#carlo-carrasco — Public Fediverse posts

U.S. Trade And Development Agency To Fund Feasibility Study For Sangley Point International Airport

Here in the Philippines, the push to develop new international airports to improve air travel connectivity with other destinations gained a major step forward as the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will fund a crucial feasibility study for the multi-billion Dollar Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA) project, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

The United States (US) Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) will fund a feasibility study for the proposed Sangley Point International Airport in Cavite, a project aimed at easing congestion in Metro Manila and bolstering security for direct transpacific flights.

The USTDA awarded the grant to Cavitex Holdings Inc., a local developer leading the project consortium, the agency said in a statement on Tuesday, May 12.

Cavitex has selected California-based The S-A-P Group LLC to conduct the technical analysis, which will include air traffic forecasting, financial modeling, and the design of security protocols for a facility intended to serve as a major gateway for US-bound travel.

The investment comes as the Philippines struggles to manage surging aviation demand. Metro Manila’s primary gateway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), handled approximately 52 million passengers in 2025, pushing its aging infrastructure to the limit. The Sangley project is a central component of the Luzon Economic Corridor, a strategic initiative designed to strengthen economic resilience and infrastructure connectivity across the country’s most populous island.

“The high volume of direct international travel between the United States and the Philippines reflects the steadfast friendship of our two countries,” said Thomas R. Hardy, USTDA deputy director.

He added that the project aligns with the broader goal of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific by fostering safe and efficient passenger traffic.

For Cavitex, the US backing provides both technical expertise and a gateway to American technology. The study will evaluate the adoption of US solutions for security screening, telecommunications, and airport construction.

Leonides J.M. Virata, Cavitex president and chief executive officer, said the grant will accelerate the development of an airport expected to generate tens of thousands of jobs and unlock billions of pesos in long-term economic activity.

While the project cost remains subject to the study’s findings, the consortium has previously indicated that the multi-phase redevelopment of the former naval base could require an investment exceeding 500 billion pesos. The project is designed to handle both cargo and passenger traffic, providing a necessary relief valve for the capital region’s saturated airspace.

The USTDA functions as a “first mover” for US government involvement in emerging market infrastructure, providing the technical groundwork required to make large-scale projects bankable.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you convinced that the USTDA’s funding of a feasibility study is very crucial for the development of the Sangley Point International Airport? Do you think there really is a high volume of direct international travel between America and the Philippines? Do you think the development of new international airports in the Philippines will progress better as long as the national government does not get involved?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 137

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 You, Me and The Movies React To Lone Wolf McQuade – It has been a few months since the movie legend Chuck Norris passed away at age 86. He left behind a legacy of action movies and even played Bruce Lee’s tough opponent in The Way of the Dragon. Norris also had action movies filmed on location here in my native Philippines. In the 1980s, Norris appeared in a lot movies that involved guns and hard action, and one of his more notable films of the time was 1983’s Lone Wolf McQuade in which he faced off with fellow action star David Carradine. Recently, You, Me and the Movies posted their reaction video of Lone Wolf McQuade and it is entertaining to watch. I urge you to watch it now.

https://youtu.be/WELmZdiV6aQ?si=2b-pSOoRjJmQF4PC

#2 Minty Comedic Arts’ Invasion U.S.A. Video – Still focused on the late Chuck Norris, his 1985 action movie Invasion U.S.A. was not merely made to entertain moviegoers with lots of explosions, dangerous stunts and hard action. Norris read an article in Reader’s Digest about the presence of hundreds of terrorists running loose in the United States which impacted him as he care about his country and his fellow Americans. This eventually led to the making of Invasion U.S.A. which succeeded commercially as it spread awareness to the American people as to how they can defend themselves in the event foreign terrorists invade their country. Today, Islamic terrorism as well as the entrance of Islamo-Leftist foreigners into America made this 1985 more socially relevant. The story behind the production of Invasion U.S.A. is pretty fascinating, and you can learn more about by watch Minty Comedic Arts’ video below.

https://youtu.be/mXAFy08Mm4s?si=Qy7193Gb9X0goYDZ

#3 Signature Bowls of Happiness in Japan – Do you eat meals served in bowls often? Meals in bowls are common in Japan where rice and noodles are eaten by people daily. Among the many food joints in Japan that offer meals in bowls to customers are a few standouts visited by Nippon TV. What they discovered are very enticing, attractive and delicious to look at. Watch and learn from their video below.

https://youtu.be/WQwYy84KgCQ?si=g0HZRpdwCLBs2uPd

#4 Ranting For Vengeance Slams CBR And Others Who Hate 1980s Anime – I grew up watching lots of anime shows and feature films early in life and the 1980s is a memorable decade. It was during the 1980s when I saw anime productions from the 1970s and the newest ones of the decade. To name some, I saw the 1980s Astro Boy series, Galaxy Express 999, Captain Future, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Voltes V, Daimos, Mazinger Z and others. While such old anime productions proved to be entertaining, there are still some people out there who bashed them because those productions (and their stories) did not align with their modern day woke agenda. The popular geek entertainment portal CBR published lots of articles saying that the old anime productions did not age well and a lot of readers and netizens followed suit. As such, Ranting for Vengeance slammed them and stood up for 1980s anime backed with detailed explanations. If you are a true fan of anime, watch the video below.

https://youtu.be/1VCWf8o7utc?si=xXxcQ7-if9FaZV8H

#5 Western Women Who Embraced Islam End Up Wrong – Did you notice that there is a growing number of women in the West who embraced Islam believing the fantasies that it is a religion of peace and is feminist? Indeed, there are these modern-day feminists who considered themselves Islamic without even fully knowing what Islam truly is, why Sharia Law is wicked and what was recorded in the Quran. SaharTV posted several videos about these newcomers to Islam (including one new Muslim woman who was Catholic) who ended up being very wrong and embarrassed. Watch the SaharTV videos below.

https://youtu.be/ghhZuYcsNFY?si=uddJdrr8Ve_FeOvS

https://youtu.be/6fZUxJWv8E0?si=saX3TUFQhPJ3iMwk

https://youtu.be/WGwbkx0zrL4?si=R2KCv0-fDSmZRgGP

https://youtu.be/gXFYh-fh_1g?si=cpNXKOygu8Z1jz_N

https://youtu.be/uTvbQDzn8RA?si=KiG5K-jWU5mvs_4x

#6 The Significance Of Spider-Man 2099 Explained – In late 1992, Marvel Comics launched Spider-Man 2099 #1 which also marked the start of their 2099 franchise of comic books. Under the direction of writer Peter David with artworks done mainly by Rick Leonardi, the futuristic Spider-Man really stood out differently from the classic Spider-Man (Peter Parker) and his own place under Marvel Comics’ banner was established well. Spider-Man 2099 is clearly the most popular of all the Marvel 2099 titles. That said, I found this YouTube video that examines the significance of Spider-Man of 2099. I encourage you to watch it.

https://youtu.be/0ap6m7EHTXw?si=cxHY9bDg-9QYlmlK

#7 Ashleigh Burton’s Reaction To Witness – The 1980s will always be a memorable decade of Harrison Ford’s cinematic performances. During that decade, he appeared in two Star Wars movies and he was the center of attraction in the original Indiana Jones trilogy. Along the way, he appeared in the 1985 crime thriller film Witness in which he played a police detective protecting an Amish woman and her son. The movie earned several Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and even Best Actor for Harrison Ford. Lately, Ashleigh Burton posted her reaction video of Witness and I encourage you to watch it.  

https://youtu.be/COlaB65Q3MA?si=0i2Kx-yFhLYdX1_E

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

National Bilibid Prison Development Plan Tackled By Muntinlupa City Councilors

Recently in the progressive city of Muntinlupa, the development plan of the National Bilibid Prison was tackled by the City Council in the form of a public hearing with several stakeholders present, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City Council held a public hearing to address the impending development of the vast land of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), which is expected to affect residents.

The NBP, located in Barangay Poblacion, is under the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and houses prison facilities.

The NBP Reservation, which refers to the surrounding areas outside the prison facilities, contains houses of BuCor employees, public school teachers, and residents, as well as public schools and churches.

The City Council’s Committee of the Whole, with all councilors present, conducted the public hearing together with presidents of resident associations and informal settlers, representatives from the Commission on Human Rights, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, and BuCor.

Councilor Raul Corro, majority floor leader, said the entire City Council held the hearing “due to the importance of the subject matter: the Bucor proposed master development plan for NBP.”

He explained that the hearing discussed the “concern of informal settlers on their relocation and the legal requirements to be met to have a relocation plan that meets the minimum livable requirements such as availability of basic services like water, power and other amenities.”

Corro emphasized that the city government is entitled to its equitable share in the development of any national wealth such as land under its jurisdiction, and should be informed about the kind of development to be implemented in NBP. 

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, what is your opinion about the planned development of the New Bilibid Prison which has a vast land that includes residences, communities, schools and churches already? What is the best place the City Government can find as the target destination of relocation the informal settlers?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Better than Streaming: Fire and Ice 4K Blu-ray Coming Out On June 30

Welcome back fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!

If you love the animated works of director Ralph Bakshi (American Pop, The Lord of The Rings) and the artworks of Frank Frazetta (Conan The Barbarian, Vampirella), then you should watch out for their memorable collaboration in ultra high-definition as the 1983 animated movie Fire and Ice will be released on 4K Blu-ray format on June 30, 2026, exclusively via MVDshop.

With a story co-written by Bakshi and Frazetta and the screenplay done by comic book legends Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas, Fire and Ice is the story of a young warrior named Larn who wants revenge against the evil queen Juliana and her son Nekron. Larn also has the task to rescue their kidnapped princess Teegra. For your interest and reference, watch the classic movie trailer below.

https://youtu.be/0u64CLs_yb4?si=Ys4OO4sKopU64-98

Fire and Ice 4K Blu-ray will be in a Steelbook form containing the 4K Blu-ray disc and the Blu-ray disc. For the 4K enthusiasts reading this, the classic animated film has been restored in 4K and the visuals are rendered in native 4K.

Posted below are the technical details from Fire and Ice’s Blu-ray.com page.

Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)

HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10

Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Audio

English: Dolby Atmos

English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

Subtitles – English, English SDH, French, Spanish

Discs – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Disc, Three-disc set (2 BD, 1 CD)

Packaging – SteelBook

Playback – 4K Blu-ray: Region free, 2K Blu-ray: Region A

I personally am interested in replaying Fire and Ice in 4K Blu-ray format. I saw Fire and Ice a few times a very long time ago on a rented video tape and on cable TV (randomly viewed it) but I never actually got to watch it entirely. Fire and Ice 4K Blu-ray is on my list of 4K Blu-ray releases of this year. I can only wonder when it would get offered via Amazon.

As for Ralph Bakshi, I admire his works on rotoscoped animation and how he visualized his concepts. His work on The Lord of the Rings animated film of 1978 was ambitious and he made the most out of their limited resources. I own a Blu-ray copy of his animated film American Pop and watching rotoscoped animated scenes and characters move in high-definition is enjoyable.

Fire and Ice, to the best of my memory, has a fantasy concept that reminds me somewhat of Conan The Barbarian (and the sword-and-sandals fantasy elements) and it also the traditional concept of the heroic man who risks his life to save an important woman from the forces of evil. To replay Fire and Ice in 4K is something I desire as a 4K Blu-ray collector and enthusiast of traditional animation.

Not to be outdone is the vocal cast that has William Ostrander, Maggie Roswell, Steve Sandor, Stephen Mendel and Susan Tyrell. The performances in Fire and Ice were strong.

To order a copy of Fire and Ice 4K Blu-ray now, click https://mvdshop.com/products/fire-and-ice-steelbook-4k-uhd-exclusive

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, cinematic trends, Blu-ray releases and more relevant stuff, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines Inflation Accelerates To 7.2% In April 2026

Considering the immense economic impact the conflict in the Middle East had on the world, the inflation rate of Philippines unsurprisingly accelerated to 7.2% in April 2026, according to a news report by GMA News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…

Inflation rate accelerated to its fastest in three years in April 2026 as higher global fuel prices brought about by the Middle East petroleum crisis spilled over to food, local petroleum, and utilities costs during the period.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, National Statistician and PSA chief Claire Dennis Mapa said inflation — the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services — accelerated to 7.2% last month from 4.1% in March 2026 and 1.4% in April 2025.

This was the fastest inflation print since March 2023, when the inflation rate clocked in at 7.6%.

April’s inflation brought the year-to-date rate to 3.9%, still within the 2% to 4% comfortable ceiling set by the government for the entire 2026.

“Ang pangunahing dahilan ng mas mataas na antas ng inflation nitong Abril 2026 kumpara noong Marso 2026 ay ang mas mabilis na pagtaas ng presyo ng Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages na may 6% inflation rate,” Mapa said.

(The main contributor to the increase in inflation rate in April 2026 compared to March 2026 was the faster hike in the prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages which posted a 6% inflation rate.)

Also contributing to the uptrend of the overall inflation in April 2026 was the faster annual increases seen in the Transport index at 21.4% in from 9.9% in March as well as the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 8.2% during the month from 4.7% in the previous month.

Moreover, faster increment were likewise seen in the indices of the following commodity groups last month:

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco – 4.8% from 3.7%; Clothing and footwear – 2.8% from 2.6%; Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance – 3.5% from 3.1%; Health – 3.8% from 3.4%; Information and communication – 0.9% from 0.7%; Recreation, sport and culture – 4.9% from 4.7%; Restaurants and accommodation services – 6% from 5%; Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services – 3.3% from 2.9%.

Food inflation – Food inflation, which tracks the price movements of food items in a “basket” commonly purchased by household, soared to 6.1% from 2.7% month-on-month driven primarily by the faster increase in rice inflation at 13.7% from 3.5% in March 2026.

Faster increments were also seen in corn (21% from 12.3%), flour and other bakery products (3% from 2.5%), fish and other seafood (9.4% from 6.6%), fruits and nuts (6% from 4.7%), vegetables (10.4% from 7%), and ready-made food (2.5% from 2.4%).

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the inflation rate of the Philippines will end up at 5% by the end of this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

New Tourism Chief Says Philippines Counted 2.24 Million Foreign Visitor Arrivals As Of April 27

New Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the Philippines counted a total of 2.24 million foreign visitor arrivals this year as of the 27th of April, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Tourism demand in the Philippines remains strong despite volatilities and challenges besetting the industry, Tourism chief Dita Angara-Mathay said Wednesday.

Speaking at the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) conference on tourism resilience in Makati City, Angara-Mathay said foreign visitor arrivals from January to April 27, reached 2.24 million, up nearly 9 percent year-on-year.

“What this tells us is simple: tourism demand is still strong-but more sensitive, more selective, and more dynamic,” she said.

Thus, Angara-Mathay said the DOT would make a “more active and deliberate role” in stakeholder coordination to further strengthen tourism in the Philippines.

She said the agency will also continue to position tourism resilience as an economic priority, given its close to 9 percent contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and support for employment.

“My background in trade, investments, and industry development shapes my perspective. I see tourism not just as a sector, but as an ecosystem—one that depends on investment flows, supply chains, enterprise development, infrastructure, and market access,” she said.

“It requires inputs. It requires coordination. It requires investment. And it requires discipline in execution. This lens will guide our work,” she stressed.

Angara-Mathay said DOT’s strategic direction in the next coming years would be focused on connectivity, domestic tourism, destination readiness, investment, ease of entry, and priority markets, such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe.

“Some of the challenges we face-particularly in infrastructure, connectivity, and investment-will take time. These are structural issues,” she said. “They require sustained effort and long-term commitment. So I ask for patience. But patience does not mean delay. We begin now.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT will perform better and be more strategic under the new secretary Angara-Mathay? Are you convinced that the Philippines is indeed attracting more foreign tourists this year? Do you think the Philippines will be able to get out of its 2025 foreign tourist slump, attract more visitors from overseas and become more competitive with its Southeast Asian neighbors by the end of this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

8.8 Million Foreign Tourists Visited Vietnam In January-April 2026 Period

When it comes to international tourism, Vietnam continues to be a fast-growing tourist destination as it successfully attracted almost nine million foreign tourists in the first four months of 2026, according to a news report by VnExpress. With the way it is going, Vietnam could easily break its all-time record of 21.2 million foreign tourists attracted in 2025.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam drew 2.03 million international visitors in April, lifting the first four months’ total to 8.8 million, a 14.6% year-on-year increase and about 35% of its 2026 target of 25 million arrivals.

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said the figures highlight the country’s rising profile as a safe, stable and increasingly compelling destination.

It is the first time Vietnam has surpassed 2 million foreign arrivals for four straight months, and the first time the January – April tally has reached 8.8 million.

The 10 largest source markets during the period were mainland China, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Cambodia, the U.S., India, Japan, Australia and the Philippines, together accounting for roughly 72% of total arrivals. China and South Korea alone contributed nearly 40%.

The visitor mix is becoming more diversified, with several emerging markets gaining traction.

Russia stood out with growth of nearly 300% year-on-year, buoyed by the return of direct flights, strong demand for extended holidays, and Vietnam’s competitive edge in safety, infrastructure, natural assets and cost.

Southeast Asia maintained strong momentum, led by the Philippines, which surged 73.4% to enter the top 10, overtaking Malaysia. Cambodia rose 41.6%, Indonesia 30.1%, Singapore 29.8%, Malaysia 21.7%, amd Thailand 8.4%.

In South Asia, India continued to emerge as a key market, expanding 59.1% and signalling substantial room for further growth.

Europe recorded the fastest regional expansion, up 53.3% year-on-year in the first four months. Western and Northern European markets posted solid gains, including the U.K. (10.4%), France (12.1%) and Germany (14.5%).

Visa-waiver markets such as Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic also delivered strong increases of 52.7%, 19.4% and 23.1%, underscoring the effectiveness of visa facilitation in boosting demand.

According to VNAT’s Tourism Information Center, global uncertainties, from geopolitical tensions to security risks, are making safety an increasingly decisive factor in travel choices.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Considering what was achieved in the first four months this year, do you think Vietnam will be able to attract between 25 million to 30 million foreign tourists by the end of 2026? Do you know anyone who will be visiting Vietnam soon?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines Digital Economy Reaches P2.74 Trillion In 2025

The digital economy of the Philippines grew to P2.74 trillion in gross value added (GVA) in 2025 and its contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) is at 9.8%, according to a business news report by GMA News.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine digital economy continues its upward trajectory, reaching a Gross Value Added (GVA) of P2.74 trillion in 2025, accounting for 9.8% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to the latest preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Last year’s digital economy GVA grew by 5.4% from P2.59 trillion recorded in 2024 as the country moves forward with digital transformation initiatives across public and private sectors.

The PSA defines the digital economy as encompassing four main areas: digital-enabling infrastructure, digital content and media, e-commerce, and government digital services.

Digital-enabling infrastructure remained the primary driver of GVA, contributing P1.79 trillion to the total. 

Within this sector, growth was fueled by ICT services with a 27.1% contribution, ICT manufacturing with 13.6%, and ICT-enabled services with 13.3%.

E-commerce followed as a significant contributor at 32.2%, while digital content and media accounted for 2.2% and government digital services made up the remaining 0.3% of the digital landscape.

Beyond monetary value, the digital sector has become a massive source of livelihood for Filipinos. 

In 2025, the digital economy employed 10.39 million people, accounting for 21.2% of the country’s total workforce. 

This was a 1.2% increase from the 10.27 million workers recorded the previous year.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the digital economy of the Philippines will continue to grow this year? Could the nation’s digital economy reach P3 trillion in value in the near future?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippine Economic Growth Slows Down To 2.8% In 1st Quarter Of 2026

While the Philippines is hosting the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the economy of the nation grew only 2.8% in the first quarter this year and it is the slowest growth in five years, according to a business news report by the Manila Bulletin.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine economy grew at its slowest pace in five years, expanding just 2.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026, as the country grapples with the persistent government spending slump and mounting inflation shocks.

The country’s economy, as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP), decelerated from the 3.0 percent expansion recorded in the final three months of 2025.

It also significantly missed the 3.4 percent median growth projected by economists in a survey, and marked the weakest quarterly output for the country since the first quarter of 2021, when the economy contracted 3.8 percent during pandemic-era lockdowns.

Growth was severely dragged down by a prolonged slump in public construction following a massive government flood-control scandal late last year, which has continued to stall state spending.

Moreover, the global energy shock triggered by the Middle East conflict in late February also sent domestic oil and input costs soaring, severely denting consumer and business confidence.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think heavy government spending will boost the economy somehow? Could it be possible that the Philippines could fall into a recession this year or next year? How do you rate the performance of the economic managers of the national government?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Food Cart Program Launched In Las Piñas City

Recently in Las Piñas City, a new livelihood program designed to help locals start small businesses was launched by the City Government, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

The Las Piñas City government launched its “Pangkabuhayan Cart” program, a new livelihood initiative aimed at helping residents start small businesses and achieve financial stability.

Las Piñas Mayor April Aguilar led the program with the distribution of food carts to six selected Las Piñero families, marking the first step in providing sustainable income opportunities for local communities.

The program is designed to empower residents by giving them the tools and resources needed to operate their own small enterprises.

Aguilar said that beneficiaries are given a chance to earn a steady income and build a better future for their families.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think the new food cart program will inspire a lot of local residents to start small businesses?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Over 1,400 Las Piñas City Senior Citizens Receive 1st Quarter Pension

Recently in Las Piñas City, more than one thousand four hundred senior citizens from three different barangays received their social pension of P3,000 each for the first quarter this year, the City Government announced. Mayor April Aguilar personally attended the distribution and met with the constituents.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s announcement (translated from Tagalog). Some parts in boldface…

More than 1,400 senior citizens from Barangay Pulanglupa Dos, Manuyo Dos, and CAA have personally received their P3,000 Social Pension for the first quarter of 2026.

Payout was done at Aguilar Sports Complex where our grandparents were comfortable waiting to be called for their pension.

Mayor April also reminded our seniors of the programs the city provides freely to them to better care for their health and well-being. Because in Las Piñas, caring is not just a word.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you personally know any local senior citizens who received their respective social pension fund?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 136

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Parasite Eve Revisited– If you were fortunate enough to have played the horror-themed Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) Parasite Eve on PlayStation in 1998, be thankful you did because there is no certainty that the Parasite Eve franchise of games will be revived anytime soon due to legal obstacles and disagreements between Square Enix and PE’s creator Hideaki Sena. That said, I found this in-depth and extensive retrospective video about the 1998 game and I encourage you all to watch it.

https://youtu.be/D_4aWG6TTfo?si=yuYqhLuoaMEwLRm6

#2 Food Courts In Japan Getting Fancy – Have you ever tried eating in a food court while visiting Japan? While food courts in many countries have the typical set-up of chairs and tables with many food/beverage joints present and ready to sell something affordable to customers, there are a few food courts of Japan getting fancier and more unique. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

https://youtu.be/84sGQUFEJoM?si=YcUDnGbhV6M2D0dz

#3 The 1995 Mortal Kombat Animated Feature Revisited – In the mid-1990s, live-action film adaptations of popular fighting games were released in cinemas. While the movies of Street Fighter and Double Dragon failed in the cinemas, the live-action Mortal Kombat movie of 1995 succeeded commercially and was mostly approved by the fans. But before the MK film was released, there was actually a prequel animated movie titled Mortal Kombat: The Journey Legends released straight to video in April 1995. If you want to discover the animated Mortal Kombat without having to invest anything on it, go watch the GoodBadFlicks retrospective video of it below. It’s an entertaining watch!

https://youtu.be/gehcSV6funo?si=D_xH_1SA0MYuVib6

#4 Another Batman Returns Retrospective By Minty Comedic Arts – Minty Comedic Arts made another retrospective video about a version of Batman Returns that most people have not seen. This one covers the original plans of having Robin in the 1992 movie, the casting shifts and scenes that were edited or removed entirely from the film’s theatrical release. If you are a fan of the movie, or a Batman fan or you simply enjoy superhero movies, then this video is a must-see!

https://youtu.be/UucIAhvpqQ0?si=Poi-mmsm1zaYWHHc

#5 Assorted Blade Runner Reaction Videos – Have you ever seen the 1982 science fiction detective movie Blade Runner starring Harrison Ford? I did and it definitely is not the thrilling adventure that the movie’s official poster made people think it would be. It’s more of suspense, intrigue and atmosphere, and the movie was deliberately paced between slow and medium speed to effectively tell its story. For some people, it is a futuristic-looking crawler while others admired it. Not only that, there are multiple versions of the movie released. Considering its reputation, it is not surprising that Blade Runner was featured in many movie reaction videos and I found the ones that are entertaining to watch. Watch the videos below.

https://youtu.be/OE0axQrlOmk?si=FvcT2iOFwoSblUuC

https://youtu.be/bgsFHMzfRFQ?si=zAFt_g36–_AM-Ma

https://youtu.be/zDWUX9DsWBc?si=mzPlOC4Oo_67N7JG

https://youtu.be/yZ6fBDv-sWM?si=MX3vFQAKdQBts5Or

https://youtu.be/kBJV4n8VpG8?si=k8Nj8x9R7fEO0f-H

https://youtu.be/_0IMyu1fogE?si=7rFWrh4dZxquxbQ2

https://youtu.be/ouSt3Xi7O0s?si=Ykzo1-ysuzquKGEk

#6 Ranting For Vengeance Slams Upcoming Resident Evil Movie – Let us be very clear here. Resident Evil is one of the most popular video game franchises of all time with many of its games ending up as commercial and critical blockbusters. When it comes to live-action movie adaptations of Resident Evil, those films ended up as action-packed vehicles of Milla Jovovich with selected Resident Evil characters like Jill Valentine, Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy ending up as token characters on the big screen. Now there is a new Resident Evil live-action movie coming up and it clearly is not faithful to the games and its bad quality production values are dead giveaways. Recently Ranting For Vengeance posted a video slamming the new RE movie and I encourage you to watch it now.

https://youtu.be/dfM1I44hPx4?si=ypC-H9gj_Uq9sHuR

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Korean Teachers Bring Smiles To Kids In Muntinlupa City

Recently in the progressive city of Muntinlupa, volunteer teachers from Korea were deployed children development centers (CDCs) where they taught lessons and brought smiles to local kids, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government welcomed the fourth batch of Korean volunteer teachers who were deployed to childhood development centers (CDCs).

The partnership of the Muntinlupa City government with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) drives the program, which is designed to improve child development in the city.

Under the fourth batch, 16 volunteer teachers were assigned to the Laguerta Bulilit Center in Muntinlupa where they set up a Korean-style classroom model to teach parents and learners about nutrition, physical education, home play and music.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon said the volunteers are supporting the city’s Early Childhood Education Division.

“They go on duty at our childhood development centers,” he said, adding that the fourth batch includes volunteers who are specialists in child education.

Some had previously volunteered in Muntinlupa and other parts of the country and have returned.

For the volunteer program, the Muntinlupa City government was recognized as an International Local Volunteer Partner Institution Awardee by the PNVSCA.

In December 2023, Muntinlupa was recognized as the first Volunteerism Local Learning Hub in the country.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you wish to see more Korean volunteer teachers get deployed to local child development centers?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Four Suspects Arrested In Parañaque City For Stealing Telecom Cables

Recently in the City of Parañaque, local police officers arrested four suspects over the illegal cutting and the attempt to steal underground copper telecommunications cables, according to a news report by The Daily Tribune.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Daily Tribune. Some parts in boldface…

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief P/Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin commended the swift coordination between security personnel and responding police officers, which resulted in the prompt arrest of four adult male suspects and the recovery of stolen telecommunications equipment.

The incident occurred at around 4:20 a.m. on Friday, 24 April, in front of a gasoline station along Doña Soledad Avenue corner West Service Road, Barangay Don Bosco.

While conducting routine area monitoring, arresting officers intercepted the suspects in the act of illegally cutting and taking underground copper telecommunications cables.

Initial reports showed that security personnel in the area immediately alerted authorities upon noticing the suspicious activity, prompting a coordinated swift police response that resulted in the on-site arrest of four individuals. However, nine of their cohorts managed to flee and are currently the subject of follow-up operations.

Recovered from the scene were several pieces of cut underground copper cable wires measuring approximately two meters in length, with an estimated amount of P262,006.63.

Seized were tools and equipment used in the illegal activity, including a bolt cutter, an improvised steel hook, a white closed van and a motorcycle believed to have been used in the operation.

The suspects are now under police custody and are facing charges for violation of Section 4(d) of Republic Act 10515, also known as the Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, did the cutting of the telecommunication cables affect your household somehow? Do you think Parañaque City is becoming a new hot spot for the stealing of telecommunication cables?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Dimayuga and Tan Rule Under-15 Youth Titles of 2026 Subic Bay International Triathlon

DIEGO Jose Dimayuga of Get Coach’d Academy and Lauren Lee Tan dominated the Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) U15 Youth category held yesterday at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Dimayuga finished the super sprint race (375m swim, 10km bike and 2.5km run) in 35 minutes and 59 seconds. Teammate Pio Mishael Gabriel (36:31) placed second followed by Cebuano Joseph Ian Caluste of Be Tritans (36:58).

In the girls division, Tan clocked 38:25 to beat Naomi Dimayuga (39:10) and Alaina Bouffaut (40:15) in the event organized by Triathlon Philippines (TriPhil) and supported by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), NTT, Gatorade (official hydration partner), Western Guaranty Corporation, C-Vitt and Subic Bay Travelers Hotel (official race hotel).

“I was sick for two weeks, I only had a week to train for this tournament,” said the 15-year-old Dimayuga, who lives in Silang, Cavite.

Dimayuga, Latonio and Caluste duplicated their performances at the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) last February.

Dimayuga, who made it to the national team at the start of the year, will join the Asian Youth Championships in Xuzhou, China next month.

“I’m excited to represent the country and my team (GCA). I’ll do my best to win,” said Dimayuga, a silver medalist at the Asia Triathlon Junior and U23 Championships in Hong Kong last March.

Meanwhile, Qatari Anes Khelili clocked 1:06:36 to prevail over Jarius Miguel Mejia of De La Salle Zobel Triathlon Team (1:06:38) and Lorenzo Claur of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (1:06:48) in the standard men 16-19 years old category of the event also backed by Milo, Ford, Sante Barley, Gatorade, Western Guaranty Inc., C-vitt, Lemon Square Bakery Treats, Gardenia, Fitbar, Ecotrans and RaceYa.

The Top 3 finishers in the girls division were Naomi Felicity Aytin of BYBS/GAS Coaching (1:23:33), Fynley Quiban (1:25:25) and Keirstein Ann Marie Tigullo (1:27:23).

Champions in the super tri-kids category were Marcus Jayden Balaquit and Danica Mireille Angodung (11-12), Rey Matthew Tundayag and Maiko Aleno (9-10),  Ethan Geronimo and Jan Christel Culanag (7-8), and Thirdy Geronimo and Lucia Ysabel Sarmenta (6-under).

The other gold medalists in standard age-group men’s division were Earl James Ting of Be Tritans (20-29), Samuel Ebuen Bada of Olongapo Junior Trackers Multisport (30-39), Raffy Dolor of Artemis-Victory (40-49), John Erich Taca of Team Megawide (50-59), and Diosdado Soriano of BOST (60-over) while in the women’s division were Jan Mikaela Caruncho of 2600 Tri Team (20-29), Sandra Inocillas-Pineda of Sante Barley Tri Team (30-39), Lady Ro Anne Alviar of UPLB Trantados (40-49) and Maria Beatriz Azcuna of Beer Racer Beer (50-over).

For more triathlon and multisport updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil.  

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Note: This post was sourced from the official press release of the event from Triathlon Philippines.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Fuel Subsidy Released To Over 2,000 Tricycle And PUJ Drivers In Las Piñas City

Recently in Las Piñas City, more than two thousand drivers of tricycles and public utility jeepneys (PUJs) received P5,000 each in fuel subsidy during the payout at Aguilar Sports Complex monitored by local officials, according to the City Government’s announcement.  

To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire social media announcement (translated from Tagalog) of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…

For those who were not able to claim their subsidy, the Special Fuel Subsidy Payout was held at Aguilar Sports Complex where almost 2,300 Tricycle and PUJ drivers personally received P5,000.

With the cooperation of DSWD-NCR and CSWDO headed by Ms. Lowefe Romulo, the distribution of relief was smooth, fast and organized inside a comfortable and cold venue. Like the previous payout, there is still a help desk to respond to some questions and problems drivers have experienced in relation to their documents.

In this time when oil and gasoline prices are still very high, the city government, under the leadership of Mayor April Aguilar, is ensuring that every registered driver will be provided and will receive the assistance intended for them.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you consider P5,000 sufficient as a fuel subsidy for the tricycle and PUJ drivers of the city?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Donnelly and Hayashi Rule NTT Asia Cup Subic Bay Elite Contests

Heavy favorites Canadian Liam Donnelly and Japanese Manami Hayashi dominated the Elite Men’s and Women’s divisions of the NTT Asia Triathlon Cup Subic Bay International Triathlon, respectively, yesterday.

Donnely, 26, whose latest conquest was 2025 Americas Triathlon Cup Manta, clocked 56 minutes and 16 seconds, 12 seconds clear of his closest pursuer Kazakh Daryn Konesbayov and 34 seconds ahead of dethroned titlist Japanese Takuto Oshima could only settle for the bronze medal.

Manami Hayashi, 22, successfully defended her throne convincingly with a margin of 11 seconds. No. 1 in the Asian standing and ranked No. 37 in the world, she timed 1:02: 29 to runner-up Ayame Hayashi’s 1:02:40.

Rounding out the top 5 positions included Austrian Philip Pertl (4th- 56:55) and Turk Gultigi Er (5th- 56:56) in the men’s side; and Turk Sinem Tous Servera (3rd- 1:02:53), Koreans Hye Rim Jeong (4th- 1:03:06) and Hye Rang (5th- 1:03:10 in the women’s contest.

Organized Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the oldest and longest running triathlon event in Southeast Asia is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), NTT, Gatorade (official hydration partner), Western Guaranty Corporation, C-Vitt and Subic Bay Travelers Hotel (official race hotel).

Over at the NTT Asia Junior Triathlon Cup, the top 5 finishers were: men- Kazak Ramazan Ainegov (1st-1:01:55), Aussie Cooper Smeulders (2nd- 1:02:56), Korean Taul Jun (3rd- 1:033:46), Aussie Rhys Cameron (4th- 1:04:14) and local Pete Sancho del Rosario (5th- 1:04:35) and;

In the women’s- Alua Nurmuhamet KAZ (1st- 1:11:12), Kaleruya Shneider KAZ (2nd- 1:1:18), Anisha Eunice Caluya PHI (3rd- 1:11:48), Charlotte Thurston UAE (4th- 1:12:51) and Yuki Yokoi JPN (5th – 1:15:54).

The third pillar of the 3-in-1 2026 SuBIT affair—the National Triathlon Championships—saw Inaki Lorbes (58:57) and Raven Alcoseba (1:04:58) emerge as champions. Completing the medalist were; silver – Andrew Remolino (1:00:01) &  Samantha Corpuz (1:11:21) and bronze- Dayshaun Ramos (1:01:35) & Mikele Katerina Jopson (1:114:37).

For more triathlon and multisport updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil.  

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Note: This post was sourced from the official press release of the event from Triathlon Philippines.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Swiss Challenge For P6.2 Billion Subic Bay International Airport Launched By SBMA

New developments regarding the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) could happen soon as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) formally launched the Swiss challenge for it, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. It is recalled that Cerberus Asia Pacific Investments proposed to manage, operate and rehabilitate the SBIA for P5.31 billion.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

More than a year after an unsolicited proposal was first submitted, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has formally launched the Swiss challenge for the ₱6.2-billion Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) project, opening the door to rival bidders for an airport that would complement the seaport facilities in the former United States (US) naval base in Zambales province.

In an invitation posted on the website of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center last Monday, April 27, SBMA invited challengers to apply for eligibility and submit comparative proposals for the airport project, which is an unsolicited proposal from American firm Cerberus Asia Pacific Investments LLC. PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Eleazar E. Ricote told Manila Bulletin on Tuesday, April 28, that the estimated project cost is ₱6.2 billion, up from the previous ₱5.31-billion estimate released by the agency last year.

SBMA noted that it received the unsolicited proposal from Cerberus in March 2025 under an operate-rehabilitate-add-transfer scheme in accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 11966, or the PPP Code of the Philippines. Cerberus proposed a 25-year concession period, subject to extension.

To recall, Cerberus previously acquired the shuttered Hanjin shipyard in Subic in 2022 and has since invested at least $40 million to revive operations at the facility, now known as Agila Subic Multi-Use Facilities—said to be the future site of a joint US-Philippines ammunition production and storage facility. The firm had also earlier signaled plans to convert the Subic airport into a cargo and logistics hub as part of its broader investments in shipbuilding, logistics, semiconductors, and energy in the country.

The Swiss challenge—technically referred to in SBMA’s bidding documents as a “comparative challenge”—involves the upgrade, expansion, operation and maintenance (O&M), and eventual turnover of SBIA to SBMA after the concession period. The project primarily aims to establish an efficient and modern cargo transport system for Luzon region by transforming the airport into a modern, efficient, and high-capacity cargo hub that meets international standards and improves cargo shipment quality, SBMA said.

Following detailed evaluation and negotiations between SBMA and Cerberus, the American firm was granted original proponent status (OPS), making its unsolicited proposal subject to comparative challenge.

In Philippine PPP practice, a comparative challenge is essentially the formal Swiss challenge process for unsolicited proposals, wherein third parties may submit competing bids while the original proponent retains the right to match the best offer.

Under this project’s single-stage bidding process, challengers must submit a comparative proposal consisting of three envelopes: qualification documents, a technical proposal, and a financial proposal.

SBMA’s pre-qualification/qualifications, bids, and awards committee (PBAC) will first evaluate challengers’ legal, technical, and financial qualifications. Those who pass will proceed to the opening of technical proposals, and compliant technical bids will move on to the opening of financial proposals. The challenger submitting the financial proposal that meets the highest base concession fee in contract year one will be declared as having the most superior comparative proposal.

The comparative challenge will be conducted under a right-to-match mechanism, in which Cerberus, as the original proponent, may match or better the financial proposal of the most superior comparative proposal within 30 calendar days.

“In case the SBMA PBAC determines the financial proposal of the original proponent to be superior or more advantageous to the government or in case there is no challenger, the PPP contract shall be awarded to the original proponent,” SBMA said.

Interested challengers may obtain the instructions to challengers and other tender documents starting May 18 upon payment of a non-refundable participation fee of ₱1.4 million, or $23,333.33. Only challengers that have paid the fee in full may join the pre-bid conference, participate in the comparative challenge, and submit comparative proposals.

The comparative challenge process will run for 90 calendar days from the issuance of the challenge documents. Submission of comparative proposals must be completed on or before 2 p.m. on Aug. 17.

The Subic airport project complements the government’s broader push for the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), which aims to strengthen logistics, infrastructure, and industrial connectivity across the former US bases of Subic and Clark, Manila, and Batangas province.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there will be challengers coming in for the P6.2 billion SBIA? When was the last time you visited the international airport in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 42

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Space Duel Arcade Flyer

When the 1979 arcade classic Asteroids achieved massive success for Atari, the company went on to make ports of it on different platforms as well as follow-ups in the arcades. The first follow-up Asteroids Deluxe had a positive reception but never reached the huge impact of its predecessor. Since Asteroids Deluxe was well regarded for improved visuals and higher level of challenge, Atari went on to make the 1982 follow-up Space Duel. To promote the game, Atari’s artists made fascinating original artworks for both the arcade cabinet and the arcade flyer itself. Apart from looking great, I noticed the spaceships of Space Duel’s art looks similar with those of Xevious (a Namco arcade game distributed by Atari in America) and I can only speculate that the same artist made those.

2. Midway Auxiliary Show Monitor Print Ad

As video arcades in America became massively popular with people and became a major economic sector, it was not surprising that crowding became a trend especially whenever a very popular game attracted both players (waiting in line) as well as onlookers. Midway, which was an arcade giant in the 1980s, came up with their own concept of a specialized secondary display called the Midway Auxiliary Show Monitor designed to let onlookers watch a video of ongoing gameplay without physically standing by the player. As the print ad above shows precisely the use of the monitors, those were used at trade shows or in arcades with a setup to make turn the single-player experience into a makeshift show for the people nearby. Back in the 1980s, there was indeed a spectator approach to the arcade experience but players had to deal with the disturbance of many onlookers standing near to see the on-screen action. At the very least, Midway’s concept and hardware was a bold attempt to solve overcrowding.

3. Sega Genesis North American Print Ad

While the Sega Genesis has always been identified with 1990s console gaming in America, the console was officially launched there in August 1989. At the time, Sega of America was not too creative nor aggressive when it comes to marketing the Genesis. The above 1989 print ad showed a lot of screenshots to promote the games, showed the console with a TV and a few peripherals and a text description that emphasized the Genesis as the so-called ultimate dimension in game play. Considering how dynamic and aggressive Sega’s marketing of the Genesis and games became a few years later when Tom Kalinske became the CEO, it is not surprising that this old ad has been forgotten.

4. The Punisher NES Print Ad

By the year 1990, The Punisher became one of Marvel Comics’ most popular figures and the character had two monthly series published. As such, an actual video game featuring the character was made for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and to promote it, three screenshots were shown, a brick wall with stylized short messages was shown and a hand-drawn art of the Punisher was displayed. As seen in the screenshots, elements from The Punisher comic books were displayed such as shooting and fighting the criminals. Considering how wholesome the NES audience was at the time, this print promotion of The Punisher game looks odd although it is a fact that entertainment products featuring violent entertainment properties or characters were made and marketed towards children less than 12-years-old. Remember the Rambo animated series and video games of the 1980s?

5. Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters Arcade Flyer

After achieving both critical and big-time commercial arcade success with Lethal Enforcers in 1992, Konami proceeded with the sequel Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters which was released in arcades two years later. While the 1994 game used 2D sprites and digitized photographs like its predecessor, Konami used the 19th century Old West as the setting making it totally different from the 1992 original. To promote the game and emphasize the Old West setting, Konami came up with this arcade flyer that showed actors in cowboy costumes with a background that looks like a cowboy movie set. Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters went on to become successful in the arcades and it later got ported to game consoles.

6. Wipeout XL Print Ad

1996 was a tremendous year for console gaming. As Nintendo launched their highly anticipated Nintendo 64 console (N64) that year, game publishers came up with new games that further utilized the features of both Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Wipeout XL was a sequel sci-fi racing game exclusive to the PlayStation and developer/publisher Psygnosis went all-in promoting the game with a lot of creativity and energy. They came up with this 2-page print ad to make gamers excited while creatively informing them what features, rave music and fun gameplay it has. On face value, this print ad looked more like a dazzling article.

7. Nights into Dreams Print Ad

If there is anything notable about the history of the Sega Saturn, it is the fact that there were no new dedicated platform games of Sonic The Hedgehog released for it which is very odd as the Sonic platform games on Sega Genesis were big sellers, critically acclaimed and even made their mark on pop culture. During the mid-1990s, Sonic Team (which had Sonic game creators like Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima) were laser-focused on making Nights into Dreams (stylized as NiGHTS into Dreams) which was an all-new intellectual property that allowed them to utilize the 3D capabilities of the Saturn while making room for their creativity. Sega knew Nights into Dreams was special so they came up with this 2-page print ad which had an eye-catching display of screenshots of the game on the left (with the Saturn in the middle) while using the other half for descriptive text and explanations (with the special Saturn controller in the middle) to grab people’s attention. This old ad from 1996 is a mixed bag for me as the left side was captivating to see while the description on the right side requires some effort to read properly due to the small size of the text.

8. Super Mario 64 Print Ad

What is arguably the most memorable video game released in 1996 was Super Mario 64 which was not only a fully featured launch game of the Nintendo 64 console, but also the first-ever Super Mario platform game made with 3D polygons complete with a large 3D environment that can be explored a lot. There was a huge anticipation for this game by both gamers and the media, and whenever it was previewed before release, it drew lots of crowds and many ended up being very impressed and wanting more. Nintendo knew they had some very special under the production and direction of Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto. As such, Nintendo had an ambitious marketing campaign that includes print media, video advertising on MTV, Fox and Nickelodeon and even sending video tapes to thousands of Nintendo Power magazine subscribers. This 2-page print ad was part of the campaign and it had a fine visual design that strongly emphasized the iconic Mario in polygonal form in most spaces, leaving the screenshots in the bottom. This old ad from 1996 never looks outdated and its clean approach is really effective in helping people understand that something great would be launched along with the N64. Both the console and this game sold a lot of copies ultimately and it remains one of Nintendo’s biggest achievements ever.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Ambitious Offshore Airport Planned By Vietnam

Regardless of external developments, it is clear that tourism in Vietnam is booming (for reference click here and here) and that makes travel an essential part of the nation’s economy and society. With the future of greater travel and accessibility in mind, Vietnam is aiming even higher as their government announced the plan of creating an offshore airport, according to a news report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnam is considering an unprecedented aviation project that would see an airport built on an artificial island off Nha Trang, a major tourism destination.

The Ministry of Construction has submitted amendments to the national airport master plan for 2021-2030 to the government for approval.

It includes a new 497-hectare airport at Van Phong, around 65 kilometers from Nha Trang, on land reclaimed from the sea, according to the government’s portal.

To be situated in Van Thang Commune, it is estimated to cost VND9.2 trillion (US$360 million) and handle around 1.5 million passengers annually by 2030, increasing to 2.5 million by 2050.

Authorities expect the airport to support regional economic growth, positioning Van Phong as a marine logistics and economic hub and enhancing connectivity and boosting tourism.

Offshore airports have been built in several Asian geographies. Japan’s Kansai International Airport, built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay at a cost of some $20 billion, is among the most well-known examples.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam’s ambitious plan to build and operate an offshore airport will come true? Have you ever spent time in an offshore airport before?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Japanese Triathletes Defend SuBIT Crowns

Takuto Oshima and Manami Hayashi, both from Japan, take a crack at extending their hold on their respective titles in the NTT Asia Triathlon Cup Subic Bay, more commonly known as the Subic International Triathlon (SuBIT), at Subic Bay Freeport Zone on May 2 (Saturday).

SuBIT’s 33rd staging carries with it the NTT Asia Triathlon Junior Cup for first time and henceforth the official Philippine National Triathlon Championships and qualifier for National Training Pool.

While Oshima (ranked #88 male in the world) and Hayashi (#36 female) will enjoy strong support from their compatriots, Oshima will face the strongest challenge from Canadian Liam Donnelly who is ranked higher by 15 notches.

Hayashi on the other hand is top-ranked among the female entries and the closest to her who are non-Japanese are Turkey’s Sinem Servera (#87) and USA’s Michelle Magnani (#91).

Organized Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the oldest and longest running triathlon event in Southeast Asia is sponsored by Philippine Sports Commission, NTT, Gatorade (official hydration partner), Western Guaranty Corporation, C-Vitt and Subic Bay Travelers Hotel (official race hotel).

One of the more popular triathlons in Asia, this year’s SuBIT drew 92 elite triathletes and 31 elite juniors from 24 countries including Australia, Brazil, Bahrain, Canada, Cambodia, Guam, Hongkong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Qatar, Thailand, Taipei, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Singapore, UAE, Bangladesh, Samoa and Philippines.

Looming as top bets from Southeast Asia include 2025 Southeast Asian Games champion Indonesian Rashif Amila Yaqin, also 2023 SEAG silver medalist, in the male division.

French Cambodian Margot Garabedian, 2023 SEAG gold medalist and runner-up in the 2026 Asian Beach Games aquathlon last April 24, lead the ASEAN campaign in the distaff side.        

The non-elite athletes in the field of nearly 500 will display their wares in the second day of action.

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Note: This post was sourced from the official press release of the event from Triathlon Philippines.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 135

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear Reaction Videos – What can be said about the 1991 comedy film The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear? As a sequel to 1988’s The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, the movie has this weird and sudden change of setting from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, without any explanation at all. At the time of its release, the United States President was George Bush and the movie had a funny portrayal of him complete with an actress who looks so much like then First Lady Barbara Bush. More notably, the movie has its funny portrayal of energy politics and there is bias against fossil fuel. How it entertained YouTubers is a must see with their reaction videos posted below for your enjoyment.

https://youtu.be/GcEtrqE8b0w?si=zlS69_CXEzB0YtsA

https://youtu.be/JskCeKUo2rE?si=gcfrCPoaLEUa1Zst

https://youtu.be/x3u-4b9CqZM?si=jmAL9c4OzIuA95IV

https://youtu.be/B4wPtZ2reYw?si=4jc04GkHZbdh0g7Q

https://youtu.be/0rcV8oV5XDQ?si=XBzWcOQLjUsFCsPX

#2 How Pre-Rendered Backgrounds Defined Early 3D Gaming – Remember back in the 1990s when pre-rendered backgrounds were used a lot in video games? The first three Resident Evil main video games were popular examples of pre-rendered backgrounds which came with high levels of detail and immersed gamers who played. Behind the scenes, pre-rendered visuals for backgrounds became the norm both artistically and with regards to game production. By today, such visuals became a forgotten artform and you revisit its legacy by watching the video below.

https://youtu.be/yZKJwWKl1a0?si=dujehbKKBbirseFV

#3 Vending Machines In Japan Disappearing? – During my two tours of Japan in the 1990s, I noticed there were lots of vending machines present. When compared to my visits to the United States during that same decade, the number of vending machines in Japan were not only higher but were also present in more strategic locations targeting both tourists and locals. As technology evolved, there were consequences realized as the number of vending machines in the land of the rising sun has gone down. Could it really be a growing disappearance? Watch and learn from the video below.

https://youtu.be/quXAkaKXFr0?si=MfPKx5nlPtHKh7Xf

#4 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To The Mask – Were you old enough to have seen The Mask (starring Jim Carrey) in the movie theater when it was released in 1994? I saw it in the cinema with my friends and it turned out to be very surprisingly entertaining. Carrey’s very comedic performance really brought the character to life complete with a nice variety of computer-generated effects that added a lot of punch to entertain viewers. As the movie (loosely based on a comic book series of the early 1990s) is more than thirty years old now, one has to wonder if it still has what it takes to entertain viewers who were born during or after its theatrical run. Watch and learn from Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video below.

https://youtu.be/eyInETd8TSQ?si=IsA-fNtSlvjjkowY

#5 You, Me And the Movies Reacts To King Kong (1976) – You might have heard the news that the 1976 King Kong movie (starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange) is coming out on 4K Blu-ray format this June. I first saw that movie on local TV in the early 1980s and saw it again on cable TV a long time later. As it was a remake of the 1933 classic film, King Kong’s story was relevant to those who experienced the oil crisis of the 1970s. It’s relevance and overall fun factor got tested in the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies, which you can watch below.

https://youtu.be/RWoxyUXj8aY?si=GS7kI32Nj_1ZsSIO

#6 John Byrne’s The Man Of Steel Revisited – What is there to say about John Byrne’s reboot of Superman in the 1986 limited series The Man of Steel? A lot! Byrne, who made a lot of great works with Marvel Comics’ X-Men and Fantastic Four some years prior, was hired by DC Comics to reboot Superman for the post-Crisis age and he was granted creative freedom to not only modernize the American icon but also make him relevant and essential. Can you just imagine experiencing the tremendous pressure of the task if you were Byrne himself? To see why The Man of Steel comic book limited series and Byrne’s rebooting of Superman are very important, I encourage you all to watch the video below.

https://youtu.be/VHtNrVk0nGM?si=rzKnXVnUywA0QGI-

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Huge Shipment Of Diesel Arrives At Subic Bay Port

Recently at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, a huge shipment of diesel of more than forty-four thousand metric tons arrived at the port which has been described as a crucial step in strengthening the energy security of the nation, according to an official announcement by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from official announcement by the SBMA. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), a government-owned and – controlled corporation (GOCC), has recently received a major diesel fuel shipment at the Port of Subic Bay, signaling a crucial step in bolstering the country’s energy reliability. The shipment consists of 44,119 metric tons—or 329,505 barrels of diesel fuel.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao said that the shipment of PNOC’s 329,505 barrels or 44,119 metric tons of diesel arrived in Subic Freeport on April 10 through the Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Corporation (PCSPC) storage facility.

He added that as of March 30, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had already issued a special permit to the PNOC Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC) to fast-track the emergency importation of petroleum products, especially diesel, to stabilize the nation’s energy supply.

“The special permit is designed to bypass standard bureaucratic processes and customs procedures that could delay immediate importation of fuel”; he said.

The PNOC-EC is set to procure a total of two million barrels of oil and 22,000 metric tons of LPG to build a national buffer stock, aiming to mitigate price volatility and secure supply.

These emergency stocks that are expected to augment around 10 days of the country’s additional fuel supply and strengthen LPG reserves, are being secured in response to Middle East market disruptions.

Subic Bay Freeport is home to the PCSPC, the largest petroleum product import storage facility in the Philippines, which stores a significant portion of the national buffer stock. The facility currently has a storage capacity of approximately 6.3 million barrels (roughly one billion liters) of fuel.

It occupies about 160 hectares and accounts for 20% of the total fuel storage capacity in the Philippines. The depot is spread across the Boton and Maritan Hill areas within the Freeport.

The facility uses the infrastructure of the former U.S. Naval Base in Subic Bay. At its peak during the Vietnam War, the site handled the largest volume of fuel oil compared to any U.S. naval facility worldwide.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the port of Subic Bay will become even more important to the nation’s energy security as more shipments of oil come in?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Muntinlupa Mayor Reacts To MWSS Decision On Maynilad Over Failure To Provide Continuous Water To Customers

Following the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s (MWSS) major decision to penalize water concessionaire Maynilad over its failure to provide continuous water supply to its customers, Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon welcomed it and called for long-term solutions, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon welcomed the decision of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) regulatory office to penalize Maynilad for failing to provide continuous water supply to customers in the city.

The total PHP54.28 million fine or PHP328 rebate per affected customer should serve as a lesson for Maynilad as it continues to be the primary water provider in its designated service area, Biazon said in a news release Tuesday.

“While this cannot undo the inconvenience experienced by our constituents, we expect that it will serve as a reminder to the water concessionaire to fulfill its obligation to deliver continuous and reliable service,” Biazon said.

He also calls on concerned government agencies to look into Laguna de Bay to see if the water is fit for domestic use. The proposed water quality check at the bay, which is within Metro Manila and Rizal and Laguna provinces, is part of the long-term solutions Biazon seeks to stabilize supply in the city.

“This should not be addressed with temporary solutions alone. We need long-term measures to ensure a sufficient, safe and continuous water supply,” he added.

Biazon summoned Maynilad officials in March to explain the recurring water interruptions and to present concrete, reliable, and long-term solutions to the supply problem.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you think Maynilad will improve following the huge penalty they got as a result of the MWSS’ big decision? How often do you have access to water each day?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

American Oil Arrives In Japan

For the first time since the United States and Israel started their joint military operations against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, a tanker carrying American oil arrived in Japan, according to a news report by Kyodo News.

It should be noted that Japan imports over 90% of oil from the Middle East and the government also released some of its oil reserves. As such, importing oil from other destinations is crucial for the Japanese. US President Donald Trump already told the international community to buy oil from America.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Kyodo News report. Some parts in boldface…

A tanker carrying U.S. oil arrived in Japan on Sunday, marking the first such shipment from the United States since the Iran war began in late February.

According to Cosmo Energy Holdings Co. that procured the crude oil from the United States, the tanker, which arrived in Tokyo Bay, transported 145,000 kiloliters, equivalent to half a day of domestic consumption.

The U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy shipments. Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90 percent of its crude oil imports, most of which pass through the strait.

The tanker departed Texas on March 22 and transited the Panama Canal, which can accommodate smaller vessels.

The Japanese government and oil wholesalers have been trying to secure oil from alternative routes to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think this development is the first of what could be many oil shipments from America coming to Japan?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Non-Resident/Pass Thru Car Stickers Of Alabang Hills Village For 2026-2027 Now Available

The Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) announced that the 2026-2027 edition of its car stickers for non-residents motorists are now available and already applications are being accepted.

For accuracy, posted below is the excerpt about the2026-2027 non-resident/pass thru car stickers of Alabang Hills. Take note that the AHVA has a separate arrangement with the federation of BF Homes.

2. NON-RESIDENT

A. Private Cars (all vehicles with 3 or more wheels, including vans, pick-ups, & SUVs)

One-year sticker: P2,500 per car**

B. AHV-BF Residents (Discounted Fee-Reciprocity Arrangement)

-P2,000 per car for 5 cars / household

– personal use only ( business or commercial vehicles are not entitled to discount)

-no discount for applications beyond the deadline

How to apply – click https://alabanghillsvillage.com/non-resident-sticker/

Download the official application form, print it, fill all the details and sign it.

Book your appointment online selecting the available dates and time slots. Make sure you bring the vehicle’s official receipt (OR) and certificate of registration (CR). Also prepare the amount of money needed to pay for the new non-resident car sticker.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

A Look Back at Gen13 #1 (1994)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Image Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of Jim Lee’s original WildStorm universe through the original Gen13 mini-series.

There is a lot to enjoy in the WildStorm comic book universe of the 1990s with such titles like WildCATS: Covert Action Teams, Team 7, StormWatch, Grifter, Backlash and Wetworks to name some. The WildStorm depicts the world as chaotic filled with strong paramilitary concepts, conspiracies and even aliens from deep space.

Along the way, WildStorm has its own take on the sub-genre of super-powered teenagers which was realized as Gen13 (stylized as Gen13). Strangely enough, the team – which actually first appeared in the Deathmate Black crossover comic book in 1993 – was originally titled as Gen X but WildStorm had to rebrand it into Gen13 as Marvel Comics already trademarked the name Generation X for an X-Men-related comic book project. To learn more about production history and background of Gen13, click here.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Gen13 #1, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi with artwork done by Jeffrey Scott Campbell (ink work by Alex Garner). This is the first issue of the mini-series.  

Early story

The story begins sometime in 1979 when a married couple (Stephen and Rachel Callahan) desperate runs away with their two little children. A team of armored troops (the Black Razors) riding two hovering vehicles catches up with them and hit Rachel with bullets passing through her body. Stephen, who is carrying his son Matthew, uses his power to destroy one of the hovering vehicles. One of the Black Razors realized that the husband is gen-active and nobody informed their team that he was with Gen12.

Agonizing with severe head pain, Stephen tells Matthew to take his little sister Nicole with him and run to the trees. As far as Stephen is concerned, he is finished and all he can do is buy time for the two little children to escape. He tells Matthew to protect his sister. Suddenly, the Black Razors killed Stephen right in front of Matthew and Nicole.

Fifteen years later, a young, nerdy college student named Caitlin Fairchild makes her way through the college campus in Princeton. She is a gifted student who has been focused on maintaining a high grade and graduate with her advanced degree in computer science in the near future.

Upon arriving at the dormitory, she meets her promiscuous roommate Alexa who informs her that some guys arrived earlier looking for her. The guys were described as middle-aged suits and they wanted to talk to Caitlin about some internship program. Alexa then leaves.

A few hours later, Caitlin wakes up as the door gets knocked. Special agent baker of the National Security Committee tells her that she has been accepted into the Gen13 program and her presence is immediately required in order to process her into the program before it begins the next day…

Quality

I enjoyed this comic book the first time I had it in 1994. I can clearly say that it is still fun and engaging to read again today.

This comic book was written with the intention to introduce super-powered teenagers as a new and really distinctive team in one corner of the original WildStorm universe while also expanding the lore by focusing more on International Operations’ unethical covert operations which will easily remind people about government conspiracies, top secret missions and the like. The story has really strong elements about conspiracies, unethical scientific experiments and even human rights violations. The story by Jim Lee and Brandon Choi has a strong structure but what stood out to me was the really creative writing done to bring the characters to life complete with a touch of the 1990s vibe (in reference to comic book trends and real-life society).

John Lynch, a former member of Team 7 and also one of the high-ranking officials of IO who occasionally appeared in prior WildStorm comic books, gets a nice share of the spotlight in the story and indeed he is not full control of his organization. In fact, IO’s execution of a new program about developing people with special abilities or powers (without their knowledge) raises Lynch’s concerns as he himself was a victim of betrayal and exposure to an experimental gas during his time with Team 7. Lynch also appeared in The Kindred mini-series (read my reviews by clicking here, here and here).

When it comes to the characters, Gen13’s members here are introduced with notable differences in terms of personality. The nerdy Caitlin Fairchild is the very promising smart young lady who has the potential to succeed. Bobby (Burnout) is the quiet guy who quickly realizes that true unity is needed in order for a group to succeed under the program they are in. Roxy is the undisciplined and rebellious young lady while Grunge is the loose cannon and has trouble with authorities. While it is clear you won’t see much of their powers yet in this comic book, they turned out to be interesting enough to follow thanks to the strong creative writing by Lee and Choi.

When it comes to the visuals, Jeffrey Scott Campbell’s artworks really stood out mainly due to his distinctive style. If you look closely at how he draws the faces of women – particularly the ones who are young and fit – you will realize the exaggerated look complete with the big eyes and curves seen on females in anime or even manga (Japanese comics). If you are looking visual realism on the characters, you won’t find it here at all. Campbell’s style truly defined the look of the characters and yet he was able to draw armored troops (Black Razors and the armed security guard) with a really high level of details (including their weapons) which really stood out visually. Campbell is also good with superhero spectacle and hard action. Last but not least, there is a deliberate amount of erotic imagery in this comic book which serves as a reminder that this is a story aimed at young adult and adult readers.  

Conclusion

Indeed, Gen13 #1 (1994) remains entertaining to read mainly because of the strong writing. The story moved at a smooth pace, the exposition was done cleverly, and the characters ended up being worthy enough to pay attention to. By the time I reached the end, I am convinced to go on to the next issue and rediscover not only more of the mini-series but also the way it expanded the lore of the WildStorm universe of the 1990s. This comic book alone strongly emphasized the connections with other elements of the WildStorm universe, particularly with Team 7 (its mini-series launched months after this one) and the dark legacy of IO. It is an adulterated superhero comic book that really offered readers something new and intriguing.

Overall, Gen13 #1 (1994) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

Almost 4,000 Las Piñas City Senior Citizens Receive Pension

Recently in Las Piñas City, almost four thousand senior citizens from nine different barangays received their social pension of P3,000 each for the first quarter this year, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Las Piñas City government released cash aid to 3,900 senior citizens across nine barangays as part of the first-quarter social pension program for 2026.

Las Piñas City Mayor April Aguilar said the payout, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), was conducted at the Aguilar Sports Complex to ensure an orderly and efficient distribution.

A total of 1,700 beneficiaries from Barangays Talon Uno, Talon Singko, Talon Tres, and Pilar received P3,000 each during the initial payout.

Another 2,200 senior citizens from Barangays Ilaya, Pamplona Uno, Manuyo Dos, Daniel Fajardo, and Elias Aldana got their cash assistance on April 20.

Aguilar said the distribution was “smooth, organized, and fast,” allowing elderly beneficiaries to conveniently receive their allowance without long delays.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Did many senior citizens of your local community receive their respective social pension funds lately?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Panel By DHSUD To Check Concerns Of Homeowners’ Association In Las Piñas City

In response to the concerns of members of a particular homeowners’ association (HOA) in Las Piñas City, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) announced the creation of a panel to preside over the community’s election of new officers, according to a news report by The Manila Times.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from The Manila Times news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) on Monday said that it would create an interim poll body in connection with the election of new officers of a village homeowners’ association in Las Piñas City.

A ranking official of the agency told The Manila Times the DHSUD’s National Capital Region (NCR) office has been assigned to look into the concerns of the members of the Woodridge Homeowners Association Inc. (WHAI) in Barangay Pulang Lupa.

The official said the NCR office will issue an order on Monday for the appointment of an interim committee that will preside over the election.

Earlier last week, WHAI members warned that chaos could mar the homeowners’ association election-related proceedings at the Woodridge Subdivision unless the DHSUD stepped in.

The WHAI members have called on the department to intervene to stop alleged irregularities by members of an interim electoral body who were recently appointed by the agency itself.

Former WHAI president Joselito Chua said the intervention of the DHSUD would prevent irregularities in the election of board members of the village. Chua’s group claimed that the interim board failed to comply with the 30-day requirement for the organization of an election committee (Elecom) as required under Section 8(b) of DHSUD Memorandum Circular 2025-003.

“Notwithstanding such lapse, the remaining members of the interim board proceeded with the conduct of a general assembly and election-related activities on April 12, 2026,” the group said. Chua said they filed a formal notice of non-compliance and request for clarification, but “the interim board proceeded with the activity, the election of Elecom members.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Have there been any election irregularities in your homeowners’ association recently?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Ibaraki Prefecture’s Plan On Giving Rewards For Reporting Illegal Foreign Workers To Take Effect On May 11

Even though controversy hounded it, the approved plan of Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan on rewarding those who report businesses hiring illegal foreign works will take effect on May 11, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Ibaraki Prefecture (population of around 2.9 million) is located northeast of Tokyo and it already has a high number of illegal foreign workers.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…

A controversial plan to reward people who report businesses hiring illegal foreign workers will take effect May 11 in a prefecture northeast of Tokyo, the local government said Wednesday.

Ibaraki Prefecture, which, as of 2024, had the highest number of illegal foreign workers among the country’s 47 prefectures, will report such employers to police after verifying the information. It will offer 10,000 yen ($63) if a tip leads to a case being opened.

Reports will be limited to businesses hiring foreign workers unlawfully, and the prefecture plans to issue guidelines, including not basing reports solely on individuals’ appearance or nationality.

Reports can be filed through the prefectural website by providing personal information such as name, address and phone number, and must include a copy of identification, such as a driver’s license, the prefecture said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think more local government units and prefectures in Japan should follow Ibaraki Prefecture’s policy on dealing with illegal foreign workers found being hired by businesses? Do you think such a policy will improve Japan’s way of removing illegal foreign workers and cleaning up the private sector from such people? Is Ibaraki Prefecture’s 10,000 Yen reward good enough? Do you think Ibaraki Prefecture should come up a new policy to punish foreigners who cause public disturbances?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco