History of Philippine press / Carson Taylor.

History of the Philippine Press

27

The first Tagalog publication appeared in April 1890,
under the name of Patnubay Nang Catolico. To quote Retana, "It probably did not live long because Pascual H. Poblete was connected with it and he never had, any luck in
this line of business."
A daily, called El Avisador Filipino, was founded April
5, 1890. It lived less than one month.
Pascual Poblete, established a daily, called El Resumen,
July 10, 1890. It was of a semi-political nature and later
called the official organ of La Comp. Mercantil y Industrial
Hispano-Filipino, which probably existed in name only. El
Domingo, a humorous weekly, was born August 3, 1890, and
expired in October of the same year.
September 4, 1890, the first number of El Pajaro Verde, edited by Vicente Garcia Valdez, was published on green
paper with illustrations, with the announcement that the
purpose of the sheet was to entertain the public and cause
people to forget their troubles. Subscribers were assured:
"It will be perfectly safe to put this paper into the hands
of your wives and daughters."
The second number came out on yellow paper. The
censor didn't like some of the illustrations and ordered the
paper suppressed. Valdez disregarded the order and came
out with the third number, whereupon he was fined so heavily that he could not pay. He escaped by stowing away on
a steamer. He returned after American occupation and es.
tablished a similar publication under the name of Miau, in
1901.
His chits apparently accumulated faster than his subscribers and advertisers so he soon disappeared. He was
known to all the Spaniards as "El Pajaro Verde" (The
Green Bird).
November 6, 1890, La Lilliputense appeared as the first
weekly devoted to the youth of the islands. It apparently
found little appreciation as it ceased publication March 12
the next year.
La Lectura Popular, edited by Isabelo de los Reyes, was
published first in 1890. Its circulation was entirely among
the natives. It was not looked upon with favor by the
Spaniards and apparently did not live longer than a few
months. Only three papers were established in 1891, all
weeklies and of little importance and short existence, namely: El Bello Sexo, a woman's fashion paper, La Ilustracion
Filipina and El Asuang.