Best of The Week: 'Teen Vogue' PH, MVP versus Gina Lopez, and Bench goes K-pop

Catfight of the week:  MVP versus Gina Lopez!

Nothing brings an important environmental issue to light like a controversy, and nothing is more explosive than turning up the heat on issues about mining, especially where Manny Pangilinan and Gina Lopez are concerned. The two clashed when Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc., accused Pangilinan, chairman of Philex Mining, of calling mining sites “ugly.” The latter responded, saying that they set aside funds for rehabilitating mining sites and then famously denied calling any sites “ugly” by calling Lopez a “liar.” While this heated scenario may appear to some as the rich tycoon bullying the well-meaning philanthropist, both respected figures actually present valid, if polarized, arguments about the issues concerning mining. Perhaps if they continue arguing, not only will we be educated, but entertained, as well!

Graphics by DAVID MILAN

Rumors of the week:  ‘Teen Vogue’ and ‘GQ’ Philippines?

This being exclusively a publishing industry rumor, we don’t have a lot to go on, except that there’s talk of a rich business tycoon having plans of purchasing the popular glossy franchises. Local editors have been abuzz (and secretly planning exit strategies) with this exciting news. After all, we have local editions of Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, and FHM magazine, so adding Teen Vogue and GQ to the roster wouldn’t be a longshot. On one hand, editors, have those resumés ready, just in case, because if (or when!) this news becomes official, it’s gonna be a war out there! On the other hand, Pinoy men will be very lucky to have GQ in addition to Esquire and Rogue, but for the women, what about Vogue?!

Endorsers of the week:  Siwon and Donghae for Bench

It is the era of international endorsers, with Bench aggressively taking the market with its two new recruits: Siwon and Donghae from K-pop super group Super Junior. Pinoy K-pop fanatics are positively excited with the news, eager to see the two arrive for Bench’s 25th anniversary. The clothing brand is going ker-ker for its anniversary, no doubt pulling in a large demographic with huge purchasing power, evident in the lengths they go through to look Korean. Some have been wondering if the two will also be endorsing Bench Body, but they have been advised by the Ad Standards Council to not hold their breaths. Sigh.   — Koji Arsua

Rebuttal of the week:  Miriam Defensor-Santiago

Like a true telenovela, the CJ impeachment trial closed not with a bang, but with a rrreow! Challenging the separation of Church and State was the spiritual adviser of former President Cory Aquino, Fr. Arevalo, with an attack on Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. In his widely publicized homily, Fr. Arevalo said that “if you call anybody ‘you fool,’ you are worthy of the fires of hell,” referring to Santiago’s final outburst in the trial. To this the fiery Miriam, a master’s degree holder in Theology, responded, “Under Vatican 2, there is no hell, but even if there is, there is nobody there.” (Pak!) And then added, “That priest should spend his energy fighting pedophilia within the Catholic Church, instead of meddling in politics and serving to divide church practitioners.” (Pakak!)

Miriam, we couldn’t have said it any better.

Launch of the week: The iPad 3

Tons of rumors about the iPad 3 circulated around the Internet as early as February with some sources foretelling the coming of the iPad HD, the 3D iPad, and the eight-inch iPad Mini and predicting features like a thinner battery, an A6 processor, Siri, a retina display, and even that it would do without the Home button. So when the device was finally launched this month — just as the iPad 3, thanks — needless to say, a lot of the heightened expectations weren’t met. The retina display turned out to be true, but the A6 chip turned out to be just an A5X, the battery is heavier and as a result, it’s slightly thicker and heavier by .37 inches and 1.44 pounds (it matters!). If you felt cheated, just think of all the poor, uninformed Christopher Laos of this world who cursed Steve Jobs and ranted on Twitter that they bought an iPad 2 this week. Apple, dapat i-inform!

Scandal of the week:  Cristina Ramos and the Azkals

The Azkals are facing another sexual harassment suit, this time by Match Commissioner Cristina Ramos, who claims they disrespected her in the locker room during the friendly game against the Malaysian Tigers. Allegedly, Lexton Moy guessed her bra size and Angel Guirado stood in front of her in his underwear, while the others laughed loudly. Captain Aly Borromeo claimed that no harm was meant and that they were just roughhousing, but they should have remembered that she is an official and the daughter of former President Fidel Ramos, and more importantly, that women, no matter who they are or what they do, deserve respect. After all, whatever happened to being gentlemen? If they don’t suck it up and apologize soon, they may as well change their team name from the Azkals to the Azh*les.  — Koji Arsua