Tag Archives: President Aquino

Business, Economy, International, Law Enforcement, Politics

FOR PHILIPPINES’ PRESIDENT AQUINO, IT’S ‘BUSINESS AS USUAL’

January 29, 2015 Pol Pinoy 1 Comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – While the bodies of 42 police officers slain in an encounter with lawless elements in the southern island of Mindanao arrived at Villamor Airbase in Manila yesterday, President NoyNoy Aquino was toasting champagne with top business executives a few miles south of the capital.

Somber and solemn ceremonies were held to honor the police officers — members of the Special Action Force who were practically wiped out in a surprise encounter with the rebels.

Cabinet officials present during the arrival ceremonies included Vice President Jejomar Binay, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, Transport Secretary Jun Abaya, and Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

Other notable guests were former President Fidel V. Ramos, Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Marcos, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, and Sen. Nancy Binay.

Most of the guests, including VIPs and relatives of the slain cops, donned black ribbons on their left arm.

Aquino, on the other hand, was hobnobbing with executives of Mitsubishi at the inauguraton of the car manufacturer’s new plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

“I wouldn’t miss Dom Perignon for anything,” Aquino said, referring to the top brand champagne served at the elaborate event. The president was also very delighted to see a display of the latest Mitsibishi Lancer.

For Aquino, it’s business as usual — literally and figuratively.

International, Politics, Religion

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT AQUINO TURNS POPE FRANCIS’ VISIT INTO A GRIPE SESSION

January 16, 2015 Pol Pinoy Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Pope Francis yesterday urged an audience of senior political leaders “to reject every form of corruption, which diverts resources from the poor, and to make concerted efforts to ensure the inclusion of every man and woman and child.”

It was was a somber message that put Philippine politicians on notice that the Vatican is well aware of the corruption that has plaqued this Catholic country in the last several years and beyond.

In contrast, with the Pope looking on, President Aquino complained that local church leaders were overly critical of him and his administration and that they even ‘gave me unsolicited advice on my hair.’ The balding Aquino who has repeatedly blamed previous administrations for the problems faced by his country today. ‘The church should turn their criticism toward my predecessors,’ Aquino said. Immediate past President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is under hospital arrest for corruption charges while her predecessor, now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, was convicted and jailed for similar offenses but later pardoned by Arroyo.

In response to Aquino’s gripe, the Pope told him, “Blessed are those that that love their political enemies, for they shall achieve eternal power in heaven. Blessed are those who are criticized for thinning hair, for they shall receive a full head of hair in heaven.”

Aquino was heard whispering to the Pope: ‘Amen.’

Film and TV, International, The Media

PHILIPPINE ACTRESS BRIDE FUMING MAD AT GROOM OVER WEDDING CAKE

January 2, 2015 Pol Pinoy 7 Comments

The Dantes-Rivera wedding cake, left, and the Guinness World Record title holder, right

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – It was considered the ‘Wedding of the Century’ by Philippines standards, and although the country is not a monarchy, the media repeatedly referred to it as a ‘Royal Wedding.’

On December 30, Filipino actor Dingdong Dantes married actress Marian Rivera. Extravagance was written all over the ceremony and the reception. President NoyNoy Aquino stood as Best Man at a church wedding officiated by eight bishops and seven priests. The bride looked queenly in a Two Million-peso gown, emerging from a fully-refurbished antique Mercedes Benz.

Then came the wedding reception at the Mall of Asia. The banquet hall reminded guests of an Olympic Games opening ceremony. The menu was a five-course meal, and the cake…. the cake was 12 feet tall, reportedly costing Seven Million Pesos.

Dantes delivered on all his promises to the bride about the wedding, except for …the cake. Dantes promised that their wedding cake would break the Guinness World Record, but it didn’t . In fact, not even close.

The world’s largest wedding cake on record weighed 6.818 tonnes (15,032 lb) and was made by chefs at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA and displayed at their New England bridal showcase on 8 February 2004.

And so, the bride was fuming mad at the groom.

The ‘fairy tale’ wedding thus ended in the first ‘royal argument’ minutes after the reception.