While revelers enjoyed the highlight of this year’s Dinagyang Festival, the soft opening of the three-storey Iloilo Press Club building donated by journalist and IPC president Rommel Ynion also took place yesterday morning to signify the realization of a long-time dream for the Iloilo Press to have its own building.

The building designed by multi-awarded Ilonggo architect Oscar Peñasales lies on a 300-square-meter lot donated by the Iloilo City Government during the time of then Mayor Mansueto Malabor.

The ground floor of the building will be rentable space and the proceeds will be used for the maintenance of the building. The second and third floor as well as the roof deck will be reserved for the use of the Iloilo media and guests.

The IPC building will also serve as a venue for lectures and seminars for neophyte and veteran media practitioners.

It was learned that Ynion, former publisher of The News Today, spent P25 million for the building construction.

The inauguration activity was graced by former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, senatorial candidate Mitos Magsaysay, former Congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr., Dr. Pacita Gonzalez, councilor Jeffrey Ganzon, Lemuel Fernandez of The Daily Guardian and Danny Fajardo of Panay News; and Ynion’s wife, Kathleen.

Also present were Iloilo’s veteran journalists Lemuel Celebria, Atty. Rex Salvilla and Neonita Gobuyan.*