18 years of Young Star?

MANILA, Philippines - We celebrated our 18th anniversary with a prom, because prom always smelled like the epitome of teen spirit. Everybody is a little bit more adult, possesses a little bit more finesse, and is looking for a little bit of love. Young STAR at 18 feels much like prom, a coming out of sorts. In this information age (where facts are available at the click of a button) you have to talk to the kids now like what they really are — feeling-entitled but otherwise brave movers and shakers of a new generation.

The readers have changed through the times, and so have we. But Young STAR has maintained a voice for the youth for more than a decade now. We’ve been a space for the young to voice out their opinions, and a roundtable for interesting national conversations that we don’t get at school. Eighteen years: you’ll be surprised at the names that have come and gone, writing for Young STAR. How did we get to where we are today? Nostalgic as it may be, we look back at the 18 years that was.—Kara Ortiga

In the beginning, Young STAR, it was special for the youth to have a presence in traditional media. After all, you wouldn’t—and you won’t—see a youth section in The New York Times. 

The iconic Celine Lopez was once a Young STAR columnist. She got readers to react and even got the working class to read more. She then became a figure in pop culture and eventually landed a Pepsi billboard ad on EDSA (do you kids remember that?). 

Erwin Romulo, current editor in chief of Esquire magazine started out in Young STAR too, adding a little bit of highbrow and snark to the section.  

This year, we celebrate our 18th birthday. We’ve changed in so many ways from the original pool of writers to the current editorial voice and even the layout of our paper. If there’s one thing we’ve learned it’s to always keep moving with the kids. We are just as restless and excited to take on many new adventures as you are. 

Young STAR’s pool of writers, aged 15-20, interviewed names like Cardinal Sin, Joseph Estrada, Beyoncé and Ricky Martin. They were also being sent to cover NBA All-Star games and the Grand Prix.

Young STAR had different types of column formats. There were Q&A columns, poll type columns, and even a one-panel comic column.

Jessica Zafra’s presence in the section was also memorable. Her columns were important in showing that this section wasn’t filled with stuff your English teacher would ask you to write about.

The annual Fresh Produce section was born, featuring kids because of their actual talents and accomplishments, and not because of their mommy or daddy’s last name. This section pretty much sums up what Young STAR is all about.

Before the technological warp, writers had to submit hard copies of their articles. One writer even remembers handwriting her articles on intermediate pads and using different colored pens. Articles had to submitted two days before the newspaper edition closed (FYI, these days it is possible to submit an article on the day itself).

All photos for the newspaper had to be scanned. And when photos weren’t available, they had to be creative with visuals: magazine pictures, brochures and postcards, anything that they could use.

When the millennial generation came around, Young STAR needed to be revamped. Also, old Young STAR writers had gotten older and were looking to focus on other pursuits.

Former editor Paolo Lorenzana thus presented Young STAR 2.0. Its main message was to present the “Youth + Their Passions - The Bull.” “Kids, follow your passions over any hype or trends,” is what he wanted to trumpet. This was a time when we realized that the youth had gone from nonchalant to very empowered.