Early Efforts in Offset Printing

All the work in the field and in the congregations would be much more difficult without the excellent Bible literature that is available. For many years, printing for the Philippine field was done in Brooklyn. In the early 1970’s, however, a factory was built right on the branch’s premises in Quezon City. Letterpress equipment, similar to what Brooklyn had, was installed. This enabled the branch to print all magazines right on site.

Within that decade, it became clear that letterpress printing, with its hot-metal method, was being phased out by the printing industry, in favor of offset printing. Direction given by world headquarters indicated that we would gradually make this change too.

In 1980 the branch purchased commercial phototypesetting equipment. The South Africa branch had obtained the same type of equipment and shared their experience with the Philippines. This computerized typesetting system went hand in hand with a small sheetfed offset press that was purchased about the same time.

On a small scale, this equipment allowed the brothers to learn the techniques used in offset printing. David Namoca, who already had extensive experience in Linotype operation for letterpress printing, learned how to use the phototypesetting equipment. Other brothers learned how to make offset printing plates and how to do the printing on the newly purchased press. Thus, by the end of 1980, the branch was already using the offset method to turn out some issues of Our Kingdom Ministry and magazines in languages requiring fewer printed copies.

The upcoming changeover to offset printing also introduced the use of computers to help the brothers involved in translation and prepress work. Little by little, the brothers gained experience and confidence. In due time they were able to improve both the quality and the quantity of printing using these methods. In fact, in 1982 the brothers were so eager to make progress that they printed Kingdom News No. 31, a four-color publication, using the one-color offset press. The paper was run through the press six times​—four for the full-color side and two for the other. It was a big job, and the quality may have left a little to be desired; but everyone was delighted to see a four-color Kingdom News produced on our own equipment.

That arrangement served to get things started, but how would the full transition to computerized phototypesetting and offset printing be accomplished? Jehovah’s organization had something in mind, and the Philippines branch would soon benefit from it.

Jehovah’s Organization Provides MEPS

The Governing Body authorized the production of a computerized phototypesetting system that would meet the unique needs of publishing the good news in scores of languages. The Multilanguage Electronic Phototypesetting System (MEPS) was developed at Brooklyn. Although the commercial equipment used for a while by the branch had introduced the use of computers and offset printing on a limited scale, MEPS would allow the Philippines branch to move ahead in this area, along with other branches throughout the world.

Two couples were invited from the Philippines to Wallkill, New York. The brothers received training in MEPS computer maintenance and the application of MEPS programs to prepress work. Another couple, Florizel Nuico and his wife, spent their time at Brooklyn, where Brother Nuico learned how to operate M.A.N. offset printing presses. This was just what the Philippines branch needed to move fully into computerized prepress work and offset printing.

In 1983 an M.A.N. offset press arrived in the Philippines. It was erected with the help of Lionel Dingle from the Australia branch. Brother Nuico began training local brothers in what he had learned at Brooklyn. By the end of 1983, the first magazines were rolling off this press. However, the system was not yet fully in place, so for a while, magazines were produced by combining the hot-metal method with offset printing.

Completion of the system was not far off though. The first MEPS computer arrived at the end of 1983, and the two brothers who had been trained at Wallkill set to work teaching others how to operate and maintain MEPS equipment. Within a short time, production was under way. Dozens of Bethelites were thoroughly trained in how to use the system for translation, text entry, composition, and phototypesetting as well as in how to repair computers. In the Philippines, the training process is complicated by the number of languages involved. The Watchtower itself is prepared in seven languages, not including English. MEPS was well suited to the task.

There was noticeable improvement in the quality of the publications being produced. Concerning those doing the printing, Cesar Castellano, a factory worker, says: “Most of our brothers are farmers. Some did not have any technical skills. It is impressive to see how Jehovah through his spirit moves the brothers to be able to do a lot of things, including the printing work.” The brothers learned, and the publishers in the field received publications that were increasingly appealing. But there was a more important benefit​—a spiritual one—​that was made possible by these technological advancements in printing methods.

Spiritual Food at the Same Time

When the magazines for the Philippines were printed in Brooklyn, it took six months or more for what had appeared in the English magazines to be published in the Philippine languages. Although the magazines were translated locally, sending manuscripts and proofs back and forth and finally shipping the printed magazines took quite a bit of time. When magazine printing was moved to the Philippines in the 1970’s, time was saved, but the contents of the magazines were still six months behind the English issues. Many of the Filipino brothers thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have the vernacular at the same time as the English?’ For years, that was just a dream.

However, with the advent of MEPS and the adjusted production procedures, what previously had been a dream became reality. The Governing Body realized that studying the same material at the same time would have a powerful unifying effect on all of Jehovah’s people. This goal was pursued, and by January 1986, The Watchtower was available simultaneously with English in four local languages: Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Iloko, and Tagalog. Other languages soon followed. Then, what a surprise it was at the 1988 conventions to receive the book Revelation​—Its Grand Climax At Hand! in three vernacular languages at the same time as the English edition! The brothers were joyful​—not only to have higher quality literature to offer to interested ones but to be able to benefit from the same spiritual feeding program at the same time as the majority of their brothers throughout the world.

These improvements in our printed publications came at a time of turbulent conditions in some parts of the country. The publications would emphasize the constant need for all to make Jehovah their stronghold.

[Picture on page 186]

Computerized phototypesetting began in 1980