Dear Mr. Otico:

Of all of today’s newspapers, the Times stands out for its correct grammar and appropriate choice of words. The major credit for this achievement should go to the way you wield the blue pencil.

It is against this backdrop of deep professional respect that I (somewhat gleefully, I must admit) point out three errors (in Malou Mangahas’ "Cory Aquino behind the scenes," MT, Mar. 30) which I feel you should not have missed.

Joker Arroyo and Rene Saguisag may be courtiers of Mrs. Aquino; they are definitely not courtesans. If I were either of these two gentlemen, I would sue for libel.

Compared to this error, the use of past-time for pastime pales into non-significance.

Finally, Ms. Mangahas obviously misquoted Mr. Saguisag as saying that Mrs. Aquino "slid gently into position as if to the manner born." The correct rendering of the simile is as if to the manor born.

Sincerely yours,

POLLY HERNANDO

Graduate Student, FEU