Why do people buy glossy magazines when they can get their fill of showbiz buzz from TV and radio talk shows/newscasts, tabloids and broadsheet entertainment sections?
Standing before the highly competitive array of publications in a newsstand, readers usually look at a magazine cover in deciding whether or not to part with their precious pesos. The cover’s immediate come-ons are the attractive glossy colors. And then the big bold title of the top feature story rouses their curiosity.
Or perhaps they want to know more about the controversies that they first watched on weekend talk shows. There are even readers who are loyal buyers of certain magazines. We know for a fact that some readers collect the monthly issues of YES! magazine,mainly for its in-depth stories.
But it’s the magazine cover that’s crucial in catching the eye and hooking potential readers. Cover photos and stories can be so persuasive that editors and their staff frequently work on the cover—with supreme fastidiousness—after all the inside pages are done.
Now, PEP lists down, from the most recent to past issues, the cover stories and photos that made an impact on the magazine readers and created lots of buzz.
PLAYBOY INVADES MANILA. Last April 2, the local version of the popular U.S. magazine Playboy was officially launched at Hotel Sofitel, Pasay City.
The event raised a howl! Gabriela, a women’s organization, found it “alarming” that the men’s magazine was being published locally when “the majority of the Filipino women are experiencing utter poverty, and as such, [are] more vulnerable to exploitation.”
In the article published in the website Sun Star, the militant group stated, “We continue to criticize any medium that perpetuates the traditional feudal patriarchal views on women, more so, for the end goal of raking in profits.”
Playboy Philippines caught the attention of Catholics as well. The Church argued that the local version of the men’s magazine might add to the moral problems of the country. In an interview with GMA News, Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, media director of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said rhetorically, “We have more than enough problems now to take care of and now we have to deal with another moral problem?”
In spite of opposition, the editorial team of Playboy Philippines remained positive that Filipino readers would appreciate their magazine. Editor-in-chief Beting Laygo Dolor explained that, unlike the foreign edition, Playboy Philippines will not show frontal nudity. In fact, he said in an interview with a daily newspaper, their monthly issue will feature “anything under the sun of interest to men.”
POPS TELLS ALL TO YES!The exclusive interview of YES! magazine (October 2007) with Concert Queen Pops Fernandez shocked the readers with revelations, which she had kept to herself for more than a decade, and elicited their sympathy.
In the 17-page cover story, Pops bravely recalled her self-denial during 13 years of marriage with Martin Nievera.
Pops also explained to YES! why she decided to tell her own story: "I'm so sure he [Martin] will come up with his own version. But I know what I know. And I don't forget anything that's traumatic in my life, all the painful things. And I definitely remember all these because these are the things that almost made me want to die.”
For several weeks, this issue ran inside showbiz with the camps of both ex-spouses giving their own statements.
COSMOPOLITAN’S FIRST HUNK. On its 10th anniversary, Cosmopolitan Philippines (May 2007) decided to try something new—a male celebrity would pose on the cover. And the lucky hunk turned out to be none other than heartthrob Piolo Pascual.
The magazine created its first double cover. Opposite Piolo was Megastar Sharon Cuneta’s daughter KC Concepcion. Featuring Piolo on its cover was Cosmopolitan’s way of thanking its readers for their unabated support.
“PRIMA DONNA” ON PREVIEW. Long before the recent press walkout at Pantene shampoo’s second “Most Beautiful” ad campaign, a different controversy arose indirectly from its first campaign in 2006. The endorsers then were Ruffa Gutierrez, Gretchen Barretto, Dawn Zulueta, and Angel Aquino, who had a photo shoot for the cover of Preview magazine (November 2006).
Alex Brosas wrote an article in PEP about two of Preview's cover models, Gretchen and Dawn, which revealed that Dawn got peeved by Gretchen’s “prima donna” ways—arriving at the photo shoot with her luggage of signature bags and gowns, yayas, body guard, and microwave.
Showbiz news and talk shows picked up this story and it became the talk of the town for weeks.
“WILD ROSE” ON Hi!Hi! magazine created a stir with its cover story (June 2006) about Donita Rose and her past “wild days” of drug-use and partying.
Although the writer, Irene Curtis, said she wrote the story with no malice and with the intention to inspire people, her feature article caught the attention of Donita and her manager Angeli Pangilinan.
In the following issue, Hi! wrote that Angeli had sent a text message saying that Donita got upset because she felt that she was described as a drug addict. She also said that the writer did not portray her parents accurately.
In defense, Irene gave a statement saying that she did not intend to make Donita feel as if her words were manipulated. She also explained that, “Many readers were touched and even hopeful after reading her [Donita’s] story.”
Hi! AFTERMATH: CLAUDINE SUES MAGLIPON.In Hi! magazine’s July 1-15, 2005 issue, writer-director Ronald C. Carballo wrote an article about the dedication of Claudine Barretto’s adopted daughter Sabina. He also shared some photos that he took during the private event.
On July 22, a week after that issue date, Claudine filed a civil suit (injunction and damages) against Hi! executive director Jo-Ann Q. Maglipon for the publication of the photos.
In her press statement, Claudine said, "May mga tao talagang hindi nakakaintindi ng 'hindi puwede.'"
Maglipon argued: “First, the ‘dedication’ photos and text feature in Hi! magazine. Please read, please look over, please study—then judge.
“’Inialay sa Panginoon,’ the title that Hi! editor-in-chief Cesar Evangelista used, says it all. The entire tone, wording, and sensibility of the piece is near reverential. No way can it be construed as hostile, unkind, abusive of anyone’s right or feeling.”
Charges and counter-charges flew for almost a year until the two camps reached a mutual agreement to withdraw all these.
Hi! magazine said good-bye to its readers this year (2008), but in no way because of such previous hotstories.
FHM’S DIANA ZUBIRI.In October 2002, speeding vehicles at the EDSA-Shaw flyover stopped for a moment to check out Diana Zubiri. She was posing in the middle of the road in nothing but a skimpy red bikini.
Not only did Diana cause traffic at the flyover, her photo shoot with FHM Philippines, which came out in December 2002 issue, alarmed then Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos. He filed charges of grave scandal against Diana and FHM Philippines, but later withdrew after Zubiri and her manager Jojo Gabinete apologized.
Diana was just starting out as a sexy actress at the time but her FHM image took hold of the public’s imagination. In fact, people even dubbed her the “Flyover Queen.”
These were just some of the cover stories and photos that made people buy the magazines. So, next time you go to your favorite bookstore and newsstand, make sure to check out the cover. Who knows, the photos and blurbs may see you suddenly buying a copy.