Category Archives: Government

Government, Politics, Religion

Duterte Appoints Filipino Archbishop To New Key Cabinet Post

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IMG_0018.PNGMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – If you can’t lick ’em, welcome them into your fold.  This seems to be Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest strategy in dealing with his staunchest critics.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has just been appointed by Duterte as his Secretary of Religion and Morality.

Villegas has been a vocal critic of the Duterte administration, using the Catholic Church’s bully pulpit to incite Filipino Catholics to resist and reject Duterte’s war on drugs, which many lost souls are blaming for the alleged extra-judicial killings.

Just a couple weeks ago, Villegas and the CBCP issued a pastoral letter read in most Catholic Churches throughout the country, calling the government to task for drug-related killings as well as the efforts to reinstate the death penalty in the Philippines.

Malacañang announced Villegas’ appointment during a special mass held in Davao City on Sunday.

In appointing Villegas, Duterte said that “while the Philippine Constitution provides for the separation of Church and State, we might as well include the Church leadership in our team since they like to meddle in government affairs anyway.”Besides, it’s the Catholic thing to do,” the president added.

Entertainment, Government, International, Politics, Social Media, The Media

Casting Call For New York Times’ Blockbuster Hollywood Film In The Philippines

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IMG_0017.PNGMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Calling all Filipinos! Here’s your chance to become a Hollywood film actor.

The New York Times has sent a crew to Manila to film what the newspaper hopes to be a blockbuster Hollywood film.  It is the Times’ first international venture at film producing aimed at rivaling Disney Films, known for fairy tales and fantasy movies. Partial funding for this project  was provided by the Loida Nicolas-Lewis Peace and Justice Foundation.

Tentatively titled “La P*ta,” (English subtitle: “La Pieta”), the film follows the lives of millions of Filipinos who are living in fear and grief, and whose peaceful and happy lives have been shattered by the alleged extra-judicial killings resulting from popular Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.

The New York Times has already announced some of its leading cast members for this film — Filipinos who will play themselves in this monumental epic, including Senators Leila De Lima, Alfonso Trillanes, and Risa Hontiveros.

Still to be cast are those who will portray Duterte, Philippine National Police Chief ‘Bato’ de la Rosa, self-confessed murderers Edgar Matobato and Arthur Lascañas, Jim Paredes, Cynthia Patag and Leah Navarro.

Extras  will also be hired to portray police officers, members of death squads and thousands of others for the film’s crowd scenes.

Interested and aspiring Filipino actors are encouraged to send their resumes to: letters@nytimes.com

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Government, International, Law Enforcement, Race Relations, Technology, Travel

Emirates To Allow Computer Desktops On Board Its Passenger Planes — For A Price.

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IMG_9985DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United States has announced a ban on all electronics larger than a standard smartphone on board direct flights out of eight countries across the middle East.

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international airport, has begun implementing the ban which also covers all electronics sold at Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths told local radio earlier this week.

Governnment-owned Emirates operates 18 flights daily to the United States out of Dubai.

But Emirates has set in a place a viable option for passengers who have to use their computers during flight.

Since the U.S. ban only covers laptops and tablets, passengers can bring a desktop computer on board, but with additional cost.

In order to be able to bring a desktop into the cabin, passengers must purchase two full-priced seats, one for themselves and the other to allow for space to set up their desktop.

Up to four desktop pieces are allowed on board: a CPU, monitor, keyboard and mouse.

The new option is available in the main cabin.  The option will not cost extra for First Class passengers.