All posts by Pol Pinoy

Government, Politics, Social Media

New Anti-Marcos Hashtag Trends

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IMG_7040.PNGMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Ah, the Philippines — a country divided.  Divided between colors (yellow and red), between generations (millennial vs. baby boomers), between pro- and anti-Duterte, between loyalists and activists, between saints and satan, between Cynthia Patag and Mocha Uson.

So, it isn’t really a surprise that protests and mass actions have followed Ferdinand E. Marcos’ surprise burial last week at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani (National Penitentiary). It was described as the proverbial “thief in the night.”  Sneaky and conspiratory.

Social media has taken to the forefront in as far as people making their sentiments known. The hashtag #NeverAgain has been the battlecry of those who advocate that the Filipino people should never forget the atrocities that Marcos did during his Martial Law rule.

But now that Marcos’ remains now lie six feet under the ground at LNMB, a new movement is fast gaining ground.  It’s new battlecry hashtag: #UnburyMarcos.

No less than Senate President Aquilino Pimentel has said that Marcos’ burial can be reversed any time.

The division goes on.

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Social Media

Facebook Shuts Down The Onion’s Page!

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MENLO PARK, California (The Adobo Chronicles, San Jose Bureau) – The Onion, considered the father (or mother) of fake news is the first victim of Facebook’s crackdown announced earlier by Mark Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg announced a 7-point plan which he says will combat the spread of fake news on the popular social network.     

Many people have complained and speculated that the proliferation of fake news in recent months influenced the outcome of the November 8 elections in which Donald Trump won the presidency through the electoral college votes.  Hillary Clinton, however, won the popular vote.

In announcing the closure of The Onion’s Facebook page, Zuckerberg said, “we are gunning for the big fish here, and what could be a bigger fish than the publication and online ‘news’ site that started this monster called fake news.”

Zuckerberg said that next in line to be shut down is the New Yorker’s Borrowitz Report, another big-time purveyor of fake news.

As for The Adobo Chronicles, Zuckerberg said, “They’re small fish.”

Gee, thanks Mark!

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Economy, Government, International, Politics, Race Relations

Donald Trump Jealous And Very Disappointed For Not Being Invited To APEC Summit

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IMG_7035.PNGLIMA, Peru  (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) –Sure, Donald Trump is not yet president of the United States, but the president-elect has expressed deep disappointment for not being invited to a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders here in Lima, Peru.

Leaders of some 21-member countries belonging to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group (APEC) are meeting here amid speculation that Trump will scuttle President Obama’s key trade initiative in the Asia-Pacific region, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

But apart from being disappointed, Trump said he was very jealous that he was not able to personally meet two of his idol world leaders — Russia’s Vladimir Putin and the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte.  The two leaders met for the first time while in attendance at the APEC summit.

Duterte has publicly acknowledged that he was a fan of Putin, and so has Trump.

In contrast, Trump has repeatedly criticized China for what he had called unfavorable trade deals with the U.S. China, an APEC member, has seized the opportunity to extend its already massive economic clout in the Pacific Rim, in anticipation that the TPP is laid to rest by Trump.

The Adobo Chronicles had the rare opportunity of speaking with both Duterte and Putin, and we asked both gentlemen what they thought about Trump.

Putin merely shrugged his shoulders, while Duterte uttered some intelligible cuss words which we assume were directed at the American president-elect.

For now, there are no selfie opportunities for Trump with the two popular leaders.