𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮
Last June 1, The Voice Newsweekly celebrated its 72nd year of serving readers in Central Luzon.
When newspapers around the world are shrinking, merging, or disappearing altogether, reaching such a milestone is no small achievement. It speaks not only to the dedication of those who produce the paper, but also to the readers who continue to believe that local journalism matters.
As I reflected on this anniversary, I found myself thinking about my own journey with newspapers and the people who introduced me to the profession.
My earliest exposure to newspapers came through my father, veteran journalist Jerry Lacuarta, a longtime friend of current publisher Lincoln Baluyut. Long before I understood deadlines, news beats, or the importance of a well-written lead, I was already surrounded by newspapers and journalists, and conversations about current events.
Those early experiences sparked an interest that eventually led me to become editor of my high school paper, manage the Philippine Collegian while studying at the University of the Philippines, write for SunStar Clark, and later join the Philippine Daily Inquirer as a reporter.
Back then, journalism was a very different business. Stories were researched in libraries and archives, interviews were conducted on landline telephones, and reporters relied on notebooks rather than smartphones. News traveled much more slowly than it does today.
Yet despite all the changes in technology, the purpose of journalism has remained remarkably consistent: to gather facts, verify information, and tell stories that matter.
That mission is especially important at the local level.
National media organizations report on major events in Manila and abroad. Social media provides an endless stream of information, opinions, and commentary. Artificial intelligence can now generate articles, images, and videos within seconds.
But local journalism fills a different role.
It covers the stories that directly affect communities. It reports on local government decisions, community events, schools, businesses, and the people whose efforts often go unnoticed beyond their own towns and cities. It creates a shared record of a region’s history and holds institutions accountable to the public they serve.
Without local journalism, communities lose more than a newspaper. They lose part of their collective memory.
The story of The Voice Newsweekly itself reflects that commitment.
Founded in 1954 by Armando P. Baluyut—known to many readers as “Arpiba” or “Apong Mandong”—the publication began as what has been described as a challenging one-man operation in Angeles City. Through perseverance and a deep commitment to community journalism, it grew into one of the region’s most enduring news publications.
Today, that legacy continues under the leadership of his youngest son, Lincoln M. Baluyut, who serves as editor and publisher.
There is something reassuring about that continuity.
In a media environment that changes almost daily, where news websites appear and disappear overnight and social media trends come and go within hours, The Voice Newsweekly stands as a reminder that some institutions endure because they continue to serve a purpose.
Think about everything Central Luzon has experienced over the past seven decades. The region has witnessed political upheavals, peasant revolts, economic growth, natural disasters, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the transformation of Clark, and the rise of new industries that have reshaped the local economy.
Through all those years, local journalists were there documenting events as they unfolded, creating a record for future generations.
That work rarely attracts national attention. Most local reporters do not become household names. Yet their contributions are no less important.
When I accepted the invitation to write this column, it felt like a return to familiar ground. After more than two decades living abroad and working in other fields, I found myself once again contributing to a local newspaper and reconnecting with the profession that shaped much of my early life.
The tools may have changed. The technology may have changed. The challenges facing journalism may certainly have changed.
But the need for trusted information remains as important as ever.
As The Voice Newsweekly celebrates its 72nd anniversary, the occasion is about more than the longevity of a publication. It is a reminder of the value of local journalism and the important role it continues to play in strengthening communities across Central Luzon.
For that, both the newspaper and its readers have every reason to celebrate.
Happy anniversary, The Voice Newsweekly. May you continue telling the stories of Central Luzon for many years to come.
