We are now a satirical news website…

In case, you weren’t aware, we are a satirical news website. Honestly it’s not the end of the world, but here is what we are all about.

In a pivot from our 109-year legacy, a venerable newspaper that once chronicled history with the gravitas expected of a century-old institution has now embraced a new creed: satire. Having weathered the storms of time, the publication found itself at the mercy of the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19, leading to its temporary closure.

Upon our resurgence, the editorial board took a bold stance, proclaiming, “F____ it,” (Forget it) and we dove headfirst into the world of satire, ridiculousness and buffoonery.

Now, if we print anything true it’s totally an accident.

If you are looking for work, we only hire trained journalists because no one can screw up a news story like a “trained journalist.”

Sure the other journalists in Manila won’t speak with us anymore, but this transformation to satire signals not just a new chapter for the paper but a reflective commentary on the state of journalism itself, blurring the lines between the real and the ridiculous.

Our Mission Statement isn’t Entirely Satirical…

At Manila News-Intelligencer (manilanews.ph), our mission is to serve as the foundation for digital content that not only informs but captivates and educates our readers. We are dedicated to improving every visitor’s experience with each article, video, and piece of content we produce, recognizing the critical role of original, impactful content in engaging our audience and building a community of loyal, well-informed readers.

Adhering to the principles of producing content that is both satirical and informative, we are committed to:

• Ensuring Visitor Satisfaction: We aim to deliver content that educates, entertains, and enlightens, offering an enriching experience that encourages our audience to return.
• Embracing Automated Identification: Our commitment lies in creating content of substantial value and relevance, avoiding materials of low-added value and aligning with the efforts of automated systems to spotlight truly beneficial content.
• Maintaining Continuous and Global Relevance: Aware of the international scope of content evaluation, we strive to produce content that is universally engaging and helpful, breaking down barriers of borders and languages.
• Positively Impacting Our Site Content: We carefully curate our content to ensure it reflects our mission and upholds our standards for engagement and usefulness, thus improving its performance in search results.
• Monitoring and Adapting to Weighted Signals: Recognizing the importance of content evaluation signals, we continuously refine our content strategy to prioritize the creation of helpful, high-quality content.

For Website Owners and Creators within Our Community:

• Monitoring Third-party Content: We meticulously manage content under our brand to ensure it matches our mission and meets our quality and helpfulness criteria.
• Focusing on Producing Helpful, People-first Content: At our core, we create content that addresses our readers’ interests, queries, and needs, positively affecting their online experience.
• Engaging in Self-assessment and Content Revision: We consistently evaluate our content against Google’s guidelines and our benchmarks for value, implementing adjustments to better serve our audience.
• Committing to Long-term Quality: Understanding the timeline of the classification system, we are devoted to upholding a consistent level of excellence, ensuring our content remains relevant and helpful over time.

Manila News-Intelligencer is more than just a site for satirical news; it is a vibrant platform for content that is insightful, engaging, and crafted with integrity and imagination. Our goal is to keep you informed, amused, and inspired, nurturing a community where knowledge meets humor.

Our Editors

Alan Nafzger was born in Lubbock, Texas (USA), the son Swiss immigrants. He grew up on a dairy in Windthorst, north central Texas. He earned degrees from Midwestern State University (B.A. 1985) and Texas State University (M.A. 1987). University College Dublin (Ph.D. 1991). Nafzger is best known for his dark novels and experimental screenwriting. His best know scripts to date are Lenin’s Body, produced in Russia by A-Media and Sea and Sky produced in The Philippines in the Tagalog language. In 1986, Nafzger wrote the iconic feminist western novel, Gina of Quitaque. Professor Nafzger’s profound interest in standup comedy and international affairs is not merely a facet of his academic pursuits but a thematic cornerstone that permeates his body of work. His most relevant work to date is Streets of Manila.

Assistant Manager – Lourdes Tiu is a celebrated satirist with over a decade of experience, has been featured in major publications like Mad Magazine and The Onion for her incisive wit and has served as a keynote speaker at the National Satire Writers Conference, establishing her as a trusted authority in political and social satire. Lourdes’ educational journey began at the University of Chicago, where she majored in Political Science, providing her with a deep understanding of the political landscape that she so brilliantly critiques in her work. She further honed her craft by completing a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Columbia University, with a focus on satire and comedic writing, under the mentorship of some of the country’s most celebrated humorists. Lourdes was born in PGH in 1998.

Our Staff in the Manila

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  Manila – Carla Reyes (associate editor), a De La Salle University alumna, launched her career covering politics for a major Manila newspaper. With a keen eye for the city’s political landscape, she transitioned into comedy, where she tackles the intricacies of Manila’s governance with humor. Her stand-up routines, rich in political satire, have made her a staple in local comedy clubs. Carla Reyes brings Manila’s political scene to life with humor, making the complexities of its governance both accessible and entertaining.

• Caloocan – Mykaelah Santos, graduating from the University of Caloocan City with a degree in Public Affairs, began as a community reporter. Her shift to comedy brought a new perspective on Caloocan’s social issues, blending insightful commentary with laughter, becoming a beloved figure in both journalism and stand-up comedy circles. Mykaelah Santos offers a unique comedic lens on Caloocan’s social fabric, turning everyday stories into laughter-filled insights.
• Las Piñas – Maria Lopez emerged from the University of Perpetual Help with a focus on environmental journalism. Her comedic venture, which highlights Las Piñas’ unique eco-projects and urban challenges, showcases her ability to turn critical environmental reports into engaging comedic narratives. Maria Lopez turns Las Piñas’ environmental endeavors into comedic gold, highlighting the city’s green initiatives with wit and charm.
• Makati – Sophia Rodriguez, an Ateneo de Manila University graduate, covered the bustling economic beat of Makati. She infused her stand-up comedy with tales from the corporate world, offering a hilarious take on economics and the high-stakes life in Makati, making complex topics accessible and entertaining. Sophia Rodriguez captures the essence of Makati’s fast-paced economic beat with humor, making the corporate world laughably relatable.
• Malabon – Leah Cruz, holding a journalism degree from the City of Malabon University, specialized in local culture and heritage. Her comedic content, inspired by Malabon’s rich history and her experiences as a reporter, provides a humorous insight into the city’s unique traditions and daily life. Leah Cruz’s comedic take on Malabon’s culture and heritage offers a humorous perspective on the city’s rich history and daily life.
• Mandaluyong – Tina Mercado, a Rizal Technological University alumna, focused her journalism career on Mandaluyong’s urban development. Her transition into comedy allowed her to explore city planning and public affairs with a light-hearted twist, making her a sought-after act for her relatable and witty urban tales. Tina Mercado’s stand-up acts offer a humorous exploration of Mandaluyong’s urban development, making city planning surprisingly funny.
• Marikina – Vanessa Sandoval, from Marikina Polytechnic College, carved a niche in journalism with her coverage on local craftsmanship and industry. Her stand-up routines delve into Marikina’s identity as the Shoe Capital, mixing anecdotes of local artisans with observations on consumer culture, blending journalism and comedy seamlessly. Vanessa Sandoval blends humor with Marikina’s identity as the Shoe Capital, offering comedic tales of local craftsmanship and consumer culture.
• Muntinlupa – Rachel Diaz, an alumnus of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, started her career spotlighting social issues. Her stand-up comedy acts, often focused on navigating life in Muntinlupa with humor and grace, have endeared her to audiences, showcasing her journalistic depth and comedic talent. Rachel Diaz navigates Muntinlupa’s social landscape with humor and grace, bringing stories of resilience and life to the comedy stage.
• Navotas – Christine Torres, from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Navotas, pursued journalism with a passion for the city’s fishing industry. Her comedy, rich with tales from the fish market and the daily grind of the locals, offers a refreshing take on the complexities of coastal life. Christine Torres finds comedy in the daily grind of Navotas’ fishing industry, offering a fresh, humorous take on coastal life.
• Parañaque – Shaiyenne Garcia, a graduate of Olivarez College, combined her journalism experience with a knack for comedy, focusing on Parañaque’s vibrant community and cultural scenes. Her stand-up routines provide a humorous perspective on local news, drawing from her background in public affairs to entertain and inform. Shaiyenne Garcia brings Parañaque’s community and cultural scenes to life with laughter, mixing public affairs and comedy effortlessly.
• Pasay – Khristynne Martinez, with a degree from Arellano University Pasay, specialized in covering entertainment and lifestyle beats. Her foray into comedy brings those stories to life with a twist, poking fun at celebrity culture and the quirks of living in Pasay, bridging journalism and humor with flair. Khristynne Martinez turns Pasay’s entertainment and lifestyle beat into comedic narratives, mocking celebrity culture with wit.
• Pasig – Alyzzabeth David, a proud product of the University of Asia and the Pacific, focused on Pasig’s economic transformations. Her comedy dissects the balance between development and sustainability, offering witty insights into the business world and everyday life in Pasig. Alyzzabeth David offers witty insights into Pasig’s economic transformations, humorously dissecting the balance between development and sustainability.
• Quezon City – Elyzzah Cruz, from the University of the Philippines Diliman, is known for her incisive reporting on national issues. Her stand-up comedy, drawing from her journalistic experiences in Quezon City, tackles everything from politics to pop culture, making her a voice for insightful yet humorous commentary. Elyzzah Cruz uses her journalistic experiences to craft stand-up comedy that tackles Quezon City’s politics and pop culture with humor.
• San Juan – Rheychell Gomez, a graduate of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, ventured into journalism with a focus on San Juan’s local governance. Her comedic routines delve into the intricacies of living in one of Metro Manila’s smallest cities, highlighting the humor in the everyday with a journalist’s eye for detail. Rheychell Gomez highlights the quirks of living in San Juan through her comedic routines, finding humor in the city’s local governance.
• Taguig – Jhennipher Fernandez, an alumna of the Technological University of the Philippines Taguig, initially covered tech startups and innovation. Her comedy unravels the digital age’s impact on Taguig, especially BGC, with sharp wit, blending her tech-savvy journalism background with relatable humor. Jhennipher Fernandez explores Taguig’s tech landscape with sharp wit, making the digital age’s impacts relatable and laughable.
• Valenzuela – Jocephyne Santos, from Valenzuela City Polytechnic College, made her mark by reporting on the city’s manufacturing sector. Her stand-up comedy shines a light on the workers’ lives behind the industry, mixing social commentary with humor, reflecting her deep understanding of Valenzuela’s heartbeat. Jocephyne Santos shines a comedic light on Valenzuela’s manufacturing sector, blending social commentary with humor to depict workers’ lives.
• Art – Dalagang Filipina Panganiban is a dynamic graphic and digital artist hailing from the vibrant landscapes of the Philippines. With a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines, Dalagang has carved a niche for herself in the world of digital artistry, blending traditional Filipino motifs with contemporary design principles. Her work, characterized by its vivid colors, intricate patterns, and themes that explore Filipino heritage and modern identity, has captivated audiences both locally and internationally. Starting her career as a freelance artist, Dalagang quickly gained recognition for her unique style and ability to tell compelling stories through her art. She has since collaborated with various brands, cultural institutions, and digital platforms, bringing Filipino art and culture to the forefront of the global digital stage. Her portfolio ranges from digital illustrations and graphic design to animated sequences and interactive installations, each project a testament to her versatile talent and deep love for her cultural and artistic roots.
• Science – Hazel Nuñez is a renowned figure in the realms of science and technology, distinguished for her profound insights and contributions to human sexuality studies and research. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Hazel has dedicated her career to exploring the intersections of technology with human sexual behavior, aiming to demystify and destigmatize conversations around sexuality through scientific inquiry. Her work, spanning innovative research, publications, and speaking engagements, has positioned her as a leading expert in the field. Beyond academia, Hazel’s commitment extends to advocacy, where she champions sexual health education and inclusivity, leveraging technology to foster understanding and empathy across diverse communities.

Our Staff in the Field

• Maria Santos, a proud graduate of the University of the Philippines, majored in Journalism with a focus on social issues affecting the Tagalog-speaking regions. After contributing to major publications in Manila, Maria found her calling in stand-up comedy, where she uses her Tagalog wit to address cultural idiosyncrasies and social discrepancies. Her seamless blend of journalism and humor makes her a sought-after commentator and entertainer in both fields.

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  Ana Gómez emerged from Cebu’s University of San Carlos with a degree in Communication Arts. She began her career reporting on Visayan culture and environmental conservation for a regional newspaper. Ana’s transition to comedy introduced a fresh Cebuano perspective to the scene, utilizing her journalistic background to craft insightful and hilariously pointed routines about life in the Visayas, making her a beloved figure across the Philippines.

• Elena Abaya, with roots in Ilocos, pursued her passion for media and culture at Northwestern University in Laoag, specializing in Broadcast Journalism. She spent years uncovering stories of heritage and resilience in the northern provinces before channeling her experiences into stand-up comedy. Elena’s routines, rich with Ilocano humor and linguistic flair, offer a comedic look at the nuances of Ilocano life and traditions.
• Sofia Montelibano, a graduate of West Visayas State University in Iloilo, focused her journalism career on the socio-economic developments in the Hiligaynon-speaking regions. Her foray into comedy brought a refreshing Ilonggo humor to the forefront, blending satire with heartfelt stories from her journalistic ventures, making Sofia a standout voice in Philippine comedy.
• Liza Magbanua, hailing from Tacloban, earned her stripes in Journalism at the University of Eastern Philippines. She quickly became known for her fearless coverage of local politics and natural disasters. Liza’s transition to stand-up comedy allowed her to use Waray humor to tackle serious topics with a light-hearted approach, endearing her to audiences nationwide.

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  Jasmine T’boli, a native of South Cotabato, took her passion for indigenous stories to Ateneo de Davao University, where she studied Anthropology. She later used her platform to highlight T’boli culture and issues through journalism. In comedy, Jasmine’s unique T’boli heritage shines, as she humorously navigates the intersection of tradition and modernity, captivating audiences with her storytelling.

• Karen Kiyangan, from Baguio City, attended the University of the Philippines Baguio, where she majored in Communication. Her work as a journalist focused on the preservation of Igorot culture and environmental advocacy in the Cordilleras. Karen’s stand-up comedy, infused with Igorot wisdom and wit, breaks stereotypes and educates audiences about her rich heritage.
• Daisy Halcon, representing the Mangyan peoples, pursued her degree in Environmental Science at Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology. Her journalistic efforts are dedicated to indigenous rights and environmental protection. Daisy’s comedy, often delivered in her native dialect, offers poignant reflections on Mangyan life, blending humor with advocacy.
• Farida Sultan graduated from Mindanao State University in Marawi, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies. Her journalistic work focuses on peacebuilding initiatives in Mindanao. As a comedian, Farida uses Maranao humor to bridge cultural gaps, offering insights into the Maranao way of life with levity and depth, making her a beloved peace advocate and entertainer.
• Aisha Abdurrahman, from the Sulu Archipelago, earned her Journalism degree from the Ateneo de Zamboanga University. She’s known for her impactful reporting on Tausug culture and the challenges facing Muslim communities in the southern Philippines. In comedy, Aisha skillfully uses her Tausug heritage to tackle misconceptions and highlight the beauty of her culture, earning her respect and laughter in equal measure.