Category Archives: Language

Entertainment, Film and TV, Language

KRIS AQUINO ADMITS FAILING GRADE IN FILIPINO, ASSAILS CRITICS

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'Kris TV' (screengrab)
‘Kris TV’ (screengrab)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – In her morning show “Kris TV”, presidential sister Kris Aquino revealed to young singer Darren Espanto that she once got a failing grade of 74 in Filipino.

As one would expect, her revelation drew a lot of jeers and negative comments on Philippine social media.

Today, Aquino issued a statement assailing her critics, asking them to “move on.”

Following is her full statement:

“Don’t make too much pansin to what I said on TV. Trinay ko lang na i-emphasize the halaga of learning our national language, di ba? Feel ko na I have a responsibility as a celebrity to make tawag to all our bagets to seriosohin our language. There is nothing mali about admitting that naka gets ako ng failing grade in Filipino. After all, I grew up in the States and didn’t have too many friends that I could make tsismis with. I hope my critics can move on na!”

How would you grade her statement?  Pass or fail?

Film and TV, International, Language

2016 MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT TO BE TELECAST IN SPANISH ONLY

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2016 Miss Universe Paulina Vega of Colombia
2015  Miss Universe Paulina Vega of Colombia

MIAMI, Florida (The Adobo Chronicles®) – The 2016 Miss Universe Pageant will be telecast only in the Spanish language, according to a joint announcement today by Univision Communications Inc., Donald Trump and Miss Universe Organization President Paula Shugart.

Back in January, the Miss Universe Organization announced a long-term partnership that will bring the Spanish-language television and digital rights for the MISS UNIVERSE® and MISS USA® pageants to Univision Communications Inc. Univision will  co-produce the MISS UNIVERSE® and MISS USA® pageants.

“The Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants consistently rank as the most watched, most-coveted properties and entertainment programs around the world,” said Trump. “Adding Univision as one of our leading media partners in addition to NBC could not be more exciting,” he added.

The venue for the 2016 Miss Universe Pageant has not het been decided but there is strong speculation that it will be held in one of rhe Spanish-speaking countries in South America.  Univision is currently interviewing Spanish-speaking celebrities who will be named as hosts of the pageant.

Univision said that all the live pageant proceedings will be in Spanish and all contestants will be interviewed in Spanish as well, with interpreters if necessary.

As for the non Spanish-speaking television audience, the telecast will be subtitled in English, French and Tagalog.  The latter is in recognition of the Philippines which has the world’s largest share of Miss Universe fans and viewers per capita.

 

Human Interest, Language

EDITORIAL: FILIPINOS SHOULD PUT AN END TO THE NAME-CALLING

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 image“It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” That’s the mantra made popular by the Department of Tourism, one that portrays this Asian country and its population as friendly, hospitable and endearing. Yet, observers are wondering whether Filipinos have a dark side to this characterization. Like being ‘racists,’ ‘bigots,’  ‘sexists’ and ‘homophobes.’

A quick scan of Philippine social media clearly shows that netizens are not holding back when describing politicians and other personalities that they do not favor.

The following are just examples of how netizens (and sadly, some of the media) resort to unsavory name-calling:

  • President NoyNoy Aquino – panot (balding), bakla (gay)
  • Vice President Jojo Binay, Senator Nancy Binay, Makati City Mayor JunJun Binay , Floyd Mayweather  – nognog (n*gger)
  • Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo – pandak (dwarf)
  • Senator Juan Ponce Enrile – tanda (old man)
  • Kris Aquino – Ms. STD (a name she was called after going public about a sexually-transmitted disease she allegedly acquired from her ex-boyfriend)
  • Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago – Loka (crazy)
  • Undocumented Immigrants – TNT, or Tago Nang Tago  (Always hiding)

Less offensive, but still inappropriate labeling:

  • Politicians – epal  (attention-grabber)
  • Congress – buwaya (crocodile)
  • Senator Jinggoy Estrada – sexy
  • Senator Bongbong Revilla – pogi  (handsome)

(Estrada and Revilla are two of three senators jailed for corruption charges, the other being Enrile.  The trio are often referred to as sexy, pogi and tanda.)

There is nothing wrong with openly criticizing public figures for their policies and actions, but it can be done in the most civil of ways, without personal attacks or offensive labels.

Perhaps, we need to put ourselves on the receiving end of the name-calling to realize that it is, indeed, quite repulsive.