Tag Archives: Philippines

Business, Food, International, Politics, Travel

PHILIPPINES TO BE RENAMED CAPITALIST REPUBLIC OF SAN MIGUEL

May 9, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

The San Miguel Corporation logo: soon to be the official seal of a new Philippine Republic?

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – San Miguel Corporation is best known for San Miguel Beer, but this Philippine company has extensive investments in fuel, power generation, food, agriculture, aviation, finance and infrastructure. It is on the list of Forbes 2000 largest public companies in the world.

Among its latest capital investments is the ambitious plan to build a new international airport in Manila. The existing airport, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has long exceeded its maximum capacity and has, in fact, earned the reputation as the worst international airport in the world.

Inside Manila's Airport Terminal — Inside Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal

The new airport plan will involve reclaiming (land fill) parts of Manila Bay in order to build up to four runways. Manila Bay has already been chipped away to make room for hotels, a huge shopping mall, casinos and other infrastructure. Initially, the planned airport will be used exclusively by Philippine Airlines (PAL) but will eventually be opened up to foreign airlines. San Miguel Corporation owns 49% of PAL stocks.

Since San Miguel Corporation now practically controls major aspects of Filipinos’ daily lives, and with the increasing inability of the government to manage the country, some influential legislators have proposed to rename the Philippines from ‘Republic of the Philippines’ to ‘Capitalist Republic of San Miguel,’ and to turn over management of the government to San Miguel Corporation.

Filipinos seem nonchalant about the proposal. In fact, many are drinking to that! As an advertising meme aptly proclaims: “Mag- beer muna tayo!” (Let’s first have a beer). San Miguel beer of course.

International, Sports

MANNY PACQUIAO’S NEW CAREER GOAL: TO PLAY AGAINST JEREMY LIN

May 8, 2014 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – This might sound crazier than Linsanity, but world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has his eyes set on playing against American Jeremy Lin. Not in a boxing bout, but in professional basketball. Lin is an NBA player for the Houston Rockets who rose to fame in 2012 after unexpectedly leading a winning streak by his team at that time, the New York Knicks.

It was announced in Manila today that the Filipino boxer — the only eight-division world champion — will be coaching and playing professional basketball starting the next PBA session, the local equivalent of the NBA. Pacquiao will be playing for a new PBA team, Columbian Autocar Corporation, owner of the KIA franchise in the Philippines. The new team will be named after the Korean car manufacturer. Pacquiao, as part of the deal, will also become the new image model of KIA vehicles in the Philippines and the rest of Asia.

“I like to challenge icons and famous personalities,” Pacquiao told reporters in Tagalog, adding that his ultimate goal is to come face to face on the basketball court with Lin, whether in the NBA or the PBA. “People think of Linsanity when thinking of the baketball player,” Pacquiao said. “I want to give more teeth to my label as Pacman.”

When asked to elaborate, Pacquiao who is also a congressman said the greedy video game icon is known to gobble anything and everything it encounters. “Just like me,” he said, “I want to go after everyone that may stand in the way of bringing me fame and fortune — in boxing, politics, in kaoaoke bars, and yes, in basketball.”

Filipinos of course know that “Pacquiao” in the local vernacular means wholesale or buying in bulk. It could also very well refer to being a jack of all trades.

Business, Food, Health & Medicine, Law Enforcement, Politics

PHILIPPINES TO TAX ‘BALUT,’ OTHER STREET FOOD VENDORS

May 6, 2014 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Kim Henares will go down in history as the most enterprising commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Philippines’ tax agency.

She has been in the limelight for her personal crusade to collect taxes from the earnings of world Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao. But she is not focusing only on the rich and famous. She has issued new policies taxing cigarettes and ultimately the cigarette vendors, as well as small business people who make a living by selling used items at flea markets and other short-time street festivals like the Christmas night market.

Now, in the boldest move yet in her career as the taxwoman, Henares has announced that all street food vendors will now be required to pay taxes and to issue official receipts for every sale. These include vendors of balut (boiled duck embryo), taho (sweet tofu snack), mani (roasted peanuts), barbecue pork, chicken, and other favorites like pig ears, chicken feet, and pork blood – more popularly known in the Philippines as walkman, adidas and betamax, respectively.

Balut and taho vendors will feel the brunt of the new regulations because in addition to the sales tax, they will be charged an additional 5% travel tax. Unlike other street vendors who set up stationary stalls along Metro Manila sidewalks, balut and taho vendors are constantly on their feet, moving from one neighborhood to another to sell their goods.