When is a mainstream media platform doing public service and when, in the exercise of full editorial prerogatives, does it taint its standing somewhat?
In more than one post, this writer has been critical of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. But I draw the line when it comes to using expletives or employing devices that are below the belt.
Which is why I am taking an exception to the image below published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer with the editorially accurate caption:
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announces the establishment of a standby fund for troubled financial institutions in Asia during Wednesday’s induction of officers of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines in Malacañang.
Of many photographs taken during the affair, I wonder why it is that this image was selected?
Popularity: 1% [?]
well, its the best way of saying that Gloria’s above them? or she’s standing taller than everybody else.
the more relevant question is–why is Gloria telling this thing about a mythical ASEAN standby fund reportedly from the WB before local officials?
Answer: madali kasi silang mauto at maniniwala.
Point taken, Pat. Am waiting for Bencard, if he’ll react. :)
LOL. I remember in our graduation ceremony in PSHS back in 1997 where GMA started her speech at floor level and someone had to come up to stage with a step stool because a lot of people (esp the graduates in front) can’t see her.
I’m sure she’s used to that. Probably exacerbates her smallman complex though.
well, you know the psychology of small people, yes? Hitler was small….napoleon too…
but i want to tell ding that inquirer, for me, is not really “tabloid-al” I mean, Inquirer is still one of the most influential and most read paper around. (But, if I would paraphrase my good friend Tony K of the PhilStar, ” Star already overtook Inquirer by a mile.”
Sometimes, I can still exercise my brain reading INQ. What I noticed is this—the “time-use” or the length of time I read the Inquirer is the same as when I read Bandera..
Jon,
Doesn’t it make you wonder why none of the president’s handlers have thought of having a shorter, custom-built lectern for her? The microphones can always have extendable necks. Given her long stay in office, you would imagine they would save her from repeated embarrassing situations by giving her a properly-sized podium.
ding and jon,
is gloria depressed? i mean, look at the picture…she’s all blue (sorry if the color appears not as blue, because i’m color-blind. pardon if its in light blue or whatever color it is).
is it reflective of the state we are in? that we are in a depressed country being run by a depressed head of state? or this reflects Gloria herself–all black and blue?
i mean, Madame Gloria even looks like a Blue Barbie doll. Starting today, I’ll refer to her as “Blue Barbie”.hehehe!
It does reveal her platform.
Pat, blue is Madam’s peborit kolor. I read that at Abante. Or was it Bulgar? Hmm… maybe Tiktik?
I think our metro tabloids get some price for coming up with the sleaziest names. I will not be surprised if one day we walk up to newsstand seeing the headline from a tabloid named Tarugo.
It must be because she’s Atenean ^_^
Does one’s height determine one’s ability or inability to govern?
Why is this even being discussed?
True, some of the greatest leaders of the past were hobbitsized. Heck, most of the current G7 leaders only stand 5’5″.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=5314996&page=1
So, it does make you wonder.
it looks like a paid advert by the Fashion designer :D
matching colours from head to toe!
if i remember right, someone reported that GMA wears blue when she’s in some crisis or other. feng shui and all that.
Hmm… I thought wearing blue is only applicable to undergarments. At least that’s what the feng shui consultant told me.
I wear blue boxers at work, and red boxers when on a date. ;)
I think that belongs to the ‘too much information’ category, Mikey.
Shying away from commenting
On her shortcoming
And the feng shui garb…
I would say
It’s the only snapshot of the event
That people are all ears…
Crap talk and all.
Does one’s height determine one’s ability or inability to govern?
Why is this even being discussed?
Uhm, because we’re not bigots?
ding, with due respect, i notice you are posting featured threads here a little too frequently. no wonder, you evidently are running out of worthwhile topics to talk about, aren’t you?
or is it that you’re scraping the bottom of the toilet bowl for some crap residue to throw at the president under a tongue-in-cheek expression of mocked indignation?
take a cue from tambay. gma’s height is a topic for boy (?) abunda’s gossip show, not in an intellectual enclave like FV. right nick?
Am wondering Ben if I should dignify your judgment of what is my intent is in my posts nor what drives them. Have you seen my heart? But since you like sitting in judgment on views that do not coincide with your ‘brilliant’ legal mind, I will leave you to your own devices. I don’t want your arrogance to shake my admiration for lawyers. While I am no GMA loyalist like you, believe you me I admire her tenacity and work ethic. I just get worried sometimes whether her heart is in the right place. How about you, sir?
Hi Bencard,
It’s important for us to discuss this photo because it tries to put in a mocking light the Office of the President which we respect and admire as citizens of this great country.
Regardless of who’s there, the point we’re taking is, INQ should not have put that photo in the frontpage to mock her. Despite her failings (and there are many, believe me sir), it is not proper for the INQ to have done such a crass thing.
Oh, by the way…
It is the fault of the puny one that this happened. The Office of the President was once a paragon of respect and trust by the citizenry. Now, it has been lampooned, thrown aside, mocked and rendered inutile by almost all of the people. Look, the negative 27 rating proves that.
It is time to restore the dignity of that Office by electing or installing someone or a group of individuals worthy of the People’s Trust.
Let us not kid ourselves that we don’t have any choice. We always have a choice. And that choice requires us to at least give a part of ourselves to make this Office something to admire and look upon once more.
Hi Tambay,
Yes. Height does matter. Why?
A recent study shows that it is hazardous to give power to hobbits. Why? They turn into gollums.
Lastly, let me dare Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her minions to prove me wrong. I dare her to watch the series of the “Ring”.
Pat,
One problem our society has is its obsession with personalities who are projected by mercenarial propagandists as larger than life (no pun intended).
We must never morph the person, any person into the high office of trust that he or she holds. Unless we are apologizing or lawyering for the entity. No one ever stays at the height of power forever. Look at Marcos who to this days lies unburied in a place of honor. Instead his mortal remains are in a refrigerated display case endangered every time there is a brownout. Such is the fate of leaders who lose their way. This lesson of history should not be lost or left unlearned, much less repeated, as seems to be the case. I pray not
Well, i dispute that ding.
leaders don’t admit mistakes, especially those with height differentials. the reason is simple—insecurities prevent them from admitting guilt.
i admire marcos. and the reason for him being there in ilokos is not about his fame nor popularity. it’s the lack of real estate in metro manila.
it’s the job of media handlers to really make their clients larger than life, to keep the public in an animated state. that explains the makeup. and that explains the additional padding.
Pat,
Yes and no on your point about the job of handlers. There is the crucial aspect of perception matching reality and when the larger than life packaging calls attention instead to a principal’s shortcomings then that handler should be shown the door.
The same holds true for apologists short of solid arguments and proof-positive facts and actions which can validate the large than life qualities being attributed to the principal.
and what is reality for GMA? I mean, she’s really small, both in mind, body and soul, right?
you know, you’re such bigots!
just because your president is small, you blame her for everything! cool off!
those of you who criticize your president, you should be ashamed of yourselves! look, your country is struggling and instead of uniting, you’re stroking the fires of dissent! you should all take part in making your country survive the global crisis.
you, ding, you’re just gloating. why not just help your president instead of criticizing her. i mean, so what if she’s small? it does’nt mean that she has a small brain? Or does she?
Gloating? Where did that come from???? As I pointed out at the beginning, my beef is with the PDI and how it should be beneath a paper of such stature to use such an image in editorial tongue-in cheek fashion. Am I clear? Fair is fair.
Ding, well that’s what you get for trying to play ‘fair’. Remember that the pro-GMA folks are playing for keeps.