Poor Filipinos and Backyard Animals

Vincent Cabreza  of INQUIRER Northern Luzon writes in his ‘Kangkong’ key to mine cleanup article:

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—“KANGKONG” (RIVER spinach) and “gabi” (taro) are staple household vegetables often consumed by poor Filipinos or fed to backyard animals

This is my first time to read the phrases “poor Filipinos” and “backyard animals” together in one and the same sentence. Sounds awkward.

Epic Collection of Apec Capitalization Issue (Part 3)

I did some investigation using Google Advance Search and have found these articles:

Business – Apec warns of protectionism ahead of summit – INQUIRER.net
At Apec, Arroyo bats for migrant workers – INQUIRER.net ..
Hillary to visit RP on way to Apec meeting – INQUIRER.net …
Arroyo to lead Asean in talks with Obama – INQUIRER.net …

It seems to me that the “APEC” capitalization issue is not isolated at all. Filter this if you have some time to kill.

APEC v. Apec (A Case of Capitalization, Part 2)

Christian Esguerra of Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on 11/15/2009:

Ms Arroyo made the pitch for “policies and rules that are fair to the labor-receiving and labor-sending economies and, most especially, the workers” during the first of two closed-door retreats among the 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) here.

The full details of the report can be found in this article: At Apec, Arroyo bats for migrant workers.

I am still not sure why Philippine Daily Inquirer reporters capitalize only the first letter of APEC. Alcuin Papa seems to have committed the same error here.

Philippine Daily Inquirer Issued Correction

The misspelling has been corrected and the “Mexican” has been changed to “Puerto Rican.” Thank you for the speedy correction Philippine Daily Inquirer

 

Corrected Report Philippine Daily Inquirer

 

 

Is Cotto a Mexican?

I am not so sure. But according to Lira Dalangin Fernandez, in her “Clinton turns sports forecaster: Paqcuiao will win” report says:

MANILA, Philippines – Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could not have endeared herself to Filipinos more than this Friday when she predicted that boxing idol Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao would win against his Mexican foe next week.

All along, I thought he is a Puerto Rican. If Fernandez is right, thank you for this new information. If he is a Puerto Rican, Mrs. Fernandez should edit the report, ASAP!

Jeoffrey Maitem is …Somewhat …

While browsing INQUIRER mobile site from my blackberry, I saw Jeoffrey Maitem’s 11/09/2009 article entitled: “MILF considers gov’t’s conciliatory statements“. In the article, he writes:

COTABATO CITY – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been somewhat mollified by the conciliatory statements given by Palace officials, after Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno accused the rebel group of having a hand in the abduction of Irish priest Michael Sinnott.

I am not sure if it is right to use the word “somewhat.” It leaves the readers guessing on whether or not the MILF has been mollified or not.

INQUIRER mobile site

Dear Inquirer,

Thank you for creating an INQUIRER mobile site. It is very convenient, accessible and neat.

Nice Job!

Screenshot of INquirer Mobile Site

 

Nagpapasalamat,
Ako Pa Rin.

APEC vs. Apec: An issue of capitalization

Dear Alvin Alcuin Papa and Philippine Daily Inquirer,

Acronyms are words formed from the initial letters or syllables of other words, e.g. radar – radio detection and ranging. When an acronym is made up of initial letters that are themselves capitalised, then capitalise each letter, e.g. NATO for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. But if the acronym is formed from initial syllables rather than letters, then capitalise only the first letter. In general avoid acronyms as much as possible. ~~~ Handbook of Journalism, Reuters.

One of the Reasons why not to use Wikipedia

One of the reasons why news agencies should not use Wikipedia as a source:

In his popular noontime show, “Wowowee,” Revillame said there was no truth to the information uploaded on Wikipedia and Twitter saying he had passed away. — Willie: Wikipedia, Twitter wrong: I’m Alive.

ABS-CBN, you should have known it because one of your talents experience how Wikipedia can be harmful as a source of information.

 

Who is Telling the Truth?

Dear Friends,

In their 11/06/2009 article Palace Rejects Talk with Oil Companies, TJ Burgonio and Donna Pazzibugan (and possibly, Amy Remo) write:

Malacañang on Thursday rejected the appeal of oil companies for a dialogue with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on te possible recall of an executive order freezing fuel prices in Luzon, which remains in a state of calamity. But Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera indicated that the order may soon be lifted in specific areas as the government and oil firms try to reach an agreement on a mutually acceptable response to the devastation wrought by successive storms.

Now, in the ABS-CBN news article Palace to oil companies: Don’t scare consumers, we see a different story:

Reports said that according to Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera that there is a possiblity of a partial lifting of the executive order. Remonde said he has personally asked Devanadera about the supposed statement, but the justice secretary has denied it. He added that the justice secretary has assured him that she is not planning to recommend the partial lifting of the order to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

I believe TJ Burgonio and Donna Pazzibugan owe it to the people to explain or to prove when Justice Secretary “indicated” that the order will “soon” be lifted.  If it was really true. This is a very good opportunity also to TJ Burgonio and Donna Pazzibugan to show their credibility.

Yun lang Po,
Ako Pa Rin!