Category Archives: Travel

Business, International, Tourism, Travel

MASSIVE FLIGHT DELAYS AT MANILA’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LEAVE THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS STRANDED

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imageManila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Manila’s main international airport has repeatedly been named among the worst airports in the world. This weekend, that reputation became even worse as thousands upon thousands of passengers were stranded and hundreds of incoming and outgoing flights were delayed or cancelled at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The reason? Ground personnel of Cathay Pacific Airlines, still in their official uniforms, left their posts, counters and stations to put up a show in the middle of the busy and crowded main airport terminal.

It was meant as a ‘flash mob’ performance to welcome incoming passengers from Asia, Europe, America and other continents. The singing and dancing ground personnel delighted many onlookers who subsequently missed their flights and connections. Incoming flights were stranded at the runways because there was not a single ground staff person to assist the flight crew and passengers.

While the flash mob involved only Cathay Pacific employees, other airlines were affected  because their respective ground crew also left their stations to watch and videotape the impromptu dance performance.

Did we already mention that “It’s More Fun in the Philippines?”

International, Politics, Travel

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT AQUINO APPOINTS SISTER KRIS ACTING PRESIDENT

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Kris Aquino welcoming Mexican President Nieto (screen grab from Aquino's Instagram account)
Kris Aquino welcoming Mexican President Nieto (screen grab from Aquino’s Instagram account)

Manila, Philippines  (The Adobo Chronicles ) – In the Philippines, the Vice President is but a titular figure, especially if his name is Jejomar Binay.

As if Binay doesn’t already have enough headache facing multiple charges and investigations on unexplained wealth and alleged corruption while he was mayor of the City of Makati, he has just been totally snubbed by President NoyNoy Aquino.

Aquino, who is currently out of the country attending a summit meeting of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Myanmar, appointed his sister, actress and TV host Kris, as acting president.

In her first official act as acting president, Kris welcomed the charismatic President of Mexico Enrique Peña Nieto to the Philippines at the Villamor Airbase on Thursday night. Nieto was on his way to Australia but had to make a two-hour layover in Manila for his plane’s refueling.

Kris posted on her Instagram account a photo of her short encounter with Nieto, whose movie star-like appeal made him a favorite politician in his home country. Along with Kris was her friend and TV co-host Boy Abunda.

Nieto
Nieto

Kris said they had an “informative conversation” with Nieto.

Kris wore a strapless, low-cut black cocktail dress, hoping to impress the 48-year-old good-looking Nieto. She was visibly disappointed when Nieto emerged from his plane with his wife, First Lady Angelica Rivera.

The openly-gay Boy Abunda’s reaction upon seeing Nieto was the exact opposite to that of Aquino. Think about eye candy!

Music, Religion, Travel

POPE FRANCIS CHOOSES CHARICE TO SING DURING HIS PUBLIC APPEARANCES IN THE PHILIPPINES

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Charice
Charice

The Vatican, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Unknown to many, Pope Francis has a very peculiar taste when it comes to music, and he has no problem making his preferences known even if it is frowned upon by The Vatican’s conservative Curia.

Just this week, Pope Francis selected punk singer Patti Smith to play at this year’s Vatican Christmas Concert in Rome next month. Smith’s booking has evoked a mixed response from Christian groups, with the Catholic organisation Portosalvo apparently describing the decision as “blasphemous”, following the singer’s 1975 song ‘Gloria’, which famously featured the lines: “Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine.”

Today, the Pope announced that he has chosen Filipino singer Charice to sing ‘The Prayer’ at all his scheduled public appearances in Manila and Tacloban.  The pontiff is scheduled to visit the Philippines  January 15-19 next year.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines  (CBCP) is not happy about the Pope’s choice. Charice has come out recently as a lesbian and the Filipino bishops would rather have someone else sing for the Pope  – heterosexual singers like Lea Salonga or born-again Christian Kuh Ledesma.

The Vatican, however, said that the Pope is just being consistent with his earlier pronouncement that  gay men and women are also God’s children and that he is not in a position to judge them. “The Pope’s selection of Charice reflects that pronouncement, ” The Vatican said.