Category Archives: International

WHAT IF DAVID BECKHAM CAME TO TOWN AND NOBODY KNEW WHO HE WAS?

imageTacloban City, Philippines – David Beckham may be the hottest and most famous man in the world of soccer, but apparently no one in Tacloban City, Philippines knows who he is.

Beckham is scheduled to spend Valentine’s Day in this Typhoon Haiyan-ravaged city in Central Philippines as part of a United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) effort to focus world attention on the plight of children and others whose lives were devastated by the  most powerful typhoon to make landfall.

Ten out of ten local residents interviewed by The Adobo Chronicles had no clue on who Beckham was. Asked to venture a guess after being shown a photograph of Beckham, responses ranged from “Prime Minister of Great Britain” to “Vice President of the United States” to “the next James Bond.” Ironically, when a photo of Beckham’s wife was shown even to little kids, they were quick to answer, “Victoria, the Spice girl.”

Soccer or for that matter, football, is not a sport widely played in the Philippines, unlike basketball. There is a make-shift basketball court in every corner in many Philippine neighborhoods. Ask Filipinos to name their favorite international basketball star and you will immediately get responses like Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and yes, Dennis Rodman.

BRUNO MARS LOSES VOICE, CANCELS ALL SCHEDULED CONCERTS

imageHollywood, California – Just weeks after his triumphant half-time show performance at this year’s Super Bowl, tragedy has struck Filipino American pop sensation Bruno Mars. He has all but lost his voice, prompting him to cancel his concert tour at least for the next six months and pending his further prognosis.

It all happened this week when Mars was a guest in the  Ellen (Degeneres) show. While waiting in his dressing room for his cue to come on the show, Mars suddenly felt the urge to munch on some pringles set on the snack table in the room. After having a few pieces of the potato chips, he felt a painful lump in his throat. He immediately drank a can of cold pepsi to try to get rid of the lump, but to no avail.

A television studio nurse was called in to examine Mars, but nothing could be done to alleviate the pain he was experiencing. Mars was then transported to a nearby hospital where a team of doctors successfully removed the chips caught in his voice box.  But alas, it was too late. Mars had lost his voice. image13.jpg

Doctors said that while the loss of voice is temporary, it would take at least six months of rehabilitation and voice therapy to get the singer fully back in shape.

(Ellen Degeneres contributed to this report)

RUSSIA SUSPENDS VISA REQUIREMENTS, SUBSIDIZES AIRFARE AND GIVES AWAY FREE OLYMPIC TICKETS

imageSochi, Russia – Russia is trying hard to put its best foot forward in hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics, but scenes showing empty seats at the Iceberg Skating Palace and other venues are causing a big headache for President Vladimir Putin and Russian Olympic officials.

In an emergency meeting held at the Kremlin, the Russian government has decided to suspend all travel visa requirements as well as give away Olympic venue tickets in order to fill the empty seats. It is also considering subsidizing airfares from anywhere in the world to Sochi for the next two weeks.image13.jpg

The Putin government has also reportedly paid NBC and other media companies covering the winter games to refrain from photographing or aiming their television cameras at the empty seats during all scheduled events.