Christine Herrera
Christine is a seasoned journalist who has been covering the House of Representatives for Manila Standard for a decade now. She has won top prize in the first ever PopDev Award for her article on the government’s reproductive health policy as well as in the CMMA for her story on the botched Mamasapano operation. She may be a fiesty reporter on the field, but to her Manila Standard family, she is everybody’s mamu.
Krisna Lapuz Zurbano
Krisna started working for Manila Standard on August 1, 2007. She was initially was assigned to the Circulation Department to monitor, maintain, and update daily subscriptions. As such she was tasked with keeping a record of each subscriber’s data, preparing their billing statements and making sure their payment record is up to date. She was also asked to monitor distribution—keeping a record of transactions made with Metro Manila newspaper carriers and provincial forwarders.
According to her, working for a major newspaper gives her a sense of satisfaction.
“I am happy to be a part of an organization that disseminates informative articles, news and current events to readers. I’ve learned how a newspaper issue is created and I’ve also learned how to deal with different people. Most importantly, I value the friendship with my co-workers especially, the whole circulation department, and consider them my family because of the support and advice they give – not only on work but also on life and family as well.”
Joy Marie Vallazo Pacete
Joy joined started working for Manila Standard on September 7, 2007 as a reliever for Jhing Nierva.
She joined the company’s Credit and Collection department, working under MST Treasury chief Annie Grefal.
Later she transferred to the Billings group of MST Chief Accountant Mario Policarpio Jr. “As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Manila Standard, I really feel proud and blessed,” she says.
Jove L. Atienza
An accounting major, Jove eschewed the task of crunching numbers for the creativity of designing and laying out pages for publication. He honed his layouting skills in various publications like Malaya Newspaper and The Peninsula Newspaper in Doha, Qatar. He joined Manila Standard in March 1997 as a senior layout artist, assigned to the front page. As such, he was responsible for the way the Manila Standard looked everyday. In 2004, he was promoted to Layout and Encoding supervisor by then editor-in-chief Jullie Yap Daza. He continues to fulfill the daily task of supervisor, assigning and delegating duties to the other layout artists of the newspaper.
Erasmo “Sonny”Espiritu (Photographer)
As the designated roving photographer, Sonny Espiritu is responsible for those interesting human interest photos that are published on the front page. He relies on his instincts and sense of aesthetic to capture slice-of-life “moments” on camera and sharing them with the reading public. He began his career with Standard at the age of 24, as a staff photographer for the company’s sister publication, Savvy, a fortnightly lifestyle magazine. When the company decided to dissolve the publication, Bobby Cabrera, chief photographer of Manila Standard, decided to take him in as part of the Photography department.
Through the years, Espiritu’s foray into the world of photography has garnered him numerous awards and citations from the Catholic Mass Media Awards, the Philippine Press Institute, Press Photographers Association of the Philippines, Sports Foundation of Asia in Malaysia, Konrad Adenaur Foundation Center for Journalism, Population Development Media Awards, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (during which he won the Grand Prize for his photo “Isang Pitik sa Charity”.)
“I am humbled and honored to be working in a broadsheet newspaper that allows me to share my point of view with the public, while providing opportunities for me to hone my craft. Without Manila Standard, I would not have received all these awards. I just love photography; I just love to shoot. I love working for the best. That’s why after 20 years, I’m still here in this prestigious publication,” Sonny says.
Joel Espiritu Zurbano
“JZ,” as his editors fondly call him, started out 20 years ago as a writer for the Supplements section, in the Advertising department of Manila Standard.
A few months later, management decided to pull him out of Supplements and assign him to the Editorial department as a reliever for reporters who covered the various Police beats in Metro Manila. His first beat assignment as a reporter was with the Southern Police District, and was reassigned to cover the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Western Police District (now Manila Police District).
Later, he moved on to cover other beats like the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Metro Manila Development Authority, and local Government Units in the Southern sector of Metro Manila.
“I found my niche in Manila Standard, where I continue to write crime stories – cases handled by the NBI and WPD. I love writing news about crime, and follow-up stories that may eventually help authorities in solving the case.”
Some of his most memorable moments as a reporter include sleeping overnight at the safe house of a witness in a controversial case handled by the NBI – just to get the whole picture of the case. Covering the EDSA People Power 2 that resulted in the ouster of President Joseph Estrada was also memorable.
He covered various government agencies such as Commission on Elections, Department of Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Customs, Immigration, National Police Commission, and Philippines Coast Guard before going to the MMDA and airport beats.
One particular moment though, stands out in his memory.
“The moment I saw my first byline, I said to myself, ‘Yes! I’m writing for a major daily and I’m a reporter of Manila Standard’.”
Reynaldo ‘Ey’ Acasio
Ey started working for Manila Standard on September 1, 1992 as a labman/reliever-photographer at Malacañan Palace under probation status.
After six months, he became a regular staff member of Manila Stamdard’s Photo Section, assigned to cover major beats such as Malacañan, Police, Lifestyle, Sports, Business, and News.
Ey believes the primary role of the photojournalist is to be a visual storyteller. Photographs serve the purpose of enhancing the story for the reader and viewer.
A photojournalist is a specialized type of journalist. A ph in a publication that allows him to showcase and adhere to these tenets.
Roberto Concepcion Puno
Obet started working as a night collector at the Manila Standard on August 24, 1992. This allowed him to learn to communicate with people and develop self-confidence.
He says his main assets are his attention to details and his friendly, professional manner.
“As time passes, I look forward to new challenges which would utilize my talent and skills. I am looking forward to the success of Manila Standard,” he says.
Rodolfo Nuñez Buban
Bodjie started in Manila Standard on January 22, 2007 as Material Management Clerk at KPPI.
Javier Alonzo Ruetas Jr.
June started in Manila Standard on July 16, 2002 as Junior Provincial Coordinator for the Circulation Department.
Jesus Naorin Belardo
Jesse started in Manila Standard on May 7, 1997 as KPPI Machine Helper.