Monthly Archives: August 2015

Language, LGBT

‘GAYSPEAK’ TO BE TAUGHT IN PHILIPPINE SCHOOLS?

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Luistro

MANILA, Philippines  (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – You may have heard words like ‘anech’ (what?), ‘lafang’ (food) ‘jowa’ (husband/wife).  Most likely, you’ve heard it from Filipino gay men engaged in conversation.

It’s called gayspeak, a unique ‘language’ spoken in the Philippines that’s transcended gender and sexual orientation. Filipino straight men and women, like Kris Aquino for example, now often use the gay language interchangeably with their straight talk.

It is a language that’s constantly evolving.  Even ‘gayspeak’ is now referred to by a new name, ‘beki,’ a Filipino colloquial term that means ‘gay.’

The beki language has become so popular that the Philippines’ Department of Education  is considering incorporating the gay language into the school curriculum.

In fact, Education Secretary Armin Luistro on Monday said that the department is mulling the possibility of using ‘beki’ as medium of instruction in schools.

In a recent interview with reporters, Luistro said gay language can be part of the official communication if it is acceptable to the majority.

Well, it is already widely acceptable, Mr. Secretary, so what’s keeping you from implementing it?

In San Francisco, Epee Rafanan, co-founder of a Filipino American gay social organization, Barangay, said  teaching gayspeak in Philippine schools is long overdue.

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Barangay (pronounced Baran-GUY), refers to a Filipino neighborhood political unit, headed by a Barangay captain.  The organization Rafanan founded has a different pronunciation — Barangaaay — to reflect its mission and identity.

 

Local News, The Media

MOTHER IGNACIA AVENUE IN QUEZON CITY TO BE RENAMED KRIS AQUINO AVENUE

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CaptureQUEZON CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – There appears to be an organized conspiracy to keep the name “Aquino” forever instilled in the minds of Filipinos.

In 1987,  the Manila International Airport was renamed Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in honor of the late senator who was gunned down on the airport’s tarmac upon his return from U.S. exile in August of 1983.

In 2011, there was an attempt by the House of Representatives to rename Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) Cory Aquino Avenue. EDSA was the venue of the People Power revolution of 1986, of which Aquino is considered a heroine. The proposal by Rep. Rene Lopez Relampagos never came to fruition.

Two years later, in the 16th Congress, Pampanga Rep. Joseller “Yeng” Guiao filed a proposal to change the name of the Clark International Airport to Corazon C. Aquino Airport, to no avail either.

In May this year, a bill renaming the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) into the President Corazon C. Aquino Expressway (CAEX) was approved by the House committee on public works and highways. House Bill 4820 was filed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Magnolia Rosa Antonio-Nadres.

(It pays to try and try again)

Today, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista signed a city council resolution renaming Mother Ignacia Avenue to Kris Aquino Avenue.  It is the avenue that borders the ABS-CBN broadcast center.

The television netowrk lobbied the city council for the name change, saying it was a fitting tribute to the contributions of their star talk show host, often referred to as “Queen of All Media.”

Aquino has had, and continues to have multiple shows on ABS-CBN, including ‘Kris TV,’ ‘Aquino & Abunda Tonight, and the recently-cancelled ‘The Buzz.”   Aquino was also host of several reality and game shows including “Pilipinas Got Talent,” and ‘Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal.”

“Renaming Mother Iganacia  to Kris Aquino Avenue will make the TV host’s millions of fans very happy,” ABS-CBN said.

In the meantime, there is speculation that the entire stretch of Roxas Boulevard along the famous Manila Bay will be renamed NoyNoy Aquino Boulevard as soon as the president’s term expires in 2016.

In the U.S., libraries are built to honor past presidents.  In the Philippines, major thoroughfares are named after them.

Government, Human Interest, Politics

IF SHE BECOMES PHILIPPINE FIRST LADY, KORINA SANCHEZ WANTS IMELDA MARCOS’ SHOES REPLACED BY HER FLIP FLOPS

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Everybody knows about former Philippine First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos’ collection of over 3,000 pairs of shoes. They are now displayed in a national museum in Marikina, a Metro Manila town known for its world-class shoe manufacturing industry.

Korina Sanchez is a broadcast journalist who has her own collection of — not shoes — but flip flops.

Sanchez, of course is the wife of Interior and Local Governments Secretary Mar Roxas, who is running for president in 2016 as President Aquino’s anointed successor.

In an interview with CNN Philippines today, Sanchez was asked about what she envisions her role would be as First Lady if Roxas gets elected.

Korina Sanchez and her Tsinelas Project
Korina Sanchez and her Tsinelas Project

“The first thing I would do is to replace all of Imelda’s shoes displayed at the Shoe Museum with my colorful collection of tsinelas  (flip flops).”

“I think the tsinelas  would be better representative of the true culture of the Filipino people” Sanchez said.