Politics, Religion

WAITING FOR ‘DIVINE SIGNAL’ TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

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Duterte, next Peesident of the Philippines?
Duterte, next Peesident of the Philippines?

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Who says religion and politics don’t mix ?

In what appears to be the clearest indication of his openness to run for president of the Philippines in 2016, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte told constituents and supporters that there will be “swift and immediate reforms” should he become president.

Speaking before a crowd, Duterte also said he will rule with “common sense and a good heart” if God allows him to be the next leader of the country. “I am waiting for divine signal,” he added.

Duterte openly favors a federalist form of government much like in the United States in which certain powers are reserved for the national government as well as the states (provinces, in the case of the Philippines).

The mayor made headlines recently when, referring to the arrest of a suspected rice smuggler, he said, “If this guy would go to Davao and starts to unload (smuggled rice)… I will gladly kill him.”

Duterte was hoping that the divine signal would be personally delivered to him by Pope Francis who recently visited the Philippines.  Alas, no such signal came from the pope.

However, Duterte plans to travel to the Holy Land next month, along with other Filipino pilgrims. “Perhaps the signal is wating for me there,” he said.

 

Local News, Religion

NUNS SET TO PICKET SAN FRANCISCO CATHOLIC CHURCH OVER NEW BAN ON ALTAR GIRLS

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The Star of the Sea Catholic Church of San Francisco (photo from its website)
The Star of the Sea Catholic Church of San Francisco (photo from its website)

SAN FRANCISCO, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – It’s back to the 16th Century for one Catholic Church parish in San Francisco, while nuns are  marching into the 22nd century.

The Star of the Sea Church, located on Ninth and Geary streets, said it will not have girls as altar servers, and its priest behind the policy is coming under fire.

Father Josephy Illo, who came to the church about six months ago from Los Angeles, told NBC Bay Area News:

“We’d like to get back to an altar boy program, which is a proven, effective way to promoting vocations to the priesthood,” Father Illo said. “So boys get closer to the altar, and as you know, the Catholic church does not ordain women.”

Many parents in the parish are outraged, and so are nuns living in and around San Francisco.

The nuns are reportedly mobilizing and planning for a hundred thousand march to protest the new policy. “It’s bad enough that we cannot be ordained as priests. Now we (meaning females) can’t even serve at the altar,” Sister Perpetual said.  She and her locally-based congregation plan to hold nightly vigils starting today at the church until the new policy is reversed.

In addition, the nuns plan to chain themselves to Muni buses, especially the No. 38 bus which runs the Geary Street route.

The San Francisco Police Department advised commuters on the Geary Street route to plan for alternative ways to get to school or work.

Arts, Fashion, International

STELLA MARQUEZ ARANETA STEPS DOWN AS HEAD OF BINIBINING PILIPINAS CHARITIES

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Miss Philippines' evening gown in the Miss Universe Preliminaries, left. The same gown during thr pageant finals, right.
Miss Philippines’ evening gown in the Miss Universe preliminaries, left. The same gown during the pageant finals, right.

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Philippines’ contestant to last night’s Miss Universe Pageant held in Doral, Florida, failed to make it to the top 5 finalists, dashing the hopes of millions of Filipinos for a third crown. Miss Philippines made it through to the top 10.

Blame quickly turned to Lastimosa’s wardrobe, including her much-maligned ‘national costume’ designed by Colombian Alfredo Barraza. Many compared the gown to a giant wedding cake.

Reports from Florida also indicate that Lastimosa altered her white evening gown right after the preliminary competition to show her natural curves better. Many noticed a lower cleavage line and a better hugging waist line in the pageant finals (see photos).

Others were quick to accuse Barraza and the head of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities (BPC), Stella Marquez Araneta, a Colombian beauty queen who married a Filipino, of sabotage.

Responding to critics, Araneta said there are no Filipino designers good enough to design gowns worthy of an international pageant like Miss Universe. Filipino fashion designers and netizens took her to task for her comment.

But now, the “GownGate” seems to be over.Miss Philippines' National Costume

“I can’t take this any more, I have to let it go,” Araneta told reporters in Manila. “To be blamed for the failure of the Philippines to win the Miss Universe crown a third time is just not fair, just because I am Colombian and I chose a Colombian designer,” she added.

With those words, she formally stepped down from the top position she holds at the BPC.

Manny Pacquiao’s mom, Dionisia, is said to be wanting to replace Araneta. (Pacquiao was a judge in last night’s Miss Universe finals.)

Incidentally, the new Miss Universe is Paulina Vega. From Colombia.

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