Monthly Archives: July 2015

Beauty, Diversity, International

POPE FRANCIS URGES ECUADOR, BOLIVIA AND PARAGUAY TO BOYCOTT MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

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imageGUAYAQUIL, Ecuador (The Adobo Chronicles®) – Pope Francis starts his 7-day trip to three countries in South America, with a clear message to Donald Trump.

The Roman Catholic Pontiff urged the countries of Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay to boycott the Miss Universe pageant over owner Trump’s disparaging remarks about Mexican immigrants to the U.S. The real estate mogul who is running for president called Mexican immigrants “rapists, drug addicts and criminals.”

Earlier, Mexico and Panama had  announced that they were dropping off from pageant.

The Philippines also recently became the first Asian country to boycott the pageant.

Francis said that the comments by Trump, a former Catholic, is not in keeping with church teachings about loving one’s neighbor, especially one that is just south of the border.

More Latin American countries are expected to drop off from the Miss Universe pageant in solidarity with Mexico.

Beauty, Diversity, International, Politics, Race Relations

PHILIPPINES DROPS OUT OF MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

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Reigning Miss Philippines-Universe Pia Wurtzbach
Reigning Miss Philippines-Universe Pia Wurtzbach

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles®) – The Philippines became the first Asian country to drop out of the Miss Universe pageant in protest over Donald Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants. It is joining several Latin American countries in boycotting the most popular international beauty competition owned by Trump.

Earlier, Mexico dropped out of the pageant, followed by Panama. More Latin American countries are expected to follow suit.

The Philippines has close historical ties with Mexico, dating back to the days of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade which began in the 16th century.  The country was also colonized by Spain for more than three centuries.

Mexico (1991, 2010) and the Philippines (1969, 1973)  each have two Miss Universe title holders, while Panama has one (2002 runner-up Miss Panama took over as Miss Universe after the winner, Miss Russia, was dethroned four months into her reign). All three countries have previously hosted the Miss Universe pageant.

So what happens with reigning Miss Philippines-Universe Pia Wurtzbach (who has been romantically linked to President NoyNoy Aquino)? Perhaps, she can become the queen of Malacañang, the presidential palace. But that remains to be just a rumor.

Actually, the Philippines has decided to send two representatives to this year’s Miss World Pageant, one of them being Wurtzbach.

Double the chances for the crown,  eh?

Government, International, Politics, Science and Environment

PHILIPPINES NOW HEADS UNITED NATIONS BODY ON DISASTER REDUCTION

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Binay, left. and Aquino, in a rare display of unity and solidarity
Binay, left. and Aquino, in a rare display of unity and solidarity

GENEVA, Switzerland (The Adobo Chronicles®) – The Philippines has taken over the chairmanship of the Geneva-based International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Support Group.

Alexandre Fasel, permanent representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, officially handed over last June 22 the chairmanship of the ISDR Support Group to Ambassador Cecilia Rebong, Philippine permanent representative to the UN. The Philippines formally assumes the role this month.

The chairmanship was in recognition of the Philippines’ extensive and long-standing experience in political disaster, particularly in the handling of major man-made events such as graft, curruption, plunder, unexplained wealth of Filipino politicians, among others.

Reacting to the news, President NoyNoy Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay — in a rare display of unity and solidarity — issued a joint statement saying that this international honor is a testament to  the Filipino people’s resiliency in dealing with devastating fallouts from the incompetency as well as corrupt and criminal ways of their elected officials.

“There is so much the world can learn from the Philippines in as far as disasters are concerned,” the statement said.