Category Archives: International

International, Politics

PHILIPPINE CONGRESS’ JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING MISS WORLD 2013

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JoinRezManila, Philippines – Newly-crowned Miss World 2013, Megan Young of the Philippines, came home to a very warm welcome from proud Filipinos who wildly cheered their beauty queen for bagging the once-elusive pageant title.  Young is the first Filipina to win Miss World.

The next few days will see a very busy schedule for Ms. Young who is expected to grace many celebration parties, public events and courtesy calls on President Noynoy Aquino and members of Congress.

When Young visits Congress on Monday, she will be presented with a rare Joint Resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives commending her for this extraordinary feat while expressing relief that the focus has been turned away from the pork barrel scandal that has preoccupied the nation all summer.

The Adobo Chronicles was able to obtain a copy of the Joint Resolution which will be formally presented to Ms. Young on Monday.  The resolution reads:

“WHEREAS, Miss Philippines Megan Young has brought great honor to the country by winning the once-elusive title of Miss World 2013;

WHEREAS, Ms. Young has reinvigorated the Filipino people’s pride because of her achievement;

WHEREAS, this national honor comes at a time in the nation’s political history where the Filipino people’s confidence in both the Senate and House of Representatives has reached its lowest level since the founding of our Republic;

WHEREAS, this national honor focuses the spotlight away from the growing scandal relative to the pork barrel scam which has siphoned billions of pesos of taxpayer money and into the pockets of members of both houses of Congress and their cronies;

BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that Miss World 2013 be presented with the highest commendation for helping save the asses of our colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives from the pork barrel scandal;

BE IT RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the Senate and House of Representatives declare a one-year recess from their sessions to appropriately celebrate this great honor;

FINALLY, this joint resolution will have the full effect of a suspension of any and all investigation of members of both houses relative to the pork barrel scandal.

Unanimously approved via voice vote by the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives this 14th day of October in the year of our Lord.”

International, Law Enforcement

BORDER PATROL, CUSTOMS AGENTS SENT TO ARIZONA-MEXICO BORDER

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imageNogales City, Arizona – The Department of Homeland Security and Bureau of Customs sent their enforcement agents to Nogales, Arizona, near the U.S.-Mexico border, to closely monitor recent increased activity which authorities suspect might be a violation of U.S. immigration and customs laws.

The agents were dispatched to a mile-long stretch of the border fence in response to an urgent request from Arizona Governor Janice Brewer. Brewer’s office had received complaints from Nogales residents that illegal activity is happening everyday at the border in plain view of both Americans and Mexicans.

Initial investigation by the agents confirmed that Americans and Mexicans on either side of the border have been playing volleball using the fence as their net. The activity has gained popularity in recent weeks and agents fear that it might spread to the rest of the entire Arizona–Mexico border.

Agents dispatched to the scene are now on a 24-hour watch over the border to ensure that at the end of each game, the Mexican ball does not end up on U.S. soil, which would violate customs regulations. On the other hand, immigration agents want to make sure that only balls –not humans — are being tossed back and forth over the border “net.”

Business, International, Politics, Uncategorized

WORLD BANK WITHDRAWS PHILIPPINES’ ECONOMIC GROWTH FORECAST

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011712_WorldbankWashington, D.C. – Hours after The World Bank predicted a 7% economic growth for the Philippines,  the international monetary body withdrew its forecast, saying that interns committed an embarrassing data error. The earlier prediction would have made the Philippines a standout as the bank cut its projections for most of the rest of Asia.  The bank attributed the Philippine growth forecast to increased infrastructure spending, consumer spending, remittances and business process outsourcing.

Background: Makati skyline; foreground: slums by the Pasig River
Background: Makati skyline; foreground: slums by the Pasig River

In withdrawing the forecast, World Bank officials said that interns working at the bank’s Washington, D.C. headquarters misinterpreted some of the data they were reviewing.  “They thought they were looking at financial data when in fact, they were reviewing the Philippines’ population growth rate,” they said.

Economic experts familiar with the actual situation in the Philippines have been skeptical of the investment-grade rating received by the country from Moody’s Investment Service,  Fitch Ratings, and Standard & Poor in recent months, as they have with The World Bank’s forecast. “The ratings and forecast are simply not consistent with the ever-increasing gap between the rich and poor in this country of almost 100 million,  as well as the massive political corruption and financial scandals that have pervaded many levels of the Philippine government,” the experts said.