Category Archives: Government

Government, Politics

PHILIPPINES : ‘BUTTERFLY LADIES’ WILL HEAD ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

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L-R: Poe, Robredo, Sereno, Defensor-Santiago, Marcos

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles®) – For centuries, the Philippines has been a society known for its deeply-ingrained machismo, where men rule and women are relegated to the sidelines.

Not any more.

The Philippines is among the few countries where women are, or have been, heads of state.  In fact, there had been two women Philippine presidents — the late Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (who remains in hospital arrest).

Fast forward to 2016.

It is predicted that a woman will be elected president,  as well as vice president!

The Philippines’ unique electoral process allows voters to vote across party lines.  This means they could vote for the presidential candidate of one party and for the vice presidential bet of another.

In fact, incumbent President NoyNoy Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay are from opposing political parties.

One woman candidate, Senator Grace Poe, has so far declared her candidacy for president while another, Leni Robredo, is about to named vice presidential candidate for an opposing party.  Both are popular and have done extremely well in national polls.

The Philippine Supreme Court is already headed by a woman chief justice – Maria Lourdes Sereno.

It is further predicted that the next Senate president and next Speaker of the House will both be women.  Among the candidates are Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Representative Imelda Romualdez Marcos, respectively.

So the possibility of all three branches of government being ruled by women is just around the corner.  When it happens, the Philippines will be known not for the Iron Lady, but its Butterfly (sleeves) ladies!

Meanwhile, male politicians are gearing up to be part of Gilas, the Philippines’ national basketball team — either as players or members of the coaching team, their best chance of maintaining some semblance of machismo.

Government, Politics, Religion

OVERWHELMED BY POPE’S VISIT, SPEAKER BOEHNER PROMISES MAJOR REFORMS

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Pope Francis, left, and a tearful Boehner
Pope Francis, left, and a tearful Boehner

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles® ) –  Overwhelmed by the Pope’s presence, and the enlightenment of The Holy Spirit, a tearful and repentant House Speaker John Boehner promised to lead the Republican Party to institute major reforms long resisted by the GOP.

Pope Francis addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress this morning, calling on legislators to emulate the examples of four great Americans: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.

A devout Catholic, Boehner could not contain his emotions standing next to the head of the Roman Catholic Church during the visiting pontiff’s speech inside the Congress chambers and in a short balcony appearance to greet the crowd that packed the lawn leading up from the Washington Monument.

Soon after the Pope left Capitol Hill, Boehner called for an impromptu press conference, telling reporters that he was so inspired by Francis’ message that he will lead the GOP in instituting major reforms including those on comprehensive immigration, climate change, creating jobs, taxing the rich, abolishing the death penalty, boosting Obamacare through Universal Health care, dialogue with Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Russia and China, as well as  a humanitarian U.S. response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

So far, there has been no response from the Republican presidential candidates on Boehner’s announcement.

Government, International, Religion

WHITE HOUSE FOILS GATECRASH ATTEMPT AT POPE FRANCIS’ WELCOME CEREMONY

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The Salahis (File photo by AP)
The Salahis (File photo by AP)
WASHINGTON, D.C.  (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Remember Michaele and Tareq Salahi, the couple who gatecrashed a 2009 White House dinner honoring Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh? Well, they’re at it again.

The Salahis managed to get into the guest list for Wednesday’s welcoming ceremony for Pope Francis at the White House South Lawn.

Secret Service personnel reviewing the guest list discovered something unusual on the guest list. It included  two familiar names : Mother Theresa and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Both names were traced back to the Salahis.

Pope Francis arrives in Washington Tuesday and will visit New York and Philadelphia. It’s the Pontiff’s first visit to the United States.