Category Archives: Language

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MISS PHILIPPINES FINALIST CRIES FOUL OVER Q&A

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Pia Wurtzbach (Photo: Francis Malasig/European Press Photo Agency)
Pia Wurtzbach (Photo: Francis Malasig/European Press Photo Agency)

Quezon City, Philippines – In most beauty pageants, the answer to the final question can often make or break even the most  beautiful of contestants. The 2014 Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) pageant held last weekend in Quezon City was no exception.

One finalist, in responding to a judge’s question: “Name one thing that you would sacrifice for a (Binibini) crown,” confidently answered: “I think one thing that I would sacrifice for Binibini crown is my shoes.  You know it’s very hard for me to find shoes because I have this very big shoe size.  But for Binibini I will sacrifice this precious thing that I have just to have the crown. Thank you.”  The rest, of course, is history for this aspiring beauty queen.

But the big controversy of the evening came from a complaint from one of the 15 finalists — Contestant No. 8, Pia Wurtzbach.  She happened to pick a senator, Juan Edgardo Angara, to ask the question which he did in Tagalog.  The other 14 finalists were asked their respective questions (and responded) in English.

Wurtzbach who was born in Stuttgart, Germany, didn’t win any of the crowns at stake for the night, and she attributed it to the fact that the senator had asked the question in the national language. “I’m glad that despite my German-sounding name, I proved to all that I am a true Filipina and that I can speak Tagalog quite fluently.”  “However,” she added,” it was not fair that all the other finalists were asked their questions in English.  I’m sure I could have done much better than all the other girls had I been asked the question, and responded, in English.”

Wurtzbach said she has engaged the services of an attorney to see if she could file a lawsuit against Senator Angara for discrimination.

Here is a transcript of the Q&A portion of the pageant.

International, Language, Law Enforcement, Politics

AS NORTH KOREA MANDATES MEN’S HAIRCUT, PHILIPPINES ISSUES ‘TAGALOG ONLY’ RULE

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North Korea's Kim Jong Un, left, and the Philippines' NoyNoy Aquino
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, left, and the Philippines’ NoyNoy Aquino

Manila, Philippines – According to a new law recently passed in North Korea, all men are now required to sport the exact same haircut as President Kim Jong-un. Previously, men were given several choices of state-approved hairstyles. There is no change as far as women’s hairstyles are concerned.

Elsewhere in Asia, Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino has issued a new executive order mandating that all Filipinos speak only in Tagalog, the country’s national language. Aquino is known for always using Tagalog in his major speeches and press conferences. “Ang Tagalog ang siyang magdudulot ng pagkakaisa ng lahat ng Pilipino,” (Tagalog will bring about unity among all Filipinos) Aquino said as he announced the new executive order.

Filipinos with American and other foreign passports are exempted from the new rule.

Aquino tasked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement the order which provides for a fine of up to  five thousand pesos for the first offense, and six months in jail for each succeeding violation.

Any civilian who reports a violator to the police will receive 10% of the fine as reward and incentive.

 

International, Language, Law Enforcement, Politics

UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WITH COMMON AMERICAN SURNAMES TO BE GIVEN PRIORITY IN OBTAINING LEGAL STATUS

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imageWashington, D.C. – Earlier this week, The Adobo Chronicles  reported that the Republicans in Congress have finally agreed to support comprehensive immigration reform through a bill that would grant amnesty to the estimated 11 Million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

Today, we have learned about additonal details of the almost identical bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

A key provision of the bills spells out who will be given priority in legalization or citizenship.

Undocumented immigrants whose last names correspond to the top 25 most common American surnames will be given priority in applying for a green card and eventual citizenship. The provision does not make any distinction among surnames acquired by birth, marriage or through court-approved petitions.

Hispanic, Latino, Chinese and Filipino immigration advocates immediately hailed the proposal considering that the list of top 25 most common American surnames includes : Garcia, Martinez, Rodriguez and Lee.