Tag Archives: Philippines

PHILIPPINES: AN ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS CONVENTION LIKE NO OTHER

August 31, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – In the U.S., popular conventions happen all the time — from the Comic Con to the Furry Con. In the Philippines, the Alcoholics Anonymous National Convention is something that many Filipinos look forward to.

The 34th Alcoholics Anonymous Philippines Convention will be held in the wonderful City of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental from February 5-7, 2016.

Organizers have chosen an unconventional theme of “Just for Today.”

There will be a lot of skills-building workshops, counseling sessions and group therapy, not to mention invited popular celebrities who will be speaking about their journey towards being alcohol-free.

In keeping with the convention theme, organizers have scheduled an elaborate closing reception sponsored by Tanduay Rhum and San Miguel Corporation. The evening will feature free-flowing alcohol at no cost to the attendees — just for the day.

It will be a litmus test of how successful AA programs have been in the Philippines in the past 34 years.

The Adobo Chronicles® will be covering the convention live from Dumaguete City.

Government

ANOTHER EMBARRASSMENT FOR PHILIPPINES’ BUREAU OF CUSTOMS

August 29, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

The Philippines’ Bureau of Customs ( BOC ) has been under fire recently for its policy of checking contents of Balikbayan boxes for taxable items, earning the ire of Overseas Filipino Workers and their families over social media.

Now, the agency is being criticized for taxing a Filipino woman boxer for the prize belt she won representing the Philippines in the international light flyweight title of the Women’s International Boxing Association.

Jujeath Nagaowa, 27, had to pay 5,819 pesos (about $123) in taxes in order for her to claim the championship belt as part of her prize when it arrived in the Philippines.

According to the BOC’s computation, Nagaowa’s belt has a dutiable value of P20,147.15. She has to pay P3,022.00 for customs duty aside from the P2,782.00 value-added tax.

Nagaowa said she fought 10 rounds and agonized as she waited for her belt to arrive, only to be greeted by a breakdown of how much money she has to shell out to claim it.

Only in the Philippines does someone who brings great honor to his or her country can become the target of taxation from a government agency that’s desperate for cash and notorious for dumb policies.

BOC also announced that henceforth, all Filipina beauty queens who win international beauty pageants like Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International will have to pay tax on their crown if they decide to bring it home to the Philippines.

International, Travel

TRAVEL ADVISORY ISSUED FOR AMERICANS VISITING MANILA

August 27, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory to all Americans and others intending to visit Manila.

“The safety of our citizens is a priority concern,” the advisory said, “so we are advising Americans to postpone or cancel non-essential travel, or to be extremely careful when visiting the Philippines, especially when arriving in or departing from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The travel advisory was issued after an arriving foreign national sank into a 2-ft sink hole while waiting in line at NAIA’s immigration counter. The platform he was standing in suddenly collapsed.

Earlier this year, arriving and departing passengers were drenched with rainwater after part of the airport terminal ceiling collapsed and leaked during a heavy rainstorm.

NAIA is known to be among the worst airports in the world where overcrowding, long lines, confusing signage, non-working toilets and indoor heatwaves are an everyday occurrence.

Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters today that Americans who absolutely need to travel to Manila can still do so, but at their own risk.