Manila, Philippines – Metro Manila in the Philippines is probably the most congested metropolis in the entire world. It comprises of several big cities and towns with their respective local government units but that in itself makes the delivery of government services truly inefficient and ineffective. That is about to end.
Manila Mayor and former Philippine President Joseph Estrada is proposing to split Metro Manila into just two major cities: Northern Manila and Southern Manila. Estrada’s plan is quite simple. The division line will be the Pasig River which runs from Manila Bay to Laguna Bay. All cities and towns north of the Pasig River will comprise Northern Manila and everything else south of the river will comprise Southern Manila.
There is one big problem.
Most of Manila and Makati are south of the Pasig River, which begs the question, who will be the mayor of Southern Manila? Joseph Estrada or Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, son of incumbent Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay who is running for president in 2016?
A poll conducted by The Adobo Chronicles shows a 50-50 split in support for Estrada and Binay.
Philippine Cardinal Tagle administers ash to the Catholic faithful on Ash Wednesday (file photo)
Manila, Philippines –In his message to the Filipino people on Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent – Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle admonished the Catholic faithful to “fast and abstain not to be slim and sexy, and be charitable not to be popular.”
Many Catholics abstain from eating meat for 40 days during Lent in the spirit of sacrifice.
Responding to the cardinal’s appeal, Philippine legislators in both the Senate and House of Representatives unanimously agreed to give up pork for the next 4o days – pork barrel, that is.
The decision by the politicians couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time in view of the current legislative investigation of the 10 Billion-peso pork barrel scandal which has linked several legislators to the scam of siphoning taxpayer money into fake non-govenmental organizations (NGOs) and into the pockets of certain businessmen and elected officials.
It wasn’t clear whether the politicians’ “abstinence” from pork will automatically be rescinded come Easter Sunday, the end of the Lenten season.
Filipino American Robert Lopez, Oscar nominee for “Best Song”
Quezon City, Philippines – Kris Aquino makes no secret about her lifelong dream to be invited to Hollywood’s Oscar Awards ceremonies. Kris, the younger sister of Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino, is a popular television host in her country. Among the shows she hosts are the local versions of the American reality programs “Deal or No Deal” and “America’s Got Talent.”
She sees an opportunity for her dream to be fulfilled this year with a Filipino American being nominated in the Best Song category – Robert Lopez, composer of the the nominated song “Let It Go” from the Disney animated film, “Frozen.”
Aquino has reportedly sent messages under the Philippine presidential letterhead to Lopez, asking that she be considered as his date to this weekend’s Oscar Awards show.
Lopez’s wife, also named Kris (Kristen Anderson Lopez) was apparently unhappy with the Aquinos’ lobbying and has asked her husband to ignore and not to respond to Kris’ messages.
Kristen is co-composer of the nominated song with her husband.
Manila, Philippines – Metro Manila in the Philippines is probably the most congested metropolis in the entire world. It comprises of several big cities and towns with their respective local government units but that in itself makes the delivery of government services truly inefficient and ineffective. That is about to end.
The Adobo Chronicles 
You must be logged in to post a comment.