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This rumor, if true, can only be good for this poor daily, and Cebu journalism, as a whole.

This editor, it is said, is on the way out. "Won't last a week," well-placed sources say. The owners, apparently, have had enough of this editor's work habits, which have caused pages to close later and later in the evening, and the paper coming out later and later the next day.

Apparently, too, the owners have had enough of this editor's petty biases and deep-seated prejudices against specific personalities, which spill onto the news pages, when they shouldn't.

We hear this editor is being "kicked up". Will this move on the part of the owners stem the seemingly irreversible tide of increasingly neglible circulation numbers and the exodus of personnel?

I've always believed this editor was overrated. I guess the ratings have finally caught up with this editor.

Goodbye, Editor. And to the news outfit: good decision. The best piece of news ever to come out of your paper.

We got very interesting news today that editors (and reporters) of this daily are planning a mass resignation, disgusted by this editor and the latter's penchant for mangling stories to settle personal scores with selected news sources. As a result, reporters have been at the receiving end from their news sources, and all they can do is to scratch their heads and curse this editor.

That's not all. This editor reportedly starts reviewing stories and pages so late at night, making reporters and editors stay up unnecessarily to wait for the pages to close. To make matters worse, this editor apparently is so indecisive that this editor can't make up her mind about how the stories should read, or how the pages should look. Not that every issue is exactly a magnum OPUS (no pun intended). As a result, this daily has been coming out very late recently. (Not that its few hundred readers noticed.)

When reporters of this daily complain to reporters from another daily where this editor used to work, the latter invariably shake their heads, and marvel at how little has changed with this editor, the editor's personal biases and the editor's working habits.

Columnists write about "tradpols" (traditional politicians) all the time, and they should.

But who's writing about the "tradcols" (traditional columnists)?

Who's checking their own brand of patronage politics -- dispensing or withholding favors, using their positions in, and the resources of the Fourth Estate, at the expense of the public trust?

In this election season, you're seeing them again, and the woodwork from which they came. They devote entire columns promoting, or shooting down, the candidacies of their clients and their adversaries, living on the generosity or fear of those who do not know better.

They are, plain and simple, "blocktimers in print".

And newspapers that rail and moralize against blocktimers on radio should perhaps first sweep their backyards of this "turd force".

Or, maybe we should call this portion (which we hope to make a regular feature) "AN EYE FOR AN EYE".

We hope media can blindly take as good as it can blindly give:

This editor of a local daily came uninvited to a Capitol function on August 6, 2004. The editor got so drunk that the editor started to become a little loud, picked a fight with a former governor (a former news source), and generally became a nuisance. Perhaps seeing that the people were beginning to stare at her and speak in hushed tones, she made her dramatic exit. How dramatic? Very dramatic. She grabbed an unopened bottle of wine and ran away with it.

Surveillance camera tapes and several witnesses (both from the media and from other people on the Capitol guest list) attest to this public nuisance and "theft".

One of the more cowardly aspects of newspapering is the "blind item". Every day, Cebu dailies dish out rumors involving unnamed personalities allegedly caught in some unverifiable fiasco, written almost always with an unmistakable smirk.

The trouble is, in doing so, they're smirking at the very core of their professional ethics.

After all, what purpose does the "blind item" serve? If the item true, it is media's responsibility to report it, without equivocation, without resort to innuendo.

If the item is true but cannot find print in the news pages because it involves the private lives of public figures, or because no public interest is served by publishing it, then printing it -- whether in the form of news or a blind item -- breaches the ethics of journalism.

If it is written as a blind item because its truth cannot as yet be verified, then it is pure laziness to print the rumor and pass it off as a newspaper item, instead of getting one's hands dirty trying to get confirmation.

Newspapers demand the guarantees of press freedom. But every day, they are proving that they do not need those guarantees, because they skirt responsibility for their statements simply by resorting to the blind item, for which there is no need to discover the truth, to strive for accuracy, or to bear the responsibility for, and consequences of their actions.

That, you must admit, is cowardice. No wonder no one has ever won the Pulitzer Prize for writing blind items.

I suspect that if Maning Guanzon weren't an architect, he would have been in a profession that involved the use of his mouth (and his legendary temper) instead. He has the talent for coming up with the most quotable quotes, especially in response to the most ridiculous claims.

In response to the accusation of former Senator Sonny Osmena that the pieces of structural steel used at the CICC were leftovers from the South Reclamation Project, I remember he said: "Sus, Ginoo, intawn. Wa ma'y structural steel didto!"

Yesterday, to the claim of the Fire Marshall of Mandaue City that the fire sprinklers didn't work (without even asking for a demonstration of the sprinkler system), he fired back: "Dili man na mogana kung tan-awon lang. Dubduban na ug kayo, di kay siga-an sa mata."

Haha. So there you are. A fire sprinkler system wouldn't work if you just glare at it. Even, it would seem, if you had fire in your eyes like Maning Guanzon does.

From SunStar today, a gracious editorial saluting the people and the moving spirit behind the success of the 12th Asean Summit, and an unexpected plug for this blog from Bong Wenceslao.

From CDN, an itch that needed to be scratched, nitpicking through a dubious story about the CICC's sprinkler system. Sorry, no link here. Maybe CDN was too ashamed to post the story online. Bottom line: Can a sprinkler system be tested just by looking at the spouts? Apparently, CDN thought so, considering the prominence they attached to the story in print.

Oh, well, old habits die hard. Especially, I heard, at CDN. But no, don't get me started on editors there. Because while I have enough stories to fill this blog for the rest of the year, we should keep this blog PG-13.

Suffice it to say that the new CDN offices at the North Reclamation Area have an extremely efficient sprinkler system. Sometime early this year, after they moved in, strong rains gushed through their roof, and damaged the computer of their former reporter, Kathy Navarro. I'm not making this up. The Inquirer admitted as much. See a previous blog entry.

So I guess CDN is the expert on sprinkler systems.

Editorials and columns have called for a "post-summit" accounting of expenses incurred by the government during preparations for the 12th Asean Summit.

In today's editorial, SunStar said that "summit organizers and others that used public funds, from line agencies to the Capitol to the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, will now have to make a public accounting, tedious and painful (though) the task maybe."

Without their having to say it, that is what the law requires, and what the public can expect.

The people, however, are entitled to more than an accounting of funds. Journalists, commentators and opinion makers, too, are accountable to the public for every word they say or write. The business of informing the public, after all, is imbued with the highest public interest.

Lest the media be accused of double standards, therefore, an accounting should be made of the following claims:

1. The CICC was finished ahead of the original dates of the summit. All opinion makers who said it wouldn't be should account for their statements.

2. The roof of the CICC did not fall on the heads of the Asean Summit delegates, contrary to the fears of the late great Max Soliven.

3. The airconditioning at the CICC did not pose any problems as it was installed, completed and running well ahead, even of the original summit dates. Mr. Leo Lastimosa, therefore, should account for his column on the matter. In fact, the common complaint during the summit was that the airconditioning was too cold.

4. Contrary to the claim of Mr. Lastimosa that not one of the Asean ministers would ever set foot ("di makataak") on the CICC, all of the heads of state of the Asean countries and dialogue partners, including their foreign ministers, came to the CICC, and made good use of its facilities.

5. On the whole, the Asean Summit hosting was a success, and even made us proud to be Cebuanos. The doomsayers should account for their dire predictions and their worst unanswered prayers.

"Cuentas claras preservan la amistad". To be entitled to the public trust, the media should also do some post-summit accounting.

Personally, we've been witness to so-called journalists who couldn't take as much as they could give. Columnists, commentators and opinion makers who cry "foul" when news sources react with equal force to their bludgeonings. So-called "journalists" who would fry us all but themselves can't take the heat that cooking basically entails.

Today, Jerry Tundag of The Freeman, in another searing column, calls the "class suit" filed by journalists against the First Gentleman (in reaction to a series of libel suits the latter filed against journalists), a "black eye" on journalism, one that is undoubtedly self-inflicted.

Jerry is essentially saying: If you can't stand the heat, consider doing the laundry instead.

Thank you, Jerry. You've expressed so eloquently the precise sentiment that moves this blog.

I couldn't have expressed it better than SunStar columnist Frank Malilong did in today's column.

In the days leading up to what is looking to be a successful 12th Asean Summit, there were those who "nit-picked" and those who saw the bigger picture. There were those who looked through a microscope to find faults (and leaks), and those who saw through a telescope, to the future of Cebu beyond the Asean Summit.

Frank also gave sage advice to the Governor. Ignore the critics (for whom no monuments will ever be erected), and just forge on. We're likely to take that advice. From now on, we will not get mad. We'll just get even, and give as good as we're taking, here on Onion-skinned.

So we can all agree, after all.

The CICC is a beautiful structure, and its construction was an engineering feat the likes of which Cebu had never known.

After its editor picked a fight with them, SunStar Cebu cited the builders of the CICC as "Citizens of the Year".

CDN called the CICC a "resplendent sight" on the 12th Asean Summit's opening day, despite the reported lack of a fire inspection certificate. (Of course, CDN omits to mention that it had been occupying its new offices at the North Reclamation Area for a full nine months before it was finally issued an occupancy permit. Is there an inspection for double standards?)

I don't know if Leo Lastimosa has taken back his put-down that the facade of the CICC is "mura'g dagway sa yawa" (like the face of the Devil). But, as a texter aptly pointed out, that's one thing over which we can never argue with Leo Lastimosa. The Devil hasn't shown his face to us; apparently the Devil has, to Leo Lastimosa.

But whatever bedevils this sad few, the verdict is in: CICC looks great, and it makes us proud to be Cebuanos.

The CICC's "21st century design" and "Cebuano character" impress the President. Read that story here.

Here's an interesting test to find out whether SunStar, The Freeman, Cebu Daily News, ABS-CBN, GMA 7 and all other media outlets would leak in a "flood test":


(As quoted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer from the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.)

I. I shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential facts nor to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis. I recognize the duty to air the other side and the duty to correct substantive errors promptly.

II. I shall not violate confidential information on material given me in the exercise of my calling.

III. I shall resort only to fair and honest methods in my effort to obtain news, photographs and/or documents, and shall properly identify myself as a representative of the press when obtaining any personal interview intended for publication.

IV. I shall refrain from writing reports that will adversely affect a private reputation unless the public interest justifies it. At the same time, I shall fight vigorously for public access to information.

V. I shall not let personal motives or interests influence me in the performance of my duties, nor shall I accept or offer any present, gift or other consideration of a nature that may cast doubt on my professional integrity.

VI. I shall not commit any act of plagiarism.

VII. I shall not, in any manner, ridicule, cast aspersions on, or degrade any person by reason of sex, creed, religious belief, political conviction, cultural and ethnic origin.

VIII. I shall presume persons accused of crime of being innocent until proven otherwise. I shall exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.

IX. I shall not take unfair advantage of a fellow journalist.

X. I shall accept only such tasks as are compatible with the integrity and dignity of my profession, invoking the “conscience clause” when duties imposed on me conflict with the voice of my conscience.

XI. I shall conduct myself in public or while performing my duties as journalist in such manner as to maintain the dignity of my profession. When in doubt, decency should be my watchword.

Days before Christmas, the Sugbuak proponents just had to try one more time. A Freeman report says there was an attempt to "smuggle" the bill when the proponents thought the oppositors weren't looking. Good thing Congressmen Cuenco, Gullas, Del Mar and Durano were smarter than they thought. Congressman Cuenco's threat to filibuster killed the fresh attempt to divide Cebu.

Possible reasons why the proponents thought they should try one more time:

1. With ConAss -- their only chance to stay in office without benefit of election -- dead, Sugbuak is the only thing that can revive their waning political future.

2. They had Joe de Venecia's full backing, in return for their help in passing the 2007 budget, and the ConAss resolution.

3. They thought they could pull one over Cebu's usually vigilant media, just because some of the more influential mediamen were too busy looking for leaks at the CICC. (In fact, Cheking Seares, in today's column still couldn't get over that leak, making you wonder whether people shouldn't just take one, to relieve themselves.)

To the Sugbuak proponents: Nice try. And thanks for the memories.

Now that that leak has been plugged, and before the nit-pickers pick other things to pick on, we leak this plug:

1. The CICC has a footprint of almost 8,000 square meters and a floor area of over 25,0000 square meters. (The leak had a diameter of less than half an inch.)

2. It was built using almost 3 million kilograms of structural steel.

3. It was built in less than 8 months, at a cost of P515 million (Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo called it nothing less than "a miracle".)

4. It will have a meeting/exhibition space of almost 2 hectares, the single biggest convention and exhibition facility in the entire Visayas and Mindanao.

5. Its construction was welcomed by event organizers, who had had to contend with the lack of space and similar facilities in this part of the country.

6. Leo Lastimosa has never been to the CICC.

By the way, Bong Wenceslao's Christmas wish is appreciated. It hews closely to the Governor's Christmas wish, in her Christmas card and calendar:

Sa pasko ug sa tanang panahon,
ang mahinungdanon --
Dili sulti ang pabuhaton.
Buhat mao'y pasulti-on.

I think a lot of Cebuanos would rather listen to this genius, and what he has to say.

And from Eddie Barrita, Cheking Seares' confidante, coffee mate and beer buddy extraordinaire and plenipotentiary, comes this take on the Governor's new media policy.

Well, what did you expect? Where Cheking goes. . .

Note, however, the latent hubris that afflicts some opinion makers in the thinly veiled threat that the Governor's "absence" will make the heart grow fonder "for someone else".

Eddie, outside of Bo's Coffee Club, and Westpoint Cafe, there's a bigger world. And there's a lot of "fondness" out there to make up for the tragedy you warn will result from media's lost affections.

And while we're at this, Eddie, "media" is bigger than a few columnists congregating in the same coffee shops. Look around you, and step out of your comfort zone of cronies. There's a lot of resentment brewing in the real working media against "mediamen" who do not sweat it out in the field, but have something to say about everything under the sun.

Hope to see you at Westpoint soon. Buy me a beer.

I wrote this letter to the editor weeks ago, but it is only now that the Inquirer published it (at least in its online version).

I think the reason why the Cebu Daily News did not give that leak at the CICC as much coverage as the other papers is that they were afraid the issue would blow up in their faces. Or trickle down their heads.

Read that letter to the editor here.

It seems Cheking Seares can't end a column without picking on the CICC.

In today's column, Cheking, probably realizing his piece was going nowhere, just had to play the CICC card one more time.

Just how the "terrorist threat" as the purported reason behind the ASEAN Summit's postponement could, as a topic, lead to the posterior of his favorite whipping boy, CICC architect Maning Guanzon, defies logic. We probably need large doses of caffeine at Tinderbox, or Bo's Coffee Club at Ayala, to see the connection.

Cheking Seares usually gives sage advice about public relations, handling media and issues. He probably should be reminded that people see through -- and easily tire of -- demolition jobs, especially when they are not too well-concealed.

Cheking Seares loves to play word games, so let's humor him: Is he "nit-picking", "scraping the bottom of the barrel", or "beating a dead horse?".

In today's The Freeman Editorial, another word of advice to the Governor on her new media policy. Read "Super Bobby's Advice" below, for our response.