The name Cusipag is synonymous to Fil-Canadian journalism. Ruben Cusipag, founder and first publisher/editor of Balita, pioneered the news business about the Philippines in Canada.
This was remarkable because starting a newspaper in the early days was a thankless and unprofitable enterprise. It was really for the love of the written word that pioneers like Ruben dared to publish. And the desire and sense of mission to inform.
The time was of ferment. The late 1960s and early 70s were perilous times around the world. In North America, student agitation was engulfing campuses throughout the continent. Across the globe student unrest was the order of the day, whether it was France, England, Germany and any number of other nations.
In the Philippines, the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos was in full throttle. The strongman had the whole nation in his grip and his fellow Filipinos in fear. Citizens’ rights were curtailed, personal movement was restricted, and the media were muzzled and cowed to submission.
The true state of things was largely unknown inside and outside the Philippines. The real news wasn’t getting ventilated.
All resistance against Marcos was taking place underground. Thousands of activists had been rounded up, opposition politicians, most notably the political firebrand Ninoy Aquino, had been thrown in jail on trumped-up charges or worse, no charges at all. School campuses were afire with dissent.
Abroad Filipinos were generally quiet except for the activists who had earned their badges of honor in protests and underground activities in their home country. Now abroad, they too were restless as their compatriots in the Philippines.
The opposition politicians and activists in the Philippines did what they could under the circumstances to fight the dictatorship. Many young Filipinos — students, professionals and common workers — worked their day jobs quietly but contributed to the resistance during the night.
In the United States, Canada, England, Italy and other European countries, Filipino activists staged protests to persuade the politicians in their host countries to withdraw official support for the Marcos government. But Marcos, with the military fully in his grip, held his ground. The Filipino nation had been intimidated and tamed. Only the activists were astir.
It was in this context that true nationalists like Ruben Cusipag started Balita. The need to inform the public about what was going on in the Philippines was urgent. So, against all odds, Ruben made the intrepid move to tell Filipinos and the Canadians what was going on in the Philippines.
It was a daring move and a virtual ticket to bankruptcy because the cost of printing a newspaper was considerable and advertisers weren’t yet willing to go public.
The situation was the same in the United States. The Philippine News in San Francisco would become the largest Fil-Am newspaper (Manila Observer appeared in the paper for nearly a decade). On the East Coast, Filipino Express in the New Jersey/New York area, would appear later (where the Observer was also a regular column).
Just to be able to publish was already a feat. To be able to maintain publication was even more remarkable.
That Ruben Cusipag did, with a lot of help and support from his family. Balita has survived the many years of struggle. The real feat was in daring to publish against difficult and challenging odds.
Today Balita is very much alive and kicking, a living tribute to the vision and perseverance of Ruben Cusipag. Kudos to Tess Cusipag for accepting the challenge and continuing the legacy of her husband. The Balita staff too deserve congratulations for carrying on.
Balita, of course, is Tagalog for “news.” The name says it all. It’s a fitting legacy for someone who dared and triumphed. Ruben is proud and smiling up where he is.
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