Yearly Archives: 2014

Film and TV, International, Music

THE X FACTOR REALITY SHOW’S NEW RULES: ONLY NATIVE-BORN CITIZENS ALLOWED

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Marlisa, left, and Rose Fostanes
Marlisa, left, and Rose Fostanes

Los Angeles California (The Adobo Chronicles) – The producers of the internationally-syndicated reality show The X Factor have issued new rules on eligibility for contestants. Henceforth, only native-born citizens will be allowed to join the singing contest in the country in which the show is being held. Only native-born U.S. citizens for X Factor America, native-born Australian citizens for X Factor Australia, native-born Israeli citizens for X Factor Israel, and so on.  The rules also state that both parents of the contestants must also be native-born citizens.

The decision came immediately after 15-year-old Marlisa Punzalan won the grand finals in this season’s X Factor Australia, beating fellow Australians Dean Ray and Brothers 3. Although Marlisa was born in Australia, both her parents were born in the Philippines.

Just months ago, a Filipina caregiver in Tel Aviv, Rose Fostanes, won the first X Factor Israel. Other Filipinos have figured prominently and became finalists in other reality singing competitions in the U.S., U.K., Bulgaria and other countries. Many will recall that Pinay singer Jessica Sanchez was runner-up in American Idol.

“We know Filipinos are among the best singers in the world, but we wanted to showcase other world talents and that’s why we have established X Factor in different countries outside of the U.S. or the U.K.,” the producers said.

The Philippines has its own X Factor syndicated show in Manila.

Film and TV, Music, The Media

FILIPINA WINS X FACTOR AUSTRALIA, MENTOR RONAN KEATING SUFFERS A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

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imageSydney, Australia (The Adobo Chronicles) – Fifteen-year-old Filipina Marlisa Punzalan was declared this season’s winner of the syndicated reality show X Factor Australia, beating two other finalists, Dean Ray and Brothers 3.

Marlisa’s mentor, Irish singer Ronan Keating, so much wanted his protégé to win the competition that he had a nervous breakdown during the night when the results of the voting were announced.  He had to be briefly hospitalized immediately after the live telecast.

The night previous to the announcement of the results, Keating said on live TV that this could possibly be his last season as judge and mentor on X Factor Australia and that he wanted to leave the show with her protégé winning the competition.

Keating’s first visitors at his hospital bed were Marlisa and her huge family who brought him home-cooked adobo, pancit and lumpia, the signature Filipino dishes. That significantly reduced Keating’s blood pressure.

All’s well that ends well.

Here’s Marlisa’s final performance in the grand finals:

The announcement:

Law Enforcement, Travel

MANILA’S TRAFFIC SOLUTION: BUILD A BIKINI ISLAND IN BUSY AVENUE

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imageManila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Metro Manila’s government never runs out of brilliant ideas to help solve the traffic gridlock that has become an inevitable routine of daily living in the crowded metropolis.

In an attempt to prevent vehicles from making U-turns at street intersections, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that it will build a bikini island in the middle of one of the busiest intersections along Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (EDSA)  and North Avenue in Quezon City.

The bikini island is a triangular rotunda that would make it impossible for motorists to make a U-turn, thus improving the flow of traffic. While the proposed rotunda will not totally eliminate traffic in the area, it will give motorists some pastime to help relieve their stress.

The bikini island will be open to residents and tourists who wish to go sun tanning in their bikinis. Weather-proof beach chairs  and beach mats will be provided free of charge.

MMDA is confident that the sight of bikini-clad men and women will make daily commute more exciting and enjoyable. It said that if the new project proves to be successful, more bikini islands will be constructed throughout Metro Manila.