Tag Archives: Tacloban

IMELDA MARCOS: FROM FIRST LADY TO PILGRIM

Imelda Marcos, the pilgrim
Imelda Marcos, the pilgrim

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – How times have changed. Imelda Romualdez Marcos, former First Lady and once considered the most powerful and influential woman in the Philippines, has turned pilgrim. Thanks to Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines and to Marcos’ home province of Leyte.

At last week’s mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Tacloban, Leyte, Marcos was present, not as former First Lady or Congresswoman or Beauty Queen, but as a pilgrim, just like the thousands of people who attended the papal event on a rainy and windy day.

Miracles do happen. Marcos was even seen wearing a yellow raincoat, a color closely associated with Cory Aquino (and the current president Noynoy) and the opposition that led to ouster of her husband Ferdinand and the family’s exile to Hawaii.

Imelda’s ID tag  says it all: “Pilgrim.”

TOP TEN ACCOMPLISMENTS OF POPE FRANCIS’ VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES

imageON BOARD THE PAPAL PLANE TO THE VATICAN (The Adobo Chronicles) – We at The Adobo Chronicles feel truly blessed for having had the opportunity to cover Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines. More than One Million people viewed and followed our exclusive coverage in just the last four days and hundreds of Filipinos and non-Filipinos shared their comments, praised as well as criticized our coverage — all in the spirit of free speech and universal brotherhood and sisterhood. By the way, our coverage was brought to you by … Pepsi.

As we wrap up our coverage, we would like to share our list of top ten accomplisments of the papal visit.

  1. Political corruption took four days off. It’s now back to business as usual.
  2. President NoyNoy Aquino had the last laugh after shaming local church leaders in front of the pope.
  3. Filipino priests and clergy have started to sell their smart phones on eBay after being admonished by Pope Francis to give up worldly possessions.
  4. The Aquinos and Marcoses have finally reconciled, thanks to the yellow raincoat Imelda Marcos wore at the papal mass in Tacloban.
  5. A new movie idol is born – a very good-looking Theologian who sang the responsorial psalm during the papal mass at the Manila Cathedral.
  6. President Aquino, who complained about criticism of his thinning hair by the clergy, received a special gift from Pope Francis — a skullcap to cover his head.
  7. President Aquino quit smoking. He now inhales holy incense instead.
  8. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada and businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, are back in jail after a 5-day reprieve to impress the pope.
  9. Visitors to The Vatican will now have a new painting to look at, bearing the images of Pope Francis, Vilma Santos, Marian Rivera, DingDong Dantes, Coco Martin, Kris Aquino and Senator Grace Poe. It will be displayed at the Sistine Chapel.
  10. Speaking of Kris Aquino …well, we’d rather not say!

Viva il Papa! Mabuhay, Philippines!

 

POPE FRANCIS TO SKIP MEETING WITH AQUINO DURING VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES

Pope Francis
Pope Francis

The Vatican, Italy (The Adobo Chronicles) – Church officials in the Philippines have just publicly released the itinerary of Pope Francis when he visits the country January 15-19, 2015.

It will be a busy schedule for the charismatic leader of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes a meeting with President NoyNoy Aquino and other government officials, a visit with the victims of last year’s Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in Tacloban, a youth rally at the the oldest Catholic University in Asia (University of Santo Tomas), and a shopping spree at the SM Mall of Asia.

Upon receiving details of his Philippine schedule, Pope Francis said that he will skip the meeting with Aquino at Malacañang, the presidential palace.  Instead, the Pope said he would like to spend an extra day in Tacloban, the city hardest hit by the devastating typhoon.

In explaining his decision, Pope Francis said that it has come to his attention that Aquino had skipped a trip to Tacloban during activities commemorating the one-year anniversay of Yolanda. Many believe that Aquino’s decision was politcally motivated, Tacloban being the turf of his political nemesis, the Romualdezes (including former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos).

“I will atone for this sinful act of Aquino by spending more time with the people of Tacloban,” the pontiff said. “If Aquino wants to meet with me, he can meet me in Tacloban,” he added.