All posts by Pol Pinoy

Mar Roxas Wants A Refund Of The $10 He Deposited To Mayor Duterte’s Bank Account

April 29, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – To prove that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had a secret account with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), rival presidential candidate Mar Roxas deposited $10 into the alleged Duterte account.

Roxas showed to reporters yesterday a deposit slip for $10 (about P470) his staff put in one of the BPI accounts owned by Duterte and his daughter Sara as reported by the Inquirer. Roxas said it was a dollar — not a peso — account.

The deposit was made at 3:06 p.m. at the Julia Vargas branch of BPI in Pasig City for account number 2434-0159-71.

When pressed by The Adobo Chronicles if he knew what the account balance was, Roxas said it was about $5,000 plus. Roxas was hoping he could find $50 Million.

Today, Roxas wrote a demand letter to Duterte asking that the mayor refund the $10 deposited by the Roxas camp to his account.

Duterte’s answer: “That’s my money now. You have to sue me to get a refund. That’s the law, and I am a lawyer!

Business, Food, International

Philippines Aiming For Guinness Record As SPAM Capital Of The World

April 29, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

The newly-opened SPAM Museum in Minnesota (Photo: Hormel Foods)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The Philippines already holds the record of social media capital and selfie capital of the world, and now it is aiming for yet another Guinness honor — that of SPAM capital of the world.

Filipinos are using social media platforms 53 hours a week. That’s a whole 11 hours more than the global average of 42 hours according to a global study.

Now, Filipinos want to be recognized for SPAM, not the annoying, unsolicited mail or posts one gets on email or social media accounts. Rather, the canned SPAM meat manufactured by Hormel Foods.

Right now, the U.S. territory of Guam is recognized as the SPAM capital of the world, followed by the state of Hawaii (thanks to the enormous popularity of SPAM sushi). The Philippines is unofficially in third place. Filipinos want their SPAM for breakfast (with fried rice and eggs) and as special food fare when they have visitors.

So, might as well aim to be No. 1 in SPAM consumption, right?

In order to achieve this honor, the Philippines’ Department of Tourism and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) have launched a joint program to encourage overseas Filipinos, especially those in the United States, to double or triple their SPAM shipment via Balikbayan boxes to their relatives in the Philippines.

“If each overseas Filipino worker sends at least a case of SPAM to their Filipino relatives twice a year, we can easily break Guam’s and Hawaii’s records,” the POEA said.

Oh, and make that SPAM Tocino, please!

Business, Law Enforcement, Travel

Laglag Bala-Proof Luggage Sell Out In Manila

April 29, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Ever since the scheme, laglag bala, was exposed at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), airline passengers have been very creative in protecting their luggage from being targeted by airport personnel suspected of “planting” live bullets in bags for the purpose of extorting money.

Many choose to wrap their bags in saran wrap or put all sorts of warning signs and stickers to let airport staff know that they are closely watching their personal stuff.

The extortion scheme has created big business opportunities for luggage makers like Australia’s Crumple, a company that manufactures high-end travel bags and accessories.

It has created a special-edition anti-laglag bala luggage made of an all-clear polycarbonate shell which hides nothing that’s packed inside the bag. Airport security inspectors need not open the bag to search for prohibited items since they can see all the way through.

The new luggage line is especially popular among Filipinos who love to show off their designer clothing, shoes, and accessories.

In less than a month after the special luggage was introduced in the market in the Philippines, it sold out and has a huge backlog of orders.

But not to worry. A local entrepreneur has invented a new anti-laglag bala luggage — not the same transparent Crumple bags — that scares away unscrupulous airport scammers.

The luggage has a life-sized photograph of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s face and upper torso with a message warning schemers that he will let them eat the bullets that they plant in passengers’ bags. The presidential candidate is known for implementing unusual punishment for violators of the law, including forcing violators of the smoking ban to swallow their cigarette butts.

The Duterte luggage retails for P4,600 (about US $100). It is also reportedly now on back order.

However, an inexpensive alternative is available for those who cannot afford to purchase the Duterte luggage. Stickers bearing the same image and message from Duterte are being sold at the National Book Store for P50 ($1.08). All one needs to do is to attach the stickers to each check-in and carry-on bag.

Is this the beginning of the end of laglag bala?