Category Archives: Travel

Business, Politics, Travel

MANNY PACQUIAO BUYS MALAYSIAN BUDGET AIRLINE AIR ASIA

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Photo credit: Eugene Caccam

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – He may be the only billionaire among his colleagues in the Philippines’ congress, and one of the highest paid world athletes,  but Filipino champion boxer Manny Pacquiao is not on the Forbes list of richest Filipinos. His estimated net worth of 1.3 Billion pesos  is not good enough.

But his assets are enough to buy an airline company — or at least one of its aircraft.

Today, the Malaysian budget airlines Air Asia unveiled the prototype logo that will be painted on the fuselage of its entire fleet. While still bearing the old Air Asia symbol, most of the aircraft is emblazoned with Manny Pacquiao’s name and photo. Flights will be coded ‘Pacman 101,’ Pacman 577,’ and so on.

Reliable sources said that Pacquiao has recently signed a deal buying the majority stocks of Air Asia. The sources declined to mention any purchase price, although they have indicated that Pacquiao’s expected earnings from his May 2 championship fight with Floyd Mayweather has already been committed towards the purchase.

Upon hearing the news, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares ordered an investigation of the sale to determine if the boxer had assets that have not been declared and that needed to be taxed. The Philippines’ tax woman has been  after Pacquiao for alleged non-payment of taxes for several years now.

Just recently, Pacquiao purchased a $12 Million Beverly Hills mansion formerly owned by rapper Sean Combs, also known as Diddy.

Business, Health & Medicine, International, Politics, Travel

WHY MICROSOFT’S BILL GATES SNUBBED PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT AQUINO

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Gates
Gates

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Speculations continue to spread like wildfire on why Bill Gates – the world’s richest man – didn’t pay a courtesy visit to the president of a country he recently visited: the Philippines.

The head of Microsoft and his wife, Melinda, were reportedly in Los Baños, Laguna — south of the capital, Manila — to visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Gates is the biggest donor of the Institute, contributing $18 Million dollars annually.

Reports also indicate that the billionaire couple spent some R&R in a plush resort in Palawan, a fast-growing tourist destination in the Philippines.

A spokesperson for Malacañang Palace (the presidential residence) confirmed that back in November, Gates requested for a courtesy visit to President NoyNoy Aquino, but that the request was subsequently withdrawn by Gates himself. No reason for the withdrawal was given by the Palace.

Many Filipinos are comparing the snub to the time of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, when then First Lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos was stood up by the visiting Beatles, and failed to show up for their scheduled appointment at Malacañang.

A source close to Gates told The Adobo Chronicles that the reason the billionaire cancelled the request was because he was later informed that Aquino is a chain smoker. Mr. Gates, a health buff, didn’t want to be exposed to second-hand smoke if he visited with Aquino.

All things cleared. No politics involved!

 

Government, International, Law Enforcement, Travel

IN U.S., FOREIGNERS NEED ENTRY PERMIT; IN THE PHILIPPINES, FOREIGNERS NEED PERMIT TO LEAVE

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Filipinos wanting to visit the United States face an enormous challenge in securing an entry visa, especially for the purpose of tourism. Many go through the doors of the U.S. Embassy in Manila in the hopes of getting their passports stamped for travel to America, but very few leave with the tourist visa they try so hard to secure.

(The Philippines is not among the countries exempted from obtaining a tourist or business visa under the US Visa Waiver Program.)

In response to the illusive U.S. visa for Filipinos, the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration (BOI) has found a way to return the favor.

Foreigners visiting the Philippines, especially Americans, must obtain permission to leave. The little-known immigration policy requires foreigners to apply for, and secure an ‘exit visa’ before they can head to the airport to board a plane back to their home country.

“You are free to come, but you can’t leave without our permission,” a spokesman for the BOI said of foreigners intending to visit the island nation.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” so the saying goes.

Here’s a reminder from BOI about the unique policy.