Yearly Archives: 2014

Health & Medicine, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Religion, The Media

PHILIPPINES’ CATHOLIC BISHOPS GO ON STRIKE OVER SUPREME COURT DECISION ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW

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File photo: Philippine bishops with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
File photo: Philippine bishops with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Baguio City, Philippines – This week, the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that the controversial Reproductive Health Bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President NoyNoy Aquino is constitutional.

Meeting in Baguio City, the Philippine summer capital, the justices unanimously agreed to let stand most of the new law which provides for the distribution of condoms and other birth control devices in government clinics as well as sex education in schools.

Immediately after the announcement of the high court’s decision, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) declared a nationwide strike. The Philippine bishops have been against the measure from the beginning, often using the pulpit to encourage the Catholic faithful to oppose the bill, now law.

The nationwide strike comes at a crucial time as Filipinos approach the conclusion of the Lenten season, leading up to Easter Sunday.

A CBCP spokesperson said that effective immediately, all priests and bishops will refrain from saying mass or administering the sacraments in all churches and parishes in the country.

The strike is expected to paralyze this predominantly Catholic country of almost 100 Million people.

CBCP declined to say whether or  not the strike had the imprimatur of Pope Francis.

Language, Politics

WHY HAWAII’S NEXT NEW CONGRESSMAN COULD BE REPUBLICAN

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Charles Djou
Charles Djou

Honolulu, Hawaii – We all know about Blue Hawaii, the bluest of states. But the Republicans have a good chance of sending one of their own to the U.S. Congress come the 2014 elections, in the person of Charles Djou of the 1st Congressional district of Oahu.

The Huffington Post  lists 8 reasons why Hawaii could elect a Republican candidate in this year’s congressional elections.

The Adobo Chronicles agrees with the No. 8 reason listed by HuffPost: that Charles has a memorable last name, one that voters would easily remember when they enter the polling booth.

Imagine a candidate whose last name is humuhumunukunukuapua’a. Okay, that’s Hawaii’s state fish, but you know what we mean.

Charles’ last name is easy enough to remember. Is it a cross between French and Chinese. But voters just need to think about the mustard they put on their BBQ burgers or their loco mocos: dijon.

Health & Medicine, Human Interest, International, Language, The Media

UPDATE: APA DEFENDS USE OF ‘SELFITIS’ TERMINOLOGY

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imageArlington, Virginia – Last week, The Adobo Chronicles reported that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has classified the taking of selfies as a mental disorder and went on to call it ‘selfitis.’

The medical community was quick to criticize APA’s use of the term ‘selfitis,’ saying that the suffix ‘itis’ refers to a condition or disease that involves some form of inflammation.  Bronchitis is an inflammation of the bronchial passages of the lungs; tonsilitis is the inflammation of the tonsils; dermatitis is the inflammation of the skin.  Many doctors and scientists said that the correct term for an “addiction” such as the addiction to take self photos should be ‘selfism,’ just like addiction to alcohol is ‘alcoholism.’

However, APA defended its choice for the term ‘selfitis’ saying that the newly classified mental disorder is an ‘inflammation of one’s ego.’