Highlighting the editorial cartoon

CEBU, Philippines - The 'editorial' of a newspaper plays a very important role - it presents the collective view of the newspaper's editorial staff on a particular issue of the day. Often, the editorial tackles an issue that tops the news reports that the newspaper carries. Being a unified position of the newspaper, the editorial has power to mould public opinion.

It is safe to say that the editorial is the newspaper's interpretation of the raw news stories it presents. And it exemplifies all the more directly the role of the press as the 'watchdog' of society.

To make the editorial more eye-catching, arresting readers' attention and enticing them to read on, the editorial goes with graphic illustration that visually communicates the essence of the subject matter being discussed. Thus, the editorial cartoon is - frequently, if not always - as important as the editorial itself. The creative art of editorial cartooning presents humor and ignites curiosity about an issue or controversy at hand.

To highlight the editorial cartoon's importance for the newspaper,  and in line with this year's Cebu Press Freedom Week celebration, an exhibit of editorial cartoons entitled "Opined In 30 Minutes: An Exhibition of Editorial Cartoons," opened the other day at the Pint Space of Qube Gallery in The Crossroads, Banilad.

The exhibit features the editorial cartoons of Yasunari Ramon Suarez Taguchi. A staff writer and photographer of the Lifestyle Section of The Freeman, Taguchi is also oftentimes called to do editorial cartoons for the paper, which, incidentally, is the longest-running newspaper in Cebu.

Taguchi has also had his artworks published in literature journals, book covers, online publications/features, web comics and local and international indie comic book titles.

The editorial cartoons featured in the "Opined in 30 Minutes" exhibit are works that Taguchi rendered within a 30-minute timeframe - a standard parameter in the deadline-driven newspaper publishing. The exhibit is presented by Qube Gallery in cooperation with The Freeman. It runs until October 3. (FREEMAN)