Philstar.com
Philstar.com is the online edition of the broadsheet The Philippine Star. Launched in August 2000, it was initially envisioned to be a portal and repository of the long-running daily.
But since 2009, Philstar.com developed its own editorial team and began producing content independent of the newspaper although it continues to host originally published articles in the broadsheet.
While the online portal and broadsheet share similar logos, they are operated by different companies. The website is owned and operated by Philstar Global Corporation, the digital company under the Philstar Media Group.
Philstar Global Corporation is majority owned by Hasting Holdings, Inc. one of the holding companies under the control of business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan, created using money from the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund (BTF). MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. PLDT’s media arm, is its immediate parent company. The Belmonte family indirectly owns 19% of the online outlet through their company Azurra Prime Ventures, Inc. and through Philstar Daily, Inc.
The website is known for its in-depth explanatory reports and engaging storytelling. Philstar.com was also part of the Philippine Fact-Check Incubator (PFCI) Program of Internews, an international media support non-profit group, to build up the fact-checking capacity of Philippine news organizations by encouraging their participation in global fact-checking efforts.
Based on Nielsen’s Philippine Landscape Report, which measures consumer and media views in the country, philstar.com is the third leading online news website with a national audience reach of 16.41 percent from April to June 2023.
Audience Share
13.80%
Ownership Type
Private
Geographic Coverage
International
Content Type
Free content
Media Companies / Groups
Philstar Media Group
Hastings Holdings, Inc.
MediaQuest Holdings, Inc.
Ownership Structure
Philstar.com is operated by Philstar Global Corporation, which is 65% directly owned by Hastings Holdings, Inc., one of the holding companies under the MediaQuest Holdings, Inc. media conglomerate that business mogul Manuel V. Pangilinan created using money from the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund.
The Belmonte family owns 15% shares of Philstar Global Corp. through their wholly-owned company Azurra Prime Ventures, Inc.
The remaining 20 % are owned by Philstar Daily, Inc. (a subsidiary of Hastings Holdings). 50.9 % of Philstar Daily Inc., in turn, is owned by Hastings Holdings, Inc. whereas 20% belong to members of the Belmonte Family directly. Sara Soliven de Guzman, daughter of co-founder Maximo Soliven, owns 10% and the remaining 15% are registered under Leadway Holdings, Inc. and Majent Mgt. & Dev’t Corporation.
Through the direct shares and those they control through Philstar Daily, Inc., Hastings Holdings controls 75.2% of Philstar.com whereas the Belmonte family holds 19% which makes them the majority owners.
Voting Rights
Missing Data
Individual Owner
General Information
Founding Year
1996
Affiliated Interests Founder
is the son of the late Philippine Star founder Betty Go-Belmonte who led his mother’s newspaper into the digital age. The success of the Philippine Star’s online edition can be credited to his business acumen, which he developed during his time with SGV and Co., where he was a partner-in-charge of the revenue enhancement and strategy services practice of the business consulting division.
Affiliated Interests Ceo
is the president and CEO of Philstar Global Corporation. He is the son of Philippine Star founder Betty Go-Belmonte. His father Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. was a former House Speaker while his sister Joy Belmonte is the incumbent Quezon City mayor.
Aside from his involvement in media, Belmonte is also the Vice Chairman of the boutique real estate company Nuvoland, which developed the Infinity Tower in Bonifacio Global City and Nuvo District in Quezon City. He has also been a director of IP Ventures, Inc., Coal Asia, Casa Europe, Inc., the Nationwide Development Corporation, and People Asia.
Affiliated Interests Editor-In-Chief
is the chief editor of Philstar.com. Before becoming an editor, Diola worked as a new media officer at the University of Asia and the Pacific. Diola directs content production and innovation at Philstar Global Corporation, the digital arm of the STAR Group of Publications, and heads the editorial operations of Philstar.com.
Affiliated Interests other important people
is the Managing Editor of Philstar Global Corporation. She started a career in journalism as an editor for content marketing of the newsroom in 2015.
is the Head Editor of the Sports Section of Philstar Global Corporation.
is the Head Editor of the Lifestyle and Entertainment Section of Philstar Global Corporation. She is also an Accredited Journalist for the British Fashion Council.
is the Digital Advertising Head of Philstar Global Corporation. She has been working as a Manager, Digital Advertising at Philstar for 8 years.
is the Ad Operations Manager of Philstar Global Corp.
is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Philstar Global Corporation, Philstar Daily Inc., and Pilipino Star Ngayon, Inc. He is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Maynilad Water Services, Inc. He also served as Director of PLDT Subic Telecom, Inc. and PLDT Clark Telecom, Inc., President and Member of the Board of Trustees of the First Pacific Leadership Academy, Trustee of the MVP Sports Foundation, and IdeaSpace Foundation, and President of the PhilPop Music Fest Foundation. He has also worked in senior roles at Union Carbide, Pepsico, Colgate Palmolive, and Citigroup.
is the Chief Financial Officer of Philstar Global Corporation, Philstar Daily Inc., and Pilipino Star Ngayon, Inc. He was a former Chief Financial Officer of PLDT Global Corporation.
is one of the stockholders and members of the Board of Directors of Philstar Global Corporation and Philstar Daily Inc.
is one of the stockholders and members of the Board of Directors of Philstar Global Corporation and Philstar Daily Inc.
is one of the stockholders and members of the Board of Directors of Philstar Global Corporation and Philstar Daily Inc.
is the Chief Operating Officer of Philstar Global Corporation. Out of all the Belmonte in-laws, she is the most active in the family’s business empire.
is the Corporate Secretary of Philstar Global Corporation. She also sits as the Assistant Corporate Secretary of Philstar Daily Inc. and Pilipino Star Ngayon, Inc.
Contact
6th Floor, RFM Corporate Center Pioneer St., Mandaluyong City Philippines
Telephone number: +632 8847 0048
Website: www.philstar.com
Financial Information
Revenue (in Mill. $)
1,511,215 US$ / 83,700,113 PhP
Operating Profit (in Mill. $)
Missing Data
Advertising (in % of total funding)
Missing Data
Market Share
Missing Data
Further Information
Meta Data
Audience share is based on Consumer & Media View survey for news websites under Nielsen’s Philippine Media Landscape Report for Quarter 2 of 2023.
Conversion rate on November 28, 2023: PhP55.459 per US$1.
Sources
Media Landscape Report for Quarter 2, 2023, available upon purchase from Nielsen Company (US), LLC
