Category Archives: Race Relations

Government, International, Politics, Race Relations

Why Obama Cancelled Meeting With Philippine President Duterte

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image.jpegABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – Now it can be told. Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s colorful language supposedly directed at U.S. President Barack Obama had nothing to do with the cancelled meeting between the two world leaders.

The two presidents were supposed to have a one-on-one meeting during the ASEAN Summit in Laos this week.

News media have speculated that The White House cancelled the meeting because Duterte had called Obama a “son of a whore.”

Sources close to Obama, however, confirmed to The Adobo Chronicles that the real reason for the cancellation was because The White House and the U.S. State Department were not happy about a recent meeting between Duterte and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

A photo of the Duterte-Trump meeting was leaked to the media just before Obama left for Laos.

Now we know.

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Government, International, Language, Politics, Race Relations

What Obama And Duterte Talked About In The Holding Room Before ASEAN State Dinner

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(Photo credit: NBC News)

VIENTIANE, Laos (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – It finally happened on Wednesday night — the much-anticipated meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

The meeting between the two heads of state was cancelled twice, prompted by Duterte’s colorful language supposedly aimed at Obama.

The first meeting was cancelled by The White House soon after Duterte made the expletive-filled statement.  A second meeting was supposed to happen at the state dinner hosted by the Laotion prime minister in honor of the ASEAN summit participating heads of state.  Duterte was supposed to sit next to Obama on one side, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on the other.  That, too, was cancelled.

But in the holding room prior to the state dinner, Obama and Duterte were the last to leave for the banquet.

Here is a transcript of their conversation:

Obama: Did you bring me a barong tagalog?

Duterte:  I did.  I left it at your hotel’s front desk.  Thank you for the suit and tie you gave me.

Obama: Oh, you’re most welcome. You looked dashing!

Duterte:  I would like to apolo….

Obama: Don’t worry about it.  I wasn’t offended. I know you’re a very colorful guy.  The news media is making such a big deal out of this.

Duterte:  Those son-of-a-bitches!

Obama: Now, now…

Duterte: I’m sorry, Mr. President

Obama: I’ve heard a lot about your word war with Senator Leila de Lima…

Duterte: That whore!

Obama:  Meeting’s over.  Time for dinner!

Duterte: Put*ng ina naman.

Obama: What did you just say?

Duterte:  I said, “Thanks for this brief opportunity!”

Obama: Oh, okay.  You’re welcome!

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Beauty, International, Race Relations

Japan To Ban All Beauty Pageants

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Yoshikawa, left, and Morimoto: mixed-race Japanese beauties

TOKYO, Japan (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – First it was Ariana Morimoto, crowned as last year’s Miss Japan and who represented her country in the Miss Universe Pageant.  Now, it’s Priyanka Yoshikawa, the new Miss Japan who will compete in this year’s Miss World.

Both have one thing in common.  They’re “haafu,” the Japanese word for half.  Morimoto is half black and Yoshikawa is half Indian.

Critics have complained that a “pure” Japanese should represent the country in international beauty competitions. For them, having a mixed-race beauty queen two years in a row is just too much to handle.

Responding to the critics, Japan has announced that it will now ban all beauty pageants in the country and has abolished all local franchises for international pageants like Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International.

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