Category Archives: Politics

Business, Film and TV, International, Politics

DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT: ‘CELEBRITY APPRENTICE,’ MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT ON HOLD

May 30, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Trump with 2012 Miss Universe Olivia Culpo of the U.S.A.

PALM BEACH, Florida (The Adobo Chronicles) – Most people think that the idea of Donald Trump running for president of the United States is a big joke. But for the real estate mogul, it’s serious business.

Donald Trump has put off agreeing to an extension of his “Celebrity Apprentice” reality television show while he weighs a 2016 U.S. presidential bid. He told NBC yesterday he could not commit to a three-year contract extension for the series until he decides whether he’s running. From all indications, the Donald is throwing his hat in the ring.

Trump, speaking at an event at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Palm Beach, also said that he is putting off next January’s Miss Universe Pageant so he could focus on his presidential campaign. Trump is the owner of the Miss Universe Pageant.

Upon hearing the news, Miss Philippines-Universe Pia Wurtzbach, broke into tears, saying she has waited for years to be on the Miss Universe stage. Wurtzbach finally won the title this year after several attempts at the crown.

Meanwhile, The Adobo Chronicles learned that the Philippines’ richest man, Henry Sy, is seriously considering buying the Miss Universe franchise from Trump.

Sy owns the SM Investments Corp, the largest retailer in the Philippines with over 200 individual outlets around the country. The firm is one of the country’s largest conglomerates with interests in real estate development, shopping malls and banking. One of his more recent ventures, the City of Dreams Manila resort and casino, which opened in December 2014, cost $1.3 billion to develop.

A spokesperson for Sy said that if the Filipino billionaire succeeds in acquiring the Miss Universe Pageant, he plans to make the Philippines the permanent venue for the annual beauty competition.

Government, International, Military, Politics

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT WILL VIOLATE ITS OWN ‘NO RANSOM’ POLICY

May 28, 2015 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles ) – Ah, the price of peace in the Philippines!

The proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region that will be created should the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) be passed is expected to receive P336.9 billion total funds over a period of five years. This includes the nearly P37 billion allocations for 2016 approved by the Committee on Appropriations and Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) projected that the Bangsamoro region is set to receive a total of P56.6 billion in 2016; P58.2 billion in 2017; P65.9 billion in 2018; P73.5 billion in 2019; and, P82.7 billion in 2020.

President NoyNoy Aquino and many legislators are aggressively campaigning for the approval of the controversial BBL, in their desperate attempt to put an end to the decades-long Muslim insurgency and separatist movement in southern Philippines.

The Philippine government, of course, has been steadfast in its “no ransom” policy for the kidnapping of foreigners as well as Filipino citizens. But Aquino and the legislators seem to be willing to violate that same policy to buy back the elusive peace in Mindanao.

Money talks. But the question is : whose money?

(We think they’re called taxpayers.)

Government, Politics, Religion

NATIONAL BOOKSTORE TO PUBLISH ANNOTATED EDITION OF PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION’S PREAMBLE

May 27, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Philippines’ premier publishing company and book seller, National Bookstore, is reportedly coming out with a much-awaited annotated version of the Philippine Constitution’s Preamble, just in time for the start of the political season leading up to the 2016 presidential elections.

In just the last few days, there have been a lot of news and speculation about who is running for president and vice president. Among those constantly mentioned are Vice President Jejomar Binay, Interior and Local Governments Secretary Mar Roxas, Senators Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero and Miriam Defensor Santiago, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Even incarcerated Senator Bong Revilla, Jr.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao is on the short list, although because of constitutional age restrictions (one has to be 40 years old), he is not eligible to run in 2016.

The Adobo Chronicles obtained a copy of the annotated preamble, which easily falls under the category of published “Books For Dummies.” or “Do It Yourself” publications.

Here, in full, is the annotated preamble, with annotations marked in parentheses:

“We, the sovereign Filipino people (ever dependent on the United States of America for the security of our nation), imploring the aid of Almighty God (and the dictates of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines), in order to build a just and humane society (for the rich, privileged and connected), establish a (corrupt) Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations (reflecting those of inept and clueless elected officials), promote the common good (of the top 1%), conserve and develop our patrimony (inspired by Hollywood), and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of (a fairy tale) independence and democracy under the rule of law (lessness) and a regime of (half) truth, (in) justice, (faux) freedom, (philandering) love, equality (except for the poor, LGBT, women and working class) and peace (in accordance with misdirected Bangsamoro Basic Law), do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.”