Monthly Archives: July 2015

Economy, Government, International

PHILIPPINES LENDS $1 BILLION TO IMF, ASKS FILIPINOS TO BE AUSTERE

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Skyline of the affluent Makati City in the Philippines (background), slums (foreground)
Skyline of the affluent Makati City in the Philippines (background), slums (foreground)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) –  The Philippines is lending the International Monetary Fund (IMF) $1 billion to help stabilize the global economy amid the euro zone’s debt crisis, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) said on Wednesday.

“The Philippines is supporting the global efforts to stabilize the world economy and maintain it on a growth path. This is the reason why the Philippines is extending a $1 billion loan to the IMF. We are a member of the global community of nations and it is also in our interest to ensure economic and financial stability across the globe,” BSP Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said in a statement.

Tetangco said the loan to the IMF is the Philippines’ way of giving back to the world’s so-called lender of last resort after it helped the country address its financial difficulties in the past.

The Philippines had been a net borrower from the IMF for almost 40 years until the country finally settled its loans in 2006.

In order to lessen the negative impact of this loan on the Philippine economy, President NoyNoy Aquino asked the Filipino people to institute austerity measures, including:

  • Reducing their daily meals from three to two, and to avoid eating rice altogether
  • Turning off airconditioners in homes, malls, offices, and cars from 10am to 6pm, 7 days a week
  • Save on gasoline by driving their cars only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
  • Using candles or gas lamps to light up their homes  from 8pm to midnight
  • Avoid charging cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
  • Avoid taking long showers and,  if possible, limiting them to three times a week

In addition, Aquino issued an executive order mandating that all government offices and hospitals be closed on Wednesdays. Police and firefighters nationwide will be asked to take a mandatory day off every Friday. Also, all ongoing road repairs and improvement work on the MRT (light railway system), will be suspended immediately.

He also urged all elected officials and members of his cabinet to reduce their plunderous activities by at least 15 percent . At the same time, he asked the Philippine Catholic Church to donate 10 percent of its Sunday collections to the government.

Aquino said that this is a time for all Filipinos to do their share in ensuring that the country’s economy will continue to remain robust while maintaining the Philippines’ reputation as the new “Darling of Asia.”

 

LGBT, Politics

RICK SANTORUM IS FIRST TRANSGENDER CANDIDATE FOR U.S. PRESIDENT

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imageWASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – The media were so focused on Caitlyn Jenner’s transformation from male to female that they missed what could have been a blockbuster news story: Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum has transitioned to a woman!

This makes Santorum the first ever transgender candidate for the highest office of the land.

The shocking development was first announced on a website that lists all declared and potential Republican presidential candidates.  The comprehensive list includes all the names and photos of those who have officially declared as well as those who are either rumored or personally still deciding to eventually declare their candidacy.

Santorum’s transformation shocked not just the Republican Party but even members of the LGBT community who acknowledged that she (Santorum) did an awesome job in her transition.  She looked like Carly Fiorina who also happens to be among the Republicans running for president.

For a full list of declared and  potential Republican presidential candidates, visit: 2016.republican-candidates.org.

Beauty, Diversity, Politics, Race Relations

AFTER 63 YEARS, IT’S THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

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The very first Miss Universe (1952), Armi Kuusela
The very first Miss Universe (1952), Armi Kuusela

MIAMI, Florida (The Adobo Chronicles®) – After 63 years of existence, the Miss Universe Pageant is coming to an end, thanks to owner Donald Trump.

(The very first Miss Universe was Armi Kuusela from Finland, who shortly after being crowned in 1952, married a Filipino Virgilio Hilario, now deceased.  Kuusela has since remarried and now lives in San Diego, California)

After Mexico and Paraguay pulled out of the pageant because of Trump’s racist remarks about Mexicans — calling them “rapists, drug addicts and criminals” — the Republican presidential candidate knew a bigger fall out was about to happen.  Other Spanish-speaking countries are also considering dropping out of the international pageant.

Then came recent remarks by Trump, this time directed at African Americans.  “African American youth had reached a point where they’ve just about never done more poorly, there’s no spirit, there’s killings on an hourly basis virtually in places like Baltimore and Chicago and many other places,” he said during a campaign stop.

Trump also criticized his opponent, Jeb Bush,  saying that, “If Bush gets in, China will absolutely eat our lunch.”

And so the bigger fallout began:  countries in Africa are also pulling out of the Miss Universe pageant, in solidarity with African Americans.

Many Asian countries are also backing out from sending contestants to the pageant because of Trump’s comments about China.

Realizing that only European countries are left to participate in Miss Universe, Trump decided to cancel the pageant altogether.

“No big deal,” he said, “I’d rather be president of the United States than be an owner of a beauty pageant.

Trump has risen to the number two spot, behind Jeb Bush, in recent polls among Republican candidates for president.  Apparently, his racial rhetoric is working in his favor.