Category Archives: Entertainment

This October, ‘Inferno’ Movie To Be Shown In The Philippines, Except Manila

image.jpegMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The film version of Dan Brown’s novel, ‘Inferno’ will be shown in theaters throughout the Philippines this October.  But not in  Metro Manila.

The Alliance of City Mayors  of Metro Manila (ACMMM) has unanimously agreed to ban the Tom Hanks starrer from being shown in theaters in the metropolis.

It will be recalled that Brown’s novel labeled Manila as “the gates of hell,” a designation that upset millions of Filipinos.

Film producers appealed to ACMMM to reconsider its ban in the interest of free speech and  the arts.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada told The Adobo Chronicles that the only way ACMMM will lift its ban is for the film producers to add a disclaimer at the beginning of the film that says: “The events and dialogue about Manila in this film refers to the time of the previous administration of President NoyNoy Aquino.  Under the new Duterte administration, change has come. Manila is now the ‘stairway to heaven.’

There is no indication thus far as to whether or not the producers will agree to the ACMMM demand.

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‘Killing Me Softly’ Tops Latest Karaoke Charts In The Philippines

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Senator De Lima (in yellow t-shirt) belting it out, karaoke style

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – For quite some time, ‘My Way’ was the most popular sing-along music played at karaoke bars in the Philippines.  Alas, it was also the deadliest song, with karaoke singers reportedly killed just for singing the Frank Sinatra classic.

But move over, ‘My Way,’ here comes the new most requested and sung karaoke song, and it still has to do with “killing.”

That’s right, ‘Killing Me Softly,’ popularized by Roberta Flack, is now No.1 on the karaoke charts, thanks to Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his nemesis, Senator Leila De Lima.

Duterte has mentioned the song in reference to his claim that “he has the goods” on De Lima in as far as the senator’s link to the proliferation of illegal drugs at the National Bilibid Prison during her time as Secretary of Justice under the Aquino administration.

De Lima herself has mentioned the song in her press conference and interviews refuting Duterte’s claims.

In the meantime, while Duterte and De Lima battle it out in Malacañang, the Senate and the media, Karaoke enthusiasts are having a grand time belting out this 1973 Grammy Record of the Year.

Let’s just hope nobody gets killed doing it.

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Filipinos And Their “Six Degrees Of Separation”

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Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling, right, and his Filipino nanny, Auntie Yolly

The Philippines may not win a gold medal in the Rio Olympics, but who cares, we’re related to someone who has — Singapore’s Joseph Schooling. That is, by virtue of his Filipino nanny, Yolanda Pascual or Auntie Yolly.

But it is not only in sports that we excel.

A good number of winners of reality TV shows like “American Idol,” and “America’s Got Talent” and their international franchises are part Filipino.

The very first Miss Universe was married to a Filipino while some contestants to the popular annual beauty pageant who represent other countries have blood ties to our in-laws, parents, grandparents and great great grandparents.

Bruno Mars is American, but hey, his mother is Filipino, so he must be one. And despite her very foreign-sounding surname, Nicole Scherzinger is definitely one of us! And did we already mention Apl.de.ap of Black Eyed Peas?

The White House executive chef, Cristeta Comerford, is Filipino and so is Navy Rear Admiral Raquel  C. Bono, the highest-ranking FilAm naval officer in the U.S.

Even celebrated serial killer Andrew Cunanan who murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace is of Filipino heritage.

So, what is our point? Nothing really, except to say that Filipinos are everywhere and that somehow, somewhere, we’re related to someone famous, or infamous.  Maybe, we’re even related to Kevin Bacon!

So unite, Filipinos! Who knows, you might be related to the Marcoses, or the Aquinos. Or the Dutertes for that matter.