November 4, 2010

Amidst the travel warnings from various countries on the country, the elections in the US snatched the center-stage in the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page today.



The main headline (Obama loses big in polls. Americans’ message: Change course) is an AP report on the results of the US midterm elections, which for the Inquirer seems to be bigger news than the supposed terror threat in Manila.

The other news today:

‘IMMINENT DANGER’. US warns of terror attack in Manila - a terrorist alert amidst the government doing actions to avert them, the administration remaining mostly scot-free from any blame.

New California Chief Justice leads Fil-Am winners in US polls - a story of several Fil-Ams winning elections in the US.

Aquino may follow Obama path, warns think-tank - various reactions to conservatism rise in the US shown by the results of the midterm elections there, with a report on a report by a group called Pacific Strategies and Assessments, which include a harsh assessment of the Philippine President whom they say cannot be expected and does not have what it takes to accomplish anything. Aquino -1.

I-TEAM SPECIAL REPORT: NEW CENTURIONS. Sheila Platt is the good news to Moros - some US civilians doing good in Mindanao for victims of displacement brought about by war, and the President given good treatment for having a "plan" for peace there. US +1. Aquino +1.

Memorial shrine planned for 57 massacre victims - an update on the Ampatuan hearings and of the planned shrine to be erected where the massacre took place. For the first time, the name of President Arroyo is not tagged with the news for being a political ally which our monitor has become used to in the past.

2,600 PAL workers facing layoff to get P1M each - a report mostly from the management side in the PAL labor dispute.

Palace defends Arroyo’s P2.2B: It’s not ‘pork’ - for the third day, a non-news made it the front page talking about President Arroyo's supposed pork which are not pork after all, which of course the paper should have known right even before it made the headline. Arroyo -1.

The scores:
US: 1
Aquino: 0
Arroyo: -1

November 3, 2010

A repeat of yesterday's news took the Front Page of the Phil. Daily Inquirer today.



The main headline (Aquino hit on Arroyo pork. Pampanga rep is no sacred cow, says senator) is almost a repeat word for word of yesterday's headline report, a tirade on former President Arroyo, this time including a spin of a commentary from Sen. Cayetano. Arroyo -1.

The other news today:

DoJ: 2 more APO frat men wanted - Sec. DeLima given the time of her life after being quoted left and right in this report. The fraternity group APO is also given space for their incongruous statements while VP Binay is mentioned again for his gaffe of declaring the APO suspect not guilty. De Lima +1. Binay -1.

Palace won’t stop DoLE ruling on PAL - the labor groups given more space that both the DOLE and the Phil. Airlines in this report.

P300-million lotto jackpot up for grabs - more promotional stories from the PCSO.

How’s cyberlife for Palace writer? It sucks - a report that inadvertently lead people to facebook pages that are scathing of Asec Mislang and President Aquino himself. Aquino -1.

Reds rush Aquino on courtesy call - The President is unclear on what to do with the proposed meetings with the communist rebels. Aquino -1.

Plight of evacuees rued - press statements of the Rodriguez Congressmen brothers on the peace and order situation in Mindanao.

I-TEAM SPECIAL REPORT: NEW CENTURIONS. Social workers get US master’s degrees - a continuation of yesterday's confusing feature, again on some Peace issues in Mindanao.

The scores:
De Lima: 1
Arroyo: -1
Binay: -1
Aquino: -2

November 2, 2010

Former Pres. Arroyo's congressional budget is the biggest news in the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page today.


The main headline today (P2-B fund for Arroyo spurs new pork deal. 5 beefing solons get P50M each) is obviously a self-conflicted tirade against the former President. Arroyo -1.

The other news today:

Bomb plot highlights gaps in cargo security - a New York Times report on the discovered terror bomb concealed as a printer cartridge that went to some places en route to Chicago.

Pacquiao allays fears, to fight at 150 pounds - a report that gives excitement to the upcoming Pacquiao-Margarito fight which could translate to more viewers, hence more income for Pacquiao. Pacquiao +1.

I-TEAM SPECIAL REPORT: NEW CENTURIONS. US-trained workers help rebuild lives - a feature story of US-trained people doing some unclear but supposedly good activities in Mindanao.

Pot shot: California votes on marijuana an AFP report on Marijuana legalization process in California.

Troubled souls stay longer, need prayers - a Catholic view on souls and spirits. Catholic Church +1.

Holy water is not just blessed water - the Catholic's holy water is not just water, according to this report. Catholic Church +1.

10 ‘Ondoy’ victims unremembered - a report on Ondoy victims that remain anonymous.

The scores:
Catholic Church: +2
Pacquiao: 1
Arroyo: -1

November 1, 2010

A US terror plot again took the main headline, amidst the photo of the revered Aquinos' tomb, in the Phil. Daily Inquirer Front Page today.


The main headline (Woman held in terror plot. US: foiled bomb attempt has hallmarks of al-Qaida) is an update on the terror plot where a bomb shipment was intercepted before it reached the US. The report did not explain why it is bigger news than the return of the President from Hanoi.

The other news:

Labor dep’t OKs layoff of 2,600 PAL workers - a report on a Labor ruling where the company PAL was given both positive and negative news treatment.

Security stepped up at NAIA - a report which attempts to connect the US terror alert to the country, although the report itself says there is no connection. The president and the administration is given a bit of space in the news but perhaps not enough to be considered a positive treatment.

Gov’t infra plan under cloud - a report that would have been thought to be negative to the administration, discussing the Public Private Partnership supposedly pushed by the government, that also tied President Aquino's name with the positive economic numbers in the first half of the year. Aquino +1.

Philippines: Burma vote may hurt ASEAN - a report seemingly showing President Aquino's concern for human rights and democracy in our neighbor countries. Aquino +1.

2 comics lead big US rally for sanity - a report on a rally in the US led by TV comedians cum satirists.

Final battle occurs at the point of death - a feature report on the fight between good and evil from the Catholic point of view. Catholic Church +1.

Funerals for heroes imagined by La Tondeña - a feature report on a recollection of Tondo, a sub-district in Manila, by one of its daughters.

Perhaps for fear of death or life after it, being All Saints' Day and All Souls Day season, the Inquirer puts the Catholic Church together with the President on the positive side of things today as the scores would show:
Aqiuno: 2
Catholic Church: 1

October 31, 2010

A two day old story on the US terror plot took the center-stage in the front page of the Phil. Daily Inquirer today.


The headline (US terror plot thwarted. Chicago-bound bombs intercepted in 3 continents) is a belated coverage of the attempted bombing story in the US, thwarted while the bomb is still far on its way.

The other news today:

‘Mr. Brown’ lives in RP’s most haunted house, Palace - ghost stories, from of all places, the seat of government, giving space to Sen. Bongbong Marcos' stories and making him seems as normal as anyone could be. Bongbong Marcos +1.

Love the dead, shun horror images—CBCP - Catholic concepts of Halloween given space in the front page today. Catholic Church +1.

Aquino at Asean summit: Being neighborly - a coverage of the President's trip in Vietnam, coming exclusively from the administration's point of view. Aquino +1.

Fatima’s third secret still secret - a feature on religious prophecies. Catholic Church +1.

Aquino’s tweeter now says she’s blessed to be in Hanoi, apologizes - a repeat of the story of twitter gaffes made by one of the President's communication staffs. Aquino -1.

The scores the Catholic Church a surprise winner today:
Catholic Church: 2
Bongbong Marcos: 1
Aquino: 0

October 30, 2010

A three year old blast, a photo of preparations in a cemetery in Davao and a photo of the President on headphones, probably listening to translations, took the center-stage in the Philippine Daily Inquirer front page today.


The headline today (Mall blast probed again. Was it gas or bomb that wrecked Glorietta 2?) is a repeat of the report on the allegation that the blast that took place three years ago in Glorietta is caused by a bomb, but this time adding that the DOJ is weighing in on it. Of course, this means bad for the former administration who is inferred to have made the cover-up, and in a way to PNP chief David, who is also involved in the investigation. Arroyo -1. David -1.

The other front page news today:

De Lima: Bar explosion well planned - is a report on the comments of Sec. De Lima on the investigations on the Bar Exams grenade blast, confident that they have the right suspect, but not explaining why there is no warrant of arrest issued on anybody nor saying what their witnesses knew. The report also gave VP Binay's side on his supposed defense of the suspect. De Lima +1. Binay +1.

Lotto winner stuck to her numbers for 10 years - is a compilation of stories on winning the lotto.

P-Noy urges Asean: Speak with one voice - is a report on the position the President is taking on the Spratlys issue, which is similar to the US position. The news that came exclusively from the administration side of course turned out positive for them. Aquino +1.

UP backs its law faculty vs SC on plagiarism - a report of more people backing the UP faculty against the SC. SC -1.

‘Radyo Inquirer’ is new home for OFW champions - a promotional report of a radio program in the paper's own radio station. Inquirer +1.

Horror books pleasure read for brave souls - a news feature on horror books and their target market.

Aquino speechwriter tweets ‘wine sucks,’ twits netizens - a report on a gaffe of twitter entries by a communications staff in the President's delegation in Vietnam.

The scores:
Aquino: 1
Inquirer: 1
De Lima: 1
Binay: 1
Inquirer: 1
David: -1
SC: -1
Arroyo: -1

October 29, 2010

A photo of ASEAN laaders in a twisting pose as the headline on the Bar Exams bombing suspect grace the Phil Daily Inquirer Front Page today.



The headline (APO frat forms legal team to defend brod. NBI files attempted murder charges vs bomb suspect) is a report on the grenade throwing suspect being charged in court as his frat-mates ready his legal defense. The mention of a prominent frat-mate, VP Binay is held to a minimum making the news generally neutral to him.

The other news today:

Aquino urges Burma to free Suu Kyi now - a report where the Philippines President is shown as concerned for democracy for our neighbors. Aquino +1.

RP, Thailand agree to tackle stronger peso - a report from the palace on various concerns the President is tackling in Vietnam. Aquino +1.

Comelec apologizes for delays in elections - a report from the apologetic commissioners of the COMELEC that has to get ready for the House inquiry. COMELEC -1.

Binay hit for clearing suspect; it’s his opinion, says Palace - a he-says-she-says commentary type of report on VP Binay's earlier pronouncement that seem to exonerate the suspect in the Bar Exam grenade attack, but nonetheless gave the VP some negative treatment. Binay -1.

Newsman quotes Neri: Arroyo pressured me on NBN deal - a report that shows who the real accused in the NBN deal was. Arroyo -1.

Pag-IBIG sets economic sabotage raps vs Delfin Lee - a report that clearly puts a private company in the hole of an issue that could also implicate the former VP. De Castro -1.

It’s now RIP for ‘RP’ - a report that tackles what initials the country would have to use.

The scores:
Aquino: 2
COMELEC: -1
Binay: -1
Arroyo: -1
De Castro: -1