In a confusing twist of priorities, the Philippine News Agency (PNA) recently proclaimed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the second-best government agency, according to an OCTA Research poll. One might wonder what happened to the headline that the Department of Education (DepEd) secured the top spot. Is the PNA, generously funded by Filipino taxpayers, harboring a mysterious beef with Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte?

It seems the PNA has developed a knack for selective amnesia, conveniently forgetting to highlight the supposed numero uno status of DepEd. Is it a case of headline favoritism or a subtle political ploy? Perhaps the PNA has taken a page from beauty pageant reporting, where the emphasis is on the runner-up. In the Miss Universe analogy, one can imagine the PNA headline shouting, “Miss Thailand, a Marvelous First Runner-Up!” It appears the PNA has mastered the art of putting the spotlight on the second fiddle, leaving the nation to wonder if they’re playing a symphony of news or a comedic concerto.