Monthly Archives: November 2014

Religion, The Media

FILIPINO CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADER CRITICIZED FOR STATEMENT ON POPE FRANCIS’ PHILIPPINE VISIT

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CBCP Official Fr. Mejia
CBCP Official Fr. Mejia

Tacloban City, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – An official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) gave a piece of advice to Filipinos planning to attend the Masses to be celebrated by Pope Francis during his visit to the country in January.

“Bring your own food and drinks,” Fr. Marvin Mejia, CBCP secretary general, said during a recent press briefing. “There are logistical support being done but with the number of people expected to come… we are expecting thousands so it would be very, very difficult to find food,” Mejia said.

Devout Catholics immediately criticized Mejia’s statement, saying that it seems the CBCP official hasn’t read the bible. They reminded Mejia about two separate stories in the New Testament where Jesus multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish that fed thousands of followers who came to listen to him speak near Galilee, and created barrels of wine at a wedding party in the town of Cana where the hosts ran out of wine for their guests.

“Fr. Mejia seems to be a man of little faith,” said one resident of Tacloban who looks forward to attending the mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis at the Tacloban City airport. “The Pope can replicate what Jesus did, and I am not worried about not having anything to eat or drink,” he said.

Tacloban was the hardest hit when typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) devasted many towns and cities in Central Philippines last year.

Politics, Science and Environment

HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER NOW A BELIEVER OF GLOBAL WARMING

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Two feet of snow fell just outside John Boehner's Washington, D.C. apartment.
Two feet of snow fell just outside John Boehner’s Washington, D.C. apartment.

Washington, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) –  Just like most Republicans, House Speaker John Boehner has always rejected the notion of global warming, opposing every single proposed legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gases that damage the environment.

Until today.

This morning, Boehner woke up to two feet of snow that fell just outside his luxury apartment  in Washington, D.C. It was a weather scenario never before seen in D.C. or anywhere else.

It was a real eye-opener for the speaker who told reporters, “It will only get worse if we do not take steps to protect our environment. When the new Congress opens in January, I will make climate change a priority in my legislative agenda.”

A global warming convert, and high profile at that. Kudos, Mr. Speaker!

Economy

PHILIPPINE HOUSEMAIDS, DRIVERS FINALLY ATTAIN NEW CLASS STATUS

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FullSizeRender (12)Makati, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – In the Philippines, as in many countries, there are three classes of people — rich, middle class, and poor.  The gap between and among these three classes has all but widened over many decades.

But finally, Filipino housemaids and drivers have earned their own class distinction.  While they are free to interact with the rich, they are not allowed in the same elevators with their employers or bosses. They either have to use service elevators, if available, or use the stairwell.

This new social class has emerged as the Philippines continues to experience an infrastructure boom, especially in condominium buildings.

Many condominiums in Makati and other Philippine metropolitan areas have implemented a policy barring housemaids, drivers and contractors from using elevators reserved for condo owners and tenants.

FullSizeRender (13)The new class system surfaced after a memorandum from a condo property manager was posted on Facebook. The memo, addressed to unit owners and tenants, stated:

“We would like once again to request all Unit Owners and Tenants to remind their household employees, i.e., drivers, housemaids, outside contractors, to strictly use the Service Elevator only.”

“The administration office has had a number of enquiries from owners in the building on why helpers are using the Passenger Elevators when only Unit Owners/Tenants and their guests are allowed to the Passenger Elevators.”

Apparently, this is a common practice in many condos in Metro Manila.

Overjoyed with their newly-attained class status, housemaids and drivers have expressed relief that finally, they are being afforded the special recognition they have long clamored for.