Pilipino Star Ngayon
A nationwide Filipino-language daily tabloid newspaper in the Philippines.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Pilipino Star Ngayon is a Filipino-language daily tabloid newspaper published for a nationwide audience in the Philippines. The publication was launched on March 17, 1986, only weeks after the EDSA People Power Revolution that ended Ferdinand Marcos's presidency and brought Corazon Aquino to office. It was initially called Ang Pilipino Ngayon and was conceived as an affordable newspaper for ordinary Filipino readers. The paper emerged from discussions among journalist and publisher Betty Go-Belmonte, Jesuit priest Fr. Jose C. Blanco, SJ, and Tess Ramiro of the Catholic civic organization Center for Active Non-violence. Belmonte sought to create a mass-market tabloid that would combine accessible pricing and Filipino-language reporting with credible news, considered opinion, and family-friendly presentation. This editorial ambition distinguished the paper from the sensational and sexually explicit material commonly associated with some Philippine tabloids at the time. Its long-running motto, “Diyaryong Disente ng Masang Intelihente,” translates broadly as “A decent newspaper for the intelligent masses.” The publication was renamed Pilipino Star Ngayon in the early 1990s, following the establishment of its sister newspaper, The Philippine STAR. The new name connected the tabloid more visibly with the wider Star newspaper group while retaining its Filipino-language identity. Its core readership has generally been described as the country’s masa, or broad popular and lower-income readership, although the paper positions that audience as interested in serious information and intelligent commentary rather than sensationalism alone. Pilipino Star Ngayon has covered general news, politics, public affairs, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, and opinion through a Filipino-language format. Its columnist roster has included figures such as Al Pedroche, Dennis Antenor Jr., Jarius Bondoc, Wilson Lee Flores, Ben Tulfo, Korina Sanchez, Jose C. Sison, Deo Macalma, Butch Quejada, Tranquilino Elicaño Jr., Willie Ong, Ramon M. Bernardo, Bening Batuigas, and Mer Layson. The newspaper has also been associated with production and distribution innovations in the Philippine tabloid sector: it is described as the country's first full-color tabloid and as the first Philippine tabloid to establish an Internet presence. Ownership changed in 2015, when MediaQuest Holdings acquired a controlling 51 percent stake in the newspaper together with other print-media assets, including The Philippine STAR. The Belmonte family retained a 21 percent interest and continued to hold management and editorial control according to the cited reference material. The operating entity identified for the publication is Pilipino Star NGAYON, Inc., under PhilStar Daily, Inc. The newspaper received the Gawad Tanglaw Newspaper of the Year award in both 2013 and 2014. Gawad Tanglaw is an award-giving organization associated with critics, scholars, historians, and university professors in the Philippines. These awards recognized the publication within the country's newspaper sector. Pilipino Star Ngayon remains best understood as a Filipino-language mass-market newspaper brand linked to the broader Philippine STAR publishing organization.
History
Pilipino Star Ngayon was created in the political and social atmosphere that followed the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. Journalist and publisher Betty Go-Belmonte, together with Fr. Jose C. Blanco, SJ and Tess Ramiro of the Center for Active Non-violence, discussed the need for a reasonably priced Filipino-language newspaper that could reach a broad popular audience. Their concept was not simply a sensational tabloid. Belmonte wanted a publication that ordinary readers could afford and understand, but that would also offer reliable news, considered opinion, and respectable family-oriented material. The first issue appeared on March 17, 1986 under the name Ang Pilipino Ngayon. Its publication followed the founding of The Philippine STAR by only a short period and formed part of the same broader publishing initiative. The newspaper targeted the country's masa readership, particularly readers who wanted a daily newspaper in Filipino. Its editorial identity was summarized by the motto “Diyaryong Disente ng Masang Intelihente,” expressing the proposition that a mass-market paper could remain decent while serving readers interested in serious public information. During the early 1990s, the publication adopted the name Pilipino Star Ngayon. The change followed the emergence of The Philippine STAR as its sister publication and gave the tabloid a clearer relationship with the Star newspaper group. Over time, the paper developed a broad editorial mix covering news, politics, commentary, entertainment, sports, lifestyle, and other subjects of interest to Filipino readers. Its roster of contributors and columnists included journalists, commentators, legal voices, physicians, and public personalities. The publication is also described as an innovator in the Philippine tabloid market. It became the first tabloid in the country to be produced in full color and the first Philippine tabloid to establish an Internet presence. These steps extended the brand beyond the traditional black-and-white newspaper format and helped it participate in the transition toward digital publishing. After Betty Go-Belmonte died in 1994, her son Miguel assumed the presidency of the newspaper. The Belmonte family continued to play a central role in the operation and editorial direction of the publication. In 2015, MediaQuest Holdings acquired print-media assets that included Pilipino Star Ngayon and The Philippine STAR. The cited account states that MediaQuest held a 51 percent stake, while the Belmonte family retained 21 percent and management and editorial control. The newspaper is operated by Pilipino Star NGAYON, Inc. under PhilStar Daily, Inc. Recognition came through Gawad Tanglaw, an organization associated with academic and media critics in the Philippines. Pilipino Star Ngayon was named Newspaper of the Year in 2013 and again in 2014. The awards reinforced its standing as a significant Filipino-language newspaper rather than merely a sensational tabloid. Its continuing identity rests on nationwide daily circulation, Filipino-language accessibility, mass-market reach, and an editorial promise of credible and decent journalism.
- 2015
MediaQuest becomes controlling shareholder
[1]MediaQuest Holdings acquired a 51 percent stake while the Belmonte family retained a minority interest and editorial and management control.
- 2014
Second consecutive Gawad Tanglaw Newspaper of the Year award
[1]The newspaper received the same recognition for a second consecutive year.
- 2013
First Gawad Tanglaw Newspaper of the Year award
[1]Pilipino Star Ngayon received the Newspaper of the Year honor from Gawad Tanglaw.
- 1994
Miguel Belmonte assumes the presidency
[1]Following Betty Go-Belmonte's death, her son Miguel took over as president.
- 1990
Renamed Pilipino Star Ngayon
[1]The publication changed its name in the early 1990s to align more closely with its sister paper, The Philippine STAR.
- 1986
First issue published as Ang Pilipino Ngayon
[1]The newspaper released its inaugural issue on March 17, 1986, after the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Products and positioning
An affordable, nationwide Filipino-language tabloid aimed at mass-market readers while emphasizing credible reporting, intelligent opinion, and decent, family-friendly presentation.
Newspaper · 1986
Pilipino Star Ngayon daily print edition
The core product is a Filipino-language daily tabloid distributed nationwide in the Philippines. It combines general news, political coverage, public-affairs reporting, commentary, entertainment, sports, lifestyle material, and other content intended for a broad mass-market readership. Its editorial positioning emphasizes accessible language, credible information, intelligent opinion, and a relatively decent presentation.
Digital newspaper
Pilipino Star Ngayon online presence
The brand established an Internet presence as part of its development beyond the printed tabloid. Its online offering is associated with the Philstar web platform and extends Pilipino Star Ngayon content to digital readers, although the cited material does not specify the full range of current digital products or services.
Brand decisions
2015
MediaQuest acquisition of a controlling stakeM&ABackground
MediaQuest Holdings acquired print-media assets that included Pilipino Star Ngayon and its sister publication The Philippine STAR.
Action taken
MediaQuest took a 51 percent stake in the newspaper, while the Belmonte family retained a 21 percent stake and management and editorial control according to the cited source.
Aftermath
The transaction placed the newspaper within MediaQuest's wider media holdings while preserving the Belmonte family's continuing management and editorial role.
1990
Rebrand from Ang Pilipino Ngayon to Pilipino Star NgayonStrategyBackground
The original title was changed in the early 1990s after the launch of the sister publication The Philippine STAR.
Action taken
The tabloid adopted the Pilipino Star Ngayon name, creating a stronger association with the Star publishing group.
Aftermath
The new name became the publication's established identity within the group's Filipino-language newspaper portfolio.
Recent events
- 2015
MediaQuest acquires a controlling stake in the newspaper[1]
M&A
MediaQuest Holdings acquired a 51 percent stake in the newspaper and related print-media assets, while the Belmonte family retained a minority stake and management and editorial control.
- 2014
Pilipino Star Ngayon receives Gawad Tanglaw Newspaper of the Year again[1]
Other
The tabloid won the Newspaper of the Year recognition for a second consecutive year.
- 2013
Pilipino Star Ngayon receives Gawad Tanglaw Newspaper of the Year[1]
Other
The publication was named Newspaper of the Year by Gawad Tanglaw.
- 1990
The tabloid adopts the Pilipino Star Ngayon name[1]
Other
The publication changed from Ang Pilipino Ngayon to Pilipino Star Ngayon in the early 1990s, linking it more closely with The Philippine STAR.
- 1986
Pilipino Star Ngayon is launched as Ang Pilipino Ngayon[1]
Other
The Filipino-language tabloid published its first issue on March 17, 1986, shortly after the EDSA People Power Revolution.
Sources2 sources
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