Category Archives: Travel

Human Interest, International, Technology, The Media, Travel

SELFIE WITH POPE FRANCIS CREATES FIRESTORM IN THE PHILIPPINES

Leave a comment
Philippine Congressman Farinas with Pope Francis (Photo: Farinas Instagram Account)
Philippine Congressman Farinas with Pope Francis
(Photo: Farinas Instagram Account)

Ilocos Norte, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – New research shows that taking a selfie is not only mental disorder (selfitis), per the American Psychiatric Association, but also brings out destructive feelings of envy and jealousy among people.

This new research finding was clearly demonstrated by the incident involving a Philippine Congressman, Rudy Farinas, representing Ilocos Norte province in Northern Luzon.

Farinas was at The Vatican attending the canonization of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, when he took a selfie  photo with Pope Francis. He later posted the selfie photo on his Instagram account.  The post drew violent protests from Philippine government officials and Filipino netizens, accusing Farinas of inappropriate behavior that’s truly unbecoming of an elected official.

Farinas dismissed the criticism as pure envy and jealousy, and the research backs him up. The research findings recommend cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) not only for those suffering from selfitis but also for those who are bothered by it.

The Adobo Chronicles has just learned that the American Medical Association (AMA) will soon classify such response to selfitis as an ‘allergic reaction.’

 

 

International, Politics, The Media, Travel

TOP TEN REASONS WHY MICHELLE OBAMA DID NOT JOIN THE PRESIDENT IN HIS STATE VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES

Leave a comment
Michelle Obama at the 2014 White House Correspondents Dinner (photo: Getty)
Michelle Obama at the 2014 White House Correspondents Dinner (photo: Getty)

Washington. D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – It’s been almost two weeks since U.S. President Barack Obama visited Manila as part of his four-nation diplomatic tour of Asia, but the media and netizens still can’t figure out why he was not joined by First Lady Michelle Obama. It turns out the reasons revolved around the Philippines.

The Adobo Chronicles interviewed sources close to the First Lady and put together the top ten reasons Mrs. Obama skipped the Manila visit:

  1. There is no Philippine First Lady whom she could hang out with to gossip about their husbands  (President NoyNoy Aquino is a bachelor).
  2. She does not want to sit next to Vice President Jejomar Binay at the state dinner.
  3. She does not want to sit at the same table with convicts, i.e. former presidents. (Former President Joseph Estrada has been convicted of plunder and later pardoned by his predecessor. He is now mayor of Manila).
  4. She cannot stand Kris Aquino (TV host and sister of President Aquino who claims she is the ‘Oprah Winfrey of the Philippines’).
  5. She is allergic to hot and humid weather.
  6. She is allergic to  rice stalks (she learned that it would be part of the state dinner backdrop).
  7. Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos was quoted as wanting to take a selfie with her.
  8. She hates karaoke, especially when it is boxer Manny Pacquiao who is singing.
  9. The Philippine government scheduled for her to visit St. Luke’s Hospital where former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was being treated at the time of the visit (Arroyo is facing criminal charges and has been under hospital arrest at a government facility).
  10. Alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles just wouldn’t stop texting her (Napoles is being held without bail in a special military prison).
Film and TV, Health & Medicine, Human Interest, International, The Media, Travel

THE CURIOUS CASE OF WHITENING SOAPS IN THE PHILIPPINES

2 Comments

imageManila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Women the world over would die for the chance to sunbathe in Hawaii, The Caribbean, or the white sandy beaches of the Philippines – from Boracay to Puerto Princesa. They also pay top dollars (or whatever their currency is) to invest in bronzers (think U.S. Speaker John Boehner) or book sessions at tanning salons, ignoring warnings about UV rays-induced skin cancer.

Not so in the Philippines. White is better, especially among women who aspire to be on film, television, or to become beauty queens.

Whitening soaps have become priced items in the Philippines that many local and foreign soap manufacturers have invested millions of dollars to come up with products that promise whiter skin. Fruit-based soaps (papaya, citrus and others) as well as  chlorine-based products have become popular in recent years.

Whitening soaps have also been among the top requests from Filipinas  to their relatives in the U.S. and elsewhere when the latter ship balikbayan boxes back home.

Is this just a temporary trend or a residue from the Philippines’ colonial past?

We encourage our readers to weigh in by commenting.