Napoleon Dejoras, founder-editor of Babaye
The founding editor of Babaye, a publication that had its maiden issue on April 26, 1930 and lasted up to 1940, was Napoleon Dejoras. The magazine had the subtitle of "Mantalaang malinis alang sa panimalay." Dejoras was born in Escalante, Negros Occidental, on August 22, 1908. He studied at the Cebu High School (now Abellana National School). He had his pre-law course at the Cebu Junior College (now the University of the Philippine Cebu Campus). He became a lawyer on February 25, 1940.
Before his lawyer days Dejoras was the private secretary of Sotero Cabahug from 1928 to 1931, when the latter was a member of Congress. Cabahug, who was also publisher of Babaye, served as Governor of Cebu from 1934 to 1937 and became the builder of the Cebu Provincial Capitol building which still stands up to now. Sotero is the brother of Fructuoso Barte Cabahug who also served as Governor of Cebu from 1945 to 1946. Sotero also became Secretary of National Defense and the police camp which houses the Cebu City Police Office, CIDG, and HPG is named after him.
Napoleon Dejoras was also the editor of the Visayan Shinbun, a Japanese Occupation publication which saw print from 1942 to 1944. The publisher was Manila Shinbun-sya. Its first issue was on July 9, 1942 (months after the Japanese arrived in the Philippines) and its last issue was on May 15, 1944. The Visayan Shinbun also carried the name Independent Filipino Publication.
Dejoras was also a staff member of The FREEMAN founded in 1919 by Don Paulino Gullas and The Advertiser. Another publication that Dejoras was also involved in was the Pilipinhon published by Ramon D. Abellanosa, it existed from 1957 to 1961. The co-associates of Dejoras in the magazine were Jose Ma. del Mar, Iva Gica and Onofre Abellanosa. Dejoras gave the introduction of the book, "Filipino Gems of Oratory" written by Vicente Florido.
Dejoras was Justice of the Peace of Tuguya, Vato, Manantao in Lanao, appointed by President Elpidio Quirino on March 21, 1950. President Quirino made an interim appointment to Dejoras as City Attorney of Iligan on July 6, 1951, this was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments on April 18, 1952. Napoleon Dejoras, the writer, died in 1972.
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