Philippine government | The Adobo Chronicles

London, The United Kingdom (The Adobo Chronicles) – Last week, The Adobo Chronicles reported that the Philippines broke two Guinness world records — one for the largest Zumba class and the other for being the home of the largest pork barrel (scandal) in the world.

While the local government of Cebu City – site of the record-breaking Zumba class — will be receiving a laminated plaque from the Guinness organization in London, the Manila government will receive a special trophy that Guinness believes would be the most appropriate award for the record pork barrel scandal.

The trophy is being donated by the government of Taiwan. It is one of its more bizarre national treasurers which was recently exhibited in Japan’s Kyushu National Museum in the southern city of Fukuoka.

The revered artifact is the Meat-Shaped Stone (see photo) which is a piece of jasper, carved and dyed to resemble a chunk of pork, much like the lechon kawali (Filipino pan-roasted pork). According to the National Palace Museum, the craftsman “took the rich natural resources of this stone and carved it with great precision… the veining and hair follicles making the piece appear even more realistic.”

President NoyNoy Aquino, along with members of Congress, the Judiciary and the Catholic Church leadership — all of whom were implicated one way or another in the 10 Billion-peso pork barrel scam — will receive the trophy from the Guinness Board of Governors at ceremonies in Malacanang (the Philippine presidential palace) on October 31, Halloween.

Malacañang Palace, the Philippines' White House — Malacañang Palace, the Philippines’ White House

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – A government shutdown is not that uncommon. It has happened in the U.S. when legislators failed to pass a budget, and it has happened in other countries when citizens declared a no-confidence in their duly-elected government.

But a looming total government shutdown in the Philippines has nothing to do with the budget or a no-confidence citizenry vote. It’s all about the pork barrel scandal involving the siphoning of 10 Billion pesos of taxpayer money into ghost projects and into the pockets of politicians and private citizens.

Recent investigation and revelations have confirmed that:

More than half of sitting senators are involved in the scam
More than 150 current and past members of the House of Representatives are linked to the scam
Top officials of the Aquino government have been implicated in the scam
Prominent members of the media have benefited from the scam

Political analysts have concluded that the one last resort to dealing with this scandal is for President Aquino to declare a total government shutdown and appoint a caretaker government to fully revamp the government.

The U.S. government, which recently signed an agreement with the Philippines to increase American military presence in this ally country, has volunteered to facilitate a speedy recovery should the total government shutdown occur. The U.S. fell short of saying that it will work towards making the Philippines its 51st state.