Category Archives: Government

Food, Government, Politics, Social Media

CRITICS AND POLITICAL FOES FIND SOMETHING FISHY IN NEWLY-RELEASED HILLARY CLINTON EMAILS

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Gefilte fish, salmon-style (Photo: MyBayKitchen.com)

WASHINGTON, D.C.  (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Critics and political opponents of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton found what they were hoping for in the State Department’s newly-released personal emails from the former Secretary of State: something really fishy.

The newest trove of more than 7,000 of Clinton’s emails were released Monday night, showcasing more of the mundane political notes and scheduling requests that have been released earlier.

The emails show Clinton was a little obsessed with criticism from Fox News and was eager to check out NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” and CBS’ “The Good Wife.”  In addition, a series of emails surfaced that could all but damage Clinton’s candidacy for president. It’s all about Gefilte fish.

Gefilte fish is a Jewish dish made from a poached mixture of ground boned fish which is typically eaten as an appetizer. The dish is popular on Shabbat and Holidays such as Passover, although they may be consumed throughout the year. Some versions of Gefilte fish are baked in a Bundt cake pan and made with Matzo meal and carrots. The dish usually uses white fish, but it could be made with other fish like salmon.

Now, whoever is anointed Republican nominee for president in the 2016 elections will have enough amunition to wage a  strong campaign against the presumed Democratic nominee, Hillary. Thanks to the fishy emails.

Government

ANOTHER EMBARRASSMENT FOR PHILIPPINES’ BUREAU OF CUSTOMS

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imageThe Philippines’ Bureau of Customs ( BOC ) has been under fire recently for its policy of checking contents of Balikbayan boxes for taxable items, earning the ire of Overseas Filipino Workers and their families over social media.

Now, the agency is being criticized for taxing a Filipino woman boxer for the prize belt she won representing the Philippines in the international light flyweight title of the Women’s International Boxing Association.

Jujeath Nagaowa, 27, had to pay 5,819 pesos (about $123) in taxes in order for her to claim the championship belt as part of her prize when it arrived in the Philippines.

According to the BOC’s computation, Nagaowa’s belt has a dutiable value of P20,147.15. She has to pay P3,022.00 for customs duty aside from the P2,782.00 value-added tax.

Nagaowa said she fought 10 rounds and agonized as she waited for her belt to arrive, only to be greeted by a breakdown of how much money she has to shell out to claim it.

Only in the Philippines does someone who brings great honor to his or her country can become the target of taxation from a government agency that’s desperate for cash and notorious for dumb policies.

BOC also announced that henceforth, all Filipina beauty queens who win international beauty pageants like Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International will have to pay tax on their crown if they decide to bring it home to the Philippines.

Government, International, Travel

OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS DITCHING THE BALIKBAYAN BOX IN FAVOR OF SUITCASES TO AVOID CUSTOMS TAX

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Suitcases in lieu of balikbayan boxes

NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – The Philippines’ Bureau of Customs (BOC) has come under very intense fire in recent weeks from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) because of its recent announcement that balikbayan boxes will be opened and inspected to determine whether any of  the items contained inside are subject to tax.

Balikbayan boxes are those corrugated cardboard boxes used by overseas Filipinos to ship gifts and household items for their families back home. Until recently, balikbayan boxes were free of inspection and customs tax.

In order to avoid inspection and customes duties, many OFWs have ditched the balikbayan box in favor of huge suitcases.  They would rather bring their gifts with them when they travel back to the Philippines than have them sent through shipping companies and vendors. This way, they would be physically present when their luggages are inspected by Customs upon their arrival in Manila.

The new modus operandi is causing huge problems for the airlines because the multiple checked suitcases are creating long lines at airport counters. Airlines are also concerned about  potential overloading of the aircraft.

It has also resulted in long lines at the arrival lounges at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and has prompted BOC to deploy more customs inspectors.

Well, BOC has brought this upon itself.