Category Archives: Religion

International, Law Enforcement, LGBT, Politics, Religion, Same-sex Marriage

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL PASSES IN PHILIPPINE CONGRESS

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imageManila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Amid pressure from the powerful Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), a bill to legalize same-sex marriage has passed in the legislature of this predominantly Catholic country.

This stunning development came just days after countries the world over celebrated LGBT Pride with parades and festivals. June is considered Pride Month, commemorating the Stonewall riots in New York City, an event that many consider to be the birth of the modern-day LGBT freedom movement.

It was a unanimous vote in both houses of Philippine Congress. Representatives and Senators voted to declare the bill DOA, or “dead on arrival.”  The proposal ‘passed away’ without even making it out of committee.

As expected, the CBCP praised this monumental Congressional development and commented on the dead bill, saying “R.I.P.”

 

 

Business, Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Religion, The Media, Travel

IS POPE FRANCIS SET TO EXCOMMUNICATE THOSE INDICTED IN THE PHILIPPINES’ PORK BARREL SCAM?

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Rome, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Pope Francis had harsh words for the Italian Mafia on Saturday, describing one crime syndicate as “the adoration of evil” and saying all mafiosi “are excommunicated” from the church. His condemnation was the strongest attack on the mob since Pope John Paul criticized the Sicilian Mafia in 1993.

Pope Francis made the remarks after visiting a stronghold of the ‘Ndrangheta, one of Italy’s most dangerous crime groups. There he comforted the jailed father of a 3-year-old boy killed in a mob ambush and condemned mob violence against children.

Vatican insiders have also hinted that the Pope is set to excommunicate notorious Filipino Catholics, notably those who were recently indicted for plunder, graft and corruption and other charges in connection with the 10 Billion Peso pork barrel scam in the Philippines.  Among those indicted were Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla, Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, along with alleged scam mastermind businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.  As of this writing, Napoles, Revilla and Estrada have been arrested and jailed.

Napoles and the three senators are known to be devout Catholics.

Prior to being arrested and jailed, Napoles used to have the statue of the ‘miraculous’ Black Nazarene transferred from Manila’s Quiapo Catholic Church to her private residence on many occasions.

bong
Revilla

Just moments before he surrendered, Revilla wore a t-shirt that said “The Lord is on my side; I willl not fear; what can man do unto me?” Before his indictment, he and his family went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Enrile was Justice Secretary and then Defense Minister under the regime of Ferdinand E. Marcos.  Aligning himself with the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, Enrile became on of the leaders of the 1986 People Power Revolution that drove Marcos into exile.

Estrada, on the other hand, resisted calls by a member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) that he apologize for betraying the people’s trust.

It wasn’t clear whether the impending excommunication would be based on the  Second Commandment (‘Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord they God in vain’); the Sixth Commandment (‘Thou shalt not steal’)  or the Tenth Commandment (‘Thou shalt not covet they neighbor’s goods).

Perhaps, all three? And, maybe a fourth for Enrile, a known womanizer — the Ninth Commandment (‘Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife’).

 

 

 

 

 

Business, Economy, Food, Health & Medicine, Human Interest, International, Religion, Tourism, Travel

INCREASED VAMPIRE SIGHTINGS REPORTED IN THE PHILIPPINES

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Garlic braids being sold at last year's Gilroy Garlic Festival. (Photo credit: Rene Astudillo)
Garlic braids being sold at last year’s Gilroy Garlic Festival. (Photo credit: Rene Astudillo)

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Garlic, a common ingredient in Filipino cooking, has all but disappeared from markets and other retail outlets in the past few weeks. Where there is limited supply, prices have more than doubled or tripled to three hundred pesos (about $7) per kilogram for the imported variety and one hundred eighty pesos for local produce.

The garlic shortage and price hikes have prompted the Philippine  Agriculture Department to ration the all-important commodity and flood the markets with its limited inventory.

But that is not the big news.

Filipinos from all over the country have reported an unusual increase in sightings of vampires.  Garlic is known to be the most effective defense against vampires.  Most Filipino homes put up garlic braids in windows and  doors to repel vampires.

Meanwhile, the city of Gilroy in California, has offered to ship several tons of garlic to the Philippines to help ease the shortage and price hikes.  Gilroy is the garlic capital of the United States.  The city is currently gearing up for the annual  garlic festival scheduled for July.