The REPORTER online is a takeoff of the defunct pioneer weekly newspaper, Reporter, in Eastern Visayas.

The Late Gus C. Arnaiz, Sr.

The newspaper's first print was published on October 19, 1965 in Maasin, Southern Leyte by then late Agustin C. Arnaiz, Sr., a.k.a. "Gus", as his way of providing the public information covering Southern Leyte's important political and socio-economic issues.  It continued to expand from its initial two-page (back to back) publication to a regional newsweekly spanning for 36 years until it folded in 2003.

Gus' friends knew him as a legendary journalist who lived a life with witty vibrancies yet with lucidness in his heart.  Despite his high school education, he was however well read and could easily outsmart college grads when exchange of viewpoints covered politics, socio-economics and, yes, of course, life insurance (Gus was once an agent for the underwriters of The Insular Life Insurance Company).  His affinity with journalism got him incarcerated a few times for his openness in his views with the administration of the late President Ferdinand Marcos and the infamous Philippine Martial Law.  With his rapport and outstanding trait as a best conversationalist, Gus could easily energize any gathering with his charisma and strong philosophy on governmental issues worth disseminating to the townsfolk of Southern Leyte.  He was once an intellectual buddy of the late Alfred Cobile who consistenly shared synonymous personal convictions while enjoying the sweet acridness of "bahal tuba" or "bahalina" during weekend leisure times at the Cobile's backyard Mantahan sea shoreline.  Gus, having pioneered freedom of the press in Southern Leyte and Samar for decades, selflessly shared his life with those who mentored him as well as those who plainly admired him as a person who made an invaluable difference for his fellowmen.

Jani Arnaiz

With Gus' blessing, Januario "Jani" Arnaiz launched the paper's online version on October 19, 2009 under the domain thereporteronline.com.ph as an attempt to restore Gus' media achievement.  Two months after the paper attained worldwide visibility over the Internet, "Gus" graciously passed away to natural causes.

The Reporter, now under a new domain, MaasinReporter.com, continues with its forward momentum in cyberspace with supporting sponsor Yel Cobile and his Webionic.com.   As a token of respect for the late Gus C. Arnaiz, Sr. and family, Yel pledged to maintain the paper's continual presence on the Internet.  He reformatted its website aesthetics and functionalism, hosted it on his servers, and launched it in early September 2011.

Yel K. Cobile

To date, The Reporter continues to accrue high-volume hit stats as recurring readership of Southern Leyteños transpire.  In essence, The Reporter came back with a stronger intention of enticing the appetite of Maasinhons and Southern Leyteños' with worthy news and information.

Jani as the Chief Editor and Yel as the IT Administrator, under their joint endeavor, hope that the beacon light of Gus' legacy will persist to prevail over the years under the guise of The Reporter.