Monthly Archives: December 2014

Human Interest, International

MISS WORLD 2013 AND MISS WORLD 2014: SEPARATED AT BIRTH?

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Miss World 2013, Megan Young of the Philippines, crowns the new Miss World, Rolene Strauss of South Africa. LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

London, Great Britain (The Adobo Chronicles) – It’s the proverbial “Six Degrees of Separation.” More and more people now believe that based on the world’s long history of migration, trade, intermarriage and Genealogy, we are all related.  Some more related than others.

Organizers of the Miss World Beauty Pageant in London are now investigating rumors that Miss World 2013 Megan Young of the Philippines and Miss World 2014 Rolene Strauss of South Africa are sisters, separated at birth.

Many Filipinos living in South Africa have, in fact, intermarried with South Africans and other nationals in the country, according to Wikipedia.

Both are stunning beauties, fair and flawless complexioned with perfectly chiseled faces — not to mention their very similar Mona Lisa smiles. They even sported the same hairdo on coronation night during the Miss World 2014 finals in London. And did we already mention they’re both brunettes?

The coronation photo stunned many observers and beauty connoisseurs who swore that both looked too much alike.

At least, the pageant’s standard of beauty is consistent.

What do you think?

Human Interest, Science and Environment

NEW SCIENTIFIC STUDY DEBUNKS ‘DUMB BLOND’ STEREOTYPE

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The new and improved blond Justin Bieber
The new and improved blond Justin Bieber

Palo Alto, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – A new study by a research team at Stanford University has identified the genetic triggers to hair color, specifically blond hair.

The new study published in Nature Genetics finds that a switch of a single letter of the genetic code is responsible for lighter hair: An A (adenine) is changed to a G (guanine) on a region of human chromosome 12. The team says that because this specific genetic change only affects the hair follicle, other cell types — especially, say, brain cells — are not affected. This means that blond hair really is “only skin deep.”

“It’s clear that this hair color change is occurring through a regulatory mechanism that operates only in the hair. This isn’t something that also affects other traits, like intelligence or personality, ” the study concluded.

The stereotype of blonds being dumb is therefore just that, a stereotype.

Except when your name is Justin Bieber — the new and improved blond Justin Bieber!

Business, Law Enforcement

LUXURY CONDO PRICES IN PHILIPPINES FALL TO ALL-TIME LOW : $5,000

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Philippine Justice Secretary Leila de Lima inspecting the luxury cells at the New Bilibid Prison
Philippine Justice Secretary Leila De Lima inspecting the luxury cells at the New Bilibid Prison

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Condominium sales in the Philippines have been a very lucrative business in the last decade, with Filipino expatriates investing hard-earned dollars to purchase luxury units in Metro Manila and elsewhere for an average price of 2 Million pesos (about U.S. $50,000).

But in just the last couple of days, condo prices have hit an all-time low, with a one-bedroom unit averaging  below 300,000 pesos (about U.S. $5,000).

Blame it on the recent discovery of luxury prison cells in the New Bilibid Prison, a national penitentiary,  where incarcerated drug lords had saunas, jacuzzis, sleep number beds, mini-theaters, cell phones, computers , disco lights and all, in addition to a stash of cash, drugs and firearms in their units. And all it took was for these inmates to cough up 300,000 pesos.

When news of the discovery was reported in the media, the going price for luxury condos suddenly dropped to below 300,000 pesos.

“Why should I spend 2 Million pesos when I could purchase a more luxurious and furnished unit for much less,” said Elena Batongbakal, a retired Filipino American nurse who was visiting Manila and in the market for a condo unit to use as her retirement home . The luxury units at the national prison have been put on the auction block for expatriates like Batongbakal to bid on.

Winning bidders will have a unique street and mailing address: 1000 New Bilibid Prison, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.