Tag Archives: Philippines

Government, Politics

The Philippines’ Politics Of Secrets

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – In Philippine politics, what you see is not necessarily what you get. (Well, actually, it’s not just in the Philippines).

It has been long rumored that incumbent President NoyNoy Aquino secretly supports Senator Grace Poe’s candidacy to become his successor, despite the fact that he has publicly endorsed and ‘anointed’ former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to become the next president of the Philippines. Roxas is running under Aquino’s Liberal Party.

Poe was Aquino’s original choice to be Roxas’ VP running mate, but  she declined and instead opted to run for president. The senator has since been leading in the polls while Roxas has consistently  been rated at the bottom of the presidential pack.

But it seems there are more secret deals that Filipino voters may not be aware of.

Reliable sources indicate that Roxas has all but accepted the fact that he is not going to win the election.  However, the same reliable sources said there is a standing agreement between Poe and Roxas (with Aquino’s blessing, of course), that if Poe becomes president,  she will appoint Roxas as Philippine ambassador to the United States.  Roxas’ wife, broadcaster Korina Sanchez, has reportedly been wanting to live in Washington, D.C. to be part of the U.S. capital’s social elite.

Many political observers have also expressed opinion that Miriam Defensor-Santiago strategy has always been to recruit Bongbong Marcos, son of the late Ferdinand E. Marcos, as her vice presidential running mate.  The young Marcos knows that being the running mate of Santiago, who is dealing with cancer, is his best and quickest ticket to the presidency.  Should anything happen to Santiago, Marcos becomes president.

As far as Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is concerned, it is believed that he is not really interested in becoming president.  He just wanted a national forum — through the campaign — to promote what he has done in his city in as far as peace and order is concerned.  His ultimate goal? To win the Nobel Peace Prize!

Last but not least, Vice President Jejomar Binay’s main objective for running is to avoid prosecution in graft and corruption charges that are expected to be filed against him once his VP term expires.  The charges are in connection with the overpriced Makati City parking structure that was started during his term as mayor of the city.  If Binay becomes president, he will continue to be immune from lawsuits, as are all presidents during their term of office.

Speaking of secrets, many are wondering who among the presidential candidates has the backing of the United States.  That, dear readers, is top secret.

Government, International, LGBT, Politics

Philippines Hoping For A World Record: A Woman President And Vice President

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From top left, clockwise: Bettel, Schneider, Robredo, Poe

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Luxembourg may be the only country in the world where the prime minister and vice prime minister are both gay men, but that record could soon be eclipsed by the Philippines where two women may be elected president and vice president in the coming May 9 elections.

Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Vice Prime Minister Etienne Schneider, are both openly gay.

The Philippines has had women presidents in the past — Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo — but this year’s electoral contest could put the country on the world map as the only one with the top leaders being both women.

The latest national polls shows Senator Grace Poe leading the pack of what Filipinos fondly call, “presidentiables” — those who COULD be president.  Poe was recently cleared by the Supreme Court to run for president after it decided a disqualification case (DQ) in her favor.  By a vote of 9-6, the high court ruled that Poe, a foundling, is a natural-born Filipino citizen and has fulfilled the 10-year residency required of all presidential candidates.  Poe’s opponents include the incumbent Vice President, Jejomar Binay; former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas (President Aquino’s anointed one); Davao Cityi Mayor Rodrigo Duterte; and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.  Poe has consistently led in the polls.

For the vice presidential contest, the latest poll shows Leny Robredo closing in on top rivals Senators Chiz Escudero (Poe’s running mate) and Bongbong Marcos (Santiago’s running mate).

While Robredo is the VP running mate of Roxas, Philippine electoral rules allow for voters to elect a president and vice president  who may be from different political parties, unlike in the U.S. where it is a party winner-take-all for the presidential and vice presidential contest.

The Philippines is known for its penchant for world records — in boxing, beauty contests, or the Guinness World Record.

Will the Philippines bag yet another honor come May 9?

 

International, Travel

For First Time Ever, Philippines Will Observe Daylight Saving Time

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imageMANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Starting at 2 o’clock a.m. Sunday (Monday, Philippine time), Americans, except those in Arizona and Hawaii,  will set their clocks forward by one hour as part of Daylight Saving Time (DST).  In the Philippines, Filipinos will advance their clocks by two hours.

For the first time in the history of the Philippines, this tropical country in Asia is implementing DST, but unlike its U.S. counterpart, it is a two-hour adjustment.

The concept of DST in the U.S. is all about saving precious energy, taking advantage of longer days and shorter nights to encourage people to turn off lights earlier, turn on airconditioners later, etc.

However, Philippine DST has nothing to do with energy-saving.  It is a national scheme to encourage and ensure that Filipinos arrive at their appointments, school or work ON TIME — in fact two hours early.

You see, the Philippines is known for “Filipino time,” a standard in which people arriving late for appointments is expected, much less tolerated.  Even their country’s flag carrier, Philippine Air Lines, or PAL, is often referred to as “Plane Always Late.”

With the new Philippine DST, many employers will be very pleased that at last, their workers will arrive on time — assuming the LRT and MRT (light railway) trains run on schedule.

“By the time DST is set back to regular or standard time in the fall, Filipinos will already have been used to being on time or early,” President NoyNoy Aquino told reporters today.