In the past, many have been reluctant to venture into this field mainly because while there were many Filipino publications in both the East and West Coast of the United States, there was no publication that ever survived for so long in the Washington metropolitan area. Many have died a natural death because there was a lack of determination on the part of the founders or editors to publish a newspaper that reflected the hopes and dreams of the Filipino Americans in the mid-Atlantic coast. Many had failed mainly because their objective was not to serve the needs of the community but that of the editors or organizers of the publication.

Because the Manila Mail has survived for so long, the Manila Mail salutes the founders for their faith in the editor to see the birth of the publication and to steer it to where it is today.

Foremost in the list of volunteers are the founders who never aspired to make money but believed in the need of the community for a publication in Washington D.C.

Originally, there was a total of 12 members who joined and organized the Salakot Corporation which served as the publisher. The group decided to name the newspaper as Manila-US Mail. Its inaugural was held at the National Press Club with Ambassador Pablo Suarez as guest.

Among the founders are Jimmy Carino who lent the facilities of his Forex organization as well as his townhouse in Falls Church, Virginia as the site for producing the first issue of the Mail. Joining him was Chit de Jesus, also of Forex, who took time out to learn word processing and laying out the newspaper through the veritably new computer desktop program. To ensure the editor that there will be enough capital to pay for printing cost, they pledged to pay for advertisements in every issue, thus ensuring continuity. Without their assurances and help, the editor would not have wasted his time and those of the volunteers to start the publication if it would only die after a few issues.

The editor also sought and was granted by the Salakot Corportation full editorial control of the newspaper to ensure its independence, impartiality and objectivity.

Others who joined early on or later were Attorney Januario Azarcon who also served as the Mail’s legal counsel, Philippine Military Academy Graduates Danilo Perico and Jun Fabros, former Labor Attache and now editor-in-chief of the  Manila Times in the Philippines, businessman Jun Flores, community leader Joe  Burgos, women leader Rose Ramiscal, Jay Endiape who remains as circulation manager, real estate agent Ernie Apaga and veteran editor Bert Alfaro.

Two years later, the group became unmanageable, leading to the dissolution of Salakot. A handful of original founders remained and formed a new corporation,  Maya Media Inc., a duly-registered corporation in the state of Virginia. The name of the newspaper was also changed to Manila Mail.

Ms. De Jesus continued to word process and lay out the newspaper until sometime in the middle of the 1990s when others, like Orlando Remulla, a professional computer layout man, took over. Forex allowed its facilities to be used for the distribution of some of the newspaper not only in Washington DC but also in Norfolk, Baltimore, New Jersey and Richmond. Jojo dela Rosa and son, Dino, a volunteer entertainment columnist, handled subscription and advertising.

Among the first editorial volunteers were writer-photographer Angelyn Tugado Marzan, columnists Warie Azarcon,  Rose Ramiscal, Sarah K. Joaquin, and others. They were joined later by Boots Anson Roa, Dan Perico, and Fred dela Rosa.

In the late nineties, the Manila Mail was joined by columnist Jon Melegrito. He has become the longest-serving volunteer columnist as well as reporter and photographer. Then came reporter-photographer Bing C. Branigin, veteran reporter Jennie Ilustre, columnist Rene Calandria, Nestor Mata, Alfonso Torrillo, Jr.  and several others.  

Another innovation introduced about four years ago is the Manila Mail website. Readers in the US as well as the Philippines and around the world can read every issue of the Manila Mail at www.manilamaildc.net.

Today, the Manila Mail has become the much-sought after newspaper in the nation’s capital. Thousands are either paying to subscribe or going to the Philippine embassy or Filipino and Asian American stores in the area where they can obtain free copies of the newspaper. Advertisers from as far as New York, Baltimore and lately from Manila in the Philippines have started utilizing its pages to promote their products. Top advertisers are real estate companies, law offices, and other professional organizations.  

A pride among the founders is the fact that at the start of its sixteenth year of publication, the newspaper ALWAYS came out on time, a feat that is rare among Filipino American newspapers. And it never missed an issue, a problem that is very common among new publications.