Tag Archives: Philippines

Business, International, Politics, Sports, The Media

END OF AN ERA: WORLD BOXING CHAMPION MANNY PACQUIAO THROWS IN THE TOWEL

1 Comment

imageManila, Philippines (The Adob Chronicles) – Boxing coaches usually throw in the towel into the boxing ring to signify the end of a boxing match and to concede defeat. But Filipino world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao did it himself today without any help from his boxing coach. Pacquiao becomes the first boxing champion to throw in the towel outside of an actual boxing fight.

Pacquiao is the first and only eight-division world champion, in which he has won ten world titles, as well as the first to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. According to Forbes, he is the 14th highest paid athlete in the world.

The champion boxer is throwing in the towel in favor of his first love: basketball.

In a press conference Monday, Pacquiao was officially named head coach of KIA Motors’ new team that will be playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) next season.  PBA is the local counterpart of the American NBA. KIA Motors is the local franchise of the South Korean car manufacturing company.

Pacquiao was seen profusely sweating during the press conference, apparently because the airconditioning unit at the Manila Overseas Club was not working. He kept wiping his sweat with his favorite boxing towel which he has always considered his lucky charm.

At the conclusion of the press conference, Pacquiao threw the towel into his new red and white gym bag marked KIA Motors Head Coach.

Many of Pacquiao’s political rivals are also hoping he would throw in the towel as Congress representative of his native province of Sarangani. Congressman Pacquiao curently holds the record as the Philippine Legislature’s No. 1 Absentee.

 

 

 

Economy, Health & Medicine, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics

PRESIDENT AQUINO INCREASES FUNERAL BENEFITS FOR FILIPINOS

Leave a comment
A typical Filipino wake, with lots of food, singing, drinking and gambling.
A typical Filipino wake, with lots of food, singing, drinking and gambling.

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – He would not increase the minimum wage, but Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino is raising funeral benefits for both public and private sector workers.

Aquino issued Executive Order 167, which he signed last May 26, directing the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) to implement the new law since the current rates “for both private and public sectors are no longer sufficient to cover funeral costs.”

Aquino increased the funeral benefits for both sectors from P10,000 to P20,000 effective immediately.

“We can’t afford to increase wages because most of the money in the public treasury has been spent on ghost projects and shady deals by senators, congressmen, private businessmen and members of my administration,” Aquino said,  referring to the 10 Billion pork barrel scam that has all but paralyzed the government.

“We owe it to the Filipino people to at least provide them with decent last rites and resting place, especially since many of our countrymen are dying of hunger and unaffordable or no healthcare because of low wages,” Aquino told The Adobo Chronicles.

The Aquino administration hopes that through this executive order, the funeral parlor business will flourish, creating more jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers, and eventually helping grow the economy.

Got P20,000? Will  rest in peace. With dignity.

 

 

Human Interest, International, Politics, The Media

AQUINO: SOMEONE MESSED WITH MY DESK CALENDAR

Leave a comment

imageManila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Just as more than 20 million students trekked to public schools nationwide for the beginning of the schoolyear, the Aquino administration announced it was releasing One Billion pesos for the repair of schoolbuildings damaged by last year’s powerful typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

Many of the students will be returning to schools without roofs, without desks and chairs, and in many cases without walls. Some will be packed into small rooms like sardines and others will have to squat under trees in the open to receive academic instruction.

A familiar sight millions of students will be returning to this new schoolyear in the Philippines
A familiar sight millions of students will be returning to this new schoolyear in the Philippines

School administrators, teachers, parents and students immediateky criticized President Aquino for the much-delayed release of funds, coming more than six months after the devastating typhoon, and not in time for the beginning of the new schoolyear.

Aquino, known for consistenty blaming anyone and everyone for missteps, failures and inefficiencies of his administration, defended himself against critics by saying that someone messed with his desk calendar in his office in Malacañang (Philippine presidential palace).

A palace spokesperson said that Aquino’s desk calendar showed that it was only January 2, not June 2, when he authorized the release of funds. So to Aquino’s mind, there were at least five months remaining before the new schoolyear, leaving enough time for the repairs and construction to be made.

Malacañang has ordered an investigation on who was responsible for altering the president’s desk calendar.