Tag Archives: Philippines

International, Law Enforcement, Politics, Religion, Travel

PHILIPPINE SENATOR BONG REVILLA A CHANGED MAN AFTER HOLY LAND ENCOUNTER

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Revilla
Revilla

Tel Aviv, Israel – As the Office of the Philippine Ombudsman prepared to indict three senators for their alleged role in the 10 Billion-peso pork barrel scam, most Filipinos went about their usual traditional Lenten season rituals – fasting, abstaining from meat, visiting churches, praying the rosary, going through the stations of the cross (via crucis) and giving alms to the poor. There is much anticipation for Easter Sunday, which Catholics know to be the day that Jesus Christ resurrected following his death on the Cross.

The three senators – Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla – are about to face plunder and graft charges for allegedly pocketing their pork barrel funds in an elaborate scheme supposedly masterminded by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles who is now in detention.

Senator Revilla is on a different level of Lenten tradition, one that  low to medium-income people don’t usually get the chance to experience. Revilla, his wife and children, are in the Holy Land on a religious pilgrimage to what is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.

In a skype call with Revilla’s wife, Cavite Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla, she indicated that  immediately upon their arrival in Jerusalem, she saw a transformation with the Senator. “His physical appearance and demeanor totally changed. He seemed like he was at peace,  like he just came out of the confessional box. In fact, throughout our flight from Manila to Tel Aviv, Bong was very calm and kept on listening to a video recording of “My Way,” sung by Rose Fostanes, the Filipina caregiver and winner of the first “X Factor Israel.”

Mrs.Revilla denied that the family was planning to seek political asylum in Israel, adding: “when we return to the Philippines after the pilgrimage, Bong will make an important announcement.” She didn’t say whether that announcement would be “guilty” or “not guilty.”

Meanwhile, Senators Enrile and Estrada, appear to be observing the Lenten season in solitary confinement in their respective mansions, perhaps praying for divine intervention.

 

International, Politics, The Media

FILIPINOS DISOWN VICE PRESIDENT’S WARNING AGAINST CHINA

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Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay
Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay

Manila, Philippines – Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay said yesterday that as a nation “we are ready to die up to the last blood” in defending our territories. The warning was directed at China with whom the Philippines is engaged in a territorial dispute over the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Today, the 50 Million-strong Filipino National Coalition for Good Government (FNCGG) distanced itself from the vice president’s statement, saying that Binay should speak for himself.  An FNCGG spokesperson said that Filipinos “have enough problems just surviving from poverty, natural disasters, political corruption and social ills, and we are not about to give up our lives over some corral reefs in the West Philippine Sea.”

Embarrassed by the FNCGG statement, Binay backtracked and clarified he was merely referring to the Philippine military which is committed to defend any unwarranted attack by the Chinese on Filipino naval ships and Filipino fishermen’s boats in the disputed area.

But the joint chiefs of staff of the Philippine military also distanced themselves from Binay’s warning to China. “The vice president is not even our commander-in-chief so how can he commit military personnel and resources to fight China to the last drop of our blood?”  a top-ranking general said.

Political observers surmised that Binay was trying to project an image of a tough leader with a no-nonsense foreign policy as he positions himself for the 2016 Philippine presidential elections.

The Adobo Chronicles just learned that the vice president has fired his speech writer.

 

 

 

 

Business, Politics, Technology, Travel

MANILA’S MASS RAPID TRANSIT (MRT) WINS PRESTIGIOUS ‘MOST POPULAR’ SYSTEM AWARD

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The queue at an MRT station in Manila
The queue at an MRT station in Manila

Manila, Philippines – The embattled general manager of Manila’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) may have the last laugh despite calls for his resignation for the problems that have been plaguing the light railway system in the populous metropolis.

Activist groups have demanded that Alan Vitangcol III step down from his post for mismanagement of the transport system that millions of residents depend on for their daily commute to and from their work places. Vitangcol is also accused of  allegedly extorting $30 million from a Czech train car  builder in exchange for being awarded an MRT expansion project contract.

Today, the International Association of Light Railway Systems (IALRS) announced that Manila’s MRT has been unanimously chosen to receive the prestigious 2014 Most Popular Transport System Award. The annual award is given to the railway system that has the largest patronage.

The international body said Manila’s MRT won the judges’ nod hands down, after they saw photos of the long lines of commuters waiting to board the commuter trains. “We haven’t seen such massive popularity among MRT systems anywhere in the world,” one of the judges commented.

This prestigious award adds to the long long list of international recognitions recently awarded to the Philippines. Last month, the Philippine cities of Makati and Pasig were named the selfie capital of the world.