Category Archives: International

International, Politics, Religion

CATHOLIC CARDINALS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE OVER POPE FRANCIS’ NEW DIRECTIVE

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imageRome, Italy – Pope Francis continues to surprise the Roman Catholic Church with his unprecedented papal lifestyle changes. He has chosen to abandon the plush papal residence to live in a modest Vatican apartment with other clergy. As previously reported by The Adobo Chronicles, the pontiff has also auctioned off his popemobile, red shoes and pure gold jewelry on eBay.

Now, his cardinals are vehemently protesting his latest directive banning the church’s princes from wearing the traditional magna capa, the ceremonial robe that has a long train much like a wedding dress.  In issuing the directive,  Pope Francis reminded his cardinals that “we are fishermen, not royal kings or queens. Our power comes from God, not from the worldy symbols of opulence like thrones and scepters and robes.”

As part of the protest, the cardinals have threatened to go on a hunger strike beginning at midnight on Christmas.  They said they will call off the strike only if Pope Francis rescinded his directive. “His Holiness must understand that the magna capa is the one last remaining pleasure we are privileged to have as bishops of Rome,” said one of the protesting cardinals.

International, Politics

KERRY COURTS MANILA GOVERNMENT: PHILIPPINES TO BECOME THE 51ST U.S. STATE?

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imageManila, Philippines – It’s all about oil. U.S. interest seems to be shifting from the Middle East to Asia, particularly the oil-rich waters surrounding the Philippines, China, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Tension has been rising among and between the governments of these countries over territorial claims in around South China Sea and the Spratly Islands.

Overtly, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is in the Philippines to try to ease tensions between the Manila and Beijing governments, urging China to go easy on imposing no-fly and no-sail zones over the disputed territories between the two countries.

Covertly, as confirmed by latest tweets from suspected American security secrets leaker Edward Snowden, Kerry is in Manila talking up the Aquino government to seriously consider becoming the 51st state of the U.S.  Kerry said that becoming a U.S. state would be in the best interest of the Philippines because it would essentially  put the American military at its disposal in its dispute with China. Of course, what Kerry is not saying is that it would grant the U.S. full access to the area’s rich oil resources.

The Filipino sentiment against American colonialism has significantly changed since the U.S. military bases were practically  driven out of the Philippines in the early 1990’s. There is a growing  displeasure with the Manila government. Filipinos are fed up with political dynasties, incompetence, corruption and all that kind of stuff.

Is it time to add another star to the stars and stripes?

International

MISS PHILIPPINES IS 2013 MISS INTERNATIONAL; BAN RE-IMPOSED

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imageTokyo, Japan – First, the good news:  Bea Rose Santiago has won yet another beauty pageant crown for the Philippines.  She bagged the 2013 Miss International Pageant title last night in Tokyo.  The bad news: the ban on the Philippines from participating in international beauty pageants for the next two years has been re-imposed!

Earlier, The Adobo Chronicles reported that the Association of Beauty Pageant Franchise Holders (ABPFH) had disqualified the Philippines from international beauty pageants because of the extraordinary performance of its candidates this year: winning the crowns for Miss World and Miss Supranational, 3rd runner-up in Miss Universe, and consistent top 5 finish in most other beauty contests.  Then, it reversed the ban after a disappointing finish for the Philippines’ bet in the Miss Earth pageant.

With Santiago’s victory, the Philippines has set another record of winning not one or two, but three major beauty titles in one year.  Only two other countries have won the crown for all the major international beauty pageants – Brazil and Venezuela.

In re-imposing the ban, the ABPFH admitted that it spoke too soon when it lifted the Philippines’ earlier disqualification. “We should have waited for the results of Miss International 2013,” the association said.