Category Archives: Human Interest

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CHANGE OF VENUE: PHILIPPINES TO HOST 2018 WORLD CUP

July 9, 2014 Pol Pinoy 31 Comments

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (The Adobo Chronicles) – The 2014 World Cup concludes with the final match between Germany and Argentina this Sunday. Already, all eyes are focused on the 2018 World Cup.

Earlier, Russia won the bid to host the next World Cup, but mounting concern about the country’s human rights record has forced FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) to cancel the winning bid and name an alternative venue for 2018 soccer games.

In an announcement that stunned the world football community, FIFA has named the Philippines as the new venue for the 2018 World Cup. Unknown to many, the Philippines does have its national football team named ‘Azkals,’ which is ranked 129th by FIFA. Whether or not the Azkals can qualify for the 2018 games is not an issue. Rather it is all about the venue.

This year, the Philippines will inaugurate the Philippine Arena located in Bocaue, Bulacan, just 14 miles north of Manila. It is owned by the filthy rich religious group, Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ), which accounts for just about 3% of all religious denominations in the country.

FIFA was very impressed with the enormity of the domed structure. Using the arena as the venue for the World Cup was the deal breaker in the decision to award the Philippines the hosting rights for 2018.

The 74,000 square meter indoor arena has a seating capacity of 50,000, way above the FIFA standard of 30,000 for its World Cup venues. Once completed, the Philippine Arena will be the largest domed structure in the world. In comparison, the Madison Square Garden in New York could only sit 20,000 people, while the Staples Center in Los Angeles has a capacity of 21,000.

Designed by Kansas City-based architecture firm Populous, construction is being carried out by South Korea’s Hanwha Engineering and Construction Corp. and is expected to be completed in time to mark the church’s centennial celebration this year.The church said it plans to use the arena for religious gatherings, except in 2018 when it will rent out the arena to FIFA.

It’s not only “more fun in the Philippines” (the Philippine Department of Tourism meme). It’s also bigger and better in this island nation.

See related story: World Cup, The Battle Between Two Popes.

Business, Health & Medicine, Human Interest, International, Politics, Sports, The Media, Travel

IT’S OFFICIAL: LEBRON JAMES SIGNS UP WITH KIA TEAM

July 9, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Cleveland, Ohio (The Adobo Chronicles) – The world stands still as billions of people await the decision of LeBron James on which NBA team he will sign up with — Cleveland Cavaliers or back to Miami Heat. In an exclusive interview with The Adobo Chronicles, James confirmed what many feared: neither.

Instead, the star basketbal player has decided to leave NBA altogether. He is signing up with the PBA , the professional basketball league of the Philippines.

James is scheduled to fly to Manila this week to sign a contract with team KIA, a new PBA team owned by the Korean car manufacturing company. Recently, KIA annouced that it has named champion boxer and Philippine Congressman Manny Pacquiao as the team’s head coach.

James seems to love working with Filipinos. Miami Heat’s coach, Erik Spoelstra, is Filipino American.

Human Interest, International, Politics, Sports

MANNY PACQUIAO SNUBS PHILIPPINE VICE PRESIDENT’S INVITATION TO BE HIS RUNNING MATE

July 7, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – In 2016, the Filipino people will elect a new president to succeed NoyNoy Aquino whose 6-year term expires that year.

While many politicians have hinted about running for president, no one has been more straightforward and definite about his presidential ambition than the current vice president, Jejomar Binay. After all, it is in his family’s blood. Binay’s son Jejomar, Jr. is the mayor of Makati City and his two daughters Nancy and Abigail are members of the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

This early, Binay has already formed a new political party called the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and has been quoted as saying in media reports that boxing champion Manny Pacquiao will be included in his new party’s senatorial lineup. Pacquiao currently sits as a member of the House of Representatives.

In a Skype interview today with The Adobo Chronicles, Pacquiao vehemently denied that he was running for senator under Binay’s new party. “How is that possible, when my intention is to run for president,” Pacquiao said.

Binay’s strategy was to try to get Pacquiao to run for an elective post other than president, so that he (Binay) will run unopposed by a very formidable candidate such as the boxer congressman. With his enormous popularity and wealth (pre-tax), Pacquiao’s odds of winning the presidential post in a nationwide election are better than 10 to 1, in his favor.

Binay is reportedly considering Senator Jinggoy Estrada who is now in jail facing plunder charges to be his vice presidential running mate. Pacquiao, on the other hand, has hinted he might ask actress Nora Aunor to be his running mate. (In the Philippines, the vice president is elected independently of the president, unlike in the U.S. where a vote for the president is also a vote for the vice president.)