MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – It’s confirmed: President-elect Rod Duterte and Vice President-elect Leni Robredo will be inaugurated separately on June 30.

Duterte will have his inauguration at the Rizal Ceremonial Hall of Malacañang (the presidential palace in Manila). Robredo, on the other hand,  will hold her inauguration ceremony somwhere in Metro Manila but the incoming vice president wishes to be sworn in by Ronaldo Coner, captain of the “smallest, farthest and poorest” barangay Punta Tarawal Calabanga in Camarines Sur.

Duterte’s camp earlier said the president-elect will hold his inauguration rites at Malacañang to avoid lavish preparations and save expenses. The Davao City mayor will only deliver a five-minute speech after he takes his oath. Guests will be served finger food.

Duterte’s transition team has confirmed that the 500 or so guests at his inauguration will be served maruya (banana fritters) and buko (coconut) juice.

Not to be outdone, Robredo — in keeping with her promised austerity measures — will serve laing, a signature delicacy in her region of Bicol.  It is a spicy vegetable dish comprised of taro leaves cooked in coconut milk.

Both inaugurations are a sharp deviation from tradition where the venue has always been at the Quirino grandstand at Rizal (Luneta) Park, attended by hundreds of thousands of Filipinos.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – There are two names that members of the Congress of the Philippines are often referred to: baboy  and buwaya ( pigs and crocodiles.)  Pigs because of the masssive pork barrel scam that many of the senators and congressmen were implicated in; crocodiles because of their penchant for gobbling as much as they possibly can when it comes to public funds for themselves or their most loyal constituents.

Well, change is coming under the administration of President-elect Rod Duterte.  There will no longer be any pork barrels or crocodiles in congress.

If there is any clear indication that the Davao City mayor will not tolerate any graft and corruption during his presidency, an ominous sign was seen in public during the Duterte thanksgiving and victory event held yesterday in his city.

Instead of the usual lechon (roast pig), the Duterte camp served a different kind of roast for the celebration: crocodile.

Be forewarned.