Philippine Daily Inquirer: You Got Trolled!

It was no surprise that for most of us who have been religiously following the happenings on the cyber world (half of which are journalists and the other half are bored individuals like me) - whether it be on Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr - that President Aquino made it to this year’s list of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. The news came last April 18 at 7:03 PM, Manila time.

In response, President Noynoy Aquino said that he was merely the “face” of the Filipino people, that the recognition is due to his countrymen and of the whole country and that if success was achieved, it would be the success of everyone.

As most of you know, I have always been fascinated with covers and front pages of various local and international broadsheets and magazines. In fact, it is my daily habit before starting a day’s work to browse and to look at various front pages and covers whether it be in print or in digital format. I consider it as an exceptional art and as a part of history as well. So when the list came out, I eagerly waited on who would be on the cover of TIME’s special issue.

An hour past midnight earlier, while waiting for the developments on the manhunt of the marathon bombing suspect in Boston (and while waiting for my ‘Homeland’ episode download to finish), I dropped by the website of the Philippine Daily Inquirer to see if they have already uploaded their page one for today. As I looked at the digital format of the front page, aside from the photos of the two Boston bombing suspects, I saw the photo of President Aquino in an apparently, a cover of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.

But here’s the catch: The cover looked fake and the photo of President Aquino that was used was one of his, excuse me, unflattering photos. I immediately searched TIME magazine to verify its authenticity and lo and behold, it turned out to be fake. The cover for this year’s special issue is Jennifer Lawrence. Not President Aquino.

So what? Some trolls and pranksters probably made that “false cover’ to fool on people.  But here’s the thing, it landed on the cover of one of the most respected broadsheet in the country (and they have repeatedly said that they are the leading broadsheet in the country, which, I believe by the way). The fake TIME Magazine cover landed on the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. What a shame! (I later discovered that this fake cover came from one of the memes of Showbiz Government, a satirical Facebook page. Good job guys!)

I have a love-hate relationship with that broadsheet. Though I have repeatedly praised some of their creative front pages (like the false cover and the bloodied cover for the Philippine Independence Day celebration), I have also criticized (if not make fun of) some of them. to name a few, there was the juxtaposition failure, their tabloid-esque layout, and the headline that’s more appropriate in the entertainment section.

It has been a buzz in the social media that the Inquirer is “too yellow”,  a broadsheet that is always in favor of President Aquino. In fact, my (new) favorite blog, The Spin Busters, describe the Inquirer (or PDI) as thePresident’s Daily Inquirer. The Inquirer later apologized in a tweet saying that it was an honest mistake. But here’s the catch, they also said that they wish it was President Aquino on the cover. With that being said, I think it is evident that there is no statement “more yellow” than that.

I once worked for the publishing industry and it is a mortal sin among us to run and print non-factual information and materials. Though my previous job is not that of the news industry (I worked for a private company publishing textbooks), this broadsheet, In my opinion, with their hundreds of employees, should have exercised diligence in publishing their paper. Now that the boo-boo has been published and distributed nationwide, I think this broadsheet has lost a bit of their credibility. That’s the price you pay of falling for a troll’s trap.

Going back to President Aquino’s statement that he is the face of the Filipino people, I cannot but take a look again at his unflattering photo. The trolls have successfully used the President’s signature “nganga” image. In the local pop culture, “nganga” - or the act of leaving your mouth wide open - has a connotation of emptiness, laziness, tardiness, and stupidity.

If this is the real face of the Filipino people, then we are travelling not in a promised Daang Matuwid. We are in a Ngangang Matuwid.

Elsewhere:

• Inquirer: Fake PNoy Time Cover “Honest Mistake” but…  - The Inquirer’s yellow apology and their list of past front page boo-boos. (Rappler.com)
• LOL! Yellow Paper falls for fake TIME Magazine cover  - The Spin Busters’ satirical blog entry about the latest victim of Facebook trolls

"Noynoying"

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Nine days after the onslaught of Typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel,” President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday finally saw for himself flood-devastated areas in three provinces."][/caption]

We live in the age of internet and social media. This is the age when new words and terms spread faster than a new strain of flu and memes are as ordinary as the everyday traffic situation at EDSA.

We’ve seen a lot. From the way jejemons type their messages to the new poses such as planking, owling, batmaning, and bakling. And now, inspired by our President’s alleged management style, there’s a new term that is about to spread (if successful) in the internet.

Noynoying.

I was drunk browsing cyber stuff last night when I came across a screen cap of a Facebook conversation supposedly coming from Overheard at UP Facebook page. According to it, noynoying is defined as a term for that idle moment na walang ginagawa pero dapat ay mayroon na.

For example, Dapat nagre-review pero noynoying muna.

Procrastination has a new name. And it was inspired by our President.

Critics have been accusing Aquino of being lax on his duty as President and having poor management skills. Recently, the Opposition slammed Aquino for not being present during the onslaught of Typhoons Pedring and Quiel.

This is not the first time that Aquino was criticized for not being present during the time of crisis. During the height of the Quirino Grandstand hostage crisis, the President was also criticized for not being present at the situation. During the height of the tragedy.

If that would always be the case, we should have picked a superhero instead as our leader. Like Bayani Fernando.

Is Noynoy Aquino really lax or not? Are you satisfied with the way the Administration deal with tragedies and calamities? (Okay, this sounds like a Teevee Patrol text poll).

Maybe. But I believe that one is immortalized when his name is used as an adjective. And a verb. Like Noynoying. Or numo-Noynoy.

Keep calm. And stop noynoying.

Be productive Pilipinas! Padayon!

Other related reads:

• Why Aquino didn’t visit flood victims sooner Read the Administration’s ‘defense’ here. It’s kinda convincing. Sort of.


• Christmas in jail for Arroyos seen Sa wakas! Mailalagay na sa kalaboso ang mga mandurugas! Merry Christmas Pilipinas! (I love the the way words rhyme.)

Home at Last

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="President Benigno Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay witness the arrival at the Villamor Airbase in Fort Bonifacio of the slain seven Marines. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER"][/caption]

 

Perhaps the whole country is busy dealing with Juaning and Kabayan. Or about the alleged ballot switching at the Batasang Pambansa. Or too occupied praying for Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (whether they pray for her safety and recovery or the opposite, I don’t know). Or still mourning after the loss of the Azkals for their 2014 world cup bid. Or celebrating Eat Bulaga’s 32nd anniversary. Or just doing some other stuff that we failed to notice this another gruesome event at the southern part of our country.

Our marines had an encounter with the Abu Sayaff last Thursday at the jungles of Sulu and five (5) of them were decapitated.

Beheading is not something new for these bandits. Most of us would still remember how they decapitate their kidnapped victims and how they dehumanize our troops by beheading the soldiers they kill in the battle.

Maybe the Abu Sayyaf is making their presence felt. For the past few months, we barely hear a thing about them (or maybe the news agencies are just too busy covering and showing us the other important issues? I don’t know.). This just shows that the violence in the south is far from over and the government has still a lot of work to do to attain the peace in the south.

I can still remember a Catholic priest who was assigned in Basilan who told us his first-hand experience with these bandits and their victims. He was the guest speaker on the (Lipa) Clergy’s monthly recollection when I was still in the seminary. He told us his story when he was assigned to bless the mutilated corpses of the 10 soldiers who were slain and beheaded in Basilan in an encounter in 2007. He could not believe how barbaric these bandits were by doing this hideous crime.

After hearing his story, I was moved and I felt that I was also in front those slain heroes. But he also left a challenge in me if I have the courage to be assigned in a far-flung place with all the perils and dangers accompanying the mission.

Courage. I admire these courageous heroes who sacrificed their lives by defending the country. It is just sad to hear these sad tales about our soldiers in the field amidst these controversies involving the high-ranking officials of the military.

To our heroes in the field, to the thousand nameless and ordinary soldiers who fought to defend our country, thank you for a job-well done. You may have gone but your contribution to the country is priceless and may it always be remembered by the generations to come.

I give you my snappy salute.

Mabuhay ang mga sundalong nagtataya ng kanilang buhay para sa bayan. Viva Filipinas! Padayon!

Elsewhere: 5 Marines Beheaded by Abu Sayyaf, Aquino Mad

Who's that Girl?

The heat of the debate on the controversial Reproductive Health Bill has reached its high blood point so I decided to take a break and write something different. This time, focusing on the most important issue this country has ever faced. In fuck (read: fact), this is more important than the RH Bill, the Freedom of Information Bill and Kris Aquino's love life.

This is about President Noynoy Aquino's new girl. This is about the bachelor president's love life.

The President has repeatedly asked the media to leave his personal and unofficial business in private. But because the people want it, they give it. It is in the Pinoy culture to love entertainment and gossipy news items so why not include the highest official in the land? After all, there is not much boundary between Philippine showbiz and politics.

And he is Kristina Bernadette Aquino's brother.



The latest addition to the women linked to our bachelor president is the teacher Bunny Calica. She was with the President during the reunion concert of 70's group Hotdog (buti na lang hindi Justin Bieber!).

And like all the women linked to the president before, she has a beautiful face, fair-skinned, and younger than him. I think the last one was the most important category. Well that was just a wild and crazy speculation.

Is she the right one for the President? We don't know yet. I will only believe if the news will come from the most reliable and trusted spokesperson of the President - her youngest sister Kris.

And on other things:

• I fear that Baby James "Bimby" Aquino-Yap will be following the footsteps of his mother. As early as now, he has been asking questions like that of his mother's. (Oh James! Guide the boy please!)


• According to Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang, it was Mar Roxas' idea to watch the concert. Wow! If that is true, he's not only the President's Chief Troubleshooter/ Chief of Staff but also the Chief Happy Happy! Organizer (Joke lang po! Pero puwedeng seryosohin.).

The President's love life may always get the attention of the media but let us not forget that there are other far more important things in the country. should we blame the media for always broadcasting these things? Partly yes but not wholly.

Personally, I am deeply saddened that the media, especially during these times that the attention is focused on the RH Bill, has lessen their news items on other thins: FOI Bill, Maguindanao Massacre, etc.

There are other important things that we need to face to achieve the promiseddaang matuwid. Let's just leave our driver in peace.

Further readings and reference: 1. Aquino dates mystery date at Hotdog gig. 2.Bimby: "Are you my Tito's Girlfriend?"