Category Archives: Economy

Business, Economy, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics

COIN POSSESSION CAN LEAD TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON IN THE PHILIPPINES

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imageQuezon City, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The government may never recover the Ten Billion pesos that disappeared into phony projects and pockets of politicians in the pork barrel scam in the Philippines. This, despite recent indictments that have led to the arrest of top senators, businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles and others implicated in the case.

So now, the government is focusing its energy into recovering up to 24 Billion pesos from piggy banks, drawers and closets of ordinary citizens. House Bill 4411 which passed on third reading makes it illegal to be in possession of excess coins. Coin possession will lead to eight years in prison and/or a fine of up to 300 Thousand pesos.

The proposed bill has encouraged politicians and citizens involved or intending to involve in the much more serious crimes of plunder, graft and corruption.  The reason? The penalty for these greater crimes range from hospital arrest to detention in bungalow-type jails, and eventually, pardon.

A true testament to the Department of Tourism’s promotional meme of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines!”

Business, Economy, Health & Medicine, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Science and Environment, Technology, The Media, Tourism, Travel

BABY KOALAS SLOWLY DISAPPEARING IN AUSTRALIA, RAZOR COMPANY BLAMED

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imageSydney, Australia (The Adobo Chronicles) – Koalas, incorrectly called koala bears, are slowly diappearing from the Australian continent, thanks to an advertising campaign launched by a razor company.

The razor ads feature bearded male models who, upon closer examination, are actually ‘sporting’ baby koalas on their faces. The ad photos have gone viral and many Australian men have caught on to the new fad.

Koalas have once been considered an endangered species and the Australian government fears the new fad will evetually lead to the extinction of these cuddly, furry animals.

Animal rights groups in Australia have threatened to sue the razor company for instigating this fad. Barbers who have lost a lot of business lately, have said they will join in this class-action law suit.

As for the razor company, sales have plummeted. Their ad campaign to promote shaving backfired.

Business, Economy, Human Interest, International, Language, Politics, Tourism, Travel

CHINA LAYS CLAIM ON WORLD’S OLDEST CHINATOWN LOCATED IN THE PHILIPPINES

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38f8c93f-0baf-4104-8ecb-1a266d3e5f91.Manila_Chinatown 004Beijing, China (The Adobo Chronicles) – Tensions continue to build in the South China Sea as China escalates both rhetoric and physical presence in the disputed territories in the Spratlys, a group of islands also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The Spratly Islands are important for a number of reasons: the area holds potentially significant, but largely unexplored, reserves of oil and natural gas; it is a productive area for world fishing;  and it is one of the busiest areas of commercial shipping traffic.

News from various sources shows that China has not only started oil drilling operations in the area, but is also quietly attempting to build an artificial island, reclaiming parts of the sea to establish an aircraft runway.  Movements by Chinese supply ships have also been reported near at least two reefs in the disputed territories.

In yet another move by China to pursue what some world leaders are calling its “expansionist policy,” the Chinese government has formally filed papers before the United Nations claiming ownership of Manila’s Chinatown in the Binondo district, the oldest Chinatown in the world, established in 1594.

Sources close to the Beijing government told The Adobo Chronicles that if successful in its attempt to lay claim on Manila’s Chinatown, the Chinese government will build a wall around it and require passports and visas for non-Chinese citizens to dine or shop within what will be officially called Chinese Walled City.  The wall that will be built will mimic that of the Great Wall of China.

The government of Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino is still studying the matter and is not ready to issue a response or statement.