ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Davao Bureau) – Ordinary Filipino citizens made headlines last weekend when thousands upon thousands of volunteers trooped to Manila Bay as part of the clean-up of the polluted water.  Proof that when there is inaction on the part of their government, citizens are more than willing to step up.

What the news media missed this weekend was an offer made by vinta owners in Zamboanga and other parts of Mindanao to use their colorful paddle boats to load the imported trash from Canada and return it to the exporter.

The imported Canadian trash which arrived years ago at the Port of Manila has been a contentious issue between the Philippine and Canadian governments.  The trash, shipped in containers to the Philippines under the guise of recyclable plastics, actually contained objectionable items, including used diapers and medical waste.

In speaking with The Adobo Chronicles, the vinta owners said that they are determined to help resolve the garbage issue, however long it takes for them to cross the Pacific Ocean enroute to North America.

The vinta owners’ only request is that they be escorted in their journey by the Philippine Coastguard.

 

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – First it was Catriona Gray winning the Miss Universe Pageant. Then last night , Karen Gallman bagged the title of Miss Intercontinental — a first for the Philippines in the pageant’s 47-year history, She was crowned by Mexico’s Veronica Sala Vallejo at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Like Gray, Gallman is Filipino-Australian. She has roots in Brisbane and Bohol. Gray was born in Queesland which claimed her as their own when she won the Miss Universe crown.

It looks like the pageant world has found the magic combination for winning the crown.

So today, the organizers of Miss Philippines and Miss Australia signed a Memorandum of Agreement that going forward, the two countries will send a common candidate to all international beauty pageants.

The only thing missing in the agreement is how the candidate will be named: Miss Philippines-Australia or Miss Australia-Philippines.

SAN DIEGO, California (The Adobo Chronicles, San Diego Bureau) – If Donald Trump can’t build his wall, he’s going to close the door.

In an exclusive interview with The Adobo Chronicles, the U.S. President unveiled his alternative plan to prevent illegal immigration from Mexico.

He plans to shut down the U.S.-Mexico boarder at Tijuana.

“Not only will Mexicans be barred from entering the country, no one — not even Americans — can exit and reenter the U.S., at least not by car, according Trump’s plan.

If the San Diego-Tijuana border closure will prove successful, Trump plans to close the northern border with Canada, starting with the Detroit-Windsor border crossing (tunnel).