Category Archives: Media

OPINION: Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa Quiet About Facebook Censorship, And Enjoying It?

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Nobel Laureate and CEO of the least-trusted news brand in the Philippines, has not been coy about her desire to ”take back the Internet,” as if netizens who criticize her and Rappler have robbed her of her free speech, not to mention income from her business venture.

Maria Ressa is playing both sides of the coin by being critical of Facebook while keeping quiet about the popular social media platform’s recent crackdown on individual FB accounts, especially those that are unfriendly to the political opposition or who favor the Duterte administration and the candidacy of former Senator Bongbong Marcos. Many speculate that Rappler, one of Facebook’s fact-checking partners in the Philippines, is itself responsible for the adverse actions on netizens’ accounts.

In recent weeks, many netizens have complained that their accounts have been suspended, have received warnings, or have been penalized with degraded visibility of their posts because of supposed violation of FB’s community standards.

While Facebook gives account holders the option to disagree with its warnings or decisions, it does not allow them to explain why they disagree with the decision.

Recently, Facebook had admitted that its fact-checking activities are more grounded on opinion, rather than fact.

So, what gives?

Will Ressa eventually take the side of free speech which is the hallmark of her propaganda abroad that led the Nobel committee to give her the Peace Prize? Or will she remain quiet and bask in the glory and enjoyment of finally being able to get back at the Filipino netizens who have been critical of her and her wayward ways?

Leni Robredo Responds: I have Not Changed Color!

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo has responded to criticism that she has again changed color. The VP has been accused of abandoning yellow for pink to distance herself from the loser Aquinos and their cronies.

During a televised presidential forum sponsored by the waning Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Robredo was seen wearing a peach-colored dress, prompting netizens to speculate that she was again trying to reinvent herself and her politics.

Robredo spokesperson Barry Gutierrez, in a message to The Adobo Chronicles, categorically denied all speculation.

“The dress worn by the Vice President was originally pink. Unfortunately, her kasambahay (domestic help) accidentally washed the dress using bleach that wasn’t color safe,” he said.

“We were running late for the televised forum so Robredo didn’t have time to change to another (pink) wardrobe,” Gutierrez added.

Leni Robredo Wants Filipinos To Remain In The ”Laylayan”

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Vice President and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo is known to be an advocate for those in the ”laylayan” (bottom rung of society). And she is being true to her advocacy.

In an interview on the presidential candidate forum sponsored by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Robredo said that Filipinos don’t really dream for the grandest things. They just want to be given space to realize their (lowest) dreams.

With this statement, Robredo practically wants those in the laylayan to remain where they are — at the bottom rung of society.