Chicago | The Adobo Chronicles

President Benigno Aquino III received signed jerseys of the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics during his working visit in Chicago on Thursday. (Malacanang Photo Bureau)

CHICAGO, Illinois (The Adobo Chronicles) – In his speech before a small group of Filipino Americans in Chicago this week, President Aquino touted his administration’s programs to improve the economic standing of the Philippines, calling his country the new “Darling of Asia.”

Aquino’s trip to Chicago was meant to attract U.S. companies to invest in the Philippines.

ABS-CBN News is reporting that Aquino left Chicago empty-handed, except for a pair of signed jerseys of the Chicago Bulls amd Boston Celtics, top teams in the American National Basketball Association (NBA).

The Adobo Chronicles spoke with representatives of some of the U.S. companies Aquino was trying to woo. They were one in saying that they had already previously invested a lot of money in the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, and lost. “We can’t risk more investments in the Philippines at this time,” they said.

Aquino is now in Canada. Maybe he’ll have better luck there. Or maybe not.

Aquino speaking at gathering in Chicago on May 6, 2015 (Photo credit: Rose Tibayan) — Aquino speaking at a gathering in Chicago on May 6, 2015 (Photo credit: Rose Tibayan)

CHICAGO, Illinois (The Adobo Chronicles) – President NoyNoy Aquino spoke before a small group of 300 Americans, mostly Filipino Americans, in Chicago tonight, as part of what the Philippine Consulate is calling a ‘working visit’ by the Philippine head of state.

During his speech at the J.W. Marriott, Aquino talked about his administration’s accomplishments in bringing about economic progress for the Philippines. He was, of course, referring to the economic progress for the rich, not the 99% of middle class and poor Filipinos.

But the bigger issue was that Aquino delivered his speech in Tagalog which 90% of his audience didn’t understand because they were Americans or Filipino Americans who didn’t speak the language.

Aquino is known for delivering his speech in Tagalog.

Reacting to criticism from non-Tagalog speaking Filipino Americans, Aquino said, “You don’t matter to me. You are not Philippine voters. You’re not my bosses.”

Aquino is famous for referring to the Filipino voters as his bosses.

A Filipino American commented on his Facebook page that Aquino’s ‘working visit’ was merely to justify his trip to Las Vegas to watch the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

The Adobo Chronicles could not independently confirm if Aquino was, indeed, present at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to personally witness the “Fight of the Century.”