Nieto or Trudeau? Netizens debate ‘Apec hotties’ story

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Lyn Rillon/INQUIRER
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In the end, the Apec Hotties proved too hot to resist.

Even Canadian journalist David Akin posted it on his account @davidakin on Wednesday: “Here in Manila, Filipino reporters are asking us Cdn reporters: What’s Justin like? Do Canadian women find him sexy? Cuz Filipinos do!”

Akin also wrote a short piece about how the Philippine media finds Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau an “Apec hottie.”

“Justin Trudeau is a top ‘Apec hottie’ who is drawing the largest crowds of any of the 21 Pacific Rim leaders gathered here for an annual summit,” Akin wrote.

His story carried an image of the Inquirer’s front page, and a reprint of the article “Girls only have eyes for Trudeau, Nieto.”

Mexican media spiced up the debate by posting stories on the supposed “rivalry.”

“Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have captured the eyes and hearts of numerous Filipino netizens—women in particular—and the two are now currently vying for the ultimate #APECHottie recognition,” the Latinpost.com said.

At least four other Canadian papers reprinted the Inquirer article and the Inquirer front page, with a dozen other media including BuzzFeed Philippines carrying the story on the hashtag #ApecHottie.

Divided on issue

Filipino netizens, however, were divided on the issue. Some found it “cute” for the Inquirer to have featured these two good-looking leaders, but others think it had no place at all in a serious media.

“#APEChottie is funny and trendy, yes. But I don’t think it’s appropriate to put that on the front page,” netizen @biancamediatriz said.

“All I know is no one will be looking at the host or even Obama. Lol,” @majordeed said.

“Talagang headline ’yan? Ikagaganda ba ng ekonomiya ’yan?  (That’s the headline? Will that improve the economy?)” asked netizen @imIzza.

“Itong Inquirer talaga pinu-push ang hashtag Apec hotties. Pilipino nga naman  (Trust the Inquirer to push the hashtag Apec hotties. Filipinos!)” said netizen Dani.

“Taking a break from #ALDUBTheRivalry. Hihihi enjoy muna dito #APEChottie,” said netizen @SaintPatty1st, comparing the hotties hubbub to the AlDub phenomenon, the “accidental love team” on the noontime show “Eat Bulaga.”

“Sorry Gracia, your president is the banner story and the hotties get the biggest photos!” said netizen baby0811 #americangirl, referring to Sen. Grace Poe whose story on being declared a “natural-born Filipino citizen,” though placed on Page 1, was easily eclipsed by the hotties.

Others posted a screen shot of the newspaper with quotes from the story “Girls have eyes only for Trudeau, Nieto.” With a report from Karl Angelica Ocampo