Category Archives: International

International, Law Enforcement, Military, Politics

U.S. TO RELOCATE PEARL HARBOR FROM HAWAII TO MANILA BAY

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The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii
The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii (The Adobo Chronicles) – Now that a new, ten-year agreement has been signed to allow increased U.S. military presence in the Philippines, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced today that Pearl Harbor will be relocated to Manila Bay, just behind the U.S. Embassy on Roxas Boulevard.

“It is part of the U.S. plan to be more strategic in the deployment of its troops, especially near hotspot areas in the Asian region, including China, North Korea and Russia,” Hagel said.  He added that relocating Pearl Harbor to Manila makes perfect sense because of the proximity of the Philippines to the hotspot areas.  Hagel also said that “after all, the Philippines is called the ‘Pearl of the the Orient Seas’ so Pearl Harbor fits right in.”

Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie was outraged at the federal government’s decision and threatened to join the Hawaii Independence Movement.

Meanwhile, Manila Mayor (and former Philippine President) Joseph Estrada was ecstatic and is planning a celebratory luau at the Manila Hotel this weekend.

International, Law Enforcement, Politics, The Media, Travel

BIRTHERS’ NEW ALLEGATION: BARACK OBAMA IS FILIPINO

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Obama in a Barong Tagalog
Obama in a Barong Tagalog

Phoenix, Arizona (The Adobo Chronicles) – Can the “birthers” ever be convinced that Barack Obama was born in America and is eligible to serve as president?

Over the past few years, the allegation that he was born overseas — in Kenya or perhaps Indonesia — has taken on a life of its own, despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary. Not even the release of copies of Obama’s Hawaii birth certificate could convince the doubting Thomases.

Now the birthers have a new allegation: that Obama may have actually been born in the Philippines while his then pregnant mother was vacationing in this Southeast Asian country.

The new allegation surfaced after the birthers saw a photo of Obama on social media, donning the Barong Tagalog during his recent state visit to Manila. The barong is the Philippines’ national attire for men.

“I mean, how could there be any doubt, ” one birther commented, “just look at that photo. He’s unmistakenly Filipino!” Another birther said: “The White House chef is Filipino and Obama himself admitted that the First Family is  often served adobo and lumpia! What other proof do we need?”

 

 

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

METRO MANILA : THE VENICE OF ASIA?

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imagePasig City, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Philippines’ Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) seems to have found the perfect solution to the metropolis’ daily traffic nightmare, and it has its unintended positive consequences.

MMDA has just reopened the ferry service along the Pasig River, enabling commuters to cut travel time between the cities of Manila , Makati and Pasig by almost two hours. MMDA says that the two ferries it has launched this week will greatly reduce the number (in the millions) of commuters that rely daily on bus and jeepney transportation to get to and from work or school.

Little did MMDA know that the ferry boats – dilapidated buses placed atop flat barges – is putting Metro Manila on the world map and has sent nervous chills to the Italian city of Venice, known for its gondolas. Metro Manila is on its way to being recognized as the Venice of Asia, thanks to the Pasig River ferry boats.

However, the new service is not necessarily getting all positive reviews from commuters.

Riders were exposed to trash floating in the river—plastic wrappers, broken chairs, Styrofoam—on top of the foul smell emanating from its murky waters. “It smells like rotting things, like a canal’s stinky water. I had to cover my nose all the time,” Jovy Cabilitasan, a 37-year-old Makati resident, said. Her aunt Paneng Loreto, 68, fainted, apparently from the boat ride and the river’s assaulting smell. Passengers also noticed illegal settlers who had turned Guadalupe Bridge into their shelter.

But the MMDA has dismissed these complaints, saying that eventually, riders will get used to it and the ferries will become a prime tourist attraction.