Category Archives: International

Philippine Presidential Candidate Rodrigo Duterte Surges In Worldwide Popularity

April 17, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

SYDNEY, Australia (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Up until last week, almost no one outside of the Philippines knew who Rodrigo Duterte was. He is, of course, the mayor of Davao City, who is running for his country’s presidency in the upcoming May 9 national elections.

But thanks to the power of the Internet, Duterte is now one of the most popular politicians worldwide. Even mainstream media in Australia, Europe and North America are paying very close attention.

But the tough-talking, foul-mouthed Filipino politician is becoming the talk of the world for all the wrong reasons. It was his comments making light of rape and murder that’s giving him the spotlight, and he is unapologetic about it. In those comments, he joked that he was mad that a beautiful female Australian missionary was repeatedly raped by many men before being killed. He was mad because he believed that the mayor should have been first in line.

The Adobo Chronicles has learned that Time magazine is already considering naming Duterte as 2016 Person of the Year. His only competition for the honor so far are the Filipino fanatics who overwhelmingly support his candidacy, and, of course, Donald Trump.

Once again, the Philippines is front and center on the world stage — outside of boxing and beauty pageants, that is — thanks to the mayor.

Film and TV, International

Whoa! Did You Know Scarlett Johansson Was Quarter Japanese?

April 16, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

HOLLYWOOD, California (The Adobo Chronicles, San Francisco Bureau) – We must commend Hollywood for casting Asian Americans in mainstream films. It is a testament to its commitment to diversity.

Remember “Aloha?” Actress Emma Stone, who is quarter Hawaiian, was cast opposite Bradley Cooper in the 2015 Columbia Pictures’ romantic comedy-drama film written, produced and directed by Cameron Crowe.

Now, Dreamworks has chosen quarter Japanese Scarlett Johansson to play the lead role in the iconic 1995 animated Japanese sci-fi film Ghost in the Shell. The film revolves around Major Motoko Kusanagi, a member of a futuristic security force tasked with tracking a mysterious hacker. The film is set in Japan, and the major cast members are Japanese.

Like “Aloha,” the Japanese sci-fi film is expected to be a blockbuster! We hope you’ll go see the film on the first week-end of its release nationwide.

Government, International, Law Enforcement, Technology, Travel

Philippines’ Customs Employees Want Colored CCTVs

April 15, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Following a proposal by vice presidential candidate Francis Escudero to install closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in transaction areas at the Philippines’ Bureau of Customs, members of the Bureau of Customs Employees Association (BOCEA) announced they will be staging a rally to protest the measure.

Earlier, BOCEA president Rommel Francisco went on national TV practically admitting that employees of the agency — regarded as the most corrupt in the Philippines — indeed accept bribes. He told GMA News: “Subukan kaya nilang itaas ‘yung sahod namin, ibigay sa amin ang tamang benepisyo? Sa tingin ba nila gagawa pa kami ng ganoon?” (Why don’t they try raising our salaries, and giving us the appropriate benefits? Do they think we would still do that?)

But in an interview with The Adobo Chronicles, Francisco clarified that his association is protesting the installation of CCTVs not because it violates the employees’ human rights, but because the employees want colored CCTVs — not black and white — installed in their work stations.

“It’s already 2016,” he said, “it’s about time we keep up with modern technology by using colored, high-definition CCTVs, and not the archaic black and white video recorders and monitors. We look terrible in black and white.”