Category Archives: Travel

Finally, A Sensible Solution To Metro Manila’s Nightmarish Traffic

IMG_5234.PNGMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Imagine yourself in a jeepney during commute hours from Fairview in Quezon City going to Taft Ave. in Manila, or vice versa.  What are you going to do during those nightmarish hours, especially when your cellphone is registering “low batt.”

The traffic problem in Metro Manila seems hopeless as it has been for many decades, with no solution on hand.

Until now.

Today, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced what it called the most sensible solution thus far to the traffic problem.

In a memorandum addressed to all drivers and operators of jeepneys plying the Quezon City to Manila route, MMDA is now requiring them to install karaoke machines in their vehicles.

“If we can’t solve the traffic situation, we can at least make the daily commute more entertaining for the commuters, by providing the most popular form of entertainment for Pinoys — karaoke singing,” MMDA said.

So next time to hop on a jeepney, make sure you’re prepared to belt out your favorite karaoke song — except Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” which has been banned by the Philippine government years ago because it was considered the deadliest karaoke song.

 

Senator Trillanes Charged With Violating Bank Secrecy Law In Singapore

IMG_4960.PNGSINGAPORE (The Adobo Chronicles, Singapore Bureau) – By now, everyone knows that Senator Antonio Trillanes travelled to Singapore to prove that the foreign bank accounts he has been accused of having were non-existent.

In the process, Trillanes is now charged with violation of Singapore’s bank secrecy law when he entered a DBS bank branch and videotaped himself approaching the bank teller.

Even in countries without bank secrecy laws, it is strictly prohibited to take pictures or videos within bank premises.

Ah, the cost of proving innocence!

Move Over TransAmerica Pyramid, Here Comes San Francisco’s Leaning Tower

IMG_4343.PNGSAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles, San Francisco Bureau) – For many decades, San Francisco’s skyline was ruled by the TransAmerica Building.  No tourist will leave the City by the Bay without a selfie in front of the obelisk-shaped tower.

Not anymore.

Here comes San Francisco’s newest and future tourist attraction: The Millennium Condominium Tower.  It’s the city’s modern version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

At its current rate, the sinking Tower could tilt another 10 inches toward the Salesforce Tower in the next two years, lawyers for the homeowners warned in a legal filing.

We asked our artist-in-residence to give us an idea what the Tower might look like in the future (see photo).

While condominium residents will not be happy, world tourists will be, for sure!