Tag Archives: Philippines

TRUMP ENTERTAINMENT RESORTS FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY; WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT?

September 9, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Atlantic City, New Jersey (The Adobo Chronicles) – There may be a reason that the venue for the next Miss Universe Pageant has not yet been identified. Is it because its owner, Donald Trump, is in financial trouble? Will the pageant, which was first staged in 1952, be shut down?

Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc, which runs two casinos in Atlantic City, filed for bankruptcy protection for a third time, in another blow to the city’s crumbling casino industry. One of the Trump casinos, is expected to close next week.

Trump Entertainment, which Donald Trump founded but no longer controls, operates the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort and the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, the second-largest U.S. gambling destination after Las Vegas.

Trump owns many other real estate properties and businesses elsewhere, including New York, Florida, Hawaii and Las Vegas.

Miss Universe Pageant’s Future In Doubt?

Trump, left and Tan — Trump, left, and Tan

There has been a lot of speculation that due to financial troubles, Trump is getting ready to give up the Miss Universe Organization of which he is president. This would mean the end of the 62 year-old pageant.

The Philippines, which has produced two Miss Universe titles — Gloria Diaz in 1969 and Margarita Moran in 1974 — is said to have put in a bid to host the next Miss Universe either in Cebu or Palawan, two provinces that have gained enormous popularity among tourists.

Filipino Billionaire Businessman Wants To Buy The Rights For Miss Universe

Reliable sources have also informed The Adobo Chronicles that Filipino billionaire Lucio Tan is preparing an offer to Trump to purchase the rights for the Miss Universe and to make the Philippines the permanent site for future pageants. Tan recently gained full control of Philippine Airlines by purchasing a 49 percent stake in the company which was previously controlled by San Miguel Corporation.

Can Tan save Miss Universe from bankruptcy?

International, Politics

PHILIPPINE AGENCIES HELD ON TO ‘HAIYAN’ RELIEF FUNDS, THINKING THEY WERE ‘RESERVE’ FUNDS

September 9, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

File photo: a message in chalk from typhoon Haiyan victims

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Some 1.58 Billion pesos in typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) relief funds remained unspent in the hands of several Philippine government agencies, according to a report by the country’s Commission on Audit.

The funds were part of donations given by governments and private individuals and groups to help victims of the worst typhoon ever to make landfall in the Philippines. Haiyan’s first year anniversary is coming up. To this day, many typhoon victims remain homeless, without jobs or still waiting for financial aid and support services.

In defending government agencies like the Departments of Social Welfare and Development, Health, Interior and Local Govenrments, Public Highways, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Office of the President said that at the time of the audit, the government was waiting to first spend the calamity funds under the General Appropriations before it touched the privately-donated relief funds.

In addition to the donated funds, an investigation is ongoing regarding millions of pesos worth of food and other relief goods that were spoiled and never reached the typhoon victims.

In ‘off-the-record’ conversations between presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma and Malacañang (presidential palace) reporters, he admitted that the heads of government agencies concerned innocently thought the donations were ‘reserve’ funds, not relief funds. “They were savng them for a rainy day,” he said. Or perhaps, the next typhoon.

Now we know.

Human Interest, Politics

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT AQUINO SOON TO BE A GROOM?

September 8, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Prince William and Princess Kate are having their second child. The openly-gay prime minister of Luxembourg is engaged. Will Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino soon be a groom?

But first, Aquino will be the best man for the upcoming wedding of his good friend Senator Chiz Escudero and actress Heart Evangelista. The nuptials are scheduled next February.

Many Filipinos believe that in every wedding party, the best man is always next to be married. Aquino, 54, made history as the first and only bachelor Philippine president. He said he was delighted to have been picked as best man for Escudero and thankful that he was not chosen as ninong (godfather) for the wedding. There is also a strong belief in the Philippines that a bachelor who stands as a godfather in a wedding will remain single for the rest of his life.

“I am not giving up hope,” Aquino said. “If I can’t find a Filipina mate, I may have to resort to being a mail-order groom for single ladies in the U.S. or anywhere in the world.”

Aquino is the only son of assassinated opposition leader Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and the late former President Cory Aquino. He has four sisters, all married, including TV host Kris who is estranged from her husband.

“I have a responsibility as the only son to carry on the Aquino name and to make sure that our political dynasty will live on,” Aquino told The Adobo Chronicles.