Category Archives: Race Relations

AFTER 63 YEARS, IT’S THE END OF THE ROAD FOR THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

The very first Miss Universe (1952), Armi Kuusela
The very first Miss Universe (1952), Armi Kuusela

MIAMI, Florida (The Adobo Chronicles®) – After 63 years of existence, the Miss Universe Pageant is coming to an end, thanks to owner Donald Trump.

(The very first Miss Universe was Armi Kuusela from Finland, who shortly after being crowned in 1952, married a Filipino Virgilio Hilario, now deceased.  Kuusela has since remarried and now lives in San Diego, California)

After Mexico and Paraguay pulled out of the pageant because of Trump’s racist remarks about Mexicans — calling them “rapists, drug addicts and criminals” — the Republican presidential candidate knew a bigger fall out was about to happen.  Other Spanish-speaking countries are also considering dropping out of the international pageant.

Then came recent remarks by Trump, this time directed at African Americans.  “African American youth had reached a point where they’ve just about never done more poorly, there’s no spirit, there’s killings on an hourly basis virtually in places like Baltimore and Chicago and many other places,” he said during a campaign stop.

Trump also criticized his opponent, Jeb Bush,  saying that, “If Bush gets in, China will absolutely eat our lunch.”

And so the bigger fallout began:  countries in Africa are also pulling out of the Miss Universe pageant, in solidarity with African Americans.

Many Asian countries are also backing out from sending contestants to the pageant because of Trump’s comments about China.

Realizing that only European countries are left to participate in Miss Universe, Trump decided to cancel the pageant altogether.

“No big deal,” he said, “I’d rather be president of the United States than be an owner of a beauty pageant.

Trump has risen to the number two spot, behind Jeb Bush, in recent polls among Republican candidates for president.  Apparently, his racial rhetoric is working in his favor.

 

ANN COULTER ANNOUNCES SHE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, JOINS DONALD TRUMP IN ATTACKING MEXICANS

imageNEW YORK, New York (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – “The media was consumed with stories about Americans have to be on the lookout for ISIS attacks and terror attack expected and, oooh, shark attacks, but I will bet you by the end of the weekend more Americans will have been killed by Mexicans than by ISIS or by sharks.”

With those words, conservative columnist Ann Coulter announced on FOX News that she was running for president of the United States –  the 15th (or 16th, we can’t keep count) Republican — and the first woman — to do so.

She follows in the footsteps of Donald Trump, who in announcing his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, attacked Mexicans, calling them “rapists, drug addicts and criminals.” Apparently, Trump’s campaign strategy worked. He now leads all Republican candidates in the polls.

Coulter hopes that she, too, will surge in the polls with her comments about Mexicans.

In the course of its investigation for this news story, The Adobo Chronicles®  uncovered a little known fact that Coulter once applied to join the Miss USA contest in the hopes of becoming Miss Universe. Her application was denied by no less than pageant owner Trump.

Expect some fireworks in the Republican presidential debates, courtesy of Trump and Coulter.

PHILIPPINES DROPS OUT OF MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

Reigning Miss Philippines-Universe Pia Wurtzbach
Reigning Miss Philippines-Universe Pia Wurtzbach

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles®) – The Philippines became the first Asian country to drop out of the Miss Universe pageant in protest over Donald Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants. It is joining several Latin American countries in boycotting the most popular international beauty competition owned by Trump.

Earlier, Mexico dropped out of the pageant, followed by Panama. More Latin American countries are expected to follow suit.

The Philippines has close historical ties with Mexico, dating back to the days of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade which began in the 16th century.  The country was also colonized by Spain for more than three centuries.

Mexico (1991, 2010) and the Philippines (1969, 1973)  each have two Miss Universe title holders, while Panama has one (2002 runner-up Miss Panama took over as Miss Universe after the winner, Miss Russia, was dethroned four months into her reign). All three countries have previously hosted the Miss Universe pageant.

So what happens with reigning Miss Philippines-Universe Pia Wurtzbach (who has been romantically linked to President NoyNoy Aquino)? Perhaps, she can become the queen of Malacañang, the presidential palace. But that remains to be just a rumor.

Actually, the Philippines has decided to send two representatives to this year’s Miss World Pageant, one of them being Wurtzbach.

Double the chances for the crown,  eh?