MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In the age of instant, electronic communications, the Philippines’ Presidential Communications Office (PCO) wants to stick to old tradition — printing and distributing tabloids to herald the accomplishments of the administration.

Critics have said that no one reads printed newspapers anymore these days as they look to the Internet for their daily dose of up-to-date news and developments.

But the new tabloid, “The Philippine Gazette” has brought joy and relief to thousands of Filipino tinapa (smoked fish) vendors who praised the PCO for giving them access to free newsprint to use in their small businesses.

It is customary for tinapa and other dried fish vendors to use old newspapers to display and wrap their goods. They have had difficulty obtaining used newspapers because very few people still buy or read them.