Category Archives: Travel

International, Law Enforcement, Tourism, Travel

Filipino Tourist Caught Trying To Smuggle Live Rooster Into China

May 17, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

NINGBO, China (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In the Philippines, the 6,000 year-old sport of cockfighting has been transformed into a fully-legal, billion dollar industry. Known locally as sabong, it takes place in 2,500 dedicated stadiums across the country and kills thousands, if not millions of roosters each year.

Some Filipino cockfight enthusiasts consider their roosters part of their extended family and treat them as such, taking their feathered friends with them when they go on luxury vacations.

Such was the case for a Filipino tourist who tried to smuggle his rooster into China by packing it inside a giant ziplock bag as part of his handcarried luggage.

The unidentified male tourist was stopped and questioned by Chinese customs officials as the man disembarked at the Ningbo airport. His rooster was confiscated by authorities.

The Filipino was later allowed to leave the airport but the fate of his rooster remains unknown.

Ningbo airport was the same airport where a Chinese man was stopped by Customs officials for trying to smuggle a live giant lobster from Australia.

Arts, International, Tourism, Travel

Philippines: ‘Pearl Of The Orient Seas’ No More

May 12, 2016 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – For centuries, the Philippines has been called “Pearl of the Orient Seas,” thanks to its national hero Dr. Jose Rizal who first coined the phrase in the first paragraph of his classic “My Last Farewell.”

“Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun caressed,
Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost,
With gladness I give you my Life, sad and repressed;
And were it more brilliant, more fresh and at its best,
I would still give it to you for your welfare at most.”

Alas, we can no longer call the exotic country the Pearl of the Orient Seas, thanks to Washington, D.C.’s political correctness.

On Monday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill that would remove the word “Oriental” from the last known laws in the United States Code where it applies to a person. Earlier, the House unanimously passed the original measure. The legislation is now on its way to President Obama’s desk and he is expected to sign it.

“The term ‘Oriental’ is an insulting and outdated word and the Senate’s passage of my bill will soon force the U.S. government to finally stop using it,” Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) said in a statement. Meng authored the original bill, H.R. 4238, which was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

Most Asians, especially those living in America, find offense in being called “Oriental.”

Following news of the proposed law, the Philippines’ Department of Tourism prepared to revise all its literature and promotional materials that refer to the country as the “Orient” or the Filipinos as “Orientals.”

However, it must be noted that any person can still use the word “Oriental” when referring to carpets, rugs and food, since these were not covered in the proposed legislation.

People are also advised to use the word “exotic” as much as they can now, before another legislation would outlaw its use.

Business, Law Enforcement, Travel

Laglag Bala-Proof Luggage Sell Out In Manila

April 29, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Ever since the scheme, laglag bala, was exposed at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), airline passengers have been very creative in protecting their luggage from being targeted by airport personnel suspected of “planting” live bullets in bags for the purpose of extorting money.

Many choose to wrap their bags in saran wrap or put all sorts of warning signs and stickers to let airport staff know that they are closely watching their personal stuff.

The extortion scheme has created big business opportunities for luggage makers like Australia’s Crumple, a company that manufactures high-end travel bags and accessories.

It has created a special-edition anti-laglag bala luggage made of an all-clear polycarbonate shell which hides nothing that’s packed inside the bag. Airport security inspectors need not open the bag to search for prohibited items since they can see all the way through.

The new luggage line is especially popular among Filipinos who love to show off their designer clothing, shoes, and accessories.

In less than a month after the special luggage was introduced in the market in the Philippines, it sold out and has a huge backlog of orders.

But not to worry. A local entrepreneur has invented a new anti-laglag bala luggage — not the same transparent Crumple bags — that scares away unscrupulous airport scammers.

The luggage has a life-sized photograph of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s face and upper torso with a message warning schemers that he will let them eat the bullets that they plant in passengers’ bags. The presidential candidate is known for implementing unusual punishment for violators of the law, including forcing violators of the smoking ban to swallow their cigarette butts.

The Duterte luggage retails for P4,600 (about US $100). It is also reportedly now on back order.

However, an inexpensive alternative is available for those who cannot afford to purchase the Duterte luggage. Stickers bearing the same image and message from Duterte are being sold at the National Book Store for P50 ($1.08). All one needs to do is to attach the stickers to each check-in and carry-on bag.

Is this the beginning of the end of laglag bala?