May 17, 2010

Like a TV soap series, the Inquirer main headline today is a continuation of their coverage of the battle for the House of Representatives.


For me, the real news (Anti-Aquino Congress seen. Noynoy may need to form new political alliances) there is that Aquino would have been proven to be very weak if and in case the house was controlled by soon would be ex-President and Congresswoman Arroyo. However, it seems the news gives drama to the struggle for control of the lower house, without giving priority to the logic of such. Still, I say whoever holds the pork holds Congress, and whoever holds the pork but loses control of Congress will lose control in everything. I say Arroyo gets this one. Arroyo +1

The following are the other news (and my judgment as to who they benefit) in the Inquirer Front Page today:

ANALYSIS With Corona snub, Aquino risks showdown with high court - Is not actually news but an analysis made by whom we consistently see now as to have been very supportive of Aquino, Mr. Armando Doronila. Mr. Doronila blames Arroyo on the possible consitutional crisis of Aquino's snub of the new Chief Justice:

Ms Arroyo’s appointment—one of her last acts in office—was highly provocative. She was carrying out a scorched policy against her successor by creating conditions for a constitutional crisis involving the next president and the Supreme Court, which she had packed with her appointees.

Of course, Doronila is plain wrong as it is Aquino's action that will surely determine whether there would be a crisis or not. Aquino was actually the one who provoked the crisis by not recognizing the Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of Arroyo's appointment of a new Chief Justice and not the other way around. Aquino actually threatened to hammer his own head. Now, everyone is waiting whether he will do it or not.

Doronila also forgot that it was the incoming President who was actually divisive when the basis of the latter's campaign is actually anything or everything against Arroyo..

The exiting President, who is responsible for this last-hour controversy, has left us a toxic and divisive legacy by sowing landmines in the path of transition.

I say this front page material puts a very positive spin for Aquino. Aquino +1

‘People’s President’ embraces destiny - is the continuation of yesterday's fan piece about Aquino. The author, Thelma Sioson San Juan, cannot even just quote other people's praise of Aquino, but instead embelish her work with praise for his idol all coming from herself:

A regular guy who’s not full of himself—that’s a side to Aquino the public hardly knew in the three decades that his family has lived on the national stage, perhaps because he never deliberately hopped on that stage.

Well, if there is anything we can get from this piece, it is that there is no indication of any wedding plans during the Presidency (as if the President cannot have a family and be president at the same time, poor Shalani) and that sister Kris Aquino will remain to be on our TV sets (as if there is nothing wrong, nor conflict of interest, with that) for possibly the rest of our lives. Aquino +1

COMMENTARY Polls show passion for democracy - is a plain commentary on the voter's turnout and the process by which we vote. I see no reference to any national figure, so I say it is neutral.

25 DEAD IN CLASHES. Thai Red Shirts seek talks - although this news might be of importance to us in the future (ie. a study on the manner of protest actions and government crackdown of the same, and the economic results of such political action and how their crisis gave our country better standing in the international community, etc.), it does not have reference to any local national figure.

Web wizard helps people in distress - is a feature on a certain Yobie Benjamin, supposedly a Pinoy web expert based in the US.

‘Magnificent 5’ may swing vote for Senate head - is about an interview with Zubiri on the future of the senate leadership. Although it discusses the different scenarios/possibilities, I see no benefit for anyone, except Zubiri and his group.

Barangay chair needs ‘barong’ for new role - is an advance notice on who might swear in Aquino as President. It gave Noynoy a bit of a positive spin in the end when it quoted a Baranggay Chairman as having said that Aquino is a humble person. But I don't think it is enough to give this news to favor Aqiuno as it in fact pre-empts his action and limiting his freedom to choose who to swear him in. It could even be a trap set up to have Aquino sworn in in a place that may even be hostile to his ascendancy to power. So I say this news is neutral, at the moment.

So I think, today's front page gave favor to only two persons as follows:
Aquino: 2
Arroyo: 1