Senate | The Adobo Chronicles

The Philippine Eagle, left, and the tiger

Manila, Philippines – Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is a Philippine actor, singer, television host, journalist and politician. He is an incumbent senator.

Like most politicians, Sotto is embroiled in controversies, not the least of which was the accusation that he plagiarized several passages in a speech opposing the Reproductive Health Bill. The news and social media reported that Sotto had taken passages from a 2011 blog by American home economist blogger Sarah Pope. The bill, which ultimately passed, calls for government-funded contraception and sex education classes in the Philippines, a first in the heavily Catholic nation.

In 2013, Sotto filed a bill that would mandate all government and non-government employees to receive a “14^th month” pay as part of their annual salaries. Most employers already provide a “13^thmonth” bonus to their employees. However, Sotto pointed out that the existing 13^th month pay is not truly a bonus because there are 13 months in a year. “There are 52 weeks in a year and if you divide that by four weeks a month, that’s 13 months,” he insisted.

Now the oft-criticized Sotto has put forward another controversial proposal.

International financial experts and analysts have labeled the Philippines as the “New Asian Tiger,” referring to the country’s fast-rising economy and stellar investment climate compared to most other countries in the Asian region.

Capitalizing on this emerging image of the Philippines, Sotto is proposing that the country replace the Philippine Eagle with the Tiger as its official symbol. Once called the “monkey-eating eagle,” the Philippine Eagle – an endangered species – became the country’s national bird and symbol in 1995.

Political opponents of Sotto labeled the proposal “ridiculous” and “too literal.” “We don’t even have tigers in the Philippines, except in the zoo,” they said.

Prior to Sotto’s proposal, there were rumors that other politicians were scheming to change the Philippine national symbol from the eagle to the pig, in view of the 10 Billion-peso pork barrel scam that has implicated members of the Philippine Senate.

Sotto, defending his proposal, told reporters, “I’d rather call our country the Asian Tiger than the Pork Barrel Republic.”

Manila, Philippines – Newly-crowned Miss World 2013, Megan Young of the Philippines, came home to a very warm welcome from proud Filipinos who wildly cheered their beauty queen for bagging the once-elusive pageant title. Young is the first Filipina to win Miss World.

The next few days will see a very busy schedule for Ms. Young who is expected to grace many celebration parties, public events and courtesy calls on President Noynoy Aquino and members of Congress.

When Young visits Congress on Monday, she will be presented with a rare Joint Resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives commending her for this extraordinary feat while expressing relief that the focus has been turned away from the pork barrel scandal that has preoccupied the nation all summer.

The Adobo Chronicles was able to obtain a copy of the Joint Resolution which will be formally presented to Ms. Young on Monday. The resolution reads:

“WHEREAS, Miss Philippines Megan Young has brought great honor to the country by winning the once-elusive title of Miss World 2013;

WHEREAS, Ms. Young has reinvigorated the Filipino people’s pride because of her achievement;

WHEREAS, this national honor comes at a time in the nation’s political history where the Filipino people’s confidence in both the Senate and House of Representatives has reached its lowest level since the founding of our Republic;

WHEREAS, this national honor focuses the spotlight away from the growing scandal relative to the pork barrel scam which has siphoned billions of pesos of taxpayer money and into the pockets of members of both houses of Congress and their cronies;

BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that Miss World 2013 be presented with the highest commendation for helping save the asses of our colleagues in the Senate and the House of Representatives from the pork barrel scandal;

BE IT RESOLVED, FURTHER, that the Senate and House of Representatives declare a one-year recess from their sessions to appropriately celebrate this great honor;

FINALLY, this joint resolution will have the full effect of a suspension of any and all investigation of members of both houses relative to the pork barrel scandal.

Unanimously approved via voice vote by the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives this 14^th day of October in the year of our Lord.”