Tag Archives: Catholics

Philippine Presidential Candidate Scheming For His Own Election Loss?

April 19, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Despite latest national polls showing him ahead of his rival candidates for president of the Philippines, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is secretly planning and strategizing for his own loss in the May 9 elections, and he’s not being coy about it.

Previously, the controversial mayor asked Filipinos not to vote for him if they won’t vote for his vice presidential runningmate Alan Peter Cayetano. (In the Philippines, voters can elect a president from one political party and a vice president from another).

Right there, Duterte has lost the votes of Filipinos supporting VP frontrunners Leni Robredo and Bongbong Marcos.

Yesterday, Duterte told Catholics should not vote for him because, per the Philippine Catholic Bishops, a vote for him would be a vote for hell. That’s easily three-fourths of all voters.

So, how does Duterte expect to win when he’s asking people not to vote for him? Was this his grand plan from the very beginning? Is this a faux Duterte campaign to be president? Is he secretly supporting the candidacy of his rival Senator Grace Poe?

Religion

In 2017, Only Women Will Be Allowed In Manila’s Black Nazarene Procession

January 9, 2016 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Each year, on the 9th of January, some 12 Million Catholics — mostly men — line the streets of Manila in a religious procession honoring the image of the Black Nazarene. It is a decades-old tradition meant as a way to atone for one’s sins and to ask for favors in the coming year from the revered statue of Jesus Christ enshrined in Manila’s Quiapo Church.

The image, which was carved by an anonymous Mexican artist sometime in the 17th century, depicts Jesus bearing the cross en route to his crucifixion. The statue is renowned in the Philippines and considered miraculous by many Filipino Catholics. It is widely believed that the image’s dark color was a result of it being charred in a fire in the galleon ship that brought it to the Philippines from Mexico.

In modern times where women’s rights are becoming front and center even in a machismo society like the Philippines, Filipinas are starting to assert their equality with men. Yes, even in a religious tradition like the Black Nazarene procession.

So, next year, when the procession rolls out again in Manila, only women will be allowed.

This is the result of a petition signed by 10 Million Filipina Catholics asking Rome to declare 2017 as Women’s Year For the Black Nazarene. Pope Francis signed the declaration last January 8th, the eve of the 2016 procession in Manila.

In 2018, the procession will revert back to an all-male event. However, the papal directive provides for an all-women procession once every four years, coinciding with the Leap Year.

Government, International, Politics, Religion

FILIPINO SENATORS PROPOSE NEW PHILANDERING LAW

March 26, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Outside of The Vatican, the Philippines is now the only country in the world that denies divorce to the majority of its citizens. It is the last straggler among the most devout of Catholic countries where the church has fought hard to enforce the sanctity of marriage.

Not even Pope Francis, who visited the Philippines earlier this year, seems to be able to soften the stance of the country’s dual-faced politicians and ultra conservative church leaders.(Francis has urged his bishops to take a more forgiving stance toward divorced Catholics. But with divorce being illegal in the Philippines, Francis’ appeal is a moot point.)

Today, Philippine senators have rejected a proposal to legalize divorce in the Philippines despite surveys showing majority of Filipinos agreed to legalize “irreconcilably separated” couples.

Many legislators admitted that a divorce law would have little to no chance of passing both houses of congress. President Aquino, a devout Catholic, had previously said he does not favor divorce.

In an alternative move, Senator Bongbong Marcos, with full support from his fellow legislators from all sides of the aisle, said he will introduce a bill that would legalize philandering. “It already is a widespread practice in the country,” Marcos said, ” we might as well make it part of the law of our land.”

It is common knowledge that many Filipino politicians are certified philanderers.

Not everyone is happy about the proposed new bill. Wives of philandering politicians said they will vigorously oppose it. Mistresses of philandering politicians are undecided whether or not to support the bill. They are afraid that their secret affairs with the politicians will be made public once the bill becomes law.