Category Archives: Travel

Beauty, International, Travel

The Curious (Passport) Case of Miss Philippines Grand International Samantha Lo

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CARACAS, Venezuela (The Adobo Chronicles, New York Bureau) – If it can happen to ex-Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario and ex-Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, it can happen to the Philippines’ representative to the Miss Grand International beauty pageant.

It will be recalled that both del Rosario and Morales were barred from entering Hong Kong for passport and other issues.

Now, it appears Miss Philippines Samantha Lo was initially unable to reach the pageant’s host country — Venezuela — due to “passport issues.” (She finally made it on second try.)

Lo’s case has fueled lots of speculation and comments from beauty pageant-loving netizens, saying that this should never have happened to their beauty queen.

Some criticized the local pageant organizer, Binibining Pilipinas Charities, for not taking good  care of Lo’s travel documents.

Others speculated that the government of Venezuela didn’t want Lo to join the pageant because she was a big threat to its own candidate, Miss Venezuela.  The Philippines and Venezuela are often neck-and-neck when it comes to winning international beauty crowns.

Still a few Pinoys surmised that Lo was holding a Chinese passport, instead of a Filipino passport.

All unfounded rumors, of course.

We wish Miss Philippines the best of luck.  Bring home the bacon, ASF-free, we hope.

Travel

Senator Grace Poe’s New Proposal To Solve EDSA Traffic Crisis: Triple-Decker Buses

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Forget about the elevated pedestrian walkways or the business coach on MRT. Senator Grace Poe has a new proposal to alleviate the almost insurmountable traffic crisis in Metro Manila, especially along EDSA.

Today, Poe — chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services — proposed the fielding of triple-deckers to replace the dilapidated city buses that now ply the Quezon City to Makati route.

Poe told The Adobo Chronicles that for each triple decker that is fielded on EDSA,  “we can reduce the number of buses  that clog the busy thoroughfare by three.”

The Senator said she plans to  travel to Europe next month to observe the mass transportation system in the developed countries, particularly the use of double decker buses.  “But we can do better,” she said.  I’d like to see triple deckers instead.”

 

Law Enforcement, Travel

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Jeepney Driver Fined For Violating The Law

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MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – It all started with a challenge that he take public transportation to work after he said there is no mass transportation crisis in Metro Manila. Now, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo faces a fine of P5,000 for violating Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

At issue is Panelo’s PR stint in which he was photographed sitting on the steps of a jeepney (see photo) as part of his public commute to Malacanang Palace.

Overloading in public utility vehicles is prohibited under Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The jeepney driver also faces a similar fine.