Tag Archives: Senate

Arts, Film and TV, Human Interest, International, Language, Music, The Media

PHILIPPINES’ ENTRY TO OSCAR BEST ORIGINAL SONG CATEGORY REVEALED

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The senator, the composer
The senator, the composer

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Filipino American music composer Robert Lopez may have started a possible winning streak for Filipinos in the much-coveted Oscar Award for Best Song, after winning in this year’s Academy Awards with his composition, ‘Let It Go,’ from the Disney movie Frozen.

The Philippines has yet to win an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, much less a nomination, but already, it has set its sight for the Best Original Song category, by submitting its official entry to the 2015 Oscars.

Although the song entry is not necessarily from a full-length film feature, the Philippines is hoping the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will bend its rules and consider a nomination for the Philippines’ extraordinary entry.

The song submission was composed by movie actor and Philippine Senator Bong Revilla, Jr., titled, “Salamat, Kaibigan”  (Thank you, friend). Revilla unveiled his composition during his privilege speech before the Philippine Senate, during which he proclaimed his innocence from charges of plunder in connection with the 10 Billion peso pork barrel scandal. He himself sang and recorded the song. He dedicated the song to all his supporters, believers and fans who continue to be on his side through thick and thin.

Revilla, along with other senators and congressmen, was among those indicted by the Philippine Ombudsman investigating the scam of siphoning taxpayer money into the pockets of politicians and businessmen. His arrest and detention may come any minute now.

Here is an exclusive video of the nominated song:

 

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.

 

 

International, Law Enforcement, Politics, The Media

LACK OF QUORUM IN PHILIPPINE SENATE MAY LEAD TO CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

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Philippine Senator Nancy Binay
Philippine Senator Nancy Binay

Manila, Philippines  (The Adobo Chronicles) – Article VI, Section 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the Senate shall be composed of 24 senators who shall be elected at-large by the qualified voters of the Philippines. This makes junior Senator Nancy Binay extremely worried in light of the ongoing investigation of the pork barrel scam that siphoned 10 Billion pesos in taxpayer money into bogus nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)  and ghost pet projects of elected officials.

Disclosures by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Presidential Assistant Panfilo Lacson indicate that Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam, has written affidavits implicating more than a dozen senators.

“So what happens if more than half of the senators are charged and indicted as a result of the investigation? The Senate will not have a quorum and not be able to function according to its constitutional mandate,” Binay said in fluent Tagalog.

In order to avert this potential constitutional crisis, Binay proposed that all 24 senators – implicated in the scam or not –  execute a power of attorney designating either their spouse, partner , sibling or child as their proxy. “This way, Binay said, the Senate can continue to function and take care of the many problems facing our country.”

From all indications, Binay is not among the senators implicated in the pork barrel scam.

Constitutuonal crisis averted!