Category Archives: Film and TV

Arts, Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Politics, The Media

NEW SENATE BILL TO ESTABLISH PHILIPPINE BEAUTY QUEEN STATE ACADEMY

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The mentors in the new reality TV show, 'Beauty Queen Academy'
The mentors in the new reality TV show, ‘Beauty Queen Academy’

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Philippine Senate has the reputation as a do-nothing legislative body, exacerbated by the ongoing 10 Billion pork barrel scam in which almost half of the senators have been implicated in the elaborate siphoning of taxpayer funds into phony projects and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). It is therefore no surprise that senators are scrambling to propose and sponsor all kinds of bills to help distract public attention from the scam and repair the Senate’s tarnished record.

Senator Loren Legarda, one of those named in the scam, has proposed a new legislation that would establish a state-funded Beauty Queen Academy. It will be part of the publicly-supported University of the Philippines.

In recent years, the Philippines has been winning international beauty pageant crowns left and right and its winning streak seems unstoppable. Along with Venezuela and Brazil, the Philippines is in the elite circle of countries that have won in all the major international beauty pageants like Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss World and others.

Legarda’s bill, supported by all the senators so far implicated in the pork barrel scam, is aimed at preparing and training aspiring beauty queens to be sure-fire winners in international beauty pageants. The academy will offer full scholarships to  Filipinas who fit established criteria and great potential to win beauty titles.

Meanwhile, a leading television network in Manila has announced a new reality show similarly titled Beauty Queen Academy. It is similar to the American TV show, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, in which contestants vie for the crown by impressing celebrity judges with their beauty and talent. Well, sort of. Mentors and judges (see photo) are all former Philippine beauty queens.

 

 

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!

 

 

Business, Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Sports, The Media

TAX-EVADING MANNY PACQUIAO PLANS TO BUY AN ENTIRE ISLAND

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Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao

Sarangani, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Manny Pacquiao: world champion boxer, congressman, soon-to-be basketball player and coach, potential 2016 presidential candidate, billionaire and tax evader. What’s next for ‘Pacman?’

Today, Pacquaio announced his retirement plans to buy an entire island in Palawan, the southwestern Philippine province known for its pristine beaches, breath-taking land formations and world-class resorts and tourist destinations. There he will build his retirement home, or is it palace?

Immediately following the announcement, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares put out a “keep an eye advisory” to the tax agency’s Palawan branch to make sure that Pacquiao will pay the appropriate property and other applicable taxes in connection with his planned island purchase. Previously, Henares had charged Pacquiao of  failing to pay taxes for his earnings in the boxing ring.

Pacquiao has dominated the headlines lately. In addition to his tax woes, he is reportedly eyeing the Philippine presidency come the 2016 elections. He has sealed an advertising agreement with KIA and signed up to be the Korean car company’s basketball player and coach in the Philippines’ professional basketball league. It was also revealed that Pacquiao remains to be the only billionnaire member of Congress, not to mention being the number one absentee.

Pacquiao is also known as ‘karaoke king, ” but almost everyone knows that already.

Pacquiao is still deciding which island in Palawan he will purchase.