Monthly Archives: October 2015

International, Travel

FLYING IN OR OUT OF MANILA’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT? STOCK UP ON PLASTIC WRAP

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imageMANILA, Philippines  (The Adobo Chronicles) –  If you’re planning a trip to Manila and your flight gets in and out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), you’d better stock up on plastic wrap.  You would need them to protect your checked-in or carry-on luggage from laglag bala.

Laglag bala is a scheme that involves the arrest of airline passengers allegedly found to be keeping bullets in their luggage. It is suspected that the bullets are “planted” by airport personnel as a way of extorting money from unsuspecting passengers.

Frustrated that the Philippine government has not done much to prevent the sheme or to punish the perpetrators, travelers have resorted to protecting their bags from being victimized by the schemers — by using plastic (saran) wrap to prevent intrusion and the planting of bullets in their luggage.

Supermarkets and other retail outlets in the Philippines have reported a sharp increase in their sales of plastic wrap in just the last three weeks, and many have run out of the item.

While travel and tourism get a hit, retail businesses are having a big boom in their sales, at least for plastic wrap.

It’s really more fun in the Philippines!

Business, Economy, Government, International, Tourism, Travel

APEC ECONOMIC MEETING IN MANILA WILL HURT PHILIPPINE ECONOMY

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Ten member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will be in attendance at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) in Manila on November 18 to 19.

At least 1,800 domestic and international flights will be affected by the closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) runway as part of preparations for the arrival and departure of APEC leaders in Manila, including US President Barack Obama, for the summit.

NAIA terminals will be used exclusively for the heads of state attending the APEC meeting.

No other airport in the world closes its runways or terminals during international meetings.  Only in the Philippines.

As a result of the airport closure, the Philippines’ own Economic Development Authority and Department of Tourism have said that the country will lose millions of dollars because of cancellations of business meetings and tourism trips to the Philippines.

Airlines and hotels have reported that customers have cancelled their reservations as a result of the APEC meeting.  Other local businesses stand to lose potential revenue as well.

Additionally, the government will be suspending school classes as well as work in both the private and public sectors for four days during the meeting. Metro Manila will come to a standstill, with lots of productivity lost.

Economic experts find it ironic that an international economic meeting will wreak havoc on the economy of a host country.

Food

BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA RECLASSIFIES MANY VEGETABLES AS FRUITS

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Fruits or vegetables?
Fruits or vegetables?

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (The Adobo Chronicles) – The next time your mom or grandma says to you, “Eat your vegetables,” she will no longer be referring to broccoli, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes or asparagus.

Today, the Botanical Society of America (BSA) formally ended the decades-long debate among bonanists, nutritionists and culinary experts about whether some plant produce are considered fruits or vegetables.

It an official memorandum approved by majority of its members, BSA ruled that vegetables that are not “leafy green ” will now be officially classified as fruits. These include, but are not limited to, broccoli, carrots, corn, asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers green beans, celery stalks, eggplants, okra, pototoes, chayote, even some varieties of cabbage and lettuce.

So next time you are told to eat your vegetables, your mom could be referring to kale, spinach, green lettuce, collards, chards and green onions.