Tag Archives: Philippines

Arts, Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Politics, The Media

NEW SENATE BILL TO ESTABLISH PHILIPPINE BEAUTY QUEEN STATE ACADEMY

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The mentors in the new reality TV show, 'Beauty Queen Academy'
The mentors in the new reality TV show, ‘Beauty Queen Academy’

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The Philippine Senate has the reputation as a do-nothing legislative body, exacerbated by the ongoing 10 Billion pork barrel scam in which almost half of the senators have been implicated in the elaborate siphoning of taxpayer funds into phony projects and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). It is therefore no surprise that senators are scrambling to propose and sponsor all kinds of bills to help distract public attention from the scam and repair the Senate’s tarnished record.

Senator Loren Legarda, one of those named in the scam, has proposed a new legislation that would establish a state-funded Beauty Queen Academy. It will be part of the publicly-supported University of the Philippines.

In recent years, the Philippines has been winning international beauty pageant crowns left and right and its winning streak seems unstoppable. Along with Venezuela and Brazil, the Philippines is in the elite circle of countries that have won in all the major international beauty pageants like Miss Universe, Miss International, Miss World and others.

Legarda’s bill, supported by all the senators so far implicated in the pork barrel scam, is aimed at preparing and training aspiring beauty queens to be sure-fire winners in international beauty pageants. The academy will offer full scholarships to  Filipinas who fit established criteria and great potential to win beauty titles.

Meanwhile, a leading television network in Manila has announced a new reality show similarly titled Beauty Queen Academy. It is similar to the American TV show, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, in which contestants vie for the crown by impressing celebrity judges with their beauty and talent. Well, sort of. Mentors and judges (see photo) are all former Philippine beauty queens.

 

 

Business, Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Sports, The Media

TAX-EVADING MANNY PACQUIAO PLANS TO BUY AN ENTIRE ISLAND

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Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao

Sarangani, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Manny Pacquiao: world champion boxer, congressman, soon-to-be basketball player and coach, potential 2016 presidential candidate, billionaire and tax evader. What’s next for ‘Pacman?’

Today, Pacquaio announced his retirement plans to buy an entire island in Palawan, the southwestern Philippine province known for its pristine beaches, breath-taking land formations and world-class resorts and tourist destinations. There he will build his retirement home, or is it palace?

Immediately following the announcement, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares put out a “keep an eye advisory” to the tax agency’s Palawan branch to make sure that Pacquiao will pay the appropriate property and other applicable taxes in connection with his planned island purchase. Previously, Henares had charged Pacquiao of  failing to pay taxes for his earnings in the boxing ring.

Pacquiao has dominated the headlines lately. In addition to his tax woes, he is reportedly eyeing the Philippine presidency come the 2016 elections. He has sealed an advertising agreement with KIA and signed up to be the Korean car company’s basketball player and coach in the Philippines’ professional basketball league. It was also revealed that Pacquiao remains to be the only billionnaire member of Congress, not to mention being the number one absentee.

Pacquiao is also known as ‘karaoke king, ” but almost everyone knows that already.

Pacquiao is still deciding which island in Palawan he will purchase.

Film and TV, Human Interest, International, LGBT, Politics, The Media, Travel

AND YOUR NEW MISS UNIVERSE IS …

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imageLas Vegas, Nevada (The Adobo Chronicles) –  Jenna Talackova, the 23-year-old woman who forced Donald Trump and his Miss Universe Canada pageant to end its ban on transgender contestants, fell short of the national title last year. But reports from Miss Universe Pageant franchise holders from all over the world are reporting that they have seen an influx of transgender contestant applications this year. Trump is reportedly considering lifting the transgender ban worldwide.

In the Philippines, Brazil, Venezuela and Mexico, aspiring beauty queens are  getting nervous about stiffer competition they are likely to face from transgender contestants. These countries have each had a fair share of international beauty pageant titles, including Miss Universe.

Even Russia, host of last year’s pageant, seemed  open to lifting the transgender ban despite the Putin government’s strict laws against homosexuality.

Transgender people are slowly but surely making their mark in the arts, sports, business and politics, not to mention being poised to be the face of what many people are calling the “next major civil rights movement,” as proven by this week’s  Time magazine cover.

Will the next Miss Universe be  transgender? First, write to Donald Trump and express your support for this long overdue change in the pageant’s discriminatory  policy.

Viva! Mabuhay!