Category Archives: International

Business, Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Religion, The Media

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT AQUINO GRANTS ABSOLUTE PARDON ON PORK BARREL SCAM

1 Comment

imageManila, Philippines. (The Adobo Chronicles) – The pork barrel scandal that has gripped the Philippines and elevated corruption to unprecedented levels may finally come to an end.

The scandal involves the alleged siphoning of ten billion pesos of taxpayer money into the coffers of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles , ghost nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and politicians.

First, it was  the senators that were implicated in the scandal (more than half of sitting senators), then top Aquino administration officials, then current and past congressmen (more than 150 of them), then journalists, and finally the  National Bureau of Investigation and the Departme of Justice. That leaves the Catholic bishops the only ones unscathed.

But wait, previous news reports have long associated the Catholic church with Napoles, including the reported transfer of the famed Black Nazarene statue at the Quiapo Catholic Church to her residence for some private occasion.

Seeing as how no one is left who is not implicated in the scam, President Noynoy Aquino today announced that he has issued an executive order granting absolute pardon to all who have been involved in the pork barrel scandal. “This will allow our country to start fresh and rise from all this embarrassment and negativity,” Aquino said.  He added, “it is time for us to build a new society.”

Ironically,  ‘new society’ translates to  ‘bagong lipunan,” a mantra used by the late President Ferdinand Marcos soon  after he declared Martial Law that sealed his decades long dictatorial rule of this U.S. ally country.

 

Human Interest, International, Science and Environment, Travel, Uncategorized

SAN FRANCISCO TO STRAIGHTEN CROOKEDEST STREET

1 Comment
Sam Francisco's Crookedest Street
Sam Francisco’s Crookedest Street

San Francisco, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – A visit to San Francisco is never complete without photo opportunities by the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, TransAmerica Building, Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf and of course, The Crookedest Street.

The famed Lombard Street section is famous for having a steep, one-block stretch that consists of eight tight hairpin turns. On either side of the street are homes that are probably among the top prized real estate in the City by the Bay.

Starting this summer, the city will close the street to weekend vehicular traffic in what it is calling an “experiment” to reduce congestion in the area and to provide the millionaire home owners a reprieve from the unending stream of vehicles navigating the brick pavement for the experience of a lifetime. (Apparently, many have not heard of Zigzag Road in the Philippines, leading up to the mountain city of Baguio).

Baguio City's Zigzag Road, Philippines
Baguio City’s Zigzag Road, Philippines

The Adobo Chronicles has obtained leaked documents from San Francisco’s City Hall that indicate the ‘experiment’ is actually a precursor to a more permanent plan to straighten the street to make room for homeowners to expand their existing real estate property. The city is poised to earn millions of dollars by selling part of the city street to the homeowners.

The documents also reveal an alternative plan – if the sale doesn’t work out – for the city to establish a toll gate at the top of the one-way street and charge each non-resident vehicle $10 to traverse the world’s crookedest street.

This plan could be up for a public vote as early as the next local elections.

Crooked or straight? Voters will decide. It could boil down to how straight and gay voters decide!

Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Technology, The Media

HOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES PLAN GENDER DISCRIMINATION PROTEST MARCH OVER SUPERHERO FILMS

1 Comment
Halle Berry's 'Catwoman'
Halle Berry’s ‘Catwoman’

Hollywood, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – A group of famous Hollywood actresses is planning a protest march next week to highlight what they call the pervasive gender discrimination by film studios as it relates to superhero films.  The group, headed by Halle Berry, will begin the march at 5pm on May 26 at the corner of Santa Monica and La Cienega Boulevards in West Hollywood and conclude in front of the historic Mann’s Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard.  There, Berry and other famous actresses like Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway, Cameron Diaz, Emma Stone and Charlize Theron will take turns in denouncing the misogynistic culture among Hollywood film producers.

The core of the protest is based on superhero feature films which continue to dominate blockbuster performances and box office revenue.  Berry said that the  ‘Catwoman’ remains to be the only major Hollywood film feature that starred a female superhero.  Berry played the title role in the 2004 movie. “In contrast,” she said, “there have been scores of male superhero films and sequels in the last several decades.”

There have been at least ten ‘Batman’ major films, six ‘Superman’ films, four ‘Spiderman’ films and 3 ‘Captain America’ films, not to mention the anticipated 2014 sequels to ‘Spiderman,’ ‘Captain America’ and ‘Superman.’ These do not include animated super hero films and series.

Lynda Carter's 'Wonder Woman' on TV
Lynda Carter’s ‘Wonder Woman’ on TV

Emma Stone, who co-stars with Andrew Garfield in the latest ‘Spiderman’ movie, says she is dying to play ‘Wonder Woman.’ Outside of the 1970’s television series featuring Lynda Carter, there has never been a single ‘Wonder Woman’ Hollywood film feature. “What’s up with that,” Stone said.

In its prepared manifesto, the group said that unless Hollywood gives women equal opportunity to play super heroines and be the lead in upcoming film productions, Hollywood actresses will start to boycott, and refuse to appear in, any Hollywood productions.

“We’re tired of waiting,” Hathaway said. “We want lead super heroine roles now!”