QUEZON CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Quezon City Bureau ) -Showtime marked Congress’ 2024 budget deliberations yesterday when Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel found himself silenced while making known his objections to the speedy passing of the measure. It turns out Manuel was trying to sing “Bayan Ko” as part of his protest.
As he bravely crooned the protest anthem, Speaker Martin Romualdez justified the microphone muting, citing a most unusual cause – off-key singing.
Apparently, Manuel’s vocal stylings hit such dissonant chords that even the most enthusiastic supporters of democracy couldn’t endure the auditory assault. It seems the House believes in harmony but not when it comes to budget discord.
Aspiring pop stars beware: Congress isn’t the place to audition for the next “Voice” season!
QUEZON CITY, Philippines ( The Adobo Chronicles, Quezon City Bureau) – In a rare cross-partisan vote never seen before in Philippine politics, the House of Representatives has unanimously approved the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) request for confidential funds under the next budget year.
With one tiny amendment – changing the term “confidential” to “anonymous” – lawmakers have brilliantly transformed the nation’s budgetary secrecy into an open secret.
Even the staunchest critics of opaque expenditures, like Gabriela’s Arlene Brosas, ACT’s France Castro and Kabataan Partylist’s Raoul Manuel couldn’t resist the allure of these “anonymous” funds and voted in favor.
It seems that the allure of secrecy, or should we say “anonymity,” has a magical way of bringing politicians from all walks of life together. The people can rest easy knowing their tax pesos are safely concealed and in good hands!
QUEZON CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Quezon City Bureau) – Call it “familial diplomacy” as you wish, but MTRCB (Movie & Television Ratings and Classification Board) Chair Lala Sotto has given her dad, the venerable Tito Sotto, a stern talking-to for TV host Joey de Leon’s recent “rope” comment on the ‘EAT’ noon-time show. (Tito Sotto is part of the TVJ trio who are the hosts of the show.)
In a promise that rivals Shakespearean drama, Senator Sotto pledged to personally lecture de Leon on the importance of sensitivity regarding suicide and slavery which de Leon’s “rope” (noose) comment referred to.
It’s almost touching how the Sotto clan is taking it upon themselves to enlighten the masses. One can’t help but admire the dedication to educating the nation, especially coming from a family with a history of “na-ano lang” moments.
Many will recall that then Senator Tito Sotto made the “na-ano lang” (it just happened) comment during the Senate confirmation hearing of single mother Judy Taguiwalo, a Secretary-designate for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
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