June 5, 2010

The Inquirer main headline is shouting "Betrayal" today.


Although we still do not know what is it in the Freedom of Information Bill that make it so important Betrayal in the House. No quorum kills freedom of info bill, we are being led to believe that the Lower House did not do its job by ignoring to ratify it. Of course the bill seems logical good and easy to agree to, I am sure no ordinary Juan has ever read its contents. As usually the case, Pinoys are made to root for something they do not understand, but not root enough to do some action (because of lack of deep understanding). I guess this news gave negative treatment to Nograles' House of Representatives. House of REpresentatives -1.

Null votes out, proclamation next week - this is a rehash of yesterday's news, but this time as if Roxas has been again shut out (not again as this is 2 days old news). The news gave somewhat positive treatment to Aquino (with also a rehash of the Estrada interview) but I cannot say the same for Roxas. Aquino +1.

Enrile: Bangit bypassed, must step down - is a he-says-she-says account featuring different opinions on Bangit' appointment and did not benefit nor disfavor the subject. As usual, the Inquirer did not close the gap to inform the readers what is in the law.

Binay camp claims .7-M votes in 5 CoCs - although the Inquirer can verify on its own what Binay's camp is saying, the paper did not do so. It just gave Binay free space. Binay +1.

Filipino films live fireball on Jupiter - did not favor any political figures.

Tarik no threat to Lapu-Lapu but UP prof is not amused - after trying to make a senseless rivalry between "heroes", the Inquirer today continued a telenovela-like coverage of a historical information. If the treatment aroused the people's interest in history, I would have laud the Inquirer for the effort. However, to me the treatment furthers the the dumbing down of the people by putting the people in on a shallow ride.

7 of 10 Metro folk favor gun ban extension - is a coverage that may put the incoming President in a bad light as Aquino is reported to have been a shooting enthusiast, if it is true, at least. But we cannot make that judgment yet.

The following news I did not find the online versions, but I conclude did not refer to any local figure:

To burn more fat, skip meals before workout

Irritable Kan, foe of status quo, is new Japan PM

The scores today:
Aquino: 1
Binay: 1
The House of Representatives: -1

June 4, 2010

Today's Inquirer front page continues the saga of the congressional canvass..


The headline news is a continuation of the story happening in the congressional canvass VP race stops canvass : 1.4M untallied votes to decide Binay-Roxas fight and gave no one a favor.

The other news in the front page:

Special polls peaceful but not so special - reports the goings-on in the special polls and did not give anyone any favor.

Estrada in UK, talks of win if not for Aquino - gave a positive treatment for Aquino, coming from a competitor. Aquino +1.

PAGASA: Rains, yes, but rainy season, not yet - a news about the weather that did not favor any person.

Why now? Late-marriage splits not so rare - a report on the Gores and analysis of their separation.

Corona gives rivals choice posts in SC revamp - gave positive report on Corona, giving a semblance of normalcy and acceptance in the supreme court. Corona +1.

LP cries Roxas ‘dagdag-bawas’ victim in ARMM - is a press release coming from Roxas side on the VP race. The Inquirer did not so much challenge Roxas camp's claims. Roxas +1.

House hearing bugged by repetitive questions; Comelec sets FAQ - is another news on the congress canvass saga and did not gave anyone a favor.

The scores:
Aquino: 1
Corona: 1
Roxas: 1

The Inquirer mainly gave positive news today and nobody got the whip.

June 3, 2010

Now the real fight surfaces, the VP race.


As Roxas insist on null votes, how far will he insist on it? That should have been the topic of the main Philippine Daily Inquirer headline today (Roxas insists on null votes. But Binay camp says no way). Instead, the report stopped on the issue and did not pursue. The news therefore gave it to Roxas at this time. Roxas +1.

The other news today are as follows:

Congress now fussing over 1,600 extra flash cards - is still on the saga of election cheating, but shows that the newspaper, the congressmen and perhaps the entire country do not know what CF cards are. No positives or negatives to any particular person here.

Congress to Aquino: Don’t be away for long - is not about Aquino, but still on the congress count. No one is particularly benefited by the news, except perhaps Zubiri whose name is all over it. We are not counting Zubiri though.

House clears Smartmatic, eyes inside job - is again on the same saga of election canvass and unfounded questions on fraud. Nothing to count from this news.

AFP MODERNIZATION. DND chief sad; midnight shopping spree aborted - of course, when there is "midnight" in the title, we all know now what it intends to refer to. Even without President Arroyo in the news, we all knew who it refers to. Arroyo -1.

Not Lapu-Lapu? Pampanga claims 1st RP martyr - a confusing report on who is first does not benefit any of our national figures. Confusing because Lapu-lapu is not a martyr, so it is like comparing saging with kaimito!

Inconvenient truth: Gores split after 40 years - is about the marriage and separation of the Gores.

Hot flashes: Susano wants only ‘virgin PCOS’ - the title turned Susano into a typecast of a middle aged woman although the report itself did not refer to it. Susano nevertheless is given a negative treatment, but which we do not count.

The scores today:
Roxas: 1
Arroyo: -1

Still Arroyo (or her administration) gets the whip, while Roxas got some free press today.

June 2, 2010

Today, and after about 2 years, the ZTE NBN deal is again on the headlines.


While the headline talks of clearing Arroyo Arroyo cleared again in broadband deal. ‘No proof of gov’t conspiracy,’ say probers the news report, reminding us of some of the detail of the ZTE controversy surely bodes negative for the President. Arroyo -1.

The other front page news are as follows:

Aquino takes 6-day break to recharge - is a news report from Aquino's point of view as to why he needed a break. The reporter, Mr. Gil Cabacungan Jr. whom we remember as who lavishly praised Aquino in his previous reports during the campaign, seems to have forgotten though that his subject has just been recently in Manila after some rest in Tarlac. Aquino +1.

Mikey Arroyo, Angie Reyes claims on House seats put on hold - is a news report about Partylists who have pending cases questioning their qualifications and/or of their nominees, but zeroing on the President's son most of the time. Arroyo -1.

Congress tally speeds up; Aquino, Binay lead in count - is a retelling of the news we already know, the saga happening in the congress count and the supposed numbers counted so far. No particular candidates or personalities benefit from this news.

Arroyo son heckled, jeered in cyberspace - is a bashfest for the Presdiential son and naturally negative to the President. Arroyo -1.

The following news in the front page has not benefited anyone in our monitor.

Coast Guard expects to refloat MV Princess by June 15

Gov’t urged to match pay hike to living wage

Al-Qaida: No. 3 official killed with family

The scores today:
Aquino: 1
Arroyo: -3

Obviously, Sen. Aquino has recovered and Arroyo remained to be the whipping girl in the Inquirer's front page.

May Summary

For the whole month of May, we noticed that Sen. Aquino generally received positive coverage. He received also more positive coverage compared to Sen. Villar and President Arroyo, especially before the elections. Sen. Aquino received generally negative coverage one time a few days after the elections and the last three days of the month. There is only one instance when Aquino received more negative news compared to President Arroyo.

June 1, 2010

Arroyo is back in the limelight today, care of son Mikey Arroyo this time.


The main headline gave space to opponents of President Arroyo (or perhaps those who try to get publicity out of opposing the President), blocking the nomination of his son as representative of a winning party list (Mikey Arroyo leads 35 party-list solons. 28 groups get seats in House). Arroyo -1.

Other news in today's front page are as follows:

Gen. Lim freed, goes straight to Times St. - although, in this report, there is reference to Lim going to Time St. and having ran for senator (and lost) under Aquino's banner, there were no favor given to the presumptive President-elect.

Tale of 2 flash cards: CDO authentic; Susano no-show - this news continues the saga of election fraud, essentially saying what we knew all along, that fraud cannot be committed without leaving a trail. No one favored by this piece of news except SMARTMATIC. SMARTMATIC +1.

Little president to watch Aquino’s back - is basically a thumbs up to Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa Jr., presently QC mayor's office administrator, and eyed to be Executive Secretary to the presumed incoming administration. The news effectively gave good coverage for the incoming administration. Aquino +1.

Aquino vows closure to human rights killings - While this news report is positive to Aquino, it is at the same time negative to Arroyo, congratulating the former for the EU representatives' acceptance while blaming the latter for human rights validation. Aquino +1. Arroyo -1.

Smartmatic bombarded with same old questions - still on the same topic of electoral fraud, this news does not benefit anyone.

Palace readies controversial Arlegui house for Aquino - takes another look at Aquino's potential residence during his would-be Presidential tenure. Although the Inquirer in the past took notice of the petty situation besetting Aquino, the paper did not too much put him to task.

No more ‘comrades’ for Beijing bus drivers - - is a look at some minor changes in Beijing.

The scores today:
Aquino: 2
Smartmatic: 1
Arroyo: -2

From a negative mark the past few days, Aquino recovered today and was given quite a positive treatment in the Inquirer Front Page. Meanwhile, Arroyo still gets the whip.

May 31, 2010

After weeks of covering non-sense, the Inquirer now quotes one of the Senators' voice of reason, as if it is their own.


The main banner for today, although seemingly a rebuke to congress Joker: Cut debates, fast-track canvass. ‘Congress not board of inquiry’, is actually a continuing coverage of practically nothing happening in the congress canvass. In the story, Sen. Joker Arroyo is treated as the voice of reason, while Enrile is projected as a hero thwarting any attempts of delaying the canvass. No one benefits from this kind of news while we all are shown to be fools spending energy on trash.

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

Probe PCOS memory cards, group asks Comelec - a one sided unchallenged coverage of CENPEG, a group supposedly monitoring the automated elections. Even if the group seems to be spouting screwed logic with their conclusions, they are still given free space. Perhaps, there will be a continuation of this news tomorrow. Again, we all lose from this kinds of news.

Volunteers train as river warriors - gave a positive treatment to ABS-CBN, via coverage of a project the network's foundation arm has undergone to protect the Pasig river. ABS-CBN +1.

‘Top kill’ can’t plug worst US oil spill - it is the first time the Inquirer gave a front page treatment to this international disaster. Although it does not directly affects us, the coverage is an international concern and I agree that people should be aware of this developments. The news gave no references to local politics nor personalities.

Palace dares Aquino to sustain economic growth - After carelessly pointing out election spending as the main driver of economic growth in the first quarter of the year, Aquino now is given negative treatment via an interview from Malacanang sources on the same topic. Aquino -1.

Aquino dreads ‘isolated’ life in Malacañang - Is Aquino losing "it"? It seems to be the question generated by this news report, which by the way took his side on the issue. Although the news is from his side, the presumptive president-elect is actually projected, by his own words, as petty and indecisive. Aquino -1.

Analysis. Old faces in next Cabinet bode ill for Aquino - This is a commentary by an Aquino campaign promoter, Amado Doronila, who is now trying to convert into a critic. The analysis is replete of continuing spin, crediting Aquino with "his electoral mandate", while removing any credit from Arroyo in the economic uptick. In any case, the incoming administration is rebuked with initial selection of cabinet people which Doronila tagged as "turncoats". Aquino -1.

Pastors urged: Keep sermon short, ‘tweet’ - I am not sure why the UCCP is covered at this time, but the news report does not have any reference to political personalities.

The scores:
ABS-CBN: 1
Aquino: -2

As if on cue, the Inquirer front page has become a critic of Aquino, something alien right before the elections. Could there be a reason to this? I leave that to the Inquirer Front Page readers to guess.