August 3, 2010

The problems rocking the Philippine Airlines took centerstage on the Philippine Daily Inquirer today.


The main headline reports the mass resignation of pilots at PAL (PAL cancels more flights. Emergency meeting at Palace ends in deadlock) and the consequences that it brought. Although the Palace is calling in the parties to resolve the issue, there were no hints of positive or negative treatment in the report, except for PAL who was not given space to air their side on the Pilot's complaints.

The other news reports in the Inquirer Front Page today:

Arroyo camp to challenge truth commission in SC - Arroyo depicted as playing a cat and mouse game with (translation: avoiding) the mass media, possibly to show proof of her guilt. Arroyo -1.

Young leader of car theft gang captured/killed - an unfinished story of the encounter between the police and a "Good Looking" car theft, where the coverage has left many questions unanswered.

Magsaysay Awards: RP couple surprised, humbled - a story of Magsaysay Awards winners, including the RP science educator-couple.

DPWH chief: Some people out to malign me
- the DPWH defends itself from accusations almost exclusively in this report, which effect our monitor cannot determine.

At palace of House, GMA under heavy fire - - a very bad previous president as described by statements coming from Cong. Bello. Arroyo -1.

Magic number for sleep is 7 hours, study finds - An AFP report on the relationship of length of sleep and heart disease.

The score today:
Arroyo: -2

It looks like business as usual in the Inquirer Front Page.

August 1,2010

DPWH chief Singson linked to `midnight deal'

A celebration of hope, renewal

Lacierda strikes 2, says still learning the ropes


Snapshots of icon capture Cory in magical mosaic


Lea main draw in year’s splashiest, if dated, show

July 30,2010

High court slams Luisita; SC: 13th mo. pay cut badge of bad faith

Truth body duplicates DOJ work

MWSS workers housing bigger than Luneta

BIR to probe rice traders, agri execs

Newspapers remain top source of info

Audit shows May 10 polls 99.6% accurate

BIR files P68.5-M tax evasion case vs couple

Abu ‘prof’ pleads guilty in US court, faces 25 years

RP’s most tightly guarded bachelor’s pad is ready

July 29, 2010

Still, the main news in the Inquirer Front Page today is all about rice.



The headline today (More imported rice here. Militants, senators: Give surplus staple to poor) talks about on the oversupply of rice, while some sectors try to ride the headlines with their own statements. Arroyo -1.

The other Front Page news today are as follows:

Day of surprises for released Marine colonel - reports about the release of a Colonel who figured in a standoff apparently because of their complaints of corruption and election cheating by the previous administration. Arroyo -1.

Filipinos taken for a ‘Joyride’ - a report on a supposed book about former President Arroyo's infrastructure accomplishments turn out to be a press interview with the new DPWH secretary. Arroyo -1.

A mouthful from Aquino: 19 more spokespersons - more reports on a solidified communications group for the Administration, spinning it into getting the government closer to the people. Aquino +1.

NEDA chief sees 8% growth in economy - a confusing growth projection, basically saying growth will be the effect of improved governance but decline of 7% in 2nd half of the year versus the 1st half due to the initial effect of election spending. Aquino +1.

DPWH cancels 19 ‘midnight deals’ worth over P934M - the DPWH saving the day versus the Arroyo administration's midnight deals. Arroyo -1.

Mikey Arroyo faces disqualification charges in SC, House - Although the Arroyo son is given space to react to the disqualification charges against him, this report is all about how bad he is and the circumstances of his congressional seat. Arroyo (Mikey) -1.

Facebook tags serial killer suspect; ‘NPA’ ruse leads to arrest - a report about an arrest of a suspected serial killer.

Joker: Truth commission is doomed - a question posed to the still to be organized truth commission coming from a lawyer/senator.

The scores today amazingly shows that former President Arroyo still hugs the front page with negative news, as if she is still in Malacanang. Meanwhile, it seems nothing can go wrong for President Aquino.
Aquino: 2
Arroyo: -4
Arroyo (Mikey): -1

July 28, 2010

The evil that was, explains the Inquirer Front Page today.



The Inquirer main headline today (‘We’re swimming in rice’—NFA chief. Arroyo’s P100-M ‘midnight sale’ starting to arrive) explains how bad former President Arroyo is, without the benefit of a rebuttal. Arroyo -1.

P480-M road user’s tax abuse ‘just tip of iceberg’ - After saying that there are grave abuse in the past, the DPWH secretary says he doesn't want to prejudge when it pertains to whether charges can be filed.. Such disconnect gave former President a very negative treatment. Arroyo -1.

P105-M calamity fund now with DPWH Pampanga to be recalled - another one sided take on former President Arroyo's greed. Arroyo -1.

Arroyo ally hits SONA: Partisan press release - Perhaps to balance the news, this report is from former President's allies, and thus of course making the Arroyo defense statements coming from a polluted source. The report gave former Pres. Arroyo's side of the story nevertheless. Arroyo +1.

MWSS ready to ‘moderate’ multi bonuses - a report from the MWSS point of view, defending themselves with the word "moderate" in the title perhaps meant to show MWSS people are greedy.

Truth body to focus on grave graft cases - clarifies that the truth commission could be working only on the wrongdoings of Arroyo. Arroyo -1.

Palace media group: 3 heads better than 1 - a report in defense of the curiously organized propaganda machinery of the President.

Pacquiao rumbles in House, quotes Frost - a special space given exclusively for the use of the boxing icon. Pacquiao +1.

The scores today puts us back to the time when the former President is still in Malacanang:
Arroyo: -3
Pacquiao: 1

July 27, 2010

President Aquino's SONA took, and our monitor thought it should, the centerpiece of the Phil. Daily Inquirer today.



Perhaps adding even some more, the main headline today (‘We can dream again’. Aquino’s first SONA goes direct to the point) is basically an unchallenged retelling of the President's SONA. Aquino +1

The other news in the Front Page:

Aquino hangs out (dirty) laundry of Arroyo anomalies - again, a retelling of some other parts of the President's SONA. Aquino +1.

9 out of 10 Filipinos trust P-Noy, says Pulse Asia - reports that the President is a very popular public figure. Aquino +1, Arroyo -1..

Wanting, where’s road map? Duh, say Arroyo allies - a rundown of comments from different sectors, positive and negative.

No effigies burning, no sirens, no barricades - a report on mostly harmless comments coming from left-leaning groups who are unsatisfied with the SONA. Included in the report are some digs at former President Arroyo. Aquino -1, Arroyo -1.

REPORTERS’ NOTEBOOK Lost in translation: Envoys understood applause - some more reports on the ground on the event of the SONA, with some positive comments going for the President. Aqiuno +1.

From nail art to ‘salakot’ at biggest annual fashion event - a report on how people dressed for the SONA, seemingly unmindful that many of the people for which the SONA is eventually for are dying in hunger.

15th CONGRESS Enrile by consensus; cakewalk for Belmonte - a report of congress leadership with a brief positive comment going for the PResident. Aquino +1.

1st ‘Killing Fields’ verdict: Guilty - a report on some resolution on some atrocities that happened some decades back in Cambodia.

The Inquirer Front Page is all out for the President today, our score shows:
Aquino: 4
Arroyo: -2

July 26, 2010

The developments in leadership selection in the Senate took the main banner in the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page today.


The main headline (Enrile heads unity Senate. Pangilinan, Villar fail to get needed 13 votes ) gave the loser from the Liberal Party on the fight for senate leadership a positive spin, given him space to say he fought a good fight but gave up for the sake of unity. It gave a positive take on the development also for President Aquino's administration. Pangilinan +1. Aquino +1.

The other news in the front page today are as follows:

Belmonte leads much bigger House coalition - a report on Cong. Belmonte securing the house' leadership via a coalition bigger than in recent memory, failing to take note though that the coalition is mostly composed of the same people in the past. Belmonte +1.

Rain brings instant flood to Metro - a report on the weather and floods around Metro Manila without, unlike in the past, giving much of any issue out of them.

Analysis. State of nat’l budget: A tour of Arroyo chamber of horrors - a so called analysis that gave much space to President Aquino's press releases, but did gave a negative take on the same subject at the end of the piece. Aquino +1 -1 =0.

Much of US cooks in endless summer - a combined New York Times and AP feature on the hot weather in the US.

Funnyman Redford White exits laughing - a report on the death of a comedian.

Arroyo flies to Hong Kong - a report about later this afternoon's SONA focusing on the fighting stance the administration is taking contrast with the seeming flight of the previous President. Aquino +1. Arroyo -1.

Militants to push demands in SONA rallies Monday - a report on how the left is receiving the SONA, although reporting from their side making them sound irrelevant.

The scores today:
Aquino: 2
Belmonte: 1
Pangilinan: 1
Arroyo: -1