Abante
Abante is a Philippine daily tabloid newspaper and digital media brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Abante is a Filipino daily tabloid published in the Philippines. Its name means “move forward,” and the publication has traditionally served a mass-market readership, particularly lower-income readers. The newspaper was founded on May 27, 1987, by Banahaw Publishing Corporation, a company associated with national artist Virgilio Almario. In 1988, it was acquired by Amado Macasaet, chairman of Monica Publishing Corporation, and became part of the Macasaet family's publishing operations. The company’s newspaper portfolio expanded in February 1989 with the launch of Abante Tonite, an afternoon sister edition founded by Amado Macasaet. Abante is published in the morning, while Abante Tonite was positioned as an afternoon counterpart. The brand’s tabloid format has emphasized accessible presentation, fast-moving news, public-interest stories, entertainment, crime, politics, and other subjects commonly associated with Philippine mass-market newspapers. The publication initially carried more sensational material, but its business strategy later involved reducing some of its more dubious content in an effort to broaden its audience and attract advertisers. This shift reflected the competitive pressures facing Philippine tabloids and was subsequently followed by other publications in the sector. Abante expanded beyond print with an online platform launched in 2006. Its digital activities later developed into a broader set of news and media properties. These include Abante: TNT (Tunay na Tabloidista), a real-time online news site, as well as related digital brands such as Bilyonaryo, Milyonaryo, Politiko, Fastbreak, Atletiko, Bankero, Abogado, and Teletabloid. Since 2024, the group has also operated Bilyonaryo News Channel and DWAR Abante 1494, reflecting a move into video and radio distribution alongside newspaper publishing. Ownership and management changed in October 2017, when Prage Management Corporation took over the management and operations of Abante and Abante Tonite from Monica Publishing Corporation. Prage is described as a media company owned by two veteran journalists, although their names are not specified in the available reference material. The transition preserved the Abante newspaper identity while placing it within a wider multi-platform media group. Abante has also developed broadcast and social-video extensions. In 2019, it launched Abante Radyo Tabloidista, a teleradyo-style digital service distributed through internet radio and YouTube. On October 10, 2022, it introduced the online morning newscast Abante Teletabloid and the public-service program I-Abante Mo!, both presented through the tabloid’s social-media channels. On July 8, 2024, the group established a standalone radio service in partnership with Supreme Broadcasting Systems, using the 1494 kHz frequency and initially branding the service as Abante Radyo before simplifying the name to Abante. The Teletabloid identity was subsequently developed into a cable news channel that simulcasts the radio operation. The newspaper has faced legal and press-freedom-related challenges. Reference material reports that Abante has prevailed in most of at least 50 libel cases, while some matters were settled outside court. During the 2006 state of emergency, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives reportedly attempted to raid the newspaper’s office but withdrew after seeing television crews at the scene. On September 9, 2019, four armed men set fire to the Abante Tonite printing facility in Parañaque. The attack was described as the first violent incident against the newspaper since its establishment and was condemned by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. Abante remains an active Philippine newspaper and a diversified news brand spanning print, websites, social video, radio, and cable-oriented programming.
History
Abante began publication on May 27, 1987, under Banahaw Publishing Corporation, which was owned by national artist Virgilio Almario. The newspaper entered the Philippine tabloid market during a period when mass-circulation publications competed through concise reporting, accessible language, and highly visual presentation. In 1988, Amado Macasaet acquired the tabloid through Monica Publishing Corporation. His son, Allen Macasaet, became the company’s president. Monica Publishing was already involved in periodical publishing, including a student-oriented weekly magazine. The Macasaet organization extended the title’s reach by launching Abante Tonite on February 3, 1989. Abante served as the morning edition and Abante Tonite as an afternoon counterpart. The publications targeted a broad popular readership, especially lower-income readers. As Abante gained circulation, its editorial and commercial approach reportedly moved away from some of its most questionable sensational material in order to appeal to more advertisers and a wider audience. This represented an effort to balance tabloid immediacy with greater commercial sustainability. The brand entered online publishing in 2006. Over time, its digital presence developed from a newspaper website into a network of specialist and general-interest properties. These included Abante: TNT, described as a real-time online news site, and associated websites covering business, politics, sports, law, and other subjects. The wider portfolio included Bilyonaryo, Milyonaryo, Politiko, Fastbreak, Atletiko, Bankero, Abogado, and Teletabloid. A major ownership and management transition occurred in October 2017. Prage Management Corporation took over management and operations of Abante and Abante Tonite from Monica Publishing Corporation. Prage is described as a media company owned by two veteran journalists. The change placed the newspapers within a broader multi-platform media structure while retaining the established Abante and Abante Tonite identities. Abante continued experimenting with broadcast formats. In 2019 it launched Abante Radyo Tabloidista, a digital teleradyo service distributed through internet radio and YouTube. On October 10, 2022, it launched Abante Teletabloid, an online morning newscast, alongside the public-service program I-Abante Mo! The programs were distributed through the newspaper’s social-media accounts. In 2024, the organization expanded into a standalone radio operation through a partnership with Supreme Broadcasting Systems. The service began on the 1494 kHz frequency under the Abante Radyo name and was later referred to simply as Abante. Teletabloid was subsequently repositioned as a cable news channel with programming that simulcasts the radio service. The group also added Bilyonaryo News Channel and DWAR Abante 1494 to its ventures during 2024. The publication’s history has included legal and press-freedom controversies. Reference material states that Abante won most of at least 50 libel cases, although some cases were resolved through out-of-court settlements. During the 2006 state of emergency, operatives from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group reportedly attempted to raid the newspaper’s offices but withdrew after television crews arrived. On September 9, 2019, four armed men burned the Abante Tonite printing house in Parañaque. The incident was characterized as the first violent attack on the newspaper since its founding and was condemned by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. Abante remains active as a newspaper and increasingly operates as a multi-platform Philippine news brand.
- 2024
Expansion into terrestrial radio and cable news
[1]Abante partners with Supreme Broadcasting Systems to operate on 1494 kHz, while Teletabloid develops into a cable news channel simulcasting the radio service.
- 2022
Teletabloid programming launches
[1]Abante launches Abante Teletabloid and I-Abante Mo! on October 10 through its social-media channels.
- 2019
Digital radio service launches
[1]Abante introduces Abante Radyo Tabloidista through internet radio and YouTube.
- 2017
Prage Management assumes operations
[1]Prage Management Corporation takes over management and operations of Abante and Abante Tonite from Monica Publishing Corporation in October.
- 2006
Online platform launches
[1]Abante expands beyond print with the launch of an online platform.
- 1989
Abante Tonite launches
[1]Monica Publishing Corporation begins the afternoon sister tabloid Abante Tonite on February 3.
- 1988
Acquisition by Monica Publishing Corporation
[1]Amado Macasaet acquires Abante through Monica Publishing Corporation.
- 1987
Abante begins publication
[1]Banahaw Publishing Corporation publishes the first issue of Abante on May 27.
Products and positioning
A mass-market Philippine news brand combining a daily tabloid newspaper with digital news, public-service programming, radio, and video distribution.
Daily tabloid newspaper · 1987
Abante
The flagship morning tabloid, founded in 1987 and published in the Philippines. It serves a mass-market audience with accessible coverage of current affairs, politics, public-interest issues, crime, entertainment, and other popular news categories. The title remains the central print identity around which the wider Abante digital and broadcast portfolio has developed.
Afternoon tabloid newspaper · 1989
Abante Tonite
The sister afternoon edition launched by Monica Publishing Corporation in 1989. Abante Tonite extended the brand’s daily news cycle and operated as a companion to the morning Abante newspaper. Its Parañaque printing facility was attacked and burned in 2019 in an incident condemned by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.
Online news
Abante: TNT
A real-time online news website associated with the Abante media operation. It extends the newspaper’s reporting identity into continuously updated digital publishing and forms part of the group’s broader network of news and specialist websites.
Online news and public-affairs video · 2022
Abante Teletabloid
An online morning newscast launched in 2022 and distributed through Abante’s social-media accounts. The Teletabloid identity later evolved into a cable news channel with programming that simulcasts the group’s radio service, connecting the newspaper brand to live and video-based news distribution.
Radio broadcasting · 2024
Abante radio service
The group’s broadcast-radio operation, established in 2024 through a partnership with Supreme Broadcasting Systems. It replaced the earlier digital Radyo Tabloidista service and used the 1494 kHz frequency. The service initially carried the Abante Radyo name before being referred to simply as Abante.
Controversies
2019
Burning of the Abante Tonite printing house
On September 9, four armed men burned the Abante Tonite printing facility in Parañaque City. The incident was reported as the first violent attack against the newspaper since its founding in 1987 and was condemned by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.
Brand decisions
2024
Entry into standalone radio broadcastingStrategyBackground
After operating a digital radio service, Abante pursued a more formal broadcast presence.
Action taken
The organization partnered with Supreme Broadcasting Systems to operate on the 1494 kHz frequency, replacing Radyo Tabloidista and using the Abante Radyo name before simplifying it to Abante.
Aftermath
The group expanded its integrated news operation, while Teletabloid became a cable news channel that simulcasts the radio service.
2022
Launch of Abante Teletabloid and I-Abante Mo!Product launchBackground
The newspaper was increasing its use of social platforms for regular news and public-service programming.
Action taken
Abante introduced an online morning newscast and a public-service show on October 10.
Aftermath
The programming strengthened the brand’s video presence and helped establish the Teletabloid identity later used for cable news distribution.
2019
Launch of Abante Radyo TabloidistaProduct launchBackground
Abante was extending its tabloid identity into audio and video formats.
Action taken
The company launched a teleradyo-style digital platform distributed through internet radio and YouTube.
Aftermath
The initiative preceded the group’s later move into a standalone radio station and cable-oriented Teletabloid programming.
2017
Transfer of management to Prage Management CorporationM&ABackground
Monica Publishing Corporation had owned and operated Abante and its sister tabloid Abante Tonite since the late 1980s.
Action taken
Prage Management Corporation took over management and operations of both newspapers in October 2017.
Aftermath
The newspapers became part of a broader media group spanning print, online news, video, and broadcast properties.
2006
Expansion into online publishingStrategyBackground
The newspaper sought to extend its reach beyond the print edition as digital news distribution became increasingly important.
Action taken
Abante launched an online platform.
Aftermath
The online operation later developed into a wider network of real-time news and specialist websites.
Recent events
- 2024
Abante enters terrestrial radio through 1494 kHz[1]
Product launch
Abante established a standalone radio operation in partnership with Supreme Broadcasting Systems, replacing its earlier Radyo Tabloidista digital service and using the 1494 kHz frequency.
- 2022
Abante introduces Teletabloid and I-Abante Mo![1]
Product launch
The publication launched an online morning newscast and a public-service program through its social-media channels.
- 2019
Abante launches digital teleradyo service[1]
Product launch
Abante introduced Abante Radyo Tabloidista as an internet-radio and YouTube-based extension of its tabloid news operation.
Sources2 sources
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