Category Archives: Government

EU Ends Visa-Free Travel For Americans; Philippines To End Visa-Free Travel For EU Citizens

IMG_1587.PNGMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The European Parliament has voted to end visa-free travel for Americans within the EU.

It comes after the US failed to agree to visa-free travel for citizens of five EU countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland and Romania – as part of a reciprocity agreement. US citizens can normally travel to all countries in the bloc without a visa.

The vote urges the revocation of the scheme within two months, meaning Americans will have to apply for extra documents for 12 months after the European Commission implements a “delegated act” to bring the change into effect.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines, lawmakers are set to vote for the revocation of the visa waiver for citizens of the European Union traveling to the island nation. This, after the EU Parliament passed two resolutions that interferes with the internal affairs of the Philippines.

Filipino Senators and Congressmen declared EU as ‘persona non grata’ after it called for the investigation of the alleged extrajudicial killings under President Rodrigo Duterte’s War on Drugs and demanding the immediate release of incarcerated Senator Leila De Lima who has been charged with drug-related crimes.

Under current Philippine immigration law, citizens of EU countries can visit the Philippines for up to 30 days without a visa.

If the new law is passed, EU citizens will be forced to never leave home without a visa (in addition to American Express and MasterCard) when traveling to the Philippines 🇵🇭.

Billboards Considered Greatest Driver Distractions, Especially Those Featuring Kris Aquino

IMG_1543MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Lawmakers are considering suspending the implementation of the new Anti Driving Distraction Law which prohibits the use of mobile devices or the car window display of trinkets, including rosaries, that could impair the road view of motorists.

After receiving public feedback on the new law, Congress members now realize that the greater distraction for motorists are the advertising billboards that line the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila and other urban cities.

Motorists have complained that the biggest distraction are the billboards, especially those that feature Kris Aquino.

“Seeing Kris on the billboards just triggers the rise in my blood pressure,” said one jeepney driver.

Lawmakers realize that it will take some time before all billboards  can be taken down, so they agreed on starting with those that feature the retired talk show host and former presidential sister.

“We’ve got to start somewhere,” Senator Tito Sotto told The Adobo Chronicles.

Catholic Bishops Protest Rosary Ban In Car Windows

IMG_1534.JPGMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Amid the confusion that greeted the implementation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act (ADDA), transportation officials reminded Filipino motorists that their “line of sight” should be clear not just of electronic gadgets but also rosaries, small figurines, trinkets, and other accessories that can hinder their view of the road.

Reacting to the rosary ban, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on all Catholics to gather at the Luneta this coming Sunday to protest what it is calling “government intrusion in religious affairs.”

CBCP President Socrates Villegas reminded the government that there is a constitutional mandate for the separation of church and state.

“We’ve never ever meddled in the affairs of the government, so why should it meddle with ours,” Villegas said.

Perhaps this is just a case of amnesia on the part of the CBCP head?