Monthly Archives: June 2015

Government, Politics

THE PHILIPPINES’ BBL: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

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BBLMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Everyone in the Philippines is talking about BBL, or the Bangsamoro Basic Law.  It is a proposed law intended to establish the Bangsamoro political entity and provide for its basic government structure which will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The proposed law is based on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the peace agreement signed between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The administration of President Aquino is pressing hard for its approval while more and more senators are urging to amend the draft on the grounds that it is, in its present form, unconstitutional.

Public opinion against the proposed law is increasing, with many saying that the government is basically selling the nation’s sovereignty, leading up to the total separation of the entire island of Mindanao from the Philippines.

A March 2015 survey conducted by public opinion polling group Pulse Asia found that 44% of Filipinos were opposed to the law’s passage, with only 22% supporting its passage.

Well, it turns out that this whole issue of the BBL is much ado about nothing.

A quick search on Google Maps shows that BBL is but a small sub-location in the municipality of Marilao, Batangas province. Giving up even  the entire sub-location to the Muslim rebel groups would result in only a small dent in the preservation of the country’s sovereignty.

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International, Technology

AMONG ALL ASIAN COUNTRIES, PHILIPPINES RANKS SECOND IN INTERNET SPEED

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – President NoyNoy Aquino calls the Philippines the new ‘Darling of Asia,’ and he has the beef to prove it: infrastructure growth, foreign investments, dollar remittances from overseas Filipino workers and expatriates, and cheap labor.

Now, the country has earned another distinction in terms of technology.

The Philippines has just officially ranked second among all countries in Asia in as far as Internet speed is concerned. Second from the bottom, that is, next only to Afghanistan.

Furthermore, Internet service in the Philippines is the most expensive and ranks among the highest in the world, and Aquino could not be any prouder.

Watch the video announcement below. Click then go do your laundry. By the time you’re done, the video will finish downloading.

International, Travel

STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUES SECOND TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR U.S. CITIZENS TRAVELING TO THE PHILIPPINES

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imageWASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) –  Just last month, the State Department warned U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to the Philippines, in particular to the Sulu Archipelago, certain regions and cities of the island of Mindanao, and the southern Sulu Sea area.

U.S. citizens should continue to defer non-essential travel due to the high threat of kidnapping of international travelers and violence linked to insurgency and terrorism there, according to the consular advisory.

Today, the State Department issued a second advisory asking U.S. citizens flying into or out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to bring raincoats or umbrellas. This, after the ceiling of NAIA’s Terminal 1 building leaked during a rainstorm in Metro Manila. Passengers and crew had to open their umbrellas and wear plastic bags over their shoes to avoid getting soaked by rainwater inside the terminal.

Apparently, the P1.3-billion rehabilitation project at the terminal may have produced a more earthquake-resilient, and aesthetically pleasant, airport but the contractor, DM Consunji Inc. (DMCI), apparently overlooked one thing—waterproofing.

Many travelers wondered if what they experienced at the airport was what was meant by the Philippine Department of Tourism’s meme, “It’s More Fun In The Philippines!”