Category Archives: International

MRT BLAMED FOR PHILIPPINES’ LOSS TO CHINA IN BID TO HOST 2019 FIBA BASKETBALL WORLD CUP

August 7, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

FIBA (International Basketball Federation) president Horacio Muratore from Argentina announces China as the host country of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup during a ceremony in Tokyo on August 7, 2015. China has won the right to host the 2019 basketball World Cup, beating out the Philippines in a vote on August 7 in Tokyo. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

The Philippines’ bid to host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup fell short as China was officially named the host of basketball’s biggest international tournament after both countries made their final presentations to the FIBA Central Board on Friday in Tokyo, Japan.

The Philippine delegation pulled out all the stops but was just up against a formidable foe in China, a known giant in hosting sporting events.

Even the countries’ respective delegations were reminiscent of “David and Goliath,” with the Philippines’ boxing champion Manny Pacquiao standing next to China’s “giant” basketball legend Yao Ming. Capture

The Philippine delegation focused on the Filipinos’ passion for basketball as well as the country’s reputation as the social media capital of the world.

But when it came to infrastructure, China won the FIBA voters’ nod hands down as it laid out its already existing world-class venues as well as trains connecting the no less than eight cities that will host the games.

The Philippine delegation spoke briefly about MRT, Metro Manila’s Light Railway System that’s been plagued with long lines, accidents, train breakdowns and mismanagement.

Right there and then, the FIBA voters picked China.

International, Military, Politics

IRANIAN HARDLINERS OUTRAGED AT OBAMA STATEMENT COMPARING THEM TO REPUBLICANS

August 7, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

TEHRAN, Iran (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for President Obama to retract a statement he made Wednesday saying members of Congress who opposed the Iran nuke deal had something in common with Iranians who chanted “Death to America” in the streets of Tehran.

Obama made the comments in a speech at American University in Washington while going after critics of the deal, who he said were “selling a fantasy” to the American people. “In fact, it’s those hardliners who are most comfortable with the status quo,” Obama said. “It’s those hardliners chanting ‘Death to America’ who have been most opposed to the deal. They’re making common cause with the Republican caucus.”

But no Republican is more outraged than the Iranian hardliners themselves.

In the streets of Tehran, thousands of hardliners marched and chanted “Obama, retract your statement ” and “We are no Republicans!”

Leaders of the march said it was the biggest insult to them and their cause to be compared to dumb, clueless and do-nothing Relublicans. “We’re better off than them,” they said.

A spokesperson for The White House said Obama was preparing a statement apologizing to the Iranians.

Government, International, Religion

PHILIPPINES CUTS DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH THE VATICAN!

August 6, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

ROME, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – The predominantly Catholic country, the Philippines, has cut diplomatic ties with The Vatican, sources close to Pope Francis, told reporters in Rome today.

The surprise move comes after Pope Francis issued a statement Wednesday calling for the church to embrace Catholics who have divorced and remarried.

Such couples “are not excommunicated, and they absolutely must not be treated that way,” Francis told a Vatican crowd. “They always belong to the church.”

Francis asked pastors to welcome Catholics who have remarried without an annulment, even though such Catholics are currently barred in most cases from receiving the Eucharist, the central sacrament of the faith.

“The church is called to be always the open house of the father … no closed doors! No closed doors,” Francis told the crowd at his weekly public audience, which resumed after a month-long summer break.

President Aquino, a devout Catholic (and a bachelor) confirmed the news with the Malacañang press corps. He said that the decision was reached after consulation with the ultra conservative Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The Philippines prides itself as the only remaining country in the world, outside of The Vatican, in which divorce is not legal. This, despite common knowledge that many Filipino men, especially rich politicians, are known to be philanderers and openly practice polygamy.

“By his statement, Pope Francis undermines the Philippines’ stubborn resolve to cling to centuries-old church dogma regarding the Sacrament of Marriage,” Aquino said. “We can’t allow The Vatican to take away the Philippines’ world record on divorce law,” he added.