Category Archives: Government

Government, Immigration, International, Politics

Duterte Administration To Launch ‘Balikbansa’ For U.S. Pinoys To Be Deported By Donald Trump

Leave a comment
image
Passengers Arriving at Manila’s international airport (Photo credit: philstar.com)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Move over ‘Balikbayan.’ The Philippine government is about to launch a new program designed to benefit undocumented Pinoys in the U.S. who face deportation under a Donald Trump administration. It’s called ‘Balikbansa.’

Today, Trump outlined his 10-point immigration policy that, among others, rules out any amnesty for foreign nationals living in the U.S. illegally, and calling for the return of undocumented immigrants to their respective home countries.

In anticipation of a Trump victory in November’s U.S. presidential elections (many U.S. Pinoys are voting for Trump), the Duterte administration has finalized a blueprint of a new national program that would deal with the expected influx of ‘deported’ U.S. Pinoys.

The program, patterned after the existing ‘Balikbayan’ program, would provide generous perks and benefits for all Filipinos who will be deported back to the Philippines by the Trump administration.

Among the benefits are the increase in the maximum value of personal and gift items that returning Pinoys can bring back via their balikbayan boxes.  The new cap will be increased to One Million Pesos, up from the existing P350,000.

In addition, returning Pinoys will be exempted from paying income taxes for the first 5 years after their return to the Philippines, assuming of course that they find employment.

Also, certified ‘deported’ U.S. Filipinos will be able to exchange their dollars for Philippine pesos at a special rate which would be 30% above the prevailing U.S. Dollar-Peso exchange rate.

“Our overseas Filipinos, documented or not, are the true heroes of our country,” Duterte said, “sacrificing everything just to provide their families with a better life.  We owe it to them to return their heroism if expelled from countries like the U.S.”

Presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar told The Adobo Chronicles that the ‘Balikbansa’ program will only go into effect if Trump is elected president.  ‘Otherwise, we revert back to the Balikbayan program,’ he added.

image

Government, International, Politics, Social Media

Filipinos React To Senator De Lima’s ‘Impeachment’

Leave a comment
image.jpeg
Dilma, left, and De Lima

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Just hours after watching  CNN’s Christiane Amanpour interview Leila De Lima on Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s war on drugs, Filipinos were shocked at the news that the lady senator has been impeached.

Reaction was mixed. Many rejoiced while others expressed sadness that the escalating word war between Duterte and De Lima has come to this.

The news of impeachment came via the late-night edition of ABS-CBN’s ‘TV Patrol’ when newsreader (and former Vice President) Noli De Castro mentioned De Lima in his ‘nagbabagang balita’ (coal-hot news).

Well, it turns our that many Filipinos heard it wrong from the constantly screaming De Castro.

De Castro was reporting on breaking news from Brazil where President Dilma Rousseff was impeached by the Senate.

Actually, Philippine senators cannot be impeached. Rather, they can be expelled by a three-fourths vote of all members of the Senate. Yes all, including Senator Manny Pacquiao.

image

 

Government, Media

Broadcaster And Former VP Noli De Castro Fears Losing His Job

Leave a comment
image.jpeg
De Castro, left, and Duterte

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – You may like it or hate it, but ‘Teeeeeevey Patrol’ has been a fixture on Philippine television news for many decades.  The news program has been closely identified with former Vice President Noli De Castro, who anchors TV Patrol as well as his own radio show.

But the TV and radio screaming may soon come to an end, thanks to a new nationwide radio program hosted by none other than Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.  It will soon make its debut on Radio-TV Malacañang (RTVM).

Duterte used to host a weekly radio program when he was mayor of Davao City. He used the program to broadcast his administration’s projects and campaigns, aside from using it to name government workers or officials who are perceived to be corrupt. He also used it to name people who are allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade. Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said an announcer’s booth was made especially for the President’s use in Malacañang.

“After many years and for the first time, we would see an actual radio booth for RTVM. It is going to be the official radio booth of the President and he would be the first to use it for his ‘Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa’ program,” Andanar said over dzBB yesterday.

De Castro is very fearful that he will soon lose his broadcasting job to the very popular Duterte. “I may soon have to retire or file for unemployment benefits,” the 67-year-old ‘Kabayan’ told The Adobo Chronicles.

Is this the beginning of the end for ‘nagbabagang balita’ (coal-hot news)?

image