Category Archives: Business

Business, Government, International, Tourism

Philippines Voids Building Permit Of Trump Tower In Makati City

August 8, 2016 Pol Pinoy 7 Comments

A rendering of the Trump Tower in Makati City, Philippines

MAKATI CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – When completed by the end of 2016, the Trump Tower in the Philippines will be among the country’s tallest buildings. But the Trump name may disappear from this upscale residential building.

Launched in 2012, Trump Tower is a joint venture between Century Properties and the Trump Organization. It will be managed by Century Properties Management Inc. To rise at 250 meters above ground, the 56-story building is designed by award-winning international architectural firm Broadway Malyan.

“It’s really just an iconic, modern building, very tall, very chic, something that really symbolizes everything that a Trump project means,” said Eric Trump, son of Donald, and executive vice president of development and acquisition.

It is located at the corner of Kalayaan Avenue and Salamanca Street in Makati City.

But today, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued an executive order canceling the building permit of the Trump Tower.

Duterte called Donald Trump and his organization “persona non grata” for the Republican presidential candidate’s recent comments about the Philippines.

It will be recalled that in one of his campaign speeches, Trump lumped the Philippines with other countries with terrorism links, calling for the banning Filipinos from immigrating to the United States. Duterte even challenged Trump to a fist fight.

“If we, Filipinos, are not welcome in the United States, why would we welcome Trump in the Philippines,” Duterte said.

Asked by The Adobo Chronicles what the Philippine government plans to do with the Trump Tower, Duterte replied, “I will make it a rehabilitation center for the more than half a million Filipino drug users who surrendered as part of my war on drugs.”

Touché!

Business, Politics, Tourism

In Hawaii, No ‘Aloha’ Spirit For Donald Trump

August 1, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

HONOLULU, Hawaii (The Adobo Chronicles, Honolulu Bureau) – Everywhere you go in the islands of Hawaii, you will always find the ‘Aloha’ spirit. You’ll always feel welcome, appreciated, loved.

You get lei’d upon arrival at the airport. You are greeted with ‘Aloha’ the moment you step into an ABC Store. And the locals are not shy in thanking you for everything with a warm and sincere ‘Mahalo’ (thank you).

But when it comes to politics, the residents of Hawaii have no qualms about publicly expressing their preferences.

Despite the Donald Trump presence — notably a Trump Tower in the heart of Waikiki — businesses, residents and (hopefully) tourists are #WithHer.

To Donald: e kala mai i a`u (please forgive me/sorry).

Business, Government, Law Enforcement

Torre De Manila: A High-Rise Building For Philippine Jail Inmates?

July 31, 2016 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Metro Manila’s prison system is in crisis — and has been for decades — due to inmate overcrowding that puts packed sardines and pig pens to shame. So is there any more room for those who will be incarcerated as a result of the current administration’s war on crime? Absolutely, if three Philippine senators can have their way.

Senators Tito Sotto, Leila De Lima and Manny Pacquiao are proposing that instead of building new prisons, the government should purchase Torre De Manila which is nearing completion.

Construction of the high-rise condominium building on Taft Avenue in Manila is on hold because of a temporary restraining order from the Supreme Court pending its final decision on a case brought before it against builders DMCI Homes.

Torre De Manila is known as the great photobomber because it diminishes, if not obstructs the people’s sacred view of the monument of their national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

Whatever the outcome of the SC Court case, DMCI Homes and its president and chief operations officer Jorge Consunji had said that the high tribunal’s decision will be respected.

The three senators, with the full backing of all of Metro Manila’s mayors, believe that the government purchase of the 48-storey building will end the controversy while easing the horrendous jail overcrowding in the metropolis.