Category Archives: Government

Business, Government, International, Tourism

Philippines Voids Building Permit Of Trump Tower In Makati City

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A rendering of the Trump Tower in Makati City, Philippines

MAKATI CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – When completed by the end of 2016, the Trump Tower in the Philippines will be among the country’s tallest buildings.  But the Trump name may disappear from this upscale residential building.

Launched in 2012, Trump Tower is a joint venture between Century Properties and the Trump Organization. It will be managed by Century Properties Management Inc. To rise at 250 meters above ground, the 56-story building is designed by award-winning international architectural firm Broadway Malyan.

“It’s really just an iconic, modern building, very tall, very chic, something that really symbolizes everything that a Trump project means,” said Eric Trump, son of Donald, and executive vice president of development and acquisition.

It is located at the corner of Kalayaan Avenue and Salamanca Street in Makati City.

But today, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued an executive order canceling the building permit of the Trump Tower.

Duterte called Donald Trump and his organization “persona non grata” for the Republican presidential candidate’s recent comments about the Philippines.

It will be recalled that in one of his campaign speeches, Trump lumped the Philippines with other countries with terrorism links, calling for the banning Filipinos from immigrating to the United States.  Duterte even challenged Trump to a fist fight.

“If we, Filipinos, are not welcome in the United States, why would we welcome Trump in the Philippines,” Duterte said.

Asked by The Adobo Chronicles what the Philippine government plans to do with the Trump Tower, Duterte replied, “I will make it a rehabilitation center for the more than half a million Filipino drug users who surrendered as part of my war on drugs.”

Touché!

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Fashion, Government, Politics, Social Media

Philippine President Duterte Now A Fashion Trendsetter

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In a short span of thirty days, Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has surprised his countrymen — supporters and critics alike — with the speed with which he has implemented visible changes towards his campaign promise of reducing crime, drugs, government corruption, and improving the lives of ordinary citizens.

But Duterte has also started what others are calling a fashion revolution, one that has veered away from the glitz and glamour usually reserved for the rich and famous.  He has disappointed the socialite members of the political world as well as artists who dress them up in Hollywood-style fashion by canceling the traditional red carpet that has been the distracting hallmark of the presidential State of the Nation Address (SONA).

On a personal level, he has started  what can be described as a rebellious fashion trend that has all but demolished the very concept of formal and executive wear.

On this photo spread, Duterte shows off his comfy version of the traditional formal wear for men — the barong tagalog.  Many have called it the maong tagalog, consisting of the traditional barong, albeit with rolled up sleeves and the shirt unbuttoned at the neck, matched with denim pants and broen shoes. In the other photo, he sports a short-sleeve shirt with sockless shoes. Finally he is also seen in his signature checkered polo shirt.

Will the rest of his cabinet and other elected officials follow suit?

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Beauty, Government, International, Tourism

Philippine President Duterte Orders Free Admission To 2017 Miss Universe Pageant In Manila

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image.jpegMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been clear from the very beginning: hosting the 2017 Miss Universe Pageant is not a priority of his administration and he does not want to spend a single centavo of government funds to stage the popular beauty contest in his country.

So, while  pageant will still be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on January 30, 2017, it will be funded 100% by the private sector.

But then there is one problem.

Tickets to the pageant finals  have gone on sale and the prices are astronomical. A VIP ticket reportedly costs over P35,000.   General admission is fixed at P3,700  which amounts to more than a week’s pay for minimum wage earners.

“I cannot allow the pageant to be held in my country and yet my countrymen will not even be able to afford and watch the show,” Duterte said.

He then issued an Executive Order directing organizers to make the pageant free admission.

“I don’t care how the private sector will finance the pageant, so long as it will not involve any drug money,” the president emphasized.

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