Tag Archives: Congress

PHILIPPINES : ‘BUTTERFLY LADIES’ WILL HEAD ALL THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT

October 2, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

L-R: Poe, Robredo, Sereno, Defensor-Santiago, Marcos

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles®) – For centuries, the Philippines has been a society known for its deeply-ingrained machismo, where men rule and women are relegated to the sidelines.

Not any more.

The Philippines is among the few countries where women are, or have been, heads of state. In fact, there had been two women Philippine presidents — the late Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (who remains in hospital arrest).

Fast forward to 2016.

It is predicted that a woman will be elected president, as well as vice president!

The Philippines’ unique electoral process allows voters to vote across party lines. This means they could vote for the presidential candidate of one party and for the vice presidential bet of another.

In fact, incumbent President NoyNoy Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay are from opposing political parties.

One woman candidate, Senator Grace Poe, has so far declared her candidacy for president while another, Leni Robredo, is about to named vice presidential candidate for an opposing party. Both are popular and have done extremely well in national polls.

The Philippine Supreme Court is already headed by a woman chief justice – Maria Lourdes Sereno.

It is further predicted that the next Senate president and next Speaker of the House will both be women. Among the candidates are Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Representative Imelda Romualdez Marcos, respectively.

So the possibility of all three branches of government being ruled by women is just around the corner. When it happens, the Philippines will be known not for the Iron Lady, but its Butterfly (sleeves) ladies!

Meanwhile, male politicians are gearing up to be part of Gilas, the Philippines’ national basketball team — either as players or members of the coaching team, their best chance of maintaining some semblance of machismo.

Government, Politics, Religion

OVERWHELMED BY POPE’S VISIT, SPEAKER BOEHNER PROMISES MAJOR REFORMS

September 24, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Pope Francis, left, and a tearful Boehner

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Overwhelmed by the Pope’s presence, and the enlightenment of The Holy Spirit, a tearful and repentant House Speaker John Boehner promised to lead the Republican Party to institute major reforms long resisted by the GOP.

Pope Francis addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress this morning, calling on legislators to emulate the examples of four great Americans: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.

A devout Catholic, Boehner could not contain his emotions standing next to the head of the Roman Catholic Church during the visiting pontiff’s speech inside the Congress chambers and in a short balcony appearance to greet the crowd that packed the lawn leading up from the Washington Monument.

Soon after the Pope left Capitol Hill, Boehner called for an impromptu press conference, telling reporters that he was so inspired by Francis’ message that he will lead the GOP in instituting major reforms including those on comprehensive immigration, climate change, creating jobs, taxing the rich, abolishing the death penalty, boosting Obamacare through Universal Health care, dialogue with Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Russia and China, as well as a humanitarian U.S. response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

So far, there has been no response from the Republican presidential candidates on Boehner’s announcement.

Government, Politics

PHILIPPINE CONGRESS REJECTS SECOND TERM FOR PRESIDENT AQUINO

July 20, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles®) – A bi-partisan majority of members of the Philippines’ House of Representatives and Senate have rejected a second term for President NoyNoyAquino, or his successors.

The constitution limits the presidential term to six years with no re-election.

There has been a lot of speculation that the Aquino camp was trying to maneuver a possible second term for the president after he completes his six years in office in 2016.

The legislators, lead by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, all but doused the hope for Aquino to run for re-election.

Santiago said that any proposal to amend the constitution to allow a second presidential term will not get the required number of votes in Congress in order for it to pass.

The feisty senator added that there is a clear consensus among the bi-partisan legislators that the only way they will agree to two terms is for the president to serve one, six-year term in Malacanang (the presidential palace), and a second indefinite term in prison.

Former President Joseph Estrada, now city mayor of Manila, served a prison term for corruption before he was pardoned by his successor, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who herself, is now under hospital arrest for similar charges.