Category Archives: Politics

Awards, Politics, Social Media

Mix-up: Maria Ressa Receives Award From Colombia, Not Columbia University

Leave a comment

NEW YORK, New York (The Adobo Chronicles, New York Bureau) – It was a big misunderstanding. Rappler CEO Maria Ressa arrived at Columbia University in New York City to receive yet another award for her supposed journalistic skills and advocacy, particularly for standing up to what she is calling a “dictator” in Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

But alas, Ressa misread the award letter. It was from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (National University of Colombia) in Bogota.  The South American  school awarded Ressa a Courage Award for her and her online outfit’s coverage of Duterte’s war on drugs.

Luckily for Ressa, the Dean of the Journalism School at Columbia — fellow anti-Dutertard Sheila Coronel — is a very good friend. So Coronel let Ressa address the 2019 graduates of the school. Just to save face.

Meanwhile, in Bogota, the Colombia University gave Ressa the award in absencia.

All’s well thta ends well!

Government, Politics

Paolo Duterte Wants To Summon Senator Trillanes To A Congressional Hearing

Leave a comment

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Davao Bureau) – The tables are turned! Who could forget tht encounter between Senator Antonio Trillanes and Davao City Vice Mayor and Presidential son Paolo Duterte in the halls of the Senate?

In that encounter, Trillanes asked Duterte to take his shirt off to prove that he has no dragon tattoo on his back, believed to be a mark of a drug syndicate member. Duterte refused of course.

Now,  Duterte, elected Representative of the first legislative district of Davao, wants to return the favor to Trillanes whom he wants summoned to a Congressional hearing on the Bikoy video which now implicates the Senator.

“My sources tell me that Trillanes has a drug syndicate tattoo on his left thigh. When we meet again, I will ask Trillanes to take his pants off to prove the tattoo allegation false,” Duterte told The Adobo Chronicles.

Bring out the popcorn. Or tikoy. Or biko.

Government, Military, Politics

OVP Explains What Appears To Be Robredo’s Weight Gain

Leave a comment

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Baguio Bureau) – It is not uncommon for the news or social media to speculate on the health condition of President Rodrigo Duterte when he misses a scheduled meeting or appearance, or even when they notice a slight change in his skin tone.

So when they saw photos and video clips of Vice President Leni Robredo at last weekend’s graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy, similar speculations started to surface.

At issue was what appeared to be Robredo’s weight gain, some even pointing out that the dress she wore was ‘bursting at the seams.’

And how could anyone miss Duterte’s comment that the Vice President no longer smiles at the President? Was there a connection with the alleged weight gain?

To end all speculation, the Office of the Vice President. (OVP) released a statement explaining the weight gain.

”The VP was in so much stress prior, during and after the  May 13 Philippine elections, the results of which showed a devastating loss by the Opposition.  Additionally, she was so busy warding off questions from the news media regarding allegations by ‘Bikoy’ implicating her and others in a supposed plot to topple the Duterte administration.”

”Robredo was her usual self whenever reporters mobbed her with questions she refused to answer: she would ask them to just join her for snacks (meryenda).”

”The OVP staff noticed that Robredo was binging on tikoy and biko, perhaps as a subconscious reaction to the Bikoy issue and the issue of biko that surfaced in connection with Viko Sotto’s now successful quest to become mayor pf Pasig City.”

So now you know…