Category Archives: Politics

SAN FRANCISCANS PROTEST ‘BANDIDOS’ RESTAURANT IN THE CASTRO: POLITICAL CORRECTNESS OR GENDER BIAS?

Bandidos_Interior_6-600x398San Francisco, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – What do ‘gangster,’ ‘mob,’ ‘mafia’ and ‘bandido’ have in common?  They all mean criminal or outaw.

There is a Mob Bar in Las Vegas, a Gangsters Bar and Grill in Wisconsin, and lots of Italian Mafia restaurants across the U.S. But in San Francisco – in the heart of politically-correct gay Castro District, some residents are protesting the name of a new Mexican restaurant on Market and Sanchez Streets — Bandidos.

Among those opposed to the name is openly-lesbian Latina comedian Marga Gomez, whose stand-up repertoire often includes names and labels that are not necessarily PG13.  She’s one that would call a spade a spade. We can’t confirm this, but she probably had called out Hooters Restaurant at some point in one of her gigs. She said she would never step inside the restaurant unless it changes its name, and has asked all her friends to do the same.

So why all the fuss about the restaurant name Bandidos?  Does San Francisco have lesser tolerance for criminals and outlaws?  If the protesters lived in Las Vegas, Wisconsin or any other city or state where bars and eateries are named after shady characters, would they be protesting in similar fashion? Is there some sort of gender or sexual orientation twist to their protest?

Well, in an investigation conducted by The Adobo Chronicles, the real reason for the protest was because some language and grammar freaks discovered a glaring error in the new restaurant’s drinks (bebidas) menu. Their margarita drink is named “Bandido Margarita.”  In Spanish, adjectives and nouns must agree, gender-wise.  So the correct name should have been “Bandida Margarita.”

By the way, our favorite Bandidos drink is Juan In A Million. (See drinks menu below). Now that’s grammatically correct because bandido and Juan are both male.

bandido

 

 

PHILIPPINE AGENCIES HELD ON TO ‘HAIYAN’ RELIEF FUNDS, THINKING THEY WERE ‘RESERVE’ FUNDS

File photo: a message in chalk from typhoon Haiyan victims
File photo: a message in chalk from typhoon Haiyan victims

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Some 1.58 Billion pesos in typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) relief funds remained unspent in the hands of several Philippine government agencies, according to a report by the country’s Commission on Audit.

The funds were part of donations given by governments and private individuals and groups  to help victims of the worst typhoon ever to make landfall in the Philippines.  Haiyan’s first year anniversary is coming up. To this day, many typhoon victims remain homeless, without jobs or still waiting for financial aid and support services.

In defending government agencies like the Departments of Social Welfare and Development,  Health, Interior and Local Govenrments, Public Highways, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Office of the President said that at the time of the audit, the government was waiting to first spend the calamity funds under the General Appropriations before it touched the privately-donated relief funds.

In addition to the donated funds, an investigation is ongoing regarding millions of pesos worth of food and other relief goods that were spoiled and never reached the typhoon victims.

In ‘off-the-record’ conversations between presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma and Malacañang (presidential palace) reporters, he admitted that the heads of government agencies concerned innocently thought the donations were ‘reserve’ funds, not relief funds. “They were savng them for a rainy day,” he said. Or perhaps, the next typhoon.

Now we know.

 

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT AQUINO SOON TO BE A GROOM?

imageManila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Prince William and Princess Kate are having their second child. The openly-gay prime minister of Luxembourg is engaged. Will Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino soon be a groom?

But first, Aquino will be the best man for the upcoming wedding of his good friend Senator Chiz Escudero and actress Heart Evangelista. The nuptials are scheduled next February.

Many Filipinos believe that in every wedding party, the best man is always next to be married. Aquino, 54, made history as the first and only bachelor Philippine president. He said he was delighted to have been picked as best man for Escudero and thankful that he was not chosen as ninong (godfather) for the wedding.  There is also a strong belief in the Philippines that a bachelor who stands as a godfather in a wedding will remain single for the rest of his life.

“I am not giving up hope,” Aquino said. “If I can’t find a Filipina mate, I may have to resort to being a mail-order groom for single ladies in the U.S. or anywhere in the world.”

Aquino is the only son of assassinated opposition leader Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and the late former President Cory Aquino. He has four sisters, all married, including TV host Kris who is estranged from her husband.

“I have a responsibility as the only son to carry on the Aquino name and to make sure that our political dynasty will live on,” Aquino told The Adobo Chronicles.