Category Archives: Government

Government, International, Law Enforcement, Politics

For First Time Ever, Filipinos Will Not Get To See Pacquiao’s Upcoming Fight On TV

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June 9, 2012: Reigning WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-2-2, 38 KOs) lost a very controversial twelve round split decision against unbeaten WBO jr welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
June 9, 2012: Reigning WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-2-2, 38 KOs) lost a very controversial twelve round split decision against unbeaten WBO jr welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Every time Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao fights in the ring, it goes without saying that Filipinos will get to see him and his opponent.  Live. On TV. In the Philippines.

It has been said that each time there is a Pacquiao match, the Philippines comes to a standstill. Traffic becomes unbelievably light, crime rate drops to zero, everyone is glued to television sets, and even the anti-government rebels declare an unofficial ceasefire.

Well, that’s not going to happen when Pacquiao faces Timothy Bradley on April 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada —  his third match with the American welterweight champion.

It has to do with politics and Philippine law.

You see, Pacquiao, an incumbent congressman, is running for a Senate seat in the May 9, 2016 Philippine elections.  By law, candidates running for office must get equal time on television, which means that if shown on TV in the Philippines, the Pacquiao-Bradley fight will put all other Philippine Senate candidates at a disadvantage in terms of television exposure.

A commissioner of the Philippine Commission on Elections has already warned Pacquiao that if his fight is shown on TV in the Philippines, he will have to face serious consequences.

Rowena Guanzon said that Pacquiao will have to refrain from the boxing ring during his campaign for a Senate seat in the coming May 9 elections.

So, instead of dropping from the senatorial race, Pacquiao agreed that his fight will not be shown on Philippine television at all.

Pacquiao fans, however, are urging him to drop his senatorial bid instead so that they can watch his match with Bradley, live on TV, on April 9.

Government, Politics

Philippines’ Social Welfare Secretary Desperate To Keep Her Job Beyond 2016

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Soliman before, left, and after
Soliman before, left, and after

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – The Philippines’ Social Welfare Secretary, Dinky Soliman, has had her share of criticism, not the least of which was the accusation that she rounded up street children and families and hauled them away to resorts outside of Metro Manila to impress visiting dignitaries like Pope Francis and the APEC heads of state.

She reportedly loves her job so much that she is doing everything within her power to be re-appointed to her position when the new president takes office later this summer.

Well, the only way that would happen is if former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Aquino’s appointed successor, wins the presidential election in May this year.

So, the 63-year-old Soliman embarked on a very personal crusade to make sure that Roxas, of the Liberal (Yellow) Party, wins.

The secretary, who used to sport a red streak on her hair, has done a total  makeover, changing her streak from red to yellow, to show her full support for Aquino’s candidate Roxas and the Yellow party.

Will Soliman’s strategy work?  We will know after the May elections.

 

Government

Philippines’ Special Holidays Rob Workers Of Their Wages

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Siopao
Siopao

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – When one buys siopao (steamed pork buns) in the Philippines, one can choose between ‘regular’ and ‘special.’ The regular is stuffed with plain bola-bola (meatballs) or asado (sweetened pork), but the larger special comes with egg, sausage and other additional ingredients, depending on where you buy them.

The Philippines’ penchant for regular and special is ingrained in its psyche, even when it comes to public holidays. Holidays can be regular, or special (nonworking).

But unlike siopao, Filipino workers are shortchanged during special, nonworking holidays like Thursday, February 25, which commemorates the 30th anniversary of the People’s Power Revolution that ousted the late dictator, Ferdinand E. Marcos.

For millions of hard-working Filipinos, they get the day off, but so do their pay. Special, nonworking holidays mean ‘no work, no pay.’

But for many, they have really no choice but to take the day off since their workplace is closed, and not get paid.

It’s more fun in the Philippines, where lawmakers think of the most brilliant of ideas.

Happy People’s Power, y’al!