Category Archives: Tourism

WHY THE 2014 MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT WILL NOT BE HELD IN MANILA

September 1, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Donald Trump with 2012 Miss Universe Olivia Carpo of the United States.

Las Vegas, Nevada (The Adobo Chronicles) – There has been a lot of speculation that the 2014 Miss Universe Pageant will be held in Manila, Philippines. After all, this Southeast Asian country has hosted two of the previous pageants, once in 1974 and again in 1994. It has also produced two title holders, Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margarita Moran in 1974, not to mention several runners-up in recent years.

Filipinos will not be happy with today’s announcement by Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe Organization: the 2014 pageant will definitely not be held in Manila.

In a press briefing at the Trump Towers in Las Vegas, Trump said that while he has not made a final decision on the venue for the 2014 pageant, ” I have ruled out Manila.”

Trump said that he has been closely watching developments in Manila, particularly the pork barrel scandal that has rocked the Philippine government and has sent business persons and top politicians to prison.

“The pork barrel scandal in the Philippines is directly contrary to my beliefs and lifestyle,” Trump said, “and I will be sending the wrong message to the world if I bring the Miss Universe Pageant to Manila at this time.”

Trump does not eat pork. He is a vegetarian.

Film and TV, International, Tourism

‘INFERNO’ STARTS FILMING IN APRIL; FILM CREW BANNED IN MANILA

August 27, 2014 Pol Pinoy 3 Comments

Hollywood, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – It’s official. Filming for Dan Brown’s ‘Inferno’ begins in April next year and is expected to hit the theaters in December, 2015, according to an announcement by Sony Pictures.

Actor Tom Hanks will be reunited with director Ron Howard in this movie version of the fourth installment of Brown’s blockbuster novel. David Koepp has been tapped to pen the script.

Hanks will reprise his role as Professor Robert Langdon, a role he played in the ‘The Da Vinci Code.’

Most of the new film will be shot in Italy, except for a few scenes which, in the book version, happens in Manila where the crowded metropolis was tagged by Brown as “the gates of hell.” He described Manila as a city riddled with poverty, crime and prostitution. And traffic.

But there is a big problem. The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has said that it has refused to issue a permit to Sony Films to shoot scenes in Manila or its neighboring cities. “How can anyone expect us to be hospitable to a film crew of a movie that denigrates our reputation,” an MMDA spokesperson said.

MMDA said that it will grant the filming permit only if scriptwriter Koepp will change the line “gates of hell” to “stairway to heaven.”

Sony pictures has not returned calls from The Adobo Chronicles seeking comment on the MMDA statement.

Law Enforcement, Science and Environment, Tourism, Travel

PHILIPPINES BANS SLEEPING UNDER COCONUT TREES

Image August 10, 2014 Pol Pinoy 2 Comments

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – President NoyNoy Aquino signed an executive order today making it illegal for Filipinos and tourists to sleep under coconut trees. It is a favorite pastime especially during the dry summer months.

The new law is expected to impact millions who live or vacation in coastal areas in this country of more than 7,000 islands.

Executive order 7011 was issued in response to a recently-released study by Greenpeace Philippines which found that there are ten times more people who die each year from falling coconuts than from shark attacks. The study was released in time for shark week which began Sunday.

Violation of the the new law carries a fine of 1,000 pesos for the first offense and 5 days in jail for each subsequent offense.

Non-Filipino tourists will be immediately deported with the first violation.