues, and Best in Business and Economic Reporting. PPI is the national association of newspapers and online publications.
2025 – Panay News clinched another major award after being named Best in Editorial Page for two consecutive years at the Philippine Press Institute’s (PPI) 2024 Community Press Awards.
