Category Archives: International

SINGER CHRIS BROWN ESCAPES FROM MANILA, IS NOW SAFE AND SOUND IN HONG KONG

 

A jumbo jet's wheel well
A jumbo jet’s wheel well

HONG KONG (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Grammy Award winner Chris Brown has eluded immigration authorities in the Philippines and is now safe and sound in Hong Kong.

Brown was in Manila for a one-day concert on Tuesday and was prevented from leaving the country because of fraud charges brought against him and his promoter in connection with a New Year’s Eve concert last year.  The singer failed to show up for the scheduled gig at the Philippine Arena, even after being paid $1 Million in advance.

Hong Kong authorities said that Brown arrived holed up in the wheel well of a China Airlines jumbo jet.  That he survived the two-hour flight from Manila below freezing cold weather at oxygen-depleted heights without dying or falling out of the wheel well was in itself, a miracle, the authorities said.

However, this is not the first time a person has attempted to do this.

In 2014, a 16-year-old boy survived a five-hour flight from California to Hawaii after he sneaked into the wheel well of a Hawaiian Airlines plane.

Eyewitnesses said that early this morning, Brown asked immigration officers if he could step outside the airport terminal  where he was being held in order to smoke a cigarette. Just like most airports, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is a smoke-free facility.  The officers led him into the tarmac, where he suddenly disappeared.

It was not until Philippine authorities received word from Hong Kong that they had realized what happened.

The immigration officers assigned to watch over Brown have been put on administrative leave pending investigation of the great escape.

IN AFTERMATH OF CHRIS BROWN’S DEPARTURE HOLD IN MANILA, MADONNA CANCELS PHILIPPINE CONCERT

Brown, left, and Madonna
Brown, left, and Madonna

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Just days after she announced she was holding a one-day-only concert in Manila in February next year, Madonna said she was cancelling the Philippine leg of her Rebel Heart tour.

The shocking announcement came on the heels of the departure hold order for American Chris Brown, who was in Manila for a one-day concert this week.  Brown’s departure was stopped by Philippine immigration authorities in connection with a complaint filed against the him for allegedly defrauding a concert promoter earlier this year. Brown failed to show up for a scheduled New Year’s eve concert at the Philippine Arena after being paid $1 Million in advance.

Madonna sympathized with Brown and said that what happened to the singer is an insult to the freedom and integrity of international performers. She said she was afraid that the same thing might happen to her when she visits Manila for the first time next year.

Madonna fans were extremely distraught over the news as they were preparing to purchase their tickets which go on sale on July 26.  Ticket prices ranged from P3,150 to P57,750 ($71 to $1,312).

 

‘SIX CALIFORNIAS’ BALLOT INITIATIVE ADVANCES, TIJUANA WANTS TO BE PART OF SOUTH CALIFORNIA

imageSILICON VALLEY,  California (The Adobo Chronicles®) – A plan backed by venture capitalist Tim Draper to split California into six states has gained enough signatures to make the November 2016 ballot, the plan’s backers say.

On Tuesday, Draper told USA Today the campaign had garnered 1.3 million signatures, well over the approximately 808,000 needed. The signatures will be submitted in Sacramento Wednesday for placement on the November 2016 ballot.

The six carved out states would look like this:

Jefferson: The northern part of the state, including Humboldt and Mendocino counties.

North California: The wine country counties of Sonoma and Napa, as well as the Sierra Nevada region.

Silicon Valley: Including San Francisco, San Jose and most of what’s considered the San Francisco Bay Area.

Central California: The vast central valley farm region, including Tulare and Fresno counties.

West California: Including Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

South California: Including what’s called the Inland Empire of San Bernadino and Riverside, plus San Diego.

Upon  hearing the good news, residents in Tijuana in the southern U.S.-Mexico border rallied in the streets demanding that their town be included in the planned South California state.

North of the border, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will vote Thursday on a resolution endorsing Tijuana’s inclusion.

“Everyday, thousands cross the border — legally and illegally — into and out of Tijuana for work , business or tourism,” the board resolution states, “and it is in the best interest of San Diego and its economy to lift travel restrictions between the county and Tijuana.  What could be a better way to do that than to make Tijuana a part of South California and the U.S.?”

Draper told reporters he was open to the idea of annexing TJ to South California.