Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 115

December 22, 2025December 16, 2025carlocarrasco

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 Terminator 2 Arcade Game Revisited – As a teenager, I was a huge fan of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. In 1992, the official arcade game of Terminator 2 arrived here in the Philippines and there was this time I played it in a Makati arcade (with one other player on the other gun), spent a lot of money on tokens for it and played the game extensively. As the game was very hard and overly chaotic, us players were unable to finish it. Recently, I saw this analytical, retrospective video about the Terminator 2 arcade game on YouTube by Mass Replay. It was a very engaging video to watch as it examines the game very closely, explains why it is so challenging to play and how much would it cost gamers today to finish it. Watch the video below and pay attention to the details.

#2 Problems With Windows 11 – Are you using Windows 11 on your personal computer? The way the Microsoft operating system is right now with artificial intelligence (AI) integrated, it has attracted a lot of user complaints over its reliability, lack of efficiency, features, forced updates and being not so user-friendly. The complaints and criticism over Windows 11 are only getting louder as of this writing and you can find out exactly why by watching the ColdFusion video below.

#3 Japan’s Ekiben – You might be familiar with the packed meal in Japan called bento. The Ekiben is a specific type of bento which is normally sold at train stations and those who bought it enjoy their meals while traveling. Ekiben comes with different types of food, ingredients and flavors, and it also highlights the local cuisine of the station or region it was sold in. To learn more about it, watch the Nippon TV video below.

#4 Sega’s Best Games On Xbox 360 – Over twenty years have passed since Microsoft first launched the Xbox 360 game console in America which eventually became the most popular gaming console in Xbox gaming history as well as having the best online gaming network of the 7^th console generation. As with the original Xbox console, Sega released several games on Xbox 360 (a mix of remastered games and brand new ones) via retail and through the Xbox network online (AKA Xbox LIVE). Recently Sega Lord X posted a video highlighting the best of what Sega released on the console, and it is fun to watch!

#5 Street Fighter 1994 Movie Revisited – In late 1994, the live-action movie Street Fighter was released in cinemas and there was buzz about it among Street Fighter II groups of fans of the time. Not only did the filmmakers have Jean-Claude Van Damme as its main attraction, they had to make up a functional story and cram a lot of characters into it. The film event had Australia’s icon Kylie Minogue as Cammy. To this day, some moviegoers (including gamers and fans of the Street Fighter franchise) enjoyed Street Fighter while there were others who found it very flawed. If you want to discover Street Fighter (1994) but are not willing to spend precious time and money on it, watch the videos below.

#6 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – When it comes to movies set during the Christmas season, do you enjoy watching comedies? Way back in December of 1989, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – starring Chevy Chase – was released to mixed reviews but managed to achieve commercial success and movie buffs today consider it a classic of the Christmas season. How much of an impact the movie can have on first-timers can be seen in Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video below.

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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 athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Kidnapped Chinese National Rescued In Parañaque City

December 22, 2025December 14, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, local authorities successfully rescued a kidnapped Chinese national and arrested the suspects who were involved, according to a news report by GMA Network.

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

A 26-year-old Chinese national was rescued in a condominium in Parañaque City after allegedly being kidnapped, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported Sunday.

In a statement, the NCRPO said authorities conducted a rescue operation after they received a report through the PNP Hotline Facebook page.

The victim was found in a condominium unit in Barangay Don Galo on Saturday with four male and one female foreign suspects.

Initial investigation showed that the victim had allegedly been detained since December 9, with suspects demanding P1 million for his release.

The victim said P500,000 had already been handed over. The suspects were placed under police custody for proper investigation.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you consider kidnapping a serious crime? Has anyone in your local community been kidnapped over the past six months?

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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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

Japan’s Green Tea Exports Reach Highest Level In Over 70 Years

December 21, 2025December 14, 2025carlocarrasco

Have you been buying green tea products imported from Japan lately? Japan achieved a major milestone this year as its green tea exports in the first ten months of 2025 (January to October 2025) have reached the highest level in more than seventy years, according to a news release by Kyodo News. There is still more that could be achieved as the year comes to an end.

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

Japan’s green tea exports in the first 10 months of this year reached the highest level in over 70 years on the back of the booming overseas market for matcha powder and the depreciation of the Japanese yen, government and industry data showed Saturday.

Tea exports between January and October grew 44 percent from the same period last year to 10,084 tons. The United States was the top destination, importing 3,497 tons in the 10 months, followed by Taiwan, Thailand and Germany.

Green tea exports have been increasing for nine consecutive years, reflecting the growing overseas popularity of Japanese foods among health-conscious consumers.

Despite rising overseas sales, annual shipments remained below 10,000 tons after peaking at 11,553 tons in 1954, partly as Chinese tea grew in popularity.

Despite sluggish green tea demand within Japan, tea leaf prices have been rising in recent years in line with falling production.

In 2024, Japan produced about 74,000 tons of tea leaves, more than 10 percent less than a decade earlier, amid declining demand for sencha used in brewing and an aging farming population.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have been consuming green tea products from Japan over the past six months? If you did, what products are those and what were their brands?

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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Philippines Wins Two Silvers And A Bronze In 2025 SEA Games Individual Triathlon Contests

December 20, 2025December 19, 2025carlocarrasco

The Philippines won the two silver medals and a bronze in the individual triathlon contests of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) held yesterday in Thailand. The two silver medalists Kira Ellis (women’s triathlon) and Andrew Kim Remolino (men’s triathlon) delivered their best as they encountered strong competitors in their respective races while also struggling with health problems.

To put things in perspective about the Philippines’ gold medal victories in the all-men relay and all-women relay contests, posted below is an excerpt from the sports news report of One Sports. Some parts in boldface…

Despite battling food poisoning, Philippine triathletes Kira Ellis and Kim Remolino pushed through to claim silver in their individual events, with Fernando Jose Casares bagged bronze at the 2025 SEA Games.

Kira Ellis didn’t just race against the field in the women’s individual triathlon at the 33rd SEA Games—she also raced against her own body.

The 19-year-old Filipino triathlete revealed she was hospitalized after falling ill following the team relay events, leaving her with limited time to recover ahead of the individual race. Yet when it mattered most, she still found a way to stand on the podium.

Despite the health scare, Ellis bagged silver to add another chapter to what has been a breakout 2025 SEA Games campaign in Thailand.

She finished with a time of 01:01:03, while Indonesia’s Martina Ayu Pratiwi claimed gold in 01:00:11. Singapore’s Herlene Natasha Yu Zhihui rounded out the podium with 01:02:41.

Ellis and Ayu were virtually even through the swim, bike and even on both T1 and T2 transitions, but Ayu edged ahead during the run, covering the final leg 45 seconds faster than the Philippine triathlete.

“It was a crazy lead-up to the individual race,” Ellis shared in a post-race interview. “I got food poisoned after the triathlon relays and I was at the hospital that night. We were supposed to be resting in between the days before this.“

The illness also struck close to home, as teammate Raven Alcoseba was forced to miss the individual event after suffering the same fate.

“I was lucky I got it earlier and had a day to rest,” Ellis said. “She got it the night before, and it was really unfortunate. She should be here more than me—she’s our strongest athlete. I’m really heartbroken that we couldn’t race together because I know we could’ve done it side by side.”

Already proven on the international stage—most recently winning the Europe Triathlon Junior Cup in Riga, Latvia—Ellis admitted the illness took a physical toll, but it never broke her focus.

“It did affect my energy, but the training was there,” she bared. “Despite everything, you just have to block it out and give your best.”

The silver medal capped a demanding schedule that saw Ellis compete in five events at the Games, walking away with an impressive haul: two golds in the women’s and mixed team triathlon, plus silvers in the mixed team aquathlon, the all-women relay, and the individual race.

By the time she crossed the finish line, the result felt bigger than any medal.

“I’m happy. I raced in five events, and I couldn’t be prouder of my teammates. Everyone came here and gave their best,” Ellis said.

In the men’s individual event, the Philippines celebrated a strong showing as Kim Remolino and Fernando Jose Casares claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

But it was Rashif Amila Yaqin of Indonesia who stole the spotlight, clocking a winning time of 54:37 to dethrone Casares, who had taken gold in the same event at the 2023 edition in Cambodia.

Remolino — much like Ellis — had to battle through the lingering effects of food poisoning and went head-to-head with Yaqin throughout the race.

The Filipino triathlete matched Yaqin with a 28:31 bike split, but the Indonesian pulled ahead in the swim and run to keep the gold out of reach. In the end, he crossed the finish line at 55:03, while teammate Fernando Jose Casares settled for 56:56.

Silver medal of SEA Games mixed relay captured

The other day (December 18), the Philippines won the silver medal of the mixed relay duathlon contest thanks to the combined efforts of Erika Burgos, Maynard Pecson, Merry Joy Trupa, and Franklin Ferdie Yee. Posted below is an excerpt from the sports news report of ABS-CBN.

The mixed team relay of Erika Burgos, Maynard Pecson, Merry Joy Trupa, and Franklin Ferdie Yee copped a silver for the Philippines in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games duathlon competitions at the Laem Mae Phim Beach in Rayong, Thailand.

The squad clocked one hour, 35 minutes, and 35 seconds to secure a podium finish on Thursday, sneaking in to grab a medal after running fourth at one point in the race.

Trupa helped the Philippines move in contention for a medal when she clocked the best time of 24:26 among the participants in the third leg.

The anchor Yee closed the race with the second-best time with 23:18 to finish the race that featured a 2km run, 8km bike, and 1km run course.

The Indonesia team of Martina Ayu Pratiwi, Azizah Khunsul Qotimah, Ronald Bintang Setiawan, and Alias Praji took the gold in 1:33:58. Singapore clinched the bronze with a time of 1:36:47.

The women’s and men’s team relay both finished fourth, the day after the Philippines swept all three events in the triathlon relay events.

Praise and thank the Lord for the victories the multisports team of the Philippines achieved in the 2025 SEA Games.

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

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America Eyes Expansion In The Philippines As Demand For Food Intensifies

December 20, 2025December 19, 2025carlocarrasco

Following its aggressive move to export more fresh fruits to the Philippines, the United States under President Donald Trump will ramp up its agricultural exports to the country in connection with strong Filipino demand for food, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

For the newcomers reading this, not even the softened economic growth of the Philippines dampened the Filipinos’ rising demand for food and the young population is a factor behind it. America sees opportunities to export more meat, seafood and other agricultural products to the Philippines.

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

The United States (US) is gearing up to increase its agricultural exports to the Philippines, banking on the country’s growing food demand and potential economic growth.

In a Dec. 17 report, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the country was the ninth-largest market for US exporters last year, with agricultural goods valued at $3.5 billion.

The foreign agency expects continued growth in the years to come, especially given the country’s fast-growing economy, which ranked third among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries last year.

While it noted that the Philippine economy “continues to face risks from geopolitical tensions and trade policy uncertainties,” the USDA said it will likely remain resilient in the coming year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier lowered its forecast of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth from 5.4 percent to 5.1 percent this year, before rebounding to 5.6 percent in 2026.

The USDA also cited the easing of inflation and income inequality, driven by a growing population, as fueling demand for more agricultural commodities.

“With its rapid population growth, the Philippines has a young population that increasingly demands imported agricultural products,” it said.

According to the USDA, these market dynamics provide opportunities for US agricultural product exporters to broaden their presence in the country.

The report said products that have the “greatest potential for expansion” include dairy, poultry, ethanol (non-beverage), pork, beef, processed potatoes, confectionery and snack foods, and seafood.

Last year, the US was the top single-country supplier to the Philippines, with a market share of 18 percent, behind ASEAN at 31 percent.

The USDA noted that despite this strong performance, US exporters remain at a disadvantage relative to other exporters due to logistical and tariff challenges.

In this case, members of ASEAN benefit from lower tariffs and cheaper shipping costs, whereas the US is subject to slightly higher taxes under the most-favored nation tariff rates.

On top of this, the USDA said exporters also face higher costs due to government policies such as the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC)—a document required before shipment of any agricultural product to the Philippines.

“SPSICs are valid for 20 to 90 days, depending on the commodity. The limited validity period adds costs and complicates the timing of exports, among other factors,” the report read.

In this view, the USDA emphasized the need for exporters to keep up to date with market trends to maintain the competitiveness of American products in the local market.

For instance, it noted that young Filipinos are more open to new flavors and experiences, which suppliers could consider when promoting their products.

For the full report of the US Department of Agriculture related to the news story, click here.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you looking forward to more American agricultural products plus seafood in the local markets? Do you think exporters of America are on the verge of becoming more competitive globally over the next 24 months?

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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Ayala Land To Sell Alabang Town Center (ATC) Stake To Madrigal Family For P13.5 Billion

December 20, 2025December 18, 2025carlocarrasco

A new age for the famous Alabang Town Center (ATC) in Muntinlupa City will soon begin as the developer Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) will sell its 50% stake in Alabang Commercial Center Corp. (ACCC) to the Madrigal family in a deal with P13.5 billion, according to a Manila Bulletin business news report.

For the newcomers reading this, the ACCC is the private entity that owns and operates ATC. Already, it has been reported that the Madrigal family is talking with Rockwell Land Corp. about redeveloping the high-end Alabang mall.

*The front of Alabang Town Center along Madrigal Avenue.*

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

Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) has agreed to sell its 50 percent stake in Alabang Commercial Center Corp. (ACCC), the entity that owns and operates the prominent Alabang Town Center mall in Muntinlupa City, back to the Madrigal family for ₱13.5 billion.

The real estate giant announced in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange that it executed a share purchase agreement with its existing joint-venture partner. The transaction is contingent on standard closing conditions.

“The unsolicited offer from our joint venture partner provided a premium, allowing ALI to recognize gains from the sale and monetize its stake in Alabang Town Center,” said ALI Chief Finance Officer and Treasurer Jose Eduardo A. Quimpo II.

He added that the “Proceeds from the sale will fuel further growth in our Leasing portfolio and provide our stakeholders with return of capital.”

In a separate statement, ALI said the deal allowed the company to realize “compelling value for the mature asset, crystallizing future earnings potential today.”

“This move is a deliberate execution of Ayala Land’s strategy to be a premier creator of value,” the company said. “It showcases a disciplined approach of developing assets, stabilizing their operations, and monetizing them at an optimal valuation to aggressively fund future growth and enhance shareholder returns.”

ALI President and Chief Executive Officer Meean B. Dy noted the firm’s strategic focus.

“Our strategy is focused on a dynamic cycle of value creation. We build, we stabilize, and we unlock value at the right time to fuel our next wave of innovation,” Dy said.

“This transaction is a prime example of that strategy in action. We are monetizing a legacy asset at peak valuation to accelerate the rollout of our expansive pipeline of commercial and retail spaces, which will define the Ayala brand of development for the next decade,” he added.

The proceeds from the sale are slated to be a key driver in funding ALI’s leasing pipeline, which includes nearly 700,000 square meters of new gross leasable area (GLA) over the next five years. This expansion is set to transform the commercial landscape in key growth centers across the Philippines.

Chinabank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo Colet described the deal as “an opportunistic transaction that enabled Ayala Land to exit their joint venture with the Madrigal family at an attractive price. The company can readily use the cash for various projects in its growth pipeline.”

Colet noted that the future plans for the property remain uncertain.

“It remains to be seen what the Madrigal family will do with their prime commercial property. Given the price they paid, they would need to unlock more value from the asset. A major redevelopment might be on the table,” he said.

Situated adjacent to exclusive gated residential communities and active business developments, Alabang Town Center serves as a community anchor with multiple al fresco areas that contribute to a relaxed, homey atmosphere consistent with the local lifestyle.

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 the P13.5 billion deal will lead to a major redevelopment of Alabang Town Center in the near future? If you have visited the ATC before, how often do you visit the high-end shopping mall in Alabang? Do you feel confident the ATC will evolve and possibly expand under the control of the Madrigal family and Rockwell Land? Does Alabang Town Center’s current design and structure look old or outdated to you?

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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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

Remember Trump With Xbox and PlayStation?

December 19, 2025December 16, 2025carlocarrasco

Long before the birth of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement and his incredible 2016 US Presidential Election victory, Donald Trump made his presence felt in video games.

I am talking about Trump’s participation in a short video that was presented during the Xbox conference of the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The video was a parody of Trump’s popular show The Apprentice in which he appeared in a business meeting with the executives of Team Xbox (the real-life Robbie Bach, J Allard and Peter Moore) and Team PlayStation (with actors playing the PlayStation executives).

Back in 2004, as I was anticipating online media coverage of that year’s E3, I visited one particular Xbox website which streamed the said Trump-Xbox-PlayStation video and even offered a downloadable version for Windows media. I downloaded the video, watched it and was delighted ultimately. For your viewing pleasure, posted is a direct-feed video of from the This Week In Gaming YouTube channel.

Next, I posted below for you all another video that is slightly longer, was recorded off-screen at the Xbox conference, and has the live audience reactions that you should listen to. Watch the video below.

Is the 2004 video (titled “The Novice”) entertaining? For me it still is fun to watch again and it is one of the more memorable moves Xbox executed at the E3 (which today no longer exists). It is intriguing and entertaining to see Trump at the center of the video about the console war between Microsoft and Sony at the time.

As an entertainment piece of history, The Novice video is a reminder about how exciting console gaming was back in 2004 (note: intense competition between console makers was the standard of the time) when compared to what happened in recent times. Xbox gaming this year has been disappointing considering the following developments that happened: 50% price hike on the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service, Xbox Series consoles price hikes, thousands of game developers laid off, the sudden cancellation of unreleased Xbox games, and Team Xbox directed by Microsoft to go full multiplatform with their own games (examples: Gears of War: Reloaded and Forza Horizon 5 got released on PlayStation 5).

Over at the side of PlayStation, Sony itself was embarrassed with its over-budgeted and poorly made game Concord. Concord is easily one of the most expensive flops in the history of video games.

Indeed, a lot has changed since 2004. Trump is now on his 2^nd term as President of the United States solving the nation’s many problems while tackling several matters happening overseas. Sony and Microsoft are still active in the video games industry in different ways and they are still having their respective consoles manufactured outside of America. Console gaming nowadays is getting too expensive.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Do you find Donald Trump’s participation in the 2004 video with Xbox and PlayStation entertaining to watch? Were you a constant viewer of The Apprentice? Do you own a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console?

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Trump Announces $1,776 Christmas Bonus For American Troops

December 19, 2025December 18, 2025carlocarrasco

I believe that every nation has to reward its armed forces in return for the extensive services they rendered for the citizens and the government throughout the year. Just today, I learned via a Newsmax news report that US President Donald Trump announced that every active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces will receive a Christmas bonus worth $1,776 – called the Warrior Dividend – and already the checks are on their way to them (1.45 million service members).

Before proceeding with the news and details, let me remind you all that Christmas is all about Lord Jesus, and never about the character called Santa Claus. Lord Jesus is our Savior and the Hope of ALL nations! Wherever you are, celebrate Christmas with your family remembering Lord Jesus and living on with His peace. All the praise, honor and thanks to the Lord!

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

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that every active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces will receive a $1,776 Christmas bonus, unveiling what he called the “Warrior Dividend” during a nationally televised prime-time address from the White House.

Trump said the one-time payment would go to roughly 1.45 million service members and is already being distributed, with checks scheduled to arrive before Christmas. The amount, Trump said, was deliberately chosen to honor America’s founding in 1776. That’s just ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, to be celebrate (throughout) the coming year.

“I am also proud to announce that 1,450,000 military service members will receive a special — we call Warrior Dividend — before Christmas, a Warrior Dividend in honor of our nation’s founding in 1776,” Trump said during the address, which was carried live by Newsmax from the White House Diplomatic Room.

“We are sending every soldier $1,776. The checks are already on the way,” Trump said. “Nobody deserves it more than our military. And I say congratulations to everybody.”

The Warrior Dividend emerged as a highlight of Trump’s year-end prime-time address, which the White House framed as a review of economic gains and fiscal changes achieved during his second term and promised gains in the (coming) years of the president’s second term. The speech focused heavily on revenue growth, job creation, and what Trump described as a reshaping of federal finances.

Trump tied the military bonus directly to increased government revenue generated through tariffs and recent legislation, arguing that stronger trade enforcement and changes in economic policy produced results that exceeded projections.

“We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs, and the bill helped us along,” Trump said.

The president cast the dividend as both a tangible reward and a symbolic gesture, presenting it as recognition of service members’ sacrifices while reinforcing claims of economic revival. Trump said the payment reflects an administration that prioritizes military families and uses economic strength to deliver direct benefits rather than expanding federal debt.

The prime-time address marked Trump’s final nationally televised speech of the year and served as a capstone to a broader messaging effort focused on economic performance. Trump used the speech to highlight tariff revenue, domestic manufacturing investment, and wage growth, arguing that those factors allowed the administration to deliver what he described as meaningful, immediate relief.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you find the Warrior Dividend a nice bonus for the active members of the United States Armed Forces? Are you looking forward to the 250^th Independence Day of the America? What are your current feelings or opinions about the US Armed Forces right now?

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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Three Men Arrested In Parañaque City Over Illegal Drugs Worth P2.1 Million

December 19, 2025December 12, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers organized a successful buy-bust operation which resulted in three men arrested and the seizure of illegal drugs worth more than P2 million, according to a news report by the Daily Tribune.

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

Three men were nabbed and more than P2.1 million worth of suspected shabu were seized in a buy-bust operation in Parañaque City late Wednesday night, the Southern Police District (SPD) reported.

Authorities said the Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) of the Parañaque City Police conducted the operation at Unit 2908, 3rd Floor, Aguarra Street, Barangay Baclaran.

Arrested were 31-year-old alias “Olrac,” identified as a high-value target; 27-year-old alias “Rowelle”; and 43-year-old alias “Francis.” They were caught after allegedly selling illegal drugs to an undercover officer.

Recovered were 310 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of P2,108,000, along with the marked money used during the operation.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that the trafficking and trading of illegal drugs within the city will only get worse?

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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Philippines Wins Three Triathlon Relay Gold Medals At The 2025 SEA Games

December 18, 2025December 18, 2025carlocarrasco

The Philippines won the gold medals in the all-women triathlon relay, the all-men triathlon relay and the mixed triathlon events of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) held yesterday in Thailand which has since been reported by GMA News (click here) and the Philippine Daily Inquirer (click here and here) and revealed via social media by Triathlon Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission (click here, here, here and here). The Daily Tribune and the Manila Standard also published their respective stories (click here and here).

The Philippines continued its golden surge in the 2025 SEA Games after its triathlon teams delivered a pair of gold medals on Wednesday in Thailand.

The men’s and women’s squads both ruled the team relay competitions, adding two more gold medals to the country’s tally with three days left in the biennial event.

The women’s team, composed of Kira Ellis, Kim Mangrobang, and Raven Alcoseba, reigned supreme after clocking in one hour, 10 minutes, and 14 seconds.

Indonesia’s Martina Ayu Pratiwi, Kayla Nadia Shafa, and Renata Berliana Aditya copped the silver with 1:10:48 while Singapore’s Yen Ling Kathlyn Yeo, Louisa Marie Middleditch, and Herlene Natasha Yu settled for bronze with 1:12:00.

The Philippine men’s team also shone with Aki Lorbes, Matthew Hermosa, and Fernando Casares by finishing the relay in one hour, four minutes, and five seconds.

GMA News eventually posted another sports news report which includes the Philippines’ gold medal victory in the triathlon mixed relay contest. Posted below is the excerpt from their report.

The Philippines proved its dominance in triathlon after ruling the mixed team relay in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday in Thailand.

The quartet of Kira Ellis, Fernando Casares, Kim Remolino, and Raven Alcoseba dominated the event to clinch the country’s third triathlon gold medal.

Earlier, Ellis and Alcoseba teamed up with Kim Mangrobang to reign supreme in the women’s team relay while Cesares connived with Aki Lorbes and Matthew Hermosa to emerge victorious in the men’s team relay event.

The Philippines first stamped its authority in the mixed relay back in 2019, with former triathlon stars John Chicano, Maria Claire Adorna, along with Mangrobang and Casares, leading the charge to gold.

In the sports story of the Manila Standard, a tactical move was done which turned out to be crucial in achieving the gold medal victories.

For the newcomers reading this, yesterday was the 2^nd day of SEA Games action for the Philippine’s multisport team. There are still other multisport contests pending as of this writing.

As the Philippines won the gold medals of the SEA Games all-women relay, the all-men relay and the mixed relay, December 17, 2025 is a day that will be remembered for a long time. For visual reference, posted below are the social media posts from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

2 silvers and a bronze in SEA Games aquathlon events

During their first day of SEA Games competition in Thailand, the same multisport team won two silver medals and one bronze medal in the aquathlon relay contests (all-women, all-men and mixed). For insight, posted below is the excerpt from the Inquirer sports report. Some parts in boldface…

Team Philippines nabbed two silver medals and a bronze in the aquathlon in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday at Leam Mae Phim, Klaeng Distic in Rayong.

Kira Ellis, Matthew Hermosa, Raven Faith Alcoseba, and Andrew Remolino clocked 1:04:58 to finish with a silver medal in the mixed team relay final.

The group fell short of surpassing Indonesia’s 1:04:14 as the latter won gold in the event. Malaysia finished with a bronze medal, finishing the race at 1:08:37.

Ellis, with Erika Nicole Burgos and Kim Mangrobang, also had a runner-up finish in the women’s relay final, with a time of 51:46.

Indonesia escaped the Philippines anew, winning the gold with a time of 51:23. Singapore won bronze with a 53:58 finish.

Remolino, Inaki Emil Lorbes, and Joshua Alexander Ramos earned a bronze medal from the men’s relay event, clocking 47:52.

Praise and thank the Lord for the victories and the opportunities for the Philippines’ multisports team to win more gold medals in the contests ahead of them.

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

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