MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Many Americans are familiar with President Barack Obama’s “beer diplomacy” when he hosted an intimate meeting — over beer — at The White House in an attempt to resolve a racial profiling issue.
Well, move over, Mr. Obama.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made headlines this week when he introduced his own diplomacy, not over beer, but over alcohol. It happened at Malacañang Palace, the Presidential residence, as he welcomed China’s Foreign Minister Want Yi who was visiting the Philippines.
It was all caught on tape! One Filipino netizen described Duterte as “alcohol dispenser.”
And it worked! The Chinese official said his country was donating half a million doses of a Chinese vaccine to the Philippines.
SACRAMENTO, California (The Adobo Chronicles, Sacramento Bureau) Tens of thousands of Californians have petitioned Governor Gavin Newsom to ease the state’s Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
To curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus, Newsom put in place what amounts to a temporary strict lockdown, restricting movement and activities by citizens.
One of the restrictions is a stay home order that among other things, prohibits people from holding gatherings or dinners with non household members.
Newsom however clarified that Californians can still host small dinners or gatherings of up to a maximum of 8 people without any issue.
The petitioners argued that they don’t know 8 people without issues. “Almost everyone comes with some baggage,” they said.
MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Now we know why the Duterte government has chosen to purchase the Chinese vaccine Sinovac. The country stands to earn P7,250 for every 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine it buys from China.
ABS-CBN is reporting that Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez said that purchasing Sinovac through the COVAX facility would decrease the price of the vaccine by as much as 300%.
The estimated cost of Sinovac is P3,629.50 per two doses (according to figures released by Senator Sonny Angara’s office). A 100% decrease in price would make the vaccine free. Therefore a 300% decrease would mean the makers of Sinovac would owe the Philippines P7,259 for each two-doses of the vaccine.
The Adobo Chronicles 
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