Now, this is really interesting. The Manila Standard Today announces that the infamous columnist Malu Fernandez is back in their roster or writers. This, after an earlier report that she submitted her resignation letter to two publications — MST and People Asia.
In a recent copy of the Manila Standard Today, a section displays a picture of Malu with the headline — Divalicious will resume next Monday. See picture after the jump.
{ Photo from Bryanton, via Freedom Watch. Original story from Smoke. }
So, why is she back? What’s the real story about her alleged resignation and comeback?
Here are some possible theories:
- Malu Fernandez does not exist. She’s a figment of a creative imagination. If the US had their Fake Steve Jobs, we also have a Fake Malu Fernandez.
- This is some publicity stunt by Malu, her editor and/or the publication to generate buzz. Google returns 69,200 results and on Yahoo, 94,800. Technorati lists 900 blog posts about her too. That’s a lot of buzz for just two very vapid articles.
- She never really resigned. That page on GeoCities was put up by someone else. She’s still enjoying her fortnight’s celebrity status. Even the really bad guys in the movies and TV are celebrities too.
- She resigned but then Manila Standard wouldn’t let her go. They didn’t find any editorial reason to do so. Besides, people say she has connections, way way up there. If the lack of public response by the publication about this brouhaha is an indication about their official stand, looks like they’re just waiting for the issue to subside then go back to business (as usual).
Your guess is as good as mine. But one thing’s for sure, she’s making a bold statement — no amount of rambling on the blogosphere or by any sector for that matter will pull her down from her position.
[...] When I watched the replay of ANC’s Media in Focus regarding the reactions to the Malu Fernandez controversy (you can watch it here, courtesy of Ria Jose), they showed a statement from Manila Standard Today which stated that the editors of the said paper have not accepted Malu Fernandez’s resignation. A few days before that, a stub on the opinion page of the paper showed that her column will be back on Monday, September 3. [...]
Divalicious all right. She could use one of those treatments Marie France is offering. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter whether it was some publicity stunt. This will really turn out in two areas here and abroad.
1) No one will purchase Manila Standard because of people like her. It is no wonder Manila Standard isn’t up there with the Philippine Daily Inquirer or Philippine Star. If they keep on having people like her around writing columns, the Manila Standard will remain at the bottom of the ranks when it comes to Philippine newspapers.
2) Everywhere this ***hole goes she’ll get lambasted. She’d dare not step anywhere in the Middle East where Filipino presence is by far and wide, large.
Unforunately the old skool media like the Manila Standard does not understand how the new media works. The negative PR generated on the internet will not be erased EVER. Even Google will cache all those pages in blogs ever written about her article.
I just had to comment again after I remembered that Digg.com submission wherein this guy claims that his former female roommate stole his digital camera. http://digg.com/tech_news/Woman_harassed_via_Digg_com_post
People from all over the world harassed this woman even from as far as Ireland. I’m glad there aren’t so much crazy people in the Philippines or Divalicious’ article would’ve been her last. **HINT** **HINT**
regardless of what reason there is,…. the apology that was given said she would resign…
first she makes a sarcastic apology, then now backtracks on her word, …doesn’t she have delicedeza? this proves she did not grew up with a good family.. her action lacks breeding…
well a lot of pinoys out there got ‘suckered’ by the ‘apology’ this mf was said to have made. interesting to note: an apology after a defense of what she did? looks like there is definitely something fishy going on.
well maybe the mst staff/owners likes to sit with a ticking time bomb in their midst. whatever the reason for the ‘comeback’, it was a very good show, perfect for a pinoy telenovela. storyline – write something nasty, dont apologize and insult the critic then apologize then take a vacation then back to normal. probably good for 600 episodes
[...] as early as now, I’d like to nominate Malu Fernandez as the 2008 Master Link Baiter. Let’s see how much links and pageviews MST will draw in after [...]
Malu Fernandez and the MST publication is maybe making a buzz to get more attention.
…and MST did as plan if they got such attention from Google and Yahoo. Success!
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