Category Archives: International

International, Music, Religion

No Truth To Rumor That Madonna Is Changing Her Name To Lucifera For Singapore Concert

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imageSINGAPORE  (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – If it were up to a Roman Catholic archbishop, people should go to church instead of attending Madonna’s Sunday concert in Singapore.

Archbishop William Goh reminded Catholics that it was their “moral obligation not to support those who denigrate and insult religions, including anti-Christian and immoral values promoted by the secular world”.

“There is no neutrality in faith; one is either for or against. Being present (at these events) in itself is a counter witness. Obedience to God and His commandments must come before the arts,” he said in a statement issued by his office on Saturday.

Madonna’s Rebel Heart tour, which has an R18 rating here, has been altered slightly for the Singapore audience, with religiously-sensitive content removed.

However, The Adobo Chronicles can confirm that the rumor that Madonna is changing her name to Lucifera (female for Lucifer) just for the Singapore concert is just that — a rumor.

The queen of pop will hold two concerts in Manila this week before flying to Singapore.

Food, History, International, Politics

Filipinos Take Offense On Donald Trump’s Comments on Pig’s Blood

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The Filipino 'dinuguan'
The Filipino ‘dinuguan’

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump has flouted official histories and facts, claiming, for example, that thousands of Muslims celebrated in New Jersey on Sept. 11, and that the Department of Labor cooks the unemployment books and that the real jobless rate is 23 percent.

On Friday night, Trump embraced another urban legend, claiming that an American general summarily executed terrorists with bullets dipped in pig’s blood a century ago.  He presented it as an example of how brutal toughness toward terrorists was the way to safeguard the United States. Mr. Trump did not mention any context, but the unconfirmed tale is generally set in the Philippines, where American forces after the Spanish-American War faced resistance in Muslim provinces.

Well, the Filipinos took offense over the statement of Trump.

Not only did they question the authenticity of the legend cited by Trump. They also were greatly offended because Filipinos take pride in their authentic cuisine known as dinuguan (pictured). It is a traditional dish cooked with pig’s blood.

Filipinos living in the U.S. vowed to mail Trump packages containing dinuguan as a way to let the Republican presidential frontrunner know about their sentiments.

 

Business, International, LGBT, Politics, Religion, Same-sex Marriage

Manny Pacquiao Aftermath: Filipinos Engage In Nike War

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Original photo from the Internet
Original photo from the Internet

CEBU CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In the Philippines, you are either pro-Manny Pacquiao or anti-Manny Pacquiao, and the conflict has turned to shoes.

Since Nike announced that it was severing its ties with the Filipino champion boxer after his disparaging comments comparing gay men and women to (worse than) animals, Pacquiao fans, bishops, politicians, LGBT advocates and practically people on the street have engaged in what is being called the Nike War.

In Cebu, the Queen City of the South, pro- Pacquiao actvists burned their Nike shoes in protest of the company’s move to fire Pacquiao. In Manila, mall shops selling sports shoes and paraphernalia have reported a sharp increase in Nike sales, apparently from shoppers who agree with Nike’s decision to drop Pacquiao.

Even the  Church has entered the fray, with a Filipino Evangelical bishop criticizing Nike for dropping Pacquiao, saying the megasports brand failed to consider all the heroic accomplishments of the congressman from Sarangani, including his ministry to the poor people. The bishop is calling for Filipinos to boycott Nike.

In the political arena, and unrelated to the Nike controversy,  a senatorial candidate has asked the Philippines’ electoral body, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to disqualify Pacquiao from the senatorial race because his upcoming April 9 fight with Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas would result in unfair advantage for the boxer in as far as media exposure is concerned. COMELEC rules provide for equal air time for all candidates.

Meanwhile, ADIDAS is reportedly recruiting sales reps to promote their shoes to take advantage of the ongoing Nike controversy in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, they take not only their boxers, but also their shoes , very seriously.