Category Archives: International

Economy, Government, International, Politics, Travel

RUSSIA’S PUTIN AND INDONESIA’S WIDODO WILL SKIP APEC SUMMIT IN MANILA

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) –  Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indonesian President Joko Widodo will not attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ meeting in Manila next week.

According to the Russian news agency RBC, Putin suddenly refused to participate in the APEC summit in the Philippines but will send Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev instead.

Meanwhile, during the press briefing at the International Media Center on Thursday afternoon, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario confirmed Widodo’s absence from APEC.

“I just got a verbal message that there are things in Jakarta that need the attention of Pres. Widodo,” Del Rosario said, citing domestic concerns as reason for Widodo’s sudden non-attendance.

Widodo will be represented by Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong.

Although the Russian and Indonesian govenments did not give specific reasons for their heads of state’s decision to skip the Manila summit, many are speculating that Putin and Widodo are scared of being victimized by the laglag bala extortion scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

President Aquino expressed frustration especially over Putin’s decision since the Manila government even set aside an exclusive lane for the Russian leader along EDSA (Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare) so that he does not encounter any traffic to and from the meeting site.

Government, International, Media, Tourism, Travel

LAGLAG BALA: TOURISM SECRETARY TELLS FILIPINOS, MEDIA TO SHUT UP

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Hush!  Philippine Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. urged Filipinos and the media to STFU (shut up) because it is hurting the country’s tourism industry.

Jimenez was referring to the laglag bala  or tanim bala scheme at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in which airport personnel allegedly “plant” bullets in bags of unsuspecting airline passengers in order to extort money.

Speaking at a weekly forum at the Luneta Hotel, Jimenez said reports on the tanim bala demonstrate the media’s tendency to discuss issues “to death until it actually injures our own interest.”

“I am very concerned on both ends of it — not only because it is a symptom of corruption that we have yet to uproot, it is also a symptom that sometimes as a country we don’t know when to stop talking about something,” he said.

Jimenez went as far as recommending to President Aquino to change the administration’s anti-corruption mantra from Daang Matuwid (straight path) to Daang Matahimik (quiet path).

 

 

International, Politics, Tourism, Travel

MANILA’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: NAIA RENAMED FEMIA

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From NAIA to FEMIA
From NAIA to FEMIA

MANILA, Philippines ( The Adobo Chronicles) – The laglag bala scheme at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has caused the Aquino administration so much ridicule and embarrassment that the President has ordered the renaming of the airport to FEMIA.

The scheme involves the alleged ‘planting’ of bullets in the bags of unsuspecting airline passengers for the purpose of extorting money.

“I do not wish the Aquino name to be associated with this international scandal,” Aquino said.  NAIA was named after his father who was gunned down at the Manila airport after returning from years of exile in the U.S.

Just in time for next week’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Manila, to be attended by some 21 world leaders, the new signage was put up today in austere light switching ceremonies.

Henceforth, NAIA will be called FEMIA: Ferdinand E. Marcos International Airport, in honor of the late dictator, a nemesis of the Aquinos.

The lighting ceremony was led by Senator Bongbong Marcos, Ferdinand’s son, who is a candidate for vice president.