Remember back in 2025 when it was announced that telecommunications giant PLDT will relocate its headquarters to Filinvest City? Filinvest City itself is now aiming high with its new Alabang district called The Quarter which is being developed beside the future PLDT campus and it is being prepared to attract commercial investment, according to a news article by Insider PH.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of the Insider PH news article. Some parts in boldface…
Corporate investments and rising demand for commercial space are creating opportunities for further business expansion in southern Metro Manila, as Filinvest City seeks to attract enterprises to its established Alabang township.
Filinvest City has introducedThe Quarter, a four-hectare mixed-use district designed to accommodate new businesses and support the township’s next phase of commercial development.
A township of 47,000 workers– The development is positioned beside the upcoming PLDT Campus, which is expected to accommodate approximately 5,000 employees. The concentration of corporate activity could generate demand for retail, dining, healthcare, hospitality and professional services.
The Quarter also offers commercial lots to businesses and investors seeking to establish operations near major employment centers. Filinvest City currently serves approximately 47,000 workers, more than 19,000 residents and 231,000 daily visitors.
The township’s existing population and commercial activity provide a potential customer base for enterprises considering expansion into the district.
Strategic location– The Quarter forms part of Filinvest City’s strategy to diversify its business ecosystem beyond traditional office developments.
Located near Asian Hospital and Medical Center, the district could accommodate healthcare-related enterprises, including private clinics, therapy centers and specialized treatment facilities.
Its location also provides access to the South Luzon Expressway, nearby educational institutions, residential communities and commercial establishments. A pedestrian bridge connecting The Quarter to the future PLDT Campus is also planned.
‘New centers of opportunity’– “Filinvest City’s growth has always been driven by the ability to identify and cultivate new centers of opportunity,” Filinvest Townships first vice president and head Don Ubaldo said in a press statement.
“Just as the Peza-registered hub Northgate Cyberzone helped establish the township in the 90’s as a leading destination for the IT-BPM industry, The Quarter is envisioned to be the epicenter of its next phase of evolution, creating a dynamic environment where enterprise and innovation can thrive together,” he added.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think of this development? Do you think the new Alabang district called The Quarter will help Filinvest City attract more new investment and create both new jobs and more business opportunities in the years to come? Do you think Filinvest City will become to most vibrant and most progressive central business district (CBD) of the south by the year 2030?
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
In a serious effort to protect consumers from unregulated vehicles and related devices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is considering stricter regulations for electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric scooters (e-scooters), 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 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is considering stricter regulations for light electric vehicles (LEVs) such as e-bikes and scooters to protect consumers from unsafe and unregulated vehicles.
Under a draft department administrative order (DAO), the DTI is proposing a mandatory product certification scheme for LEVs and their batteries to ensure compliance with the country’s product standards.
The certification will be required for the importation, manufacturing, distribution, or sale of LEVs and their batteries in the country.
The DTI said the measure aims to protect consumers from hazards linked to electric shocks, electrical malfunctions, overheating, thermal incidents, fires, and other electrical safety risks that may arise from the use of these products.
“This technical regulation further aims to support the safe and reliable adoption of electric mobility technologies in the Philippines through the implementation of appropriate mandatory product certification requirements,” the DTI said.
The proposed regulation covers electric bicycles or e-bikes, including electrically powered assisted cycles and non-pedal-assist electric bicycles.
Also included are personal e-mobility devices such as electric-powered scooters, electrically propelled mopeds and motorcycles, and batteries for LEV applications.
The mandatory certification does not apply to charging stations, battery-swapping stations, stationary battery energy storage systems (BESS), and standalone motor controllers and electrical components.
Under the draft DAO, both local and foreign manufacturers of the covered LEVs and battery components are required to secure a Philippine Standard (PS) certification mark before selling or distributing their products in the country.
Importers without a PS license must obtain an import commodity clearance (ICC) on a per-shipment basis.
For verification purposes, the DTI will require specific markings on manufactured or imported products to ensure that they remain identifiable and compliant with product standards.
The DTI, through its Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), will also regularly inspect and audit LEVs and their batteries as an additional oversight measure.
In cases of non-compliance with the proposed rules, BPS may issue a show-cause order or a cease-and-desist order (CDO) to prevent companies from supplying, distributing, or selling their products.
The draft DAO includes a 12-month transition period before the certification scheme becomes mandatory. Monitoring and enforcement of the regulation will begin 24 months after the order takes effect.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DTI is correct with regards to considering restrictions for light electric vehicles?
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
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 Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring reaction videos – I can hardly believe it has been almost 25 years since The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was first released in cinemas. The first time I saw it (the first part of a cinematic trilogy) was during its final week of showing at the local cinema and I ended up being very engaged by it. Since then, the Peter Jackson-directed fantasy movie (and its two follow-ups) was released in different editions on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray formats, ultimately offering movie buffs and J.R.R. Tolkien fans a lot of choices. Considering its great cinematic quality, in-depth storytelling and memorable characters, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is arguably the greatest cinematic fantasy spectacle ever made. As such, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring itself was featured many times in reaction videos by YouTubers, and posted below are the ones I enjoyed watching. Go watch the videos below.
#2 Islamic Slave Trade examined – When it comes to the disturbing topic of slavery, not too many people want to discuss the Islamic slave trade which started from 7th century and even persisted in various forms into the 20th century. When compared to the transatlantic slave trade, Islamic slave trade happened across North Africa, East Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Southern Europe and South Asia. There were women who were trafficked as domestic laborers or concubines, there were men who were recruited into specialized elite slave militaries, and there were others who subjected to brutal physical labor in various forms in different regions. The Islamic slave trade was indeed twisted and cursed, and it should never be revived. To find out more, watch the in-depth video below.
#3 The impact of Super Castlevania IV remembered – Released in December of 1991 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America, Super Castlevania IV was easily one of the most anticipated new games of that year given the fact that the Castlevania game series was already wildly popular with gamers. Considering its American release date, it was also the most pursued SNES game during the Christmas season. As such, its impact with gamers during the season was memorable and the YouTube video below by My Retro Life captured the game’s impact.
#4 Skipjack tuna’s impact in Japan – If you are fond of eating tuna, are you familiar with skipjack tuna? Skipjack tuna (also referred to as Katsuwonus pelamis) is a medium-sized, streamlined pelagic fish in the tuna family of Scombridae. It is the one tuna species that got heavily fished and chances are, you canned tuna you ate came from it. In Japan, there was a surplus of skipjack tuna which not only brought down prices but also made an impact on customers through the restaurants and groceries. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.
#5 The history of Tron – If you have seen the classic sci-fi movie Tron from 1982, were you able to play the official video games about it? Back then, there were video games of Tron released in the arcades and on game consoles of the time. Having seen the movie first, I remember wanting to play the Tron video games whenever I saw a print ad or a poster about the games. To learn more about Tron and its impact on video gaming, watch the video below from the late PatmanQC.
#6Bill Clinton’s immorality, lying and sex scandal revisited – It has been almost thirty years since the Bill Clinton – Monica Lewinsky scandal first rocked the world resulting in massive news media coverage, legal implications, political debates and even a successful impeachment of Clinton. If you set aside the politics and media coverage, Bill Clinton’s sex scandal alone was essentially embarrassing and tarnished the Office of the President of the United States. I personally know Democrats who had trouble defending their immoral and dishonest President Clinton, and they are still worshipping both Bill and Hillary to this day. Recently, a comprehensive look back at the late-1990s sex scandal of Bill Clinton was released on YouTube and I encourage you to watch it now. Learn from history and never ever follow the evil Clintons.
As of the end of October, Vietnam’s 2026 count of foreign visitors reached 19.5 million, according to a news report by VnExpress. This puts Vietnam in a good position to overtake its 2025 grand total of 21.2 million foreign visitors although it has yet to be seen if it can attract 25 million this year.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…
Vietnam received 19.5 million international visitors in the first 10 months of 2026, a 13.8% increase from a year earlier.
Mainland China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, with 4.3 million visitors, accounting for about 22% of the total, according to the General Statistics Office.
South Korea ranked second with approximately 3.3 million visitors, or 17.3%. Russia ranked third with 1.2 million, followed by Taiwan (1.07 million) and the U.S. (808,000).
The rest of the top 10 were Cambodia (787,000), Japan (757,000), India (744,000), the Philippines (579,000) and Australia (542,000).
Vietnam has remained a popular choice for international travelers, supported by its safety reputation, favorable visa policies, stronger tourism promotion efforts and a wide range of travel experiences, GSO wrote.
In October, the number of international visitors to Vietnam reached 1.85 million, an increase of 4.9% from the previous month and 7% compared to the same period last year.
The tourism industry attributed October’s visitor growth partly to two concerts by South Korean music group BigBang in Hanoi on Oct. 24–25.
Vietnam eyes 25 million international arrivals by the end of this year.
Dr Daisy Kanagasapapathy, Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Management, RMIT Vietnam, told VnExpress International the target is within sight.
Vietnam needs about 7.3 million arrivals in the final quarter, an average of more than 2.4 million a month.
“That calls for a strong finish, and the fourth quarter is the start of the October–March peak tourism season,” she added.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam has all the factors and momentum to successfully attract 25 million tourists from around the world by the end of this year? If you are planning to visit Vietnam, what are the three main reasons behind your decision to go there? Did any of your friends visit Vietnam and shared their observations with you?
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
As the Philippines continues to use energy from renewable sources, it is also gradually moving forward to adapting nuclear power for its energy needs which was confirmed by the secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE), according to a news article by BusinessMirror.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessMirror news article. Some parts in boldface…
THE Philippines maintains aggressive targets to shift its energy portfolio toward green power. To provide clean, stable baseload power generation that complements renewables, the country has stepped on the gas to advance its nuclear goals.
“I think nuclear is the next step because we are already maturing on renewables and it’s difficult to be dependent on imported fuel. That’s really very painful for us when things don’t go well around the world,” said Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin in an interview.
The energy chief is leading the Philippines’ push to integrate nuclear energy into the national power mix, targeting 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear capacity by 2032 and scaling up to 4,800MW by 2050. This timeline is heavily anchored on the commercial rollout of small nuclear reactors (SMRs). The agency is looking at locations including Bataan, Batangas, Masbate, Pangasinan, Palawan, and Camarines Norte as potential nuclear sites.
“All the companies are interested: Meralco, Aboitiz, San Miguel, Prime Infra. All of them are interested because they know that with nuclear, it’s not a matter of if, but when,” said Garin, adding that since the law does not allow the government to be involved in the power generation, “maybe the government can have a minimal stake only.”
Meralco’s power generation arm, Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGEN), agrees that nuclear power provides a reliable, low-carbon baseload source that reduces exposure to volatile global fossil fuel prices.
“As I said, it’s an option, right? And if you really want energy independence with a baseload profile, then nuclear is one of the clear options,” said MGEN president Emmanuel Rubio in an interview.
The Pangilinan-led Meralco is among the major industry players driving this transition. It has engaged a US-based engineering firm, Sargent & Lundy, and AMH Philippines, Inc. to conduct a feasibility study on deploying SMRs in the Philippines.
The comprehensive study is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2027. The study marks the next step in the $2.8-million technical assistance program funded by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) also agreed to pursue joint pre-feasibility studies, information sharing, and capacity-building activities related to nuclear technologies.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will succeed in achieving its nuclear goals over the next several years? Are members of your local community still afraid of nuclear power?
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
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, more than seven hundred local patients received free medical and dermatological services during a medical mission involving The Aivee Clinic, the City Government announced via social media.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the announcement of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…
More than 700 patients received free medical and dermatological services during the Aivee Beyond Borders Medical Mission held at Madrigal Covered Court, Barangay Daniel Fajardo, Las Piñas City.
Mayor April Aguilar, along with Vice Mayor Mel Aguilar and Councilor Alelee Aguilar, personally attended the program to join the event and meet with the residents who participated and supported the free consultation and health services.
The medical mission was led by Dr. Aivee Aguilar and Dr. Z Teo of The Aivee Group, in collaboration with local officials and government officials.
Councilors Robert Cristobal and Mac Mac Santos, SK Rey Angelo Reyes, City Department Heads, and officials from Barangay Daniel Fajardo and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) also attended.
The presence of Aivee Ambassadors, Barbie Imperial and Richard Gutierrez, added to the joy of the event, as well as the distribution of raffle prizes.
One of the highlights of the program was the surprise birthday celebration of Vice Mayor Mel Aguilar, adding to the joy of the gathering.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, do you know anyone who attended the medical mission? What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear about The Aivee Clinic?
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
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. Broderbund British print ad
An American-themed promotion of games for the British market in the 1980s.
Back in the 1980s, home computer systems were already popular platforms for playing electronic games. The American company Broderbund was one of the dominant forces of home computer gaming back then with lots of hit games (a mix of their own productions and the publishing of ports of games from other companies) that entertained many. When it came to England, Broderbund was aggressive on marketing its games there and the above print ad is a fine example of it. They came up with an American theme on their ad promoting the Lode Runner games, Choplifter, Spelunker and Stealth to British computer gamers. The imagery of a burger and the display of the American flag made the ad eye-catching.
2. King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch Japanese print ad
A print ad of King Kong 2 and two other Konami games for Japanese gamers.
Believe it or not, Konami had the license to create the 1986 adventure game King Kong 2: Ikari no Megaton Punch which was very loosely based on the 1986 movie King Kong Lives. To promote its release for the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom), Konami came up with the above print ad that had an actual movie photo of King Kong, inserted two screenshots and showed some creative writings. Conveniently, Konami also inserted two of its other games for promotions.
3. Datsugoku Japanese arcade flyer
The front.
The rear.
In 1988, SNK released Datsugoku in Japanese arcades and it became a commercial success for them long before they transitioned to their Neo Geo hardware. As you can see in the Japanese arcade flyer, the game has a war theme about prisoners of war struggling to fight their way out of enemy territory. This is not surprising because of the popularity of Hollywood’s military themed action movies and the Cold War itself had influenced game designers. The arcade flyer has fine-looking art of war. This game was eventually released in other parts of the world under the title P.O.W.: Prisoners of War.
4. The Punisher: The Ultimate Payback! North American print ad
The Punisher with Spider-Man in this action-oriented print ad.
In the early 1990s, Nintendo’s Game Boy was the dominant handheld gaming device and it was not surprising that a lot of companies released games on it. Along the way, the Punisher became one of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters and there were two monthly comic book series about the character. Acclaim produced The Punisher: The Ultimate Payback! for Game Boy featuring not only the Punisher but also Spider-Man (in the background) which was enough to get the attention of comic book fans. The descriptive text they came up with has this obvious anti-crime theme and it emphasized action. I saw this print ad in some 1991 comic books I read and it remains eye-catching until now.
5. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Japanese print ad
This is one captivating print ad.
In the early 1990s, Victor/JVC published Star Wars games developed by Lucasfilm Games for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Following the 1992 release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back on the NES in the West, they released a port of it for the Famicom in Japan in 1993. To promote the game, they made a print ad that highlighting the memorable Battle of Hoth (using art and one screenshot) as well as iconic photos of Luke Skywalker in Hoth and Dagobah (with Yoda). The ad makers strategically inserted screenshots showing the in-game Hoth and Dagobah settings plus two of Cloud City. I played the game myself and it was very punishing. Still, this ad looks great. It also motivated me to replay The Empire Strikes Back on home video back then.
6. Contra: The Hard Corps Japanese print ad
This Contra: The Hard Corps print ad for Japan still looks exciting.
In 1994, gamers in Japan who owned the Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis in America) were highly engaged when Konami released Contra: The Hard Corps specifically for the said console. Konami aggressively marketed the game and one of the ads they made for Japan was the above 2-page print ad that had dynamic looking hand-drawn artwork that had strong anime aesthetics. They inserted two screenshots of the game and posted a text description to get gamers excited. Apart from bringing Contra excitement for Sega gamers and Contra fans who happened to own the Mega Drive, this print ad clearly shows Konami went all-in with doing business with Sega.
7. Skimaxx North American and British arcade flyers
Skimaxx arcade flyer for England. Does anyone know who the pretty model is?
Skimaxx arcade flyer for North America.
I never played Skimaxx in the local arcades. Did you? Released in 1996 by Innovative Concepts in Entertainment, Skimaxx is very notable for having a truly unique physical cabinet design featuring a pivoting hydraulic footboard which brings to players the simulation of rock motions, twists and more. Two arcade flyers – for North America and England – were respectively published and both featured a pretty blonde lady wearing a swimsuit playing the Skimaxx machine, highlighting the use of the footboard. Apart from the technical features, a Skimaxx machine can be linked with another machine for head-to-head competition. These arcade flyers are very cool and mesmerizing to look at and they contain enough details to make arcade operators interested.
8. Genso Suikoden II Japanese print ad
This is truly an epic-looking print ad promoting Genso Suikoden II. A lot of images were shown but they did not spoil the plot.
When Konami released the original Suikoden (Genso Suikoden in Japan) fantasy RPG on the PlayStation in the mid-1990s, the game achieved positive feedback from gamers and critics which boosted sales. In late-1998, the sequel Genso Suikoden II was released for PlayStation in Japan and Konami became aggressive on promoting it as it became aware of the many dedicated Suikoden fans. They came up with an epic-looking 2-page print ad that had a collage of official artworks, screenshots of in-game cutscenes, and some of the fancy looking visual effects to sell the game. The images and descriptive text informed gamers of the new conflict following the events of the original game. I played Suikoden II a lot and it is easily bigger and better than its predecessor. That said, this epic-looking print ad truly highlights the great stuff Suikoden II offered gamers and it made the Suikoden II print ads in America look inferior. Too bad Konami did not use the approach of the Japanese print ad in the Western markets because Suikoden II truly is epic fantasy.
9. Einhänder North American print ad
The 2-page print ad of Einhänder for North America.
Back in the late-1990s, SquareSoft became a more prominent game developer and publisher by releasing new games that not only had 3D polygonal visuals but also tackled gameplay styles beyond role-playing games (RPGs). In the case of their game Einhänder, they made a serious gamble on the shooter genre of gaming while moving forward with 3D polygons and some unique gameplay features of their own. In preparation for the game’s North American launch in 1998 for PlayStation, the company came up with a wide print ad with a dominant artwork that showed a planet with a huge part torn off and drifting into space. Even a small part of the planet’s core got exposed. This ad pounded hard on the expression of “Earth shattering”, and it showed SquareSoft was serious on making an impact on the shooter genre. When I saw this ad in a magazine, the planet caught my attention and then I focused on the right section which had the descriptive text and screenshots of Einhänder. This is still an engaging print ad to look at.
With their struggling tourism industry and long-haul tourism in mind, Thailand is considering a 15-day visa exemption for travelers from a few specific nations, according to a news article by VnExpress.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the article of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…
Thailand is considering a 15-day visa exemption for travelers from Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan to ease visa processing delays and attract more long-haul visitors.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will submit a proposal to the visa policy committee on Nov. 9, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on Monday, as reported by The Nation Thailand.
The proposal comes amid growing concerns that visa-processing delays are disrupting Thailand’s long-haul tourism market, particularly travel from Latin America, with passenger show-up rates on some flights falling by 20% to 30%, Khaosod English news site reported.
Emirates recently filed a complaint with the Tourism Authority of Thailand after 20-30 passengers per flight from Mexico failed to show up because they had not received their visas in time, local media reported.
Surasak said the ministry was seeking a long-term solution to persistent visa delays affecting Mexico and other Latin American markets. The committee will assess the proposal’s security and economic implications, with the ministry seeking exemptions for countries considered to pose low security risks.
Chiravadee Khunsub, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand overseeing international markets in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, said visa procedures had also affected arrivals from Uzbekistan, Thai Examiner reported.
Uzbek travelers previously had to apply for Thai e-visas through the Royal Thai Embassy in Russia, a process that travel agents in Uzbekistan considered cumbersome.
Some travelers subsequently canceled their Thailand holiday packages and chose competing destinations, including Vietnam.
The proposed exemption aims to simplify entry procedures, reduce disruptions to travel plans and restore confidence among international tour operators and airline partners.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Thailand’s move to grant visa exemptions to travelers from Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan makes a lot of sense? Do you think Thailand will be able to match its 2025 foreign tourist arrival numbers before the end of this year? What was single biggest problem you had when it came to visiting Thailand?
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
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the article of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…
Long Thanh International Airport is expected to open to commercial flights at midnight on Dec. 24, initially handling up to 366 flights a week, 322 of them domestic and 44 international.
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) gave the date in a notice sent to the Dong Nai People’s Committee. It asked the city to have relevant agencies help the corporation finish preparations so the launch runs smoothly and safely.
Domestic airlines will start operating at the new airport in stages. Vietnam Airlines is expected to fly the Long Thanh-Hanoi route and several international routes, while Vietjet plans domestic services linking Long Thanh with major economic and tourism centers nationwide.
Management agencies, airport operators and airlines are jointly drawing up flight allocations and operating plans, taking into account slot coordination and schedules at both Long Thanh and Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Many international airlines have also voiced interest in and support for flying to Long Thanh, ACV said. Spanning 5,000 hectares in Dong Nai, about 40 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thanh is Vietnam’s largest airport by area.
For other previous blog posts about the Long Thanh International Airport, click here and here.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the new Long Thanh International Airport will be able to launch on December 24 as planned? Do you think the local authorities and the strategic partners of the new airport have done enough to ensure a proper preparation for the opening to commercial flights? If you are planning to visit Vietnam on or after December 24, has this new development impacted your flight plans?
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
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) announced that its power distribution partnership with Subic EnerZone has been renewed for another twenty-five years which ensures reliable electricity in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone that varied businesses and thousands of customers need. It should be noted that Subic Bay has economic and logistic roles in Pax Silica and the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement. Some parts in boldface…
AboitizPower-led Subic EnerZone Corp. has renewed its power distribution partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), extending its management of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone’s distribution system for another 25 years.
Subic EnerZone has operated the Freeport’s power distribution system since October 2003.
As of Feb. 28, 2026, it served more than 3,750 customers, including industrial and commercial locators, residential customers, and streetlights. The utility also serves industrial locators under the Retail Electricity Supply program.
At the end of 2025,Subic EnerZone reported system losses of 4.37 percent, below the 5.50 percent ceiling set by the government for private distribution utilities.
“Subic has always been a place of possibility—a Freeport where businesses grow, industries connect, and communities build better lives. As Subic Bay Freeport moves into its next chapter, reliable electricity will remain essential to that progress. It supports the daily work of locators, the services people depend on, and the opportunities that continued investment can bring,” said Anton Mari G. Perdices, chief executive officer for distribution utilities at AboitizPower.
“For AboitizPower Distribution Utilities and Subic EnerZone, this partnership carries a clear responsibility: to plan alongside SBMA, strengthen the systems that serve the Freeport, and prepare for its changing needs. That work calls for practical planning, close coordination, and a long-term view of reliability and growth,” he added.
Jay Navarro, Subic EnerZone’s officer-in-charge president and general manager, said the utility plans to pursue system upgrades and reliability improvements to support SBMA’s vision of a modern, resilient, and future-ready economic hub.
“Looking ahead,we are ready for Subic’s growth. Our demand and capacity forecasts project a steady rise in power needs. With Subic’s position as the Global Gateway of the Luzon Economic Corridor, these forecasts will change significantly, and we are prepared for it,” Navarro said.
At the renewal ceremony, SBMA Chairman and Administrator Engr. Eduardo Jose Aliño outlined the agency’s strategic direction and upcoming development plans. He said reliable energy infrastructure is essential to strengthening investor confidence and sustaining economic growth in the Subic Bay Freeport.
“Today, we renew our commitment to a partnership that has served Subic Bay well—SBMA and Subic EnerZone working together to modernize our infrastructure, keep the power on, and build a more sustainable Freeport,” Aliño said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the increase of incoming shipments of electric vehicles at the Subic Bay port will somehow create new business opportunities for local entrepreneurs as well as customers?
