<h2>My Dream Ends, The Journey Begins</h2>
<em>Speech delivered by Lloyd A. Luna, publisher and executive editor of Campus Paper on the occasion of its media launch on August 14, 2012 at the iAcademy Bldg., Ayala Ave., Makati City.</em>

Good evening.

Ten years ago, I was holding an imaginary school paper, a common school paper for students. Ten years later, at this very moment, I’m holding Campus Paper, the Philippines’ free school paper.

Dream becomes real and it happens when you feel like nothing else is there but to achieve it. I thank God for such a wonderful gift.

We are gathered here today not to celebrate a dream come true. For me, it’s over; it’s done. There’s nothing left for me now but to move forward.

[caption id="attachment_5046" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SHM_9587.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5046 " title="Lloyd Luna, publisher and executive editor of Campus Paper, the Philippines' free school paper" src="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SHM_9587-300x198.jpg" alt="Lloyd Luna, publisher and executive editor of Campus Paper, the Philippines' free school paper" width="300" height="198" /></a> Lloyd Luna, publisher and executive editor of Campus Paper, the Philippines' free school paper[/caption]

We are gathered here tonight because this dream is a mission in itself. And it’s no longer for me to do alone, on my own. I believe I’ve waited long enough and worked hard enough to make it real, something you can read and touch and smell now. I believe it’s no longer about me however I’d like to see it that way. I believe it’s about the 2M students out there who, at some point in their lives, would need it; Our news page, opinion-editorial page, sports page, entertainment and lifestyle sections. I believe it’s about time to ask for your help.

We are gathered here because we’d like you to be a part of this mission: Give students the information they need and empower them to achieve their dreams.

Before we are a commercial newspaper, we are a social paper. While we acknowledge that we need to make a living, we likewise believe that it is by giving something to the community that the living is made. Thus, Campus Paper, our small contribution to the society, which in my humble opinion, has been seemingly neglecting one of the most important sectors of this country: the youth.

There’s nothing else that can make me even more proud except for the idea that what I’m holding now is a newspaper of the students, by the students, for the students. Believe it or not, might as well believe it, there’s a very little editorial intervention that we do in every issue. We trust our corespondents and contributors so much that we give them a free hand to do what they feel is responsibly necessary. That, ladies and gentlemen, is an empowerment right there.

[caption id="attachment_5047" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SHM_9652.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5047" title="Adboard Chair and United Print Media Group President Ricky Alegre" src="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SHM_9652-300x198.jpg" alt="Adboard Chair and United Print Media Group President Ricky Alegre" width="300" height="198" /></a> Adboard Chair and United Print Media Group President Ricky Alegre gives his keynote speech during the media launch of Campus Paper.[/caption]

Having to release two issues a month isn’t only ambitious. It is challenging enough for us. But with your advertising support, I think the only thing we should worry is the content. We will do everything to give you the most effective exposure in this such a unique market as we become your eyes, ears, and nose in the field.

There are many people who made this paper possible. And I can only thank my editors, one of them I’ve been trying to convince to join me in the last 5 years but it was only this year that she said, yes. Thank you Amina Ramos for finally getting back to your senses after 5 years of turning my offer down. Thank you, Mia for helping your friend find her way.

The men and women on the ground, the hardworking correspondents from different schools who are too excited to see their bylines, thank you for sharing your time and skills.

I’d like to thank the first set of advertisers who gave us a little enough to make this maiden issue, Great Image Studio, Villar Foundation, and Potato Corner. Partly I’d like to thank my self for putting my own salary on this project.

A Filipino working overseas, whose name is Bon Marcelo, invested his hard earned money for this, thank you, Sir.

[caption id="attachment_5049" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SHM_0017.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5049" title="Campus Paper Editorial and Executive Teams" src="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SHM_0017-300x198.jpg" alt="Campus Paper Editorial and Executive Teams" width="300" height="198" /></a> The young men and women who make up the maiden issue of Campus Paper, the Philippines' free school paper.[/caption]

Of course, we wouldn’t be here tonight without the miraculous, blessed hands of Miguel ‘Migs’ De La Rosa, our marketing and advertising director. Putting this together has been a stressful mandate, especially with there’s a marginal note that says, “Work on a zero budget.” Thank you, Migs.

Tonight, my dream ended. Tomorrow, I hope my dream moves forward with every one of you on board. I know it would take some time for me to see this paper in the hands of every student in the country, but I’m sure its the only ending I see.

With you and many other people who’d join us in this mission, I don’t think there’s any other way that this story would end. We will make it.

[caption id="attachment_5051" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SHM_9595.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5051" title="Campus Paper publisher Lloyd Luna" src="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SHM_9595-300x198.jpg" alt="Campus Paper publisher Lloyd Luna" width="300" height="198" /></a> Campus Paper publisher Lloyd Luna[/caption]

Our team is waiting for every help it can get in the next couple of weeks and months and years. Our journey begins tonight. And we can make it more fun if you’re taking the journey with us. It may not be an easy drive, sure. But we will do whatever it takes to make this work not for our own self-interest alone but for the interest of those who would need our newspaper whenever and wherever they may be.

Ten years ago, I was holding an imaginary school paper, a common school paper for students. Ten years later, at this very moment, I’m holding Campus Paper, the Philippines’ free school paper.

May God bless us all as we begin our journey together.