Category Archives: Travel

Arts, Human Interest, International, Science and Environment, Travel

STATUE OF DAVID’S WEAK ANKLES: MILLIONS WORLDWIDE COME TO THE RESCUE

May 3, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Florence, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – It is one of the world’s most famous statues, representing the Renaissance ideal of the male physique, but Michelangelo’s David is in danger of collapsing because of its weak ankles, new tests have revealed.

The Telegraph (U..K.) reports that Italian scientists have found tiny fractures in the statue’s ankles which means it is at risk of toppling over. The tests by the National Research Council and Florence University confirmed what has long been feared – that the celebrated work has been weakened over the centuries by its great weight.

Since the report was published last week, the Accademia Gallery in Florence which houses the famed sculpture has been flooded with phone calls and emails from concerned citizens throughout the world – from Australia to Latin America. Unsolicited donations came pouring in, mostly cash clipped inside get well cards written in many languages.

For its part, the Philippine government launched a nationwide relief campaign to solicit in-kind donations for the beleaguered David. Former Philippine First Lady and now member of Congress Imelda Romualdez Marcos volunteered to head the campaign. Marcos has always been known to be a “patroness of the arts.”

In less than 24 hours after the campaign was launched, hundreds of packages have filled the temporary campaign headquarters at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Donations included high-priced antique chairs, bar stools, kitchen counter stools, designer wheelchairs and gold-plated crutches.

Filipinos sure know how to come to the aid of the ailing David.

Business, Food, International, Politics, Travel

DEMAND FOR ‘LUMPIA’ AND ‘ADOBO’ SURGES IN THE U.S., CANADA

May 1, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Lumpia, left, and Squid Adobo (Photos courtesy of www.MyBayKitchen.com) — Lumpia, left, and Squid Adobo
(Photos courtesy of http://www.MyBayKitchen.com)

Daly City, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – Filipino restaurants in the U.S. and Canada are experiencing a rare phenomenon never before seen since the introduction of Philippine cuisine to the Western world.

From 5-star restaurants in New York, Chicago and California to fast food stalls in American malls across the country, Filipino restaurant owners have reported an unusually high demand in just the last week of two items on their menu: lumpia and adobo. Many of them have run out of the food items despite conscious efforts to double their daily preparation and cooking.

This sudden surge in the demand for lumpia and adobo came soon after U.S. President Barack Obama delivered his speech at a state dinner in the Philippines last week . Obama was in Manila on the last leg of his tour of Asian nations. During that speech, Obama lauded Cris Comerford, a Filipino who has been working at the White House since 1995.

“There’s our shared pride in the millions of Filipino Americans who contribute to our nation every single day,” said Obama. “There’s one in particular I’m grateful for — Cris Comerford, our executive chef at the White House,” he added. Obama then proceeded to say that he and his family in the White House “enjoy the occasional lumpia and adobo.”

Comerford is the first woman and first person from an ethnic minority to become a White House executive chef.

It looks like the prediction of Andrew Zimmern, host of “Bizarre Foods” on the Travel Channel is finally coming to fruition. Sometime last year, Zimmern said that Filipino food “is going to be the next big thing.”

When asked by reporters if The Adobo Chronicles is on the list of what he reads on a regular basis, Obama simply winked his eye and said, “No comment.”

International, Law Enforcement, Politics, The Media, Travel

BIRTHERS’ NEW ALLEGATION: BARACK OBAMA IS FILIPINO

April 29, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Phoenix, Arizona (The Adobo Chronicles) – Can the “birthers” ever be convinced that Barack Obama was born in America and is eligible to serve as president?

Over the past few years, the allegation that he was born overseas — in Kenya or perhaps Indonesia — has taken on a life of its own, despite a mountain of evidence to the contrary. Not even the release of copies of Obama’s Hawaii birth certificate could convince the doubting Thomases.

Now the birthers have a new allegation: that Obama may have actually been born in the Philippines while his then pregnant mother was vacationing in this Southeast Asian country.

The new allegation surfaced after the birthers saw a photo of Obama on social media, donning the Barong Tagalog during his recent state visit to Manila. The barong is the Philippines’ national attire for men.

“I mean, how could there be any doubt, ” one birther commented, “just look at that photo. He’s unmistakenly Filipino!” Another birther said: “The White House chef is Filipino and Obama himself admitted that the First Family is often served adobo and lumpia! What other proof do we need?”