Category Archives: Business

Business, Diversity, Festivals, Gender, International, LGBT, Politics, Social Media, Technology

PRIDE: Facebook Launches Gay App

June 25, 2017 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Facebook’s float at San Francisco’s PRIDE Parade (photo credit: Ignatius B.)

SAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles, San Francisco Bureau) – The LGBTQ PRIDE Parade is just now winding down in the City by the Bay, but the one news that has sparked an even bigger celebration is Facebook’s launch of a new social media app that’s exclusively reserved for gay men and women.

It’s called GayBook.

For several years now, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been resisting the urge to create a new social media platform that would be Facebook’s version of the growing number of gay dating apps.

Aside from gay.com or Grindr, a quick Google search would call up many other gay dating and chat apps:

In an exclusive interview with The Adobo Chronicles, Zuckerberg said it’s time for the popular social networking site to branch out to this all-important community. “They’re ten percent of the world’s population. That means by 2050, there will be 1 Billion of them, something that we at Facebook can no longer ignore.”

Unlike the regular Facebook app, Gaybook will pre-screen and approve all accounts. One of the requirements is for account applicants to sign and upload a document certifying that they, indeed, are gay.

Happy PRIDE! Happy GayBook!

Business, Food, Government, International, Law Enforcement

Philippine Government Cracks Down On Fake Rice

June 22, 2017 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

QUEZON CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Quezon City Bureau) – Filipino consumers have been very worried about rumors of fake rice being sold in the market. The fake rice reportedly consists of plastic and other synthetic materials.

The National Food Authority (NFA) has sent investigative teams to public markets across the country to make sure that rice retailers are not selling fake rice.

Today, the NFA issued a public service announcement — in partnership with The Adobo Chronicles — that would help consumers in detecting fake rice being sold in the market.

Business, Government, International, Law Enforcement, Media, Politics, Social Media

Philippine Supreme Court Rules: Rappler Is Unconstitutional

June 18, 2017 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In a little-known class action law suit filed recently by a group of constitutionalists, the Philippine Supreme Court has ruled that Rappler, the online news source, is “unconstitutional.”

The adverse verdict is a devastating blow to Rappler CEO Maria Ressa who, in a counter-petition asked the high court to allow her to “take back the Internet.”

The ruling was largely based on a constitutional provision that expressly prohibits foreign equity in mass media, except recording (Article XVI, Sec. 11).

It is no secret that one of Rappler’s investors is Omidyar Network, the fund created by eBay founder and entrepreneur Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam to help businesses use markets and technology for social impact. Omidyar is also CEO and publisher of Honolulu Civil Beat, a local news service in Hawaii.

No less than Rappler announced the foreign investment by Omidyar way back in 2015.

But Ressa is known to never easily give up on anything.

Taking advantage of the loophole in the constitutional provision that exempts recording form foreign mass media investments, Ressa announced today that she is converting Rappler into a recording company with a unique concept:

All its news and commentary will be sung by recording artists which will practically shield the online news source from the investment prohibition.

As of press time, it wasn’t clear whether Ressa or Rappler’s star reporter Pia Rañada will be among the recording artists that will be featured in the new, improved company.

Please welcome Rappler Recording!