MANILA, Philippines – Love it or hate it?
On Thursday, December 10, lifestyle magazine Esquire Philippines released the cover for its December 2015-January 2016 Meaning of Life issue on its Facebook page.
Vice President and United Nationalist Alliance standard-bearer Jejomar Binay is featured smiling at the camera wearing a polo shirt and sporting a Santa hat.
The post says, “The man from Makati shares where he’s been and what he’s learned in this ESQUIRE exclusive.”
We end this year with another thought provoking issue. We’ve featured presidentiables (reluctant and otherwise) on…
On December 4, Twitter user Ix Cepeda (@ixrated) predicted the effect the cover would have on the public:
The cover of the December-January issue of @EsquirePH is sure to cause a ruckus. I bet my life on it.
— Ix Cepeda (@ixrated) December 4, 2015
True enough, Esquire’s Facebook post has attracted a number of comments; with a netizens referring to the Vice President as the Dr Seuss character known as “The Grinch.”
“Oh nice! Reminds me of the Grinch” and “‘Di sya Santa sya si Grinch” said a couple of commenters. (He’s not Santa, he’s the Grinch.)
One Facebook user questioned Esquire’s judgment, asking: “This is what you put out after Marian’s issue? Wow. Did you really even consider Christmas when you thought of this?”
But others took to the comments section to defend the Vice President:
“I actually like the thought-provoking covers of Esquire. Huwag muna mag-assume hangga’t hindi pa nababasa yung content (Don’t assume until you’ve read the content),” said one such commenter.
The reactions have also started to spill into Twitter, where Esquire has yet to post the cover (as of this writing).
@EsquirePH is known for its sarcasm. Maybe, underlying tone for this is "the grinch who (literally) stole Christmas. https://t.co/Rb9ZlpAOfL
— Fei Fei Sunshine (@ihateposh) December 10, 2015Congratulations @EsquirePH for always doing what others cannot. Thank you for serving the country with thought-provoking articles!
— janyx regalo (@janyxregalo) December 10, 2015
Some commenters say this cover is reminiscent of professional boxer Sonny Liston’s cover in December 1963:
Mar Roxas cover
Back in November 2014, Esquire featured now-presidential candidate Mar Roxas as the cover of its Yolanda first anniversary issue.
Roxas is photographed waving to the camera while sitting on a pile of wood with more construction materials in the background.
The “Hello from Tacloban” cover, also posted on Esquire’s Facebook page, was met with furor online.
Netizens called out the magazine for “mocking Taclobanons.” Here is a sampling of the reactions:
Imee Marcos cover
More recently, in its October 2015 issue, Philippine Tatler featured Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos.
Gracing the cover of our fashion issue is style icon Governor Imee Marcos, photographed by the wildly talented BJ…
Netizens had mixed reactions to the cover. Some praised the “ageless beauty” of the governor, while others slammed the magazine for its choice, pointing out the horrors of martial law under the Marcos dictatorship.
What do you think of Esquire’s latest cover? Tell us your thoughts on X. – Rappler.com
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