Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Spider-Man #45 (1994)

June 26, 2026June 18, 2026carlocarrasco

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 enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s and to explore a part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Spider-Man monthly series.

As revealed in Amazing Spider-Man #388, Richard and Mary Parker – who spent some time living with Peter Parker’s family after suddenly emerging from nowhere – were not Peter’s parents but androids designed to look, act and feel human. They were life model decoys (LFDs) programmed infiltrate Peter’s life until they learn Spider-Man’s true identity. As programmed, they reported to their master the Chameleon. Just seconds before Richard revealed the secret identity, Spider-Man suddenly interfered and this led to a series of violent acts.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man #45, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Howard Mackie and drawn by the late Tom Lyle. This is the first chapter of the Pursuit storyline.

Early story

The story begins moments after the huge conflict that happened. A very broken-hearted Spider-Man realized that “Mary” and “Richard” were impostors and his actual parents have long been gone. He is also concerned about how his Aunt May will handle the truth about Richard and Mary. Deep inside him, a desire for vengeance against the Chameleon is growing.

As he swings from one building to another in New York City, Peter Parker begins to realize that his role as Spider-Man is turning into a farce. He begins his obsession of hunting down the Chameleon and stopping him until he keeps him out of his life for good…

Quality

*What you are seeing here is a very obsessive, aggressive and more violent Spider-Man. Vengeance is his motivation.*

To make things clear to everyone, this tale does not have the long-running friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Instead, we have the iconic webslinger who is deeply hurt and the pain he carries motivates him to pursue the Chameleon (who is responsible for reviving the deep pain Peter felt after his parents died). It is clearly a pursuit for vengeance and the writing by Howard Mackie is very believable.

That said, readers will not only see Peter Parker wanting vengeance but also his dark side emerge. Carrying over the tragedy that happened in Amazing Spider-Man #388, Mackie and Lyle precisely crafted a story that had a very dramatic and radically different Peter Parker. Peter even shouts at his wife Mary Jane and struggles with revealing the details of the tragedy to his beloved Aunt May. When he goes out as Spider-Man to find answers, he approaches crooks aggressively and with more violence than before. In short, Spider-Man here lacks restraint and really looks like he could become a public menace.

That said, the portrayal of a very broken Peter Parker here can be alienating even to long-time Spider-Man fans.

Along the way, the Mackie-Lyle duo managed to develop the Chameleon not only as Spider-Man’s target but also as his most cunning and very diabolical enemy yet. The Chameleon (first appearance in 1963’s Amazing Spider-Man #1) is very prominently shown here which is quite meaningful because he is the very first super villain to encounter the webslinger. The long-time villain is very organized and has set up a trap for Spider-Man. The Chameleon also has his own obsession versus Spider-Man and his personal connection with Kraven the Hunter has a lot of depth to the story. As such, there are common elements that the webslinger and the evil master of disguise share.

Conclusion

*Great work by Howard Mackie and the late Tom Lyle on expressing Peter Parker’s sadness over the loss of his parents.*

Spider-Man #45 (1994) is clearly a very engaging read even though its concept of Spider-Man wanting vengeance can be a turnoff to some readers. For one thing, the script Howard Mackie wrote has a lot of depth and Tom Lyle brought it to life with a fine art style. Having seen the 1989 movie Licence to Kill, I noticed the similarities Spider-Man has with Timothy Dalton’s James Bond when it comes to executing a private vendetta. That said, I enjoyed what was presented in this comic book. Indeed, this tale was published at a time when the dynamics of superhero storytelling in the 1990s changed dramatically moving towards tragedy, disaster and death. It is clearly a product of its time and anyone who wants to read a dark and gritty Spider-Man portrayal should go for this. As such, I am convinced to read on with the Pursuit storyline.

Overall, Spider-Man #45 (1994) is recommended.

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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

I Love Israel: Israel Donates Emergency Tents And Relief Items To Support Mindanao Earthquake Victims

June 26, 2026June 22, 2026carlocarrasco

The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines donated emergency tents and assorted relief items to support the communities in Mindanao who suffered from the recent earthquake that hit the region, according to the social media post of Operation Blessing Philippines. The donations were released through MASHAV. The other relief items can be seen in Operation Blessing Philippines’ social media post pictures.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post of Operation Blessing Philippines. Some parts in boldface.

New emergency tents donated by the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines through MASHAV have been turned over to Operation Blessing to support communities affected by the recent earthquake in Mindanao.

For many families who lost their homes — or have been advised not to return due to safety concerns — these tents represent more than temporary shelter. They provide protection, privacy, and a safe place to rest as communities begin to recover.

The need remains urgent across many affected areas, with families still staying in evacuation centers and makeshift shelters. This generous donation will help us reach more communities and bring a measure of comfort and dignity to those who have lost so much.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Embassy of Israel and MASHAV for standing with the people of Mindanao in this difficult time. Together, we are bringing help, hope, and healing to families in need.

To all my readers, I encourage you to thank the Lord for the very generous donation made by the Israeli Embassy with the involvement of MASHAV. For a long time now, Israel has provided relief and assistance to Filipinos in past disasters and other tragedies. No matter what the anti-Semitic and what the Islamo-Leftists say, Israel is the essential partner for the Philippines to have.

At the same time, I encourage you all to realize the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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AHVA Announces Updates On Ad Display Rates And Tarpaulin Sizes

June 25, 2026June 22, 2026carlocarrasco

Do you intend to advertise something within Alabang Hills Village? Be aware that the Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) formally announced that it has updated the ad display rates as well as tarpaulin sizes. Ads with political or malicious content are still unacceptable.

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

We are pleased to inform you of our updated advertising display rates & prescribed tarpaulin sizes in our ads display board located near our AHV- Tirona gate.

Effective July 1, the following are the rates for a 30-day ads placement: Resident – P3,600.00, Non-Resident – P7,200.00

Prescribed Tarpaulin size: 4ft x 6ft (maximum size)

For Garage Sale ads display, we have allocated one (1) frame for this, good for 4 tarpaulins. Fee is P500.00 for 7 days display, cartolina size. Only residents may avail of this.

Kindly note that tarpaulins beyond the prescribed size will not be accepted. We request your cooperation regarding this.

Procedure for the ads display

Proceed to the admin office & bring your tarpaulin

if tarpaulin is within the prescribed size, the help desk staff will accept the tarpaulin

Pay the ads display fee to our cashier

Ads will be displayed the following working day

if ads are not renewed on or before the 30th day (display), such will be removed accordingly.

Ads with political and / or malicious content will not be accepted.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you have advertised inside Alabang Hills Village before, did you get a good return in terms of responses or sales? What do you think about the new rates AHVA announced? Did you business get a good response from consumers of Alabang Hills?

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

New Campaign To Boost Domestic Tourism In The Philippines

June 25, 2026June 22, 2026carlocarrasco

In a serious attempt to boost domestic tourism in the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has a new campaign titled “Discover More to Love”, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

This new move by the DOT makes sense since it is very difficult for the nation to attract foreign tourists. The DOT admitted that Vietnam and other destinations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are more affordable for foreign travelers.

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

The Department of Tourism (DOT) is leading a new campaign called “Discover More to Love” to boost domestic travel within the Philippines.

Among its major features is the introduction of curated and discounted travel-related packages by local tourism stakeholders, including several hotels from across the country.

In an interview over the weekend, Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the campaign would not replace but instead complement the DOT’s primary tourism branding “Love the Philippines,” with the intention of allowing tourists to define their travel experience in their “own personal way.”

“(The thrust is) local muna pero hopefully, we will expand that to international (The thrust would be initially domestic, but hopefully, we will expand that internationally),” she said.

“The Filipinos love to travel, especially Gen Z and the others, it’s an adventure for them, and we want them to be sound board on what else we can do to improve.”

Domestic travel remains a strong driver of tourism in the Philippines. Last year alone, it generated at least PHP3.26 trillion in tourist spending, up by 3 percent from PHP3.16 trillion in 2024.

Beyond strengthening local travel, Angara-Mathay said the DOT is also stepping up efforts to recover the decrease in Korean travelers, while continuing to woo the rest of its top source markets.

She admitted that the competitive pricing in other Southeast Asian destinations is pulling in more Koreans, which traditionally has been the Philippines’ number one source market for foreign visitors.

“South Korea’s population is declining, but they’re travelers. Ngayon, ‘yong slot natin kinuha ng Vietnam, kinuha ng other ASEAN countries kasi kalahati lang ang kanilang cost to go there (Now, our slot has been taken by Vietnam and other ASEAN countries because it only costs half to go there),” she explained.

The DOT, for its part, she said, would continue engaging stakeholders to introduce and craft new “tour bundles” to make the cost of travel to the Philippines more affordable and “predictable.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT’s new campaign will significant boost domestic tourism which itself has been thriving? Do you think it is possible for domestic tourism spending to reach P4 trillion 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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What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 143

June 24, 2026June 17, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Minority Report – If ever the science fiction concept of pre-crime becomes a reality, would you support it if ever it gets implemented by the national government to fight crime? Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report tackled that concept very well and Tom Cruise was almost perfect as the cinematic law enforcer who became a fugitive. Minority Report remains cerebral and entertaining by today’s standards and it is not surprising that it got featured in many YouTube reaction videos. As such, I urge you all to watch Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video of the 2002 movie.

#2 Close Encounter Of The Third Kind Retrospective Videos – If you are disappointed with Steven Spielberg’s latest science fiction film Disclosure Day, now is a good time to revisit his much older works with similar concepts. His 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind continues to impact viewers and YouTubers which only proves there is something very unique about it. In addition, the movie shows what kind of visionary and storyteller Spielberg was when he was much younger. That said, now is a good time to watch the following retrospective videos – including movie reactions – of the sci-fi film.

#3 Sega Dreamcast – PlayStation 2 “Rivalry” Revisited – When Sega launched the Dreamcast console in the late 1990s, the company went through years of financial losses as well as tarnished reputation with both gamers and their business partners. To be fair, Sega learned from their mistakes with the Saturn console and simplified their business model to avoid the confusion they caused by releasing many add-on devices. The Dreamcast was indeed a high-quality game console and had features that were ahead of its time, although the technologies used were nowhere as advanced as what Sony came up with in the PlayStation 2. To see the so-called rivalry between the two consoles, watch the video below.

#4 Japanese Businesses Growing Their Own Food – Economic challenges in Japan are compelling businesses their to grow their own food supplies. For some time now, Japan’s rice supply has been in a crisis and that alone affects a whole lot of food joints, stores and other enterprises involved. The supply chain of vegetables, fresh meat and fish and key ingredients is also getting strained. As such, many Japanese companies have gotten involved in agriculture and fisheries. Ultimately, the video of Nippon TV below will show you what has been happening and what is Japan doing to ensure food security.

#5 Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage Comics Revisited – What is there to say about the Maximum Carnage comic book storyline Marvel Comics published in 1993? It was a 14-part storyline that was published temporarily in the four monthly Spider-Man series and in two issues of the quarterly Spider-Man Unlimited series. It was released at a time when Venom and Carnage were wildly popular and it was also an opportunity for Marvel to get the Spider-Man fans and collectors engaged when Image Comics and Valiant Comics was challenging them. For a comedic look back at Maximum Carnage, watch the video below.

#6 Ranting For Vengeance Talks About Resident Evil Veronica And Slams Woke Nuts Online – There definitely is something wrong with people who have turned woke. For some reason, they want to claim the Resident Evil game franchise as their own and they have been posting their distorted opinions about it for some time now. As Capcom formally announced Resident Evil Veronica (the remake of 2000’s Resident Evil – Code Veronica), the woke (including the gay pride zealots) are once again attaching themselves to anything Resident Evil. In his recent video, Ranting for Vengeance shared his impression about Resident Evil Veronica before slamming the woke. Watch the video below and pay attention to the details.

#7 Obscure JRPGs Revisited – Have you ever enjoyed a Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) that many gamers other there did not play? As seen over the past few decades, there are lots of JRPGs released on consoles and computers that did not sell massively and had been forgotten. Many of them were only released in Japan. Those are the obscure JRPGs and in recent times, retro gamers and RPG enthusiasts had to literally search hard and dig deep to play them. Last December, Gaming Broductions posted a video focused on obscure JRPGs, and there are a lot featured and explained in detail. That said, go watch their video below.

#9 You, Me And The Movies React To Resident Evil: Damnation – Can’t get enough of Resident Evil? While live-action Resident Evil movies featured Milla Jovovich and had stories that were not faithful to the games, Capcom in Japan proceeded to produce their very own computer-generated RE movies to delight the fans while conveniently expanding the lore. Following the release of Resident Evil: Degeneration, the Japanese came up with Resident Evil: Damnation which featured again Leon Kennedy and had the popular Ada Wong included in the cast. That said, you have to see You, Me and the Movies’ reaction video of RE: Damnation and see how it impacted them.

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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

I Love Israel: Israel And Philippines Deepen Technology Ties

June 24, 2026June 18, 2026carlocarrasco

Israel and the Philippines have agreed to deepen ties with each other on the field of technology which will open new paths of investment and partnerships between Filipino and Israeli companies, 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.

The Philippines and Israel are expanding cooperation in technology, with Israeli firms seeking partnerships with Philippine companies in areas ranging from network management and cybersecurity to connectivity and aerospace software.

The push was highlighted during the Israel Mobile Delegation to the Philippines’ business-to-business forum held Tuesday in Bonifacio Global City, where Israeli industry leaders met with local stakeholders to explore partnerships and advance digital connectivity and network resilience.

The forum, themed “Harnessing Innovation for Network Resilience,” featured five Israeli companies: Amdocs, Cato Networks, Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., Spacecom and Symmetrium.

The initiative aims to connect Filipino and Israeli firms based on market demand while providing a framework to strengthen business cooperation between the two countries.

“We see a great interest from the Philippine system in Israel, which emerges in many fields,” said Ofek Venecianer, economic counselor at the Israeli Embassy.

“It’s not just coming from Israel. It’s going from agriculture, cybersecurity to mobile. This event is specifically for mobile. [I] can say that the Philippine companies understand the unique value of the Israeli companies. It’s very advanced,” she added.

Venecianer said Israeli companies view the Philippines as a promising market for expansion.

“Since Israel is a small country, all the Israeli companies know that they need to scale up,” she said.

“When you look for countries where they can scale up, the Philippines is definitely a good fit for the Israeli market. Israeli companies are very much looking forward to it.”

Resiliency – A key focus of the forum was network resilience, an area where Israel sees opportunities to contribute to the Philippine telecommunications sector.

“In the end of the day, resiliency is like a state of mind,” Venecianer said. “It can be a different strategy, tackle different challenges.”

She said Israel’s experience in emergency response and critical infrastructure management could help strengthen the resilience of the Philippines’ mobile ecosystem, adding that cybersecurity remains one of Israel’s leading sectors.

Matching the need – Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh said future cooperation will be guided by the specific needs of the Philippines.

“When it comes to the sectors, at the end of the day, it’s just matching the need,” she said.

“And the need when it comes to resiliency, especially at this time of the year, it’s crucial.”

Kursh said opportunities for collaboration exist across agriculture, health, education, cybersecurity and other sectors, with innovation and technology serving as key enablers.

“President Marcos himself is very loud and clear in his prioritizing generally—he says two words. It’s innovation and technology. We have to weave innovation and technology to each one of those sectors in order to flourish,” she said.

To all my readers, I encourage you to pray to the Lord for technology-related breakthroughs between Israel and the Philippines so that both nations will prosper, innovate and create new jobs for those who badly need them. The Philippines itself is having a disappointing time this year with weakening economic growth, rapid inflation, and the recent embarrassment that happened at the United Nations (UN). Even though the current officials of the government cannot realize the truth, the Philippines really needs Israel as a long-term partner.

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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Subic Bay Port Operations Revenue Jump 20% To P389 Million In 1st Quarter Of 2026

June 23, 2026June 17, 2026carlocarrasco

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently announced that the port operations revenue reached P389 million in the first quarter of this year which reflects a 20% jump compared to the previous year.

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

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) generated PHP 389 million in revenues from port operations during the first quarter of 2026, with a 20 percent increase from last year’s PHP 324 million.

SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Port Operations Ronnie Yambao disclosed that the Seaport Department alone generated PHP 302 million of the said amount, the Airport Department with PHP 50 million, and the Trade Facilitation and Compliance Department (TFCD) at PHP 36 million.

According to Yambao, the Seaport Department generated PHP 302 million from higher Vessel and Cargo Charges which increased by 31 percent, while the number of ship calls also increased by 20 percent.

The Port of Subic recorded a total of 463 ship calls by foreign and domestic vessels, 171 of which were bulk and break-bulk vessels, recording a 29 percent increase. Meanwhile, there was also an 18% increase in recorded port calls with 159 liquid bulk vessels.

“Consequently, revenues from SBMA’s share in Pilotage Services also increased by 20 percent, while Tugboat Services posted a significant 75 percent growth,” he said.

Revenues from wharfage fees also escalated by 24 percent with an increase in total volume of containerized cargo by 3 percent. This was driven mainly by a 5 percent growth in imports, equivalent to 28,070 TEUs.

Major contributors included assorted food products from Ecossential Foods Corp., and rubber products from Yokohama Tires Philippines Inc. Export cargoes likewise grew substantially by 31 percent, reaching 15,757 TEUs, primarily contributed by DSV Air and Sea Inc. and Yokohama Tires Philippines Inc.

Meanwhile, non-containerized cargo volume posted a remarkable 30 percent increase, mainly driven by bulk and break-bulk cargoes, which rose by 47 percent. Key commodities contributing to this growth included rice (up by 331 percent), corn (up by 571 percent), soybeans (up by 15 percent), wheat (up by 16 percent), and liquid bulk petroleum products (up by 11 percent).

Yambao added that revenues from SBMA’s share in Cargo Handling Services increased by 22 percent, largely from Amerasia International Terminal Services Inc., Mega Subic Terminal Services Inc., and Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal Services Inc.

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 be able to exceed 2025’s revenues 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

Muntinlupa Mayor Thanks Taxpayers For Back-To-School Program

June 23, 2026June 16, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Muntinlupa, the City Government distributed packages of school supplies to public school students and Mayor Ruffy Biazon expressed his gratitude to the taxpayers for their contributions to the local back-to-school program, 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…

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon, citing the vital role of taxpayers’ contributions, led the distribution of the city government’s “Balik Eskwela” packages to public school students on Tuesday, June 16.

“Salamat sa taxpayers kaya we are able to provide free school supplies to public school students (Thanks to the taxpayers, we are able to provide free school supplies to public school students),” Biazon said.

Each package contains backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils, pencil cases, pad papers, and MUNwalk sneakers for learners from kindergarten to senior high school.

Biazon personally visited several schools, including Alabang Elementary School, Bayanan Elementary School Unit 1, and Muntinlupa Elementary School, to hand out the supplies.

“Maayos at smooth ang naging distribution natin ng libreng balik eskwela packages sa Alabang Elementary School. Tuwang-tuwa ang students at parents dahil sa excitement. Basta enrolled sa public schools sa Muntinlupa, mabibigyan (Our distribution of free back-to-school packages at Alabang Elementary School went smoothly. Students and parents were very happy because of the excitement. As long as they are enrolled in public schools in Muntinlupa, they will be given),” he assured.

It is estimated that about 100,000 public school students, including those in early childhood education, will each receive the package.

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 approve of the City Government’s distribution of school supplies to local public school students?

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

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994)

June 22, 2026June 16, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

During the height of the 30^th anniversary celebration of Spider-Man in 1992, Peter Parker’s long-lost parents Richard and Mary Parker suddenly returned and their presence really altered the hero’s view of life, his marriage with Mary Jane and their family as a whole. As time passed, Peter’s aunt May became suspicious about Richard and Mary (note: scenes related to this were included in Amazing Spider-Man #386 and #387) and she went as far as hiring someone to investigate them from a distance.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #388, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

Early story

The story begins with the Vulture being upset that the youth-restoration effects he had using the juvenator machine were only temporary. As the Vulture makes a move to threaten the lady doctor who help him, the Chameleon suddenly emerged from her in front of him.

Elsewhere, Peter Parker shared with Mary Jane that he recently revealed to his parents that he is Spider-Man. After a brief chat with her, Parker leaves their home as Spider-Man to visit his aunt who has been suspicious about Richard and Mary Parker…

Quality

*The moment of truth that turned out very painful personally for Spider-Man.*

This particular tale is a tragedy which the cover art by Mark Bagley clearly showed. Beyond the cover, there is a lot more weight on the plot (which was nicely structured by Michelinie), the characters and tragedy itself.

Without spoiling plot details, I can say that the first half of the comic book has Spider-Man doing detective work and also doing the civilized approach of keeping the family together. Peter Parker’s care and concern for his aunt were naturally dramatize resulting in a human touch that should be seen. Along the way, the conspiracy was built-up gradually and the big revelation for Spider-Man (note: the truth about Richard and Mary Parker was revealed to readers long before Spider-Man learned about it) at the mid-point of the story really turned out powerful.

Even the Chameleon’s presence here is rather light, his acts of evil and diabolical agenda were powerfully portrayed. In fact, the Chameleon used his immense power of disguise that set off the disturbing events that happened in issues #386 and #387, and such revelations were integrated convincingly in this very comic book. What I found impressive was Chameleon’s ability on connecting details linking Peter Parker with Spider-Man. The Chameleon is clearly very intelligent and cunning, and this makes him a more formidable enemy for Spider-Man.

The 2^nd half of the main story is where the action really got ramped up by many notches. The action is violent and intense, and yet the Michelinie-Bagley duo managed to insert twists and notable character moments that really added power to the tragedy. This is indeed a very compelling read and it will make you think deeply about how much emotional pain Spider-Man could absorb.

This comic book also has two short stories. The first one (drawn by Ron Lim) was set in the past showing Eddie Brock who just bonded with the alien costume. While the Venom-focused short story was designed to add depth to past events in Amazing Spider-Man comic books, it ultimately felt more like a filler than a substantial piece. Only die-hard Venom fans will enjoy it.

The second short story featuring Cardiac and Chance is completely forgettable and unnecessary.

Conclusion

*Peter Parker sharing very confidential information with his wife Mary Jane before going out again.*

Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994) tells a really tragic tale with a purpose behind it. Historically speaking, this comic book made some Spider-Man fans angry and feeling very betrayed as they believed that the 1992 return of Peter Parker’s parents marked the new age in Spider-Man storytelling. On the iconic superhero himself, this tale marked the start of a so-called dark age in which Peter Parker got emotionally broken and his life got turned upside-down. To be clear, this comic book is not a tragedy done merely for the sake of doing a tragedy…it was a creative execution to alter the status quo of Spider-Man storytelling of the era. As such, what David Michelinie and Mark Bagley did here was not only daring but also a huge risk that turned out really powerful. This tale is so significant, Marvel Comics went ahead doing an alternate version with What If #61.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994) is recommended.

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Vietnam Deploys Hundreds Of Soldiers To Work On New International Airport

June 22, 2026June 16, 2026carlocarrasco

To ensure the completion of the ambitious Long Thanh International Airport, Vietnam deployed hundreds of soldiers to work on it as a shortfall of workers was realized, according to a VnExpress news article. The new international airport has been scheduled for a December 2026 opening and it has been anticipated to handle most flights in 2027.

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

Vietnam has deployed hundreds of soldiers to help build its largest airport, the VND336.63 trillion (US$12.8 billion) Long Thanh, as contractors scramble to cover a shortfall of nearly 2,000 workers before a year-end deadline to open the country’s new aviation hub.

The deployment signals the urgency around a flagship project that has already slipped past its original 2025 opening date.

Hundreds of officers and enlisted soldiers have been brought onto the site in Dong Nai City in the country’s south to reinforce a civilian workforce that has struggled to keep pace with one of Southeast Asia’s biggest construction projects.

The move was confirmed during a June 13 inspection by Construction Minister Tran Hong Minh, who was told by an Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) representative that more than 76% of the total project value had been completed.

The workforce has been topped up in recent weeks but still falls nearly 2,000 short of the roughly 9,000 workers the site needs, with several units calling in military personnel to bridge the gap.

The labor crunch reflects a wider squeeze in southern Vietnam, where a cluster of megaprojects is competing for the same pool of skilled construction workers.

The nearby Bien Hoa-Vung Tau expressway and the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway are pulling engineers and machine operators away from the airport, and the harsh conditions across the vast, largely open site have made workers hard to retain.

To claw back time before the rainy season, contractors have added engineers, workers and equipment and moved to round-the-clock construction in three shifts and four rotating crews, part of a 180-day campaign to accelerate to the finish.

The airport is now expected to be substantially complete and to begin trial operations in September, with commercial flights targeted for late 2026.

ACV said finishing work on the passenger terminal still lacks skilled technical labor, while other packages are short of machinery operators.

The investor has ordered contractors to staff up for day-and-night work, prioritizing foundation and stone-base work to limit disruption when the rains peak.

At the terminal, which Minh called the project’s “heart,” he urged crews to complete each task definitively, down to the smallest item, and to push outdoor work first to stay ahead of the weather.

The schedule could not slip, he said, and crews had to race against time.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think having hundreds of Vietnamese soldiers will be effective on completing the new international airport ahead of the December 2026 launch?

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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