EDITORIAL

What is an Editorial?

It is the official stand of the publication on a relevant development or issue. It is a concerted commentary written by any member of the editorial staff who comments or gives the newspaper’s or staff’s opinion on an issue which is of interest and importance to the public.

The editorial is considered the soul of the newspaper for it stirs the conscience of the readers to action; it influence and molds public opinion. It is usually written in formal language, expressing the stand of on controversial issues of the day. It has no byline.

Characteristics of a Good Editorial

1. The editorial must have clearness of style. It must be original, new, and the way how it is written is distinguishable.

2. It must have a moral purpose. The article must be worthwhile to the reader, in terms of interest and respect for the persons involved in your editorial.

3. Your stand must have sound reasoning. In making your editorial, you must defend your stand appropriately and logically.

4. It should be able to influence people. It should be able to convince people to go to your side and defend it.

5. The editorial should lead to a logical conclusion. The article should have a conclusion and should be related to what your subject is.

6. Present only one idea. Your editorial should focus only in the subject you are talking about. Unrelated ideas should be put in it.

7. Avoid wordiness. The editorial does not need too many figurative words to make it sound good. Remember that the readers are the common people, most of them aren’t linguists. If they can’t read your article you won’t sell your story.

8. Present facts not mere opinion. Don’t just say what you think is right, you need to put hard evidences otherwise reader will not believe in what your editorial says.

9. The editorial must be concise. You should deliver the message of your article thoroughly and directed to the point.

TYPES OF EDITORIAL1. Editorial of Information

This is a type of editorial discusses a certain topic the gives the reader factual and interesting information.

PH’s ‘Miss Saigon’

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh with composer Claude-Michel Schonberg and lyricist Alain Boublil, “Miss Saigon” has become a Filipino treasure. Our best performing talents have   made it come alive

since its inaugural turn in 1989 on London’s West End, which introduced Lea Salonga in the lead role of Kim.Filipinos, by birth or by virtue of roots, will shine anew in the musical’s much-anticipated West End revival in 2014: Eva Noblezada will alternate with Julia Abueva and Tanya Manalang as Kim; Rachelle Ann Go will play Gigi; Jonjon Briones will return to the production. “I’ve seen Filipino talents perform in almost all ‘Miss Saigon’ productions and I can say they are the most disciplined people in the world,” Schonberg once said.“Miss Saigon,” set in 1975 immediately before the end of the Vietnam War, is a dramatic tale of love and loss involving an American GI and a young bar girl. It is a years-spanning story of sacrifice and devotion that also speaks of the eternal rift between East and West.The musical became synonymous with Salonga, who won both a Tony award and a Laurence Olivier award for the part before embarking on a wildly successful Broadway career. Aside from London and New York, “Miss Saigon” has been staged in Sydney, Toronto, Tokyo, Copenhagen, Stuttgart, Stockholm, Budapest, Boston, Dublin, Manchester, Newark, Raleigh and Washington, among others. The 12th longest running Broadway musical of all time “came home” to Manila in 2000 with Salonga reprising her iconic role. Aside from the endless revivals and tours, “Miss Saigon” has been rumored headed to the cinema after the big-screen box-office success of that earlier Mackintosh/Schonberg/Boublil musical “Les Misérables.”Salonga leads the long line of Filipinos who have appeared in the musical, including a virtual monopoly on the lead role of Kim. Others have flourished as Gigi, the Engineer and Thuy, in many languages. The casts have included our best and brightest: Leo Valdez, Isay Alvarez, Junix Inocian, Monique Wilson, Jamie Rivera, Joanna Ampil, Cocoy Laurel, Robert Seña, Pinky Amador, Jenine Desiderio, Riva Salazar, Maya Barredo, Gina Respall, Leila Florentino, Rona Figueroa, Deedee Lyn Magno, Emy Baysic, Joan Almedilla, Roxanne Taga, John Uy, Jinky Llamanzares, Maan Dionisio, Cornelia Luna, Angel Suguitan, Caselyn Francisco, Le de los Santos, Anjeanette Laborte, Michelle de Guzman, Melissa Reyes, Miriam Valmores, Ester Barroso, Cezarah Campos, and Tricia Canilao, among others.Many other Filipinos have made international music breakthroughs, but it is “Miss Saigon” that has continually and prominently showcased Filipino talent on the global stage. And while it is set in another Southeast Asian country and technically does not feature a single Filipino character, it has been transformed into a homegrown enterprise and has become a launching pad for many a stage or musical career. As Mackintosh famously said in 1993, “Without the Philippines, there would be no ‘Miss Saigon.’”

Source: PDI, Nov. 30, 2013

2. Editorial of InterpretationThis editorial explains the meaning of a certain event, topic, issue, etc. it show the

significant of every detail of the subject.Honor in the PMA

Three not unconnected moments from the annual homecoming rites of the Philippine Military Academy last Saturday: Former senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson called on his fellow PMA alumni to live by the academy’s honor code, Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II joined the parade of alumni as an “honorary member” of the Class of 1984—and members of the Class of 1976 denied reports that controversial businessman Cedric Lee had ever been adopted as an honorary classmate.“Mr. Lee is not connected, is not associated and is not a member [of our class, which is] being dragged into this controversy,” Edgardo Acuña, a retired police general and president of the class, told the Inquirer.Lee is the alleged mastermind behind the beating of TV personality Vhong Navarro. The reports stemmed from Lee’s business partnership with police officials, including at least one from the Class of 1976. “Most of us do not know him,” Acuña said.Roxas did not break new ground when he marched at the PMA rites; the academy’s tradition of allowing each class and the alumni association as a whole to bestow honorary membership on civilians, especially businessmen, celebrities and politicians, is a longstanding one.It is also unfortunate. The idea is to link members of a class or of the alumni association as a whole with influential civilians; the consequence has been to cheapen the worth of a PMA education and to reinforce the continuing politicization of the military. Consider, for instance, the situation at the homecoming last year, an election year: Vice President Jojo Binay, leader of the United Nationalist Alliance, and businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., founder of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, took their oath as honorary members of the PMA Alumni Association. Four of the senatorial candidates who went on to win in May 2013 (Loren Legarda, Chiz Escudero, JV Ejercito and Cynthia Villar) were either honorary class members or the spouse of one.

The problem is widespread, and respects no political boundaries. In 2010, another election year, the four sisters of presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III were inducted as honorary members of the Class of 1980.This tradition adds layers of complication to Lacson’s speech as homecoming guest speaker. He drew a more or less accurate portrait of the moral test that PMA graduates face when entering active service. “Every single day of our lives after graduation becomes a test of endurance, not of physical [trials] but of our moral strengths,” Lacson said.“The idealist—still very much armed with academy virtues—suddenly comes face to face with practically everything that is opposite of what was taught on the hallowed grounds of Fort Del Pilar—corruption, treachery and cowardice.”“So when young graduates encounter in their fields of assignment some upperclassmen who had already succumbed to the temptations of misplaced values or had countenanced [such acts], the effects [on the young graduates] could be very frustrating if not disastrous,” he said.The description is not unproblematic—because of who is doing the describing. Lacson, in 2001, very soon after the start of his first term in the Senate, had a famous encounter with another PMA alumnus, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes. An editorial on the incident summarized the matter thus: “Which, as a matter of public concern, is more important to the nation? The honor code of the PMA [as invoked by Lacson], or the rule of law as symbolized in the oath that Reyes took?”There’s more. Lacson during his second term went into hiding rather than face an investigation into his alleged role in the double murder case of Estrada publicist Bubby Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. In this same space, we wrote: “We … add our voice to the practically universal call for Lacson to submit himself to the legal process—if only to show that the constitutional injunction that ‘all men are equal before the law’ is for real; and one’s position in government, no matter how lofty, does not put anyone above the law.”In other words: It is good that Lacson has put the spotlight on the PMA’s honor code again. As we can see from the misuse of the honorary-member system, however, we regret that Lacson did not go far enough, and acknowledge that the PMA’s highest values—courage, integrity, loyalty—must serve even higher ends.

Source: PDI, Feb. 16, 2014

3. Editorial of CriticismAn editorial that analyzes a situation and draws out its flaws. Often gives a

solution to correct the situation.Not Enough

The appearance of potential state’s witness Ruby Tuason at the hearing yesterday (Thursday) of the Senate blue ribbon committee can be described in one word: underwhelming. She began the hearing, the eighth that the committee has conducted to investigate the so-called pork barrel scam, surrounded by a waiting public’s highest expectations. She left it, some five hours later, attended by more questions than answers.This is not to say that her testimony was without value. There can be no arguing with the factual part of the committee chair’s closing remarks; Sen. TG Guingona was right to call attention to the fact that Tuason was the first person to claim that she had personally delivered kickbacks from the pork barrel scam to a sitting senator. None of the whistle-blowers led by Benhur Luy had the direct access to or the full trust of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada that Tuason had. What’s more, Tuason provided information about the turnover of the pork barrel commissions to Estrada that was verifiable—that is, capable of being tested.This is essential testimony—made more trustworthy because, contrary to a nervous Estrada’s worst fears, Tuason did not once attempt to “demonize” him.And yet, the entirety of Tuason’s testimony was inadequate. It did not deserve Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s effusive term, that it constituted “slam-dunk evidence,” or Guingona’s even more elaborate basketball metaphor, that it was a three-point “buzzer-beater” and “winning shot.” We don’t say this because Tuason failed to directly implicate Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile; as we have written in this space before, summaries of Tuason’s affidavit already showed that the money trail stopped with Gigi Reyes, Enrile’s chief of staff.The reason we found Tuason’s testimony inadequate was her constant recourse to general statements, whether about the money she delivered or about her recollection of the circumstances of delivery. Indeed, at one point, Sen. Sonny Trillanes admonished Tuason about her testimony’s lack of detail. “General statements are not allowed,” he said. “We cannot accept statements like that.”Tuason could not remember exactly how much cash she brought to Estrada right in the Senate; it was only after prodding that she suggested a figure of P8-10 million. She could not remember the dates of the “couple of times” she said she delivered Estrada’s commission from the pork barrel allocation in the

Senate. She acknowledged, under questioning, that “vouchers” accompanied the bags of money that were brought to her by the staff of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged scam mastermind, for delivery to either Reyes or Estrada; she could not remember, however, how much each delivery was worth.On several occasions, Tuason said she would return the commissions she herself had earned as a “go-between” (her term). Asked to say how much she had earned in all, she offered a round figure of P40 million (and, in perhaps the rawest part of the hearing, said she would have to sell her own house, her only piece of real property, to raise the money). Only Sen. Bam Aquino seized on this piece of information to estimate the total amount of pork barrel funds she had brokered; if P40 million represents the 5-percent commission she received, more or less, then she must have been partially responsible for diverting some P800 million in pork barrel funds.But no one asked the logical follow-up question: How much of this P800 million that Tuason was partly responsible for end up with Reyes and Estrada? Surely it must have been much more than the P40 million she had earned. If the report that the senators took as much as 40 percent of any pork barrel diversion is accurate, then as much as P320 million in pork barrel funds must have gone to Reyes and Estrada. But it seems Tuason can clearly remember only P9 million given to Estrada in 2008.Like we said, inadequate.Trillanes advised Tuason to “focus”—that is, to remember as much detail as she can. It is good advice. Tuason’s admission that she participated in acts of corruption goes against her own self-interest, and because it does so, carries real legal weight. But it is not enough.

Source: PDI, February 14, 2014

4. Editorial of Commendation, Appreciation, or TributeThis type writes for the dedication of a person, place, or an event. It talks about

good things about a certain situation. Basically, it is a positive review of a situation. The related news usually can be found in the other parts of the newspaper.

Historic

It’s been said before and we’ll say it again: The Philippines’ Michael Christian Martinez made history just by hitting the ice at the Sochi Winter Games, whether or not he qualified for the final round of the men’s figure skating competition. But qualify he did, ultimately finishing 19th in a field of 24 and leaving the distinct impression that he is a serious contender to watch on the Olympics stage in the future.The 17-year-old Martinez, the youngest skater and the first Filipino and Southeast Asian in the competition, gave it all he’s got. In the short program of 30 participants on Thursday night he performed to Arthur Fiedler’s love theme from “Romeo and Juliet,” hitting a triple axel and striking a cantilever spread to cheers from the audience. He scored 64.81 and was 19th among those who qualified for the finals.On Friday night he performed the free skate to Ernesto Lecuona’s “Malagueña,” scoring a cumulative score of 184.25 and holding the lead among the first six skaters. The commentator described his performance as “fantastic.”It was clear to TV viewers that Martinez had a friendly audience, vigorously applauding his flawless jumps and even an unfortunate spill from which he gracefully recovered.At home his compatriots were thrilled by his presence in Sochi, and flooded social media with cheers and praise that, he later said in a phone interview, warmed his heart and boosted his determination to make good.But also heartwarming was the sight of the young Olympian waving a jacket with “Philippines” on it after his performances. The message was that he’s come a long way to wintry Russia and it is his country that he is wearing on his figurative sleeve. Indeed, the world media were charmed not only by Martinez’s skill and potential but also his back story. The then 8-year-old Martinez discovered the wonders of figure skating in the SM Southmall skating rink. He proved a natural and in time was dividing his training between California and Manila.He went on to emerge fifth overall in the World Junior Championships in Milan and 16th in the Four Continents Championships in Osaka last year. Along the way, he overcame asthma, a fractured ankle, torn knee ligaments and a cut thigh—a warrior as much as a skater—to achieve a life’s dream of qualifying for Sochi in September after finishing a rousing 7th at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany.Martinez’s performance in the Winter Olympics has captured the imagination of his country and also shed a harsh light on state assistance for athletes, including those engaged in non-mainstream sports like figure skating. It is unclear whether or not he received funds from the Philippine Sports Commission. What is known so far is that his family has been funding his training and competition with the help of

Hans Sy of the SM Group acting as his “godfather” and defraying P1.5 million of his expenses, and donors adding P500,000 through the Philippine Skating Union.PSC executive director Guillermo Iroy Jr. has been quoted as saying that the commission approved financial assistance to the Philippine Olympic Committee in the amount of $7,200 so Martinez could participate in the Sochi Winter Games. And it’s said that training costs amount to at least P75,000 a month.Martinez made history in Sochi, but the important issue now is whether the state can now back him in any meaningful way. His case once more illustrates the continuing inability of the government sports program to scout for potential among the youth and the lack of funding for athletic training and development. A virtual unknown in his country until the weeks before the Sochi Winter Games, Martinez will doubtless be in for much fanfare when he comes home. And the hand-wringing will surely intensify.In this basketball-crazy country, there has to be room for someone like Martinez, who has the imagination to believe that a Filipino can make good in a winter sport. He’s a cool example of perseverance and grace. He makes us proud. Imagine, with proper training, what heights he will conquer in the future.

Source: PDI, February 15, 2014

5. Editorial of ArgumentationEditorial that talks about a controversial issue and takes a side. The writer then

defends his side logically. Sometimes, it may present both sides.

Trash Talk

Canada? It doesn’t seem to compute. One of the most ecological-minded countries on earth, not to mention among the friendliest, with warm and stable relations with much of the international community unlike its pushy, more problematic neighbor to the south—why would a country like Canada be caught in an attempted smuggling into the Philippines of trash mislabeled as recyclable plastics?Last week, the Bureau of Customs was able to intercept a shipment of 50 container vans of plastic trash at the Port of Manila. The shipment came from Canada. Did that country’s government have any hand in the literally malodorous move to try to dump its garbage in another country’s backyard? Details are hazy at this point, but Canadian activists are themselves enraged at the news, and blame their government for it.“We are deeply embarrassed at how government policies here have caused such bad behavior by some toward the environment and the good people of the Philippines. This is a disgrace,” Buddy Boyd of Zero Waste Canada was quoted as saying.This is not, of course, the first time that the Philippines became the intended dumping ground for the detritus of other countries. In 2012, a US naval ship dumped toxic waste in Subic. The contractor that extracted the waste from the US Navy vessel Emory Land claimed that the material had been pretreated before it was released into Philippine waters, but the commander of Emory Land himself said the ship had no waste treatment facility, which was why third-party contractors had to be hired.After the usual hue and cry, the issue quickly vanished from the headlines. No report of recompense has come in for the violation of environmental laws, or of any rehabilitation effort that the US Navy and its designated contractor have done to mitigate the damage to Subic waters.Late in 2006, similar outrage greeted the news that the Philippine government under the then president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was about to sign the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, which activists said would have legalized the importation into the country of toxic wastes and hazardous materials from Japan. The Philippines, it turned out, was the one that pitched the offer; the Japanese government said it would only forward waste to the country if the Philippines would officially allow it.The Jpepa was signed in 2007 and ratified by the Senate in 2008, but the public outcry fortunately spooked the negotiating parties into drafting two side agreements stipulating that Japan would not export hazardous waste to the Philippines, and that provisions in the Philippine Constitution and other pertinent laws on public safety and environmental protection are observed.It’s worth noting that, in all three cases, the countries involved are well-known for their own progressive ecological policies. Canada, the United States and Japan are technologically advanced countries with strict regulations on the treatment and disposal of garbage; the protection of their air, water, and other natural resources; and the promotion of the health and wellbeing of their citizens. Indiscriminate dumping of toxic waste within their borders merit severe penalties. Why, then, do they appear to be cavalier about forwarding their effluents and rubbish to other nations?That can only be because other countries with venal or weak governments are only too willing to accommodate them. It boggles the mind to recall that the Arroyo administration itself had offered the

possibility of hazardous waste imports into the country to sweeten the trade deal with Japan—but only as a negotiating tactic, it said then.“One of the items included is what we call hazardous toxic wastes,” said Peter Favila,  the then trade secretary, in January 2007. “It does not mean that we allow them to ship waste to us… If we didn’t do it, we would be forced to offer another product. It’s a negotiation strategy.”If the public hadn’t smelled a rat, of course, and raised a stink about it, that provisional offer would have become permanent. That sort of public vigilance remains crucial at this time, because, even as the Philippines struggles with its own waste disposal problems (about 75 percent of rubbish found in Manila Bay is composed of plastic waste, 25 percent of it plastic bags, according to the EcoWaste Coalition), it may end up becoming the dumping ground of other countries without a firm “No, not ever” from the government.

Source: PDI, Feb. 19, 2014

6. Editorial of PersuasionIt encourages readers to support a program, plan, or action by giving reasons for

them to join the action. It also shows advantages that will be attained by the said program, plan, or action.

Don’t Light Up

Two hundred forty-four, and counting. That’s the number of people injured by firecrackers and stray bullets as of yesterday morning. It may look like a tiny number against a national population that’s well over 90 million, but injury by firecracker is no simple incident. The injured are often children, left unsupervised or inexplicably allowed to indulge in this dangerous activity. And the bodily harm can range from painful burns to the loss of fingers, even a whole hand, as in the recent case of a 14-year-old boy in Cebu whose hand was shattered by an extra-powerful firecracker called “Super Yolanda.”The morbid, fate-tempting humor underlying the act of naming a especially harmful firecracker after the most destructive typhoon to hit the country speaks volumes about the fatalistic attitude that overwhelms otherwise sober, sensible Filipinos in the run-up to the New Year. Injuries resulting from pyrotechnics are particularly frustrating because these are needless and easily preventable. People know the danger of the game but are still willing to play it, in the vague notion that a better year is heralded by fiery explosions in their faces.Despite repeated warnings from the Department of Health and the Philippine National Police, the sale of firecrackers is booming, with heavy traffic reported on the route to the “pyro zone” of Bocaue, Bulacan. Correspondingly, according to the records of the National Epidemiology Center, the injuries recorded so far this year are now higher than the 179 tallied in the same period in 2012. The figure can only rise as the New Year revelry gets underway in a few hours.The most worrisome firecracker is the “piccolo,” a product that’s been declared illegal for its deadly might. Of the total number of injuries as of Sunday morning, 62 percent were caused by this firecracker, with Manila, Quezon City and Mandaluyong as the top three cities in Metro Manila notching the biggest number of piccolo-related injuries. Data from the DOH show that 88 percent of the injured are males, and 32 percent are children below 10 years old. The kids, of course, can play with such destructive toys only with their parents’ consent, or lax attention. Children have no money to buy firecrackers on their own; the adults, therefore, should be held to account for whatever harm their kids end up sustaining.What is to stop this annual madness? No pleas to sanity and safety seem to work with those dead-set on marking the end of the year with deadly fireworks—the louder, the better. It’s a bitter truth to consider that the injured reacquire their good sense only when they end up in hospital with badly mangled hands, or horribly burned skin. Asked what they had learned from the experience, they would sheepishly vow—too late—never to play with firecrackers again. Yet these horrific images are still not cautionary enough for those who remain foolhardy in their obsession with the lethal stuff. (And we’re not even talking yet about the madmen who fire their guns into the air…)There’s a suggestion going around social media: Download or copy an audio file of firecracker explosions, and play it as the clock strikes 12 tonight. You can play the recording as loud as you want, and thereby not lose out in the putative decibel fight—but in a safe manner (though the effect the noise will have on our pets is another grim story). Give your family, especially your kids, the gift of safety and good example this New Year’s Eve. Don’t light up that firecracker.

Source: PDI, Dec. 30, 2014

Writing an Editorial

In writing editorials:

Discuss only one topic The topic should interest the reader May contain opinions Organize the editorial into three main parts

1. IntroductionLike a news story, it should contain a news peg, which states the topic to

be discussed. It may also contain a lead. The length of the introduction is usually only a short paragraph.

2. Body The body is where you begin to discuss the idea you chose. This may

consist of two or more paragraph that support or justify the reaction. There should be facts to support your idea further. Examples of these are: statistics, interviews, or figures.

3. Conclusion The conclusion is where you seal the idea. It summarizes the editorial’s

stand. The conclusion may also be called a clincher. In order for the ending to strike interest for the readers, it must be difficult to forget.

Editorial LeadsEditorial leads, just like in new stories, tell a brief statement about the topic you

are reading. Editorial leads can be:

A simple statement of the situation, problem or news event to be written about.

A Sense of Joy

In November, when the Vatican released “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy of the Gospel), the first official “apostolic exhortation” by Pope Francis, the document immediately caused a sensation. In it, the Argentine Pontiff who had immediately won the hearts of people everywhere with his simple ways and caring words confirmed in writing that the change in tone and temperament he was bringing to the Catholic Church was not for show. He meant business, and he had very specific ideas about the changes he wanted to see in the Church.

Source: PDI, Dec. 23, 2013

A question challenging attention.

Cop-Out

Does the Philippines need more privatization, or less? That’s the subject of a recent think piece by foreign affairs and economic analyst Richard Javad Heydarian in The Huffington Post, which argues that, contrary to prevailing wisdom about the Philippines’ continuing need to open up its markets and nurture its private sector, what it needs “is not more privatization and economic liberalization per se… but instead a stronger state that (a) can bust oligarchic collusion, and (b) protect the interest of the consumers and productive sectors of the economy.”

Source: PDI, Dec. 28, 2013

A striking statement arousing the reader’s interest.

Reconstruction Lessons

Forty days after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” wreaked havoc in the Visayas, the national government presented the Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda, or RAY, framework, a “strategic plan to guide the recovery and reconstruction of the economy, lives, and livelihoods in the affected areas.” It is a laudable effort, emerging from core principles “based on lessons from previous disasters in the Philippines and other countries.” But in at least two aspects, the plan—and by extension the administration that prepared it—still has important lessons to learn.

Source: PDI, Dec. 20, 2013

A narration.

A True Reminder

Christine Joy Sarsosa, a “Yolanda” survivor from Leyte, turned 14 yesterday, in a tent shelter in Cebu City. By contemporary standards, it was an austere birthday and a bleak Christmas. Her aunt, a single mother of three, told Inquirer correspondent Carmel Loise Matus they would use the food packs distributed by donors as their noche buena, the traditional hearty meal Filipino families prepare on Christmas Eve. A simple meal at an evacuation center: This was what Christmas amounted to for the Sarsosa family—and tens of thousands of families affected by the major calamities that struck the country in the last four months of the year.

Source: PDI, Dec. 25, 2013

Pointers in Writing Editorials

1. Make the editorial interesting enough.2. Develop it from one specific, limited idea, phrased in one sentence and expanded into

the body of the editorial.3. Have a purpose in mind that should be accomplished with sufficient data.

4. Organize all data into well-reason arguments, with each of these leading to a conclusion.

5. Refer the lead to recent and relevant news for interest.6. Present both sides of an issue and clarify difficult aspects with a commonly

understood analogy or with an illustration that makes it easier to understand.

Activity

Write a specific type of editorial given the following leads.

A. Write an editorial of appreciation.

Japan: Tsunami widower searches seabed for missing wife

A JAPANESE man has learnt to scuba dive so he can search for the freezing waters of the Pacific Ocean looking for his wife, who has been missing since the catastrophic Japanese tsunami of 2011, it’s been reported.

Source: People’s Tonight, Feb. 20, 2014B. Write an editorial of information.

Facebook buys WhatsApp for $19B

Facebook said Wednesday it was buying the fast-growing mobile messaging service WhatsApp in a deal worth an eye-popping $19 billion, expanding the global footprint of the social networking giant.

Source: PDI, Feb. 20, 2014

C. Write an editorial of argumentation.

PMA defends order to dismiss Cudia

MANILA, Philippines – It was not about being late, but about breaking the academy’s honor code.The Philippine Military Academy on Thursday stressed this point in the wake of criticisms over the case of Cadet Jeff Aldrin Cudia who is facing dismissal from the premier military school for allegedly breaking the academy’s honor code.

Source: PDI, Feb. 20, 2014

Quiz

Write an editorial of any type with the given leads.

1. DFA checking reports hundreds of Filipinos deported from Sabah

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is looking into reports that hundreds of Filipinos have been deported from Sabah, Malaysia due to a crackdown on foreign workers.“Our embassy in Kuala Lumpur is still verifying these deportation reports,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a text message Thursday.A news report published in the same day said that almost 200 Filipinos have been deported and are staying in an evacuation center in Tawi-Tawi province in Mindanao.Earlier reports said that thousands of Filipinos have already been deported.

Source: PDI, Feb. 20, 2014

2. ‘Aquino made us wait for 3 hours, then snubbed us,’ says Yolanda survivors

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — They waited for more than three hours at the gate of Malacañang but were never given even a minute of the President’s time.To add insult to injury, they said, President Benigno Aquino III did not only snub Sister Edita Eslopor, chairperson of People Surge, and her three members but also chose to answer their petition through the media.But the group vowed to continue pressing their demands, People Surge vice chairperson Efleda Bautista said on Thursday.

Source: PDI, Feb. 20, 20143. FEU turns back UP to gain 1-0 lead UAAP football

MANILA, Philippines — A pair of a rookies scored the decisive goals in extra-time to give Far Eastern University a 4-1 win over University of the Philippines in game one of the UAAP men’s football finals on Thursday.The burly Nigeria Joshua Mulero found the bottom left corner of the net in the 102nd minute to put the Tamaraws back up, before substitute Harold Alcoresa sealed it in the 115th minute.Deep into extra-time with the game already decided, FEU’s best offensive option Jess Melliza slid the ball to hike his total to 10 this season.

Source: PDI, Feb. 20, 2014

SPORTS WRITING

It has a structure like a news story. Sports writing have become one of the most popular forms of modern journalistic writing. Even experienced reporters get lost covering games and writing about them because it takes more than just answering the 5 W’s and 1 H to be able to come up with a comprehensive sports news story.

Structure

Like news stories, the sports stories are composed of the introduction, body, and conclusion. It also has a lead.

The lead

Like the news story, the lead also gives a brief and interesting summary to get the attention of the sports readers.

1. The Key PlayThis kind of lead tells what actually happened in the court.

Pacers trade Granger to 76ers for Turner

INDIANAPOLIS  — The Indiana Pacers pulled off one more bold move before Thursday’s trading deadline.

Source: PDI, Feb. 21, 2014

2. The Outstanding PlayerThis lead talks about the most valuable player of the winning team. Tells how

he won the game.

LeBron bloodied but unbeaten as Heat rip Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY—LeBron James scored a game-high 33 points despite having his nose bloodied and being knocked to the floor in the fourth quarter of Miami’s 103-81 victory Thursday at Oklahoma City.

Source: PDI, Feb. 21, 2014

3. Analytical ApproachThis lead talk about the scores of the winning team and the losing team. It

uses numbers and ratios.

Ateneo foils Lady Tams’ volley bid

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo fired 14 service aces as the Lady Eagles spoiled Far Eastern University’s bid for the last semifinal slot with a 25-17, 25-19, 25-16 win Sunday at the end of the eliminations in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Source: PDI, Feb. 17, 2014

The Body

After the lead, the other elements found in the body follow in descending order. These will include:

1. Team or individual standing2. Decisive plays 3. Best scores for the day4. Play-by-play5. Quotation

Kinds of Sports Stories

1. Basketball

 ‘Tired’ Mixers seek 3-1 lead vs Elastopainters

For the first time in the best-of-seven series for the PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup championship, San Mig Coffee coach Tim Cone sounded a little worried.“I felt for the first time tonight that our guys played a little tired,” Cone said, moments after a 77-76 Game 3 win over Rain or Shine that gave his Mixers a 2-1 edge at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “I thought we showed a little fatigue tonight.”And for Game 4 slated at 8 p.m. today also at the Big Dome in Cubao, Cone, who has won the last two games and seems to have a grasp of the Rain or Shine game, will be looking for just one thing: “We need to find our second wind.”The Mixers will try to all but put the Elasto Painters away with another victory tonight, but it certainly is easier said than done since Rain or Shine will also be coming out hard to avenge that loss and tie this all up.“We’re disappointed, but we’re not discouraged,” Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao said.Going down 1-3 against a formidable squad like the Mixers will certainly be a tall mountain to scale for the Painters, who are in the Finals of this tournament for the second straight year but have won just one game so far.

Rain or Shine had 10.6 seconds to come up with a game-winning play on Wednesday night but just got one attempt—a three-point shot by Jeff Chan from about 30 feet—which fell a tad short of the mark.The Painters had control of most of Game 3, only to blow them all.  They had a nine-point lead with 1:35 left before the half but allowed eight straight points by the Mixers to close out the second period.In the third quarter, the Painters also took several eight-point bubbles but found themselves trailing by three,  2:54 to play.Rain or Shine had its chances, as San Mig went scoreless since taking that 77-74 lead.James Yap and Peter June Simon will again be the main San Mig guns, but Rain or Shine must find a way to hit baskets from the inside.Paul Lee scored 23 points for the Painters in Game 3 and Guiao could be looking at allowing the creative point guard more leeway on offense.

Source: PDI, Feb. 21, 2014

2. Volleyball

Adamson nips FEU for UAAP women’s volleyball final 4 spot

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson leaned on its tenacity to overcome Far Eastern University and gain the last berth in the UAAP season 76 women’s volleyball semifinals on Wednesday.The Lady Falcons bucked a 1-1 deficit to oust the gritty Lady Tamaraws, 25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 25-13, 15-11, at the Arena in San Juan and leaned on Shiela Pineda in crunch time.“We should’ve pushed it more in the second and third set, where we had a problem with our first ball,” said head coach Sherwin Menses.“It was a good thing we recovered in the fourth and players showed how tough they are.”Pineda, once again, proved how invaluable she is for Adamson by scoring half of her squad’s last eight points in the final frame which broke the 8-all deadlock.The Lady Falcons’ star spiker finished with 25 points, all but one from kills as she towed her squad to a final four appearance, which would be her last.Mayette Zapanta also came through in the fifth frame along with Amanda Villanueva and they combined for 26 points for the Adamson.Villanueva eventually nailed the clincher after a miscue from the referee prematurely gave the Lady Falcons the win in the previous play.It was a confidence-boosting win for Adamson, which faces Ateneo on Sunday in another knockout match in the step-ladder format.The Lady Tamaraws, after showing tremendous promise this season, will go back to the drawing board after falling short of making it to the top 4.FEU botched a 2-1 set lead as it allowed Adamson to go on a momentum-halting 25-13 fourth frame win.Bernadeth Pons, who is a cinch for rookie of the year award, finished with 16 points to lead the Lady Tamaraws in a losing effort.

Source: PDI, Feb. 19, 2014

3. Football

UP’s Valmayor banned 2 games as UAAP football

MANILA, Philippines—Jinggoy Valmayor, league’s leading goal scorer, will miss two games in the best-of-three finals series of the UAAP men’s football tournament.Valmayor, the former rookie of the year, has been suspended for “violent conduct,” according to the tournament commissioner Rely San Agustin.So the Maroons will have to get past no. 1 Far Eastern University sans their top offensive option starting Thursday in game 1 at the FEU-Diliman gym.If the series reaches a sudden death, Valmayor could suit up for the Maroons.The national under-23 squad standout was sent off last week for headbutting University of Santo Tomas’ Nicanor Palacio in their final four match.“I’m disappointed,” said UP coach Anto Gonzales regarding Valmayor’s actions.

Meanwhile, the Tigresses and the Lady Tamaraws begin their own best-of-three finals in UAAP football at 10 a.m., also at FEU-Diliman field.

Source: PDI, Feb. 19, 2014

4. Boxing

Pacquiao to go for knockout in fight with Bradley

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao will be gunning for a knockout in his rematch with Timothy Bradley to avoid a controversial decision like the one in their first encounter nearly a year ago when the American boxer was declared the winner.“Our objective is to knock Bradley out in the early rounds during the fight to avoid another controversial decision,” Pacquiao’s assistant coach and trainer Buboy Fernandez told reporters here Wednesday.Fernandez said Team Pacquiao was figuring a way to cut a retreating Bradley inside the ring when they meet for a second time in April.“He (Bradley) loves to run. He doesn’t want to engage as what we saw during their first encounter. We keep on reviewing tapes of his fights with Pacquiao and Ruslan Provodnikov to be able to devise a strategy,” Fernandez said.Pacquiao himself vowed to restore his killer instinct and to be more aggressive against Bradley in their upcoming second ring date.Fernandez arrived here late last week to supervise the training of Pacquiao while waiting for the arrival of trainer Freddie Roach scheduled next week.Pacquiao starts his day at 8 a.m. with a 20-minute jog around the rubberized track of Acharon Memorial Sports Complex here.“We have observed that many people jog at the sports complex early in the morning. So, our fighting congressman has decided to adjust his schedule to avoid being distracted,” Fernandez said.After the jogging, Pacquaio performs shadow boxing then abdominal exercises.His training is not just physical but also mental. After his jogging, shadow boxing and abdominal exercises, he plays chess before going home to take his breakfast.At around 1 p.m., he goes to his Wild Card Gym for another training session. This time, he does some muscle stretching before doing two rounds of punch mitts with Buboy Fernandez.During the punch mitts on Tuesday, Pacquiao accidentally hit Fernandez’s jaw with a left upper cut which interrupted the session for a while.“My knees trembled and I saw some twinkling starts. What happened today will serve as a warning to Bradley,” Fernandez said.Fernandez asked a member of the Team Pacquiao to take his place for a few minutes while he recovered.Fernandez said he was amazed that Pacquiao managed to retain about 80 percent of his power, speed and stamina almost three months after the Brandon Rios fight.“His power, speed and stamina are still there. It’s visible and I could feel it today,” Fernandez said.The assistant coach and trainer added that Team Pacquiao would implement stricter rules this time to prevent snooping by the other camp and to give Pacquiao utmost focus during jogging and training sessions.“We are appealing to his friends, fans, including journalists doing coverage to follow the rules. We would be stricter this time compared to his preparation during the Brandon Rios fight,” Fernandez said.Rules laid down by the Team Pacquiao include, among others, forbidding media interview or the taking of video by anyone during training sessions.Pacquiao would train here for one month then fly to the United States on March 22 for the final stage of his preparation at the Wild Card Boxing Gym.

Source: PDI, Feb. 19, 2014

5. Badminton

Ultimate Badminton Fusion opens

MORE THAN 200 badminton players gather at the Patts Badminton Courts in Cabancalan, Mandaue City today for the start of the Ultimate Badminton Fusion 2013 – Smash For A Cause.Among the contenders for this tournament is celebrity Isabel Granada, who registered in the women’s and mixed doubles catgeories.

Aside from Cebuano smashers, other entries will be coming from Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Bohol, Negros, Maasin, Ormoc, Manila and Pampanga.Categories in the tournament are men’s doubles (levels A, B, C, D, E and F,), women’s doubles (levels C, D, E and F) and mixed doubles (levels C, D, E andF).Trophies and cash prizes amounting to P150,000 will be given to the winners. Badminton shoes and bags will also be raffled out to participants during the tournament.The tournament is spearheaded by Lyka Productions & Tournament Services in cooperation with Help & Care Movement, Honda Motor World Inc., Rediske Travel and Tours, Victa Constructions and Rico’s Lechon./Correspondent Mark Tongco

Source: PDI, Oct. 15, 2013

Sports Lingo

These are terms use in sports stories that gives spice to the story. The terms of each sport are different with each other.

Basketball

24-second violation

3x3

5x5

n-possession game

ACB

advance step

air ball 

alley oop 

and one

assist 

backdoor cut

ball hog 

backboard 

backcourt

backcourt violation

back screen

ball side

banana cut

bank shot

baseball pass

baseline out-of-bounds play

basket cut

BEEF

bench

benchwarmer

big man

blindside screen

block

block out

board

bonus

bounce pass

box-and-one

box out

box set

brick

bricklayer

bump the cutter

buzzer beater 

carry

chest pass

charge

center 

chucker

dead-ball rebound

dime

dish

disqualifying foul

double bonus

double-double

double dribble

double nickel

downtown

dribble drive motion 

dribble

drop a dime

drop step

dunk

end of quarter 

Eurocup 

Euroleague 

EuroBasket 

fast break 

floater 

forward 

flop

four-point play 

granny shot 

gunner

halfcourt defense

Halftime

in-n-out 

index rating 

key 

kicking 

lay-in

Memphis Attack 

one-and-one

one trillion

outlet pass

over-and-back

over the back

overtime

pack

paint

palming

perimeter

post up 

prayer 

Princeton offense 

quadruple-double 

rebound 

rejected 

Volleyball

Assist

Ace

Attack

Cut / Cut shot

Dig

Double contact /Double

D.S.

Dump

Five-One

Free ball

Four-Two

Joust

Kill

Mis-hit 

On-Two

One-Two-Two Coverage

Opposite

Pepper

Seam

Set

Shank

Shot

Side out

Six-Two

Six-back

Six-up

Six-zero

Spike

Strong side

"The Gap"

The "W"

Two-Three Coverage

Weak Side

Football

advantage

attacking

back-heeling

ball control 

banana kick

bicycle kick

booking

breakaway

challenging

chip pass

come to 

corner

cross

cross-over

3D's of defence

decoy runs 

deflection

direct free-kick

diving save

drop ball 

dummy

execution

far post / near post

flick

follow-through

give and go

half-volley 

header

I'm in

indirect free-kick

instep

intercepting 

jockeying 

juggling 

kick-off

laces 

laying the ball off

lifting the ball 

man on

man-to-man guarding

narrowing the angle

offside

offside trap 

one-touch pass

overlapping 

penalty kick

punching 

restarts

riding pine

screening the ball

shoot-out

slide tackle 

square ball 

sweeper 

throw-in

Boxing

Accidental Butt

Alphabet Groups

Bleeder

Bob and Weave

Bolo Punch

Brawler

Break

Buckle

Canvas

Card

Caught Cold

Clinch

Contender

Corkscrew Punch

Cornerman

Covering Up

Cross

Cutman

Dive

Eight Count

Enswell

Flash knockdown

Fringe Contender

Gate

Get Off

Glass Jaw

Neutral Corner

Mauler

Low Blow

Kidney Punch

Palooka

Parry

Paw

Plodder

Pound-for-Pound

Roll with the Punches

Rope-a-Dope

Rubber Match

Sanctioning Body

Southpaw

Split Draw

Stablemate

Stick and Move

Titlist

Trialhorse

Undercard

Walkout Bout

Whiskers

Badminton

Alley

Back Alley

Backcourt

Balk (Feint)

Baseline

Carry

Center or Base Position

Center Line

Clear

Drive

Drop

Fault

Feint (Balk)

Flick

Forecourt

Hairpin Net Shot

Kill

Let

Net Shot

Smash

Wood Shot

Acitivity

Write a title and a lead for the given sports articles

1.

A day after installing a new head coach in Biboy Ravanes, the Beermen traded their long-time guard Alex Cabagnot for GlobalPort Batang Pier’s Sol Mercado in a one-on-one blockbuster deal approved by the PBA Commissioner’s Office Tuesday.“Baka bukas dating ng mga bagong players tapos isasama namin sa Cebu (the players perhaps will be arriving tomorrow (Wednesday) and we will bring them with us in Cebu,” said GlobalPort’s new coach Pido Jarencio, who also said that his team will participate in a pocket tournament in Cebu as part of their buildup for the coming Commissioner’s Cup this March.In a separate deal, San Miguel acquired Rico Maierhofer from Barako Bull for stretch four-man Jason Deutchman and the Beermen’s 2016 and 2017 second round picks.GlobalPort and Barako Bull also exchanged players with the Batang Pier acquiring Leo Najorda for Jonas Villanueva, who was shipped to Air21 for Bonbon Custodio.Cabagnot gives the Batang Pier a facilitator and someone who has a knack for hitting big shots while Mercado provides the Beermen an added slasher and scoring threat in the backcourt.

Source: PDI, Feb. 18, 2014

2.

The Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday morning (Manila time) signed high school senior Kevin Grow who has Down syndrome to a “ceremonial two-day contract,” sports website Bleacher Report said.According to the 76ers official announcement of the signing, Grow has become an “inspiration” to the team and staff.“Grow has become an inspiration to the Sixers organization, as his story has swept the nation,” the announcement said.The 18-year-old Grow was featured on a YouTube video posted on Feb. 8 in which he drained four three-pointers and a buzzer beater, en route to 14 points, for his high school’s varsity basketball team, which he served as the team’s manager for four years.As part of the contract, Grow would eat dinners at the players’ lounge, go around the practice facility and receive official Sixers gear.Grow would also join the team for shoot-around at the end of the practice session before the Sixers host the Cleveland Cavaliers of Feb. 19.Lastly, Grow and the Sixers would take the floor during a timeout for a “special presentation.”

Source: PDI, Feb. 18, 2014

3.

The NBA’s two best players went their separate ways after the East’s 163-155 victory over the West in Sunday’s NBA All-Star game, but only temporarily. They will be back on the same floor Thursday in Oklahoma City, perhaps even joined by Russell Westbrook.Less than two months will remain in the regular season when play resumes Tuesday, with so much still to sort out in the loaded Western Conference.Things seem so much simpler in the East, where a Miami-Indiana matchup in the Eastern Conference finals has seemed a certainty since the opening weeks of the season — except to James.“This is more than a two-team race. There’s a lot of good teams in the Eastern Conference,” he said. “It’s been a slow start for us as a whole, but there’s so many good teams, you can’t just count on us and one other team. I respect every team we go against.”Miami went into the break 2½ games behind Indiana, with third-place Toronto having 10 more losses than the Heat. The Pacers lost Game 7 of the East finals in Miami last June, and they want home-court advantage if — when? — the teams meet again this spring.The Heat are interested in it too, though only to a point.“What matters more is that we’re healthy. We’re going to compete for first place of course, but we’re not going to make it this huge thing,” Chris Bosh said.“We’re within striking distance, 2½ back. We like our chances.”

The Thunder finally opened a little cushion atop the West with their strong finish to the first half, winning their final three games to take a four-game lead over injury-plagued San Antonio, the defending conference champion. Houston, the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland are all six games behind.Durant is the NBA’s leading scorer and has a good chance to end James’ reign as the league’s MVP. The Thunder could get even stronger when Westbrook returns from knee surgery, perhaps even Thursday in their first game after the break.Durant scored 38 points in the All-Star game and has been unstoppable even in games where there is defense, averaging 31.5 points. He had 33 in the Thunder’s 112-95 victory in Miami last month, but scoring is only part of what he’s done to help Oklahoma City to a league-best 43-12 record even with only 25 games from Westbrook.“KD is a great player. He’s a great teammate. He does all the things that we have asked,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.“He doesn’t want to be just a scorer. He wants to be a playmaker, a defender and that’s what he’s done all season for us.”The trade deadline also is Thursday. The Heat and Pacers have perhaps already made their moves with the signings of centers Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum, but other contenders may seek the opportunity to make a deal they feel could position themselves to end the Heat’s quest for a third straight championship.The Pacers believe they can do it. Paul George isn’t far from the James-Durant level, and a title would help him inch even closer.“I want to be one of the best players to ever play in this league and be the best player in this league,” George said, “so it’s just taking every day to get better, every year to get better, and you know, I’m going to be at the top at some point.”So many others have a chance heading into the stretch run. The Clippers (Chris Paul and Blake Griffin), Rockets (Dwight Howard and James Harden) and Trail Blazers (LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard) all have All-Star duos, and don’t forget the Spurs, who were less than a half-minute from finishing off the Heat last June.“We definitely have the tools, we definitely have the team,” Tony Parker said of his team, which has been playing without Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard. “We’ll be in the mix as long as we stay healthy.”

Source: PDI, Feb. 18, 2014

Quiz Write a sports article about the given information. Add more information to make

the article better.

1. 101-100Finn uman (mvp)09-21-13Green HornetsBlack MambasBuster beaterWhole court shot

2. 1-2Semifinal winners03-24-14Azkolz (winner)Team SingaporeOvertime

3. James Barrera02-26-14John KiddUnanimous

3 knockouts