Category Archives: Business

Business, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Travel

SOLVING MANILA’S TRAFFIC MESS THROUGH COLOR CODING

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imageManila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Celebrated fiction author Dan Brown, in his latest novel, The Inferno,  described Manila as the ‘Gates of Hell,’ mostly because of the nightmarish traffic that’s an everyday occurence in this Philippine metropolis.

The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), commonly called number coding is a road space rationing program in the Philippines that aims to reduce traffic congestion, in particular during peak hours, by restricting the types of vehicles that can use major public roads based on the final digit of the vehicle’s license plate.

Everyone knows the number coding is grossly ineffective. So, in a radical move to try to finally end Manila’s daily traffic gridlock, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) today announced a new traffic control system not based on numbers but rather on colors – the colors of the rainbow.

Here is how it works:

  • Vehicles colored RED will be banned from Manila streets on Mondays
  • Vehicles colored ORANGE will be banned on Tuesdays
  • Vehicles colored YELLOW will be banned on Wednesdays
  • Vehicles colored GREEN will be banned on Thursdays
  • Vehicles colored BLUE will be banned on Fridays
  • Vehicles colored INDIGO will be banned on Saturdays
  • Vehicles colored VIOLET will be banned on Sundays
  • The ban is not imposed on national holidays

‘What if a vehicle has ALL the colors of the rainbow, ‘ The Adobo Chronicles asked the MMDA. Its response:  rainbow-colored vehicles will be exempt from the ban. image

Immediately after the announcement, Kia Philippines, the local franchise of the South Korean car manufacturer, said that beginning with its 2015 models, rainbow-colored cars will be available to its customers for a small surcharge.

 

 

 

 

 

Business, Human Interest, International, Science and Environment, Technology

OBAMA’S CARBON INITIATIVE IS AT LEAST 30 YEARS LATE, CRITICS SAY

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imageWashington, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Obama administration on Monday announced one of the strongest actions ever taken by the United States government to fight climate change, a proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulation to cut carbon pollution from the nation’s power plants 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.

While the announcement is unprecedented, many believe it is at least 3o years late.  With the onset of personal computer technology in the 1980’s, people had long stopped using typewriters and carbon paper to make duplicate copies. In addition, carbonless paper is now widely used in everyday tasks like making duplicates when manually writing checks from one’s bank checkbook.

“What is there to cut when carbons disappeared decades ago, ” asked House Speaker John Boehner. He added: “And since Obama’s plan is to cut carbon pollution by 2030, that’s adding another 16 years to the lateness of this initiative.”

At least, Boehner got his math correct, environmental activists said.

 

Arts, Business, Festivals, Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Politics, The Media, Travel

MOVE OVER ARNOLD, HERE COMES MR. WORLD

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John Spainhour, the Philippines' entry to Mr. World 2014
John Spainhour, the Philippines’ entry to Mr. World 2014

Torbay, The English Riviera (The Adobo Chronicles) – Before he became a movie actor and governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger was Mr. Universe, at a time when male beauty was  measured by biceps,  triceps and six-pack abs. Well those days are gone.

On June 15, the most beautiful – and hopefully talented – men from across the globe will gather in Torbay in The English Riviera for the Mr. World Pageant. It is the male counterpart of Miss World.

It is a beauty contest that equality seeking men have long been clamoring for, while being a competition that would finally silence feminists who have been protesting beauty pageants and labeling them a “commercialization of women.” Now it’s fair and square.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, a.k.a. Mr. Universe
Arnold Schwarzenegger, a.k.a. Mr. Universe

One hunded million Filipinos are bracing themselves for pageant day, confident that their country’s representative, John Spainhour, will bag the coveted title.

International beauty crowns are not a rare commodity for the Philippines.  It has won all of the major international beauty titles to boot, including Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss International. Almost every weekend, there is a beauty contest being held in the Philippines on the national, local and neighborhood levels.  When Champion boxer Manny Pacquaio fights in the ring, the entire country comes to a stand still, as is the case when a Filipina beauty competes in an international beauty pageant.

Expect male beauty pageants to become the norm in the Philippines in the next few years or so. After all, Filipinos are among the most beautiful people in the world, male and female both.

The Adobo Chronicles wishes Spainhour the best of luck!