Tag Archives: Mar Roxas

PRESIDENT AQUINO BLAMES MAR ROXAS FOR TYPHOON YOLANDA HOUSING FAILURE

Aquino, left, and Roxas, during the "anointing" ceremonies in Manila this week (Photo: rapler.com)
Aquino, left, and Roxas, during the “anointing” ceremonies in Manila this week (Photo: rapler.com)

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – Just days after anointing Mar Roxas as his choice of successor, Philippine President Noy Noy Aquino blamed  the Interior and Local Governments Secretary for the government’s failure to provide housing for the thousands of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) victims who were rendered homeless almost two years ago.

In a scathing report by the United Nations, the Aquino administration was given a failing grade for the dismal effort to build decent and sufficient permanent housing for those displaced by the devastating typhoon

“Many families remain housed in collective ‘bunkhouses’ that do not meet necessary minimum standards for the provision of basic needs and services,” Chaloka Beyani, U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, said in a news conference in Manila. “I was concerned to learn that funding shortfalls and political challenges, including inadequate cooperation between national and local governments, are delaying processes towards achieving durable solutions.”

Reacting to the report, Aquino blamed this failing grade on Roxas, saying that it was the secretary’s duty to coordinate efforts between the national and local governments. “That’s why I appointed him the head the Department of Interior and Local Governments, ” he  said.

Aquino is known for blaming others for the country’s problems as well as the inefficiency and failures of his administration, but it was a shocker to blame Roxas just days after he praised him and officially endorsed him to be the next president.

Roxas could not be reached for comment, as he was busy campaigning in the remote areas of Mindanao, where there is no Internet connection or cellular signal.

BINAY, ROXAS, UNVEIL PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN FREEBIES

Roxas, left, and Binay
Roxas, left, and Binay

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles®) – Now that Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino has all but confirmed he will anoint Interior and Local Governments Secretary Mar Roxas as his choice of successor, the unofficial 2016 political campaign for president is in full swing!

What would a Philippine political campaign be without the usual freebies to entice voters to support the respective party candidates?

Opposition party candidate Vice President Jojo Binay is way ahead of his rival. He has been giving away cell phones to supporters.  But he is upping the ante this time around and has switched from a basic Android cell phone to an Apple iPhone (see photo).FullSizeRender (67)

Roxas may not have as much money as Binay to be able to afford a matching expensive freebie, but at least he is keeping true to the campaign theme of  austerity and “Ituloy And Daang Matuwid” (Continue the Straight Path).  So he chose a simple freebie that he hopes will appeal to the greater masses of  people — the tsinelas (flip flops).

It wouldn’t cost  a whole lot for Roxas to make the tsinelas his campaign give-away.  His wife, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, has a huge leftover inventory from a previous campaign promoting her television program, “Rated K”.  And it is the perfect color symbolizing Roxas’ Liberal Party: yellow!

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IT’S OFFICIAL: ATE VI VS. ATE GUY FOR PHILIPPINE VICE PRESIDENT!

L-R: Roxas, Santos, Binay, Aunor
L-R: Roxas, Santos, Binay, Aunor

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – It’s been a rivalry like no other, as far as Philippine cinema was concerned.  Movie fans were either for actresses Nora Aunor or Vilma Santos.

Well, it looks like that show business rivalry continues into 2016 — in politics — when the presidential elections are held to determine the successors of President NoyNoy Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

From all indications, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas is the administration’s choice to succeed Aquino, and Roxas has chosen his vice presidential runningmate, Batangas Governor Vilam Santos. Roxas made his VP choice public today in an event in Batangas.

Not to be outdone, Vice President Binay, long considered to be the frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race (before Senator Grace Poe took over the lead in the most recent polls), announced his choice for vice president — none other than Nora Aunor.

A victory for Aunor would be a vindication for her after Aquino snubbed her in last year’s naming of the National Artists.

In the Philippines, politics and showbusiness are always a perfect match, and this tandem on both the Roxas and Binay camps is no exception.

But don’t discount Senator Grace Poe as yet.  It is rumored that she is about to name actor Dingdong Dantes as her vice presidential runningmate.

Oh, what fun. In the Philippines.