Duterte, Robredo, ‘No Shows’ At Philippine Independence Day Rites

June 12, 2020 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – On the anniversary of Philippine Independence today, June 12, President Rodrigo was, again, a “no-show.”

In the last 4 years, Duterte has been known to skip significant public events, even the major national holidays and commemorations. But this time, it’s for good and justifiable reason.

Presidential Spokespersom Harry Roque said the President was “leading by example,”

Under the government’s Covid-19 community quarantine regulations, senior citizens — those 60 and above — are prohibited from leaving their homes except for strictly essential needs. Duterte is 75 years old.

“It will be hypocritical of the President to order the isolation of seniors if he himself is seen out and about in public,” Roque told The Adobo Chronicles.

Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo who in the past several years has been leading major commemoration rites at Rizal Park, was also a “no-show” this year. Many Filipinos were looking forward to her trademark hand salute, but were grossly disappointed.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Vice President said that Robredo thought it wasn’t worth it to wake up early in the morning to make a public appearance with only 10 people in attendance.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) allowed only 10 people to join the celebration, as part of its social distancing protocol.

Business, International, Travel

Lufthansa Unveils ‘New Normal’ Aircraft

June 11, 2020 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

BERLIN, Germany (The Adobo Chronicles, Berlin Bureau) – Airlines are among the most negatively affected by the Covid-9 pandemic, having lost significant amount of business resulting from travel restrictions if not outright country lockdowns.

Even as countries start to lift the lockdowns and resume in and out travel, most airlines will continue to feel the devastating effects of the coronavirus. Under the “new normal,” commercial aircraft would have to limit passenger capacity in observance of physical distancing, in addition to a host of health and safety measures that they need to implement.

But Lufthansa has pioneered an innovative way to be back in business without having to cut the numer of paying passengers for their flights.

Germany’s largest airline has just unveiled a prototype of its new fleet that is three times the length of the Boeing 777 and can accommodate three times the number of passengers without violating established physical distancing protocols.

Indeed for Lufthansa, it’s business as usual under the new normal!

Government, Health & Medicine, Law Enforcement

IATF To Quarantine Filipinos Aged 21-59

June 10, 2020 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Since the start of the Philippine governnment’s imposed community quarantine, Filipinos under 21 years old and senior citizens 60 and above have always been ordered to stay at home at all times. This, despite the subsequent easing down of the lockdowns from acronyms like ECQ to MECQ to GCQ to MGCQ.

Well, senior citizens are pushing back, arguing that they are being discriminated against based on their age, no matter that many of them are in prime health and are as strong as a bull.

Fearing serious backlash from its guidelines practically isolating seniors, the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) in charge of promulgating Covid-19 policies, amended its latest resolution, turning the tables around.

For the remainder of the government lockdowns, the IATF is now ordering all Filipinos aged 21-59 to stay at home to give the chance to young people and senior citizens to also enjoy their freedom and Constitutional right of movement.

One senior citizen was overheard screaming, “Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last.”

For seniors, no more GCQ. Just MLK!