Category: Blog

Overcome Fear by Keeping Faith in Our Lord and Staying Pure with His Holiness

Overcome Fear by Keeping Faith in Our Lord and Staying Pure with His Holiness

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There is so much fear in people’s minds nowadays mainly due to the continuing spread of the coronavirus, or specifically COVID-19. Not only has the coronavirus infected and killed many people worldwide, it is also bringing down most forms of business or economic sectors such as tourism, investments and manufacturing.

Here in the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte suspended classes in Metro Manila for the days of March 10 to 14 as the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that there are now locals infected by coronavirus.

Considering these mentioned developments are only a few of many negative developments related to the spreading coronavirus, they have still proven to drag down a lot of people deep inside. Instead of being optimistic, those who believe in the danger of coronavirus are feeling lost, scared, depressed and even panicking.

Even though the danger of COVID-19 is real, I am not scared at all and there is no good reason for me to be afraid and panicky. Why? Because my faith and trust in the Lord remains as strong as ever and I know for a fact that God will never leave us nor forsake us. It is faith in the Lord – not religion, not unbelief, not feelings and certainly not idols – that will spare us Christians from the danger and disasters of this screwed up world we live in. Instead of hiding or spending our time on our smartphones, we all should still be reading God’s Word in the Holy Bible and keep praying to Him no matter what happens.

To puts things into perspective, let’s look at key verses of Chapter 91 of the Book of Psalm in the Holy Bible.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by the day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

Psalm 91:1-10 (NKJV)

The scriptures above make it clear that our Heavenly Father is a caring, loving and protective creator and we, as His creations, need to be faithful to Him and keep serving Him. Remember that in emphasizing His love for us, God sent His Son Jesus who spread the good news, died on the cross, got resurrected and flew to Heaven. Jesus saved humanity! He redeemed us! He saved us! Jesus made people realize their true purposes as God’s creations!

Verses 9 and 10 of Psalm 91 emphasize the promise of divinely protected health. The passage promises protection from sickness as a blessing of the redeemed life. Always remember these details and for as long as you remain faithful and trusting in the Lord while applying His Word in your personal life, you will be protected from harm, poverty and disease. Not even coronavirus will bring you down.

It is essential to remember that fear is a weapon of Satan who never gave up in trying to neutralize Christians and make them fail in their relationship with God. Like past diseases, coronavirus struck fear into the hearts of many people around and those who panicked showed signs that their faith and trust in the Lord are weak. Coronavirus also made people panic and doing desperate acts like panic buying. What also come with panic buying are increased vehicular traffic on highways, increased physical presence of people in and out of the retailers (note: this incidentally would increase the risk of getting infected with COVID-19), increased air and noise pollution, and other risks of incidents.

The coronavirus paranoia shows how powerful fear is and why Satan is delighted to see people lose control of themselves and, at the same time, separate Christians from the Lord through their weakness. First of all, God did not just create us to be mere creations on Earth. He really wanted Earth to be filled with perfect beings which was what He planned with Adam and Eve. Unfortunately, Adam rebelled against God when he ate the fruit Eve gave him (which was the result of her getting tempted by the serpent to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil). This rebellion (note: God specifically commanded Adam to never eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil) committed by Adam gave dominion to Satan and cursed humanity with sin, and this led to a downward spiral for the human race thousands of years later as recorded in the Holy Bible. As we know by now, God had a plan to redeem humanity by sending His Son Jesus into the world. It was through the acts and sacrifice of Jesus that humanity was saved and He proved God loves and cares for us. Jesus Himself stated that becoming born again is needed in order to see the kingdom of the Heavenly Father (read John 3:3 in the Holy Bible).

God’s plan for His creation is so great, Satan will stop at nothing to take it all away by exploiting human weakness. Fear is a favorite weapon Satan uses along with unbelief, religion, idolatry, doubt, greed, hatred, covetousness, homosexuality, deception, division and temptation. Fear leads to anger, hatred, panic, desperation, resentment and the weakening of faith in the Lord.

As Christians who were born again (accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior), we are targets of the enemy. Satan, who was defeated long ago when Jesus redeemed humanity, will strike against each of us through feelings, fear, pressure, symptoms and negativity. For us Christians, living in holiness with Jesus in our hearts becomes challenging due to our obligations such as careers, businesses, family matters and other worldly matters. As if that was not hard enough, our screwed-up world has lots of religion-blinded authorities who teach the wrong theology that God is in control of everything and allows bad things to happen to the innocent as well as to His own children (us Christians). And then these same authorities teach people to worship idols (both the living and those man-made objects like statues, statuettes, images and relics) which is sinful (refer to 1 Corinthians 6:9-10), to practice religious traditions and rituals, and to follow a bunch of rules that were not really part of the Holy Bible. Being religious is not the same as being faithful to the Lord.

As I mentioned before, we Christians need faith in the Lord, not religion, not idolatry, not traditions, not rituals, not sacraments, not feelings, and certainly not unbelief. By being faithful with Him, we each can establish a personal relationship with God which is strictly off-limits to others (even your own biological family members have no right whatsoever to interfere in your relationship with the Lord).

Let’s read these scriptures from the Holy Bible.

Therefore He says: “Awake you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

Ephesians 5:14 (NKJV)

“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.”

Luke 21:34 (NKJV)

The scriptures above clearly show that as we have been redeemed by Jesus, He warned against spiritual lethargy and wants us to be always ready for His return. To live in holiness with Jesus in our hearts, read God’s Word through the Holy Bible, pray to Him constantly and dedicatedly (which include praying in tongues), preach His Word around, help save the unsaved and lost souls, keep trusting Him and maintain strong faithfulness in Him are all part of preparing ourselves for Jesus’ promised return.

Next scripture…

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NKJV)

The above scripture makes clear why there are many unsaved and lost souls around the world. In verse 4, Satan blinds the minds of people (including the ones who practice religion, idolatry, traditions and rituals) and the sad thing is that they choose not to believe which results their failure to see and realize the glory of Christ.

Once a man realizes the light of God and starts being faithful to Him, Satan gets defeated.

Yes, you read that right! Christians who are edified by God can defeat Satan and keep resisting him each time he tries to strike back. By having powerful faith in the Lord and following the examples of Jesus, we Christians can truly live in holiness and in victory over the enemy! Fear becomes nothing!

Having lived an old life of religion, idolatry, traditions, rituals and unbelief myself, I can say that I was hounded by darkness all the way. Since the day I got saved I realized that faith in the Lord is truly essential and true Christian living is simpler than I thought. My becoming born again is the greatest miracle in my whole life and through Jesus, I became a new creation free from the darkness of unbelief, religion, idolatry, traditions, sacraments and rituals that burdened me. I also realized that with the Lord, Satan and any other forms of evil can be defeated not once but multiple times!

The following scripture will compel you to be with Jesus.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Now let’s look at the Passion Translation.

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (TPT)

To put things in perspective, being a new creation means having a fresh, new start spiritually. By realizing your true purpose under God, you are in a race for holiness, a race to meet His High Call. To live in holiness with Jesus in your heart. This leads me to the next scripture.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12: 2 (NKJV)

We live in a chaotic and screwed-up world. As we live in the flesh, we are vulnerable to the trouble around us and that only means we need to resist the fear sparked by Satan that started the mess. The loser Satan thinks he can use this physical world against God by going after us and trying to defeat us spiritually. All the more reason why we should NOT be conformed to this world and we must focus always on maintaining holiness under God. We Christians have the Holy Spirit already in our hearts, and we should always be led by the Holy Spirit. We must live with purity under Jesus. The truth is that the path to godly living is not complicated, nor is it energized by our flesh. We the believers should always submit to God’s provisions and ways.

The next scripture will remind you of the battle with Satan.

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NKJV)

You are definitely not alone with your effort to resist Satan and living on as a Child of God. You are part of the Body of Christ (the church – refer to 1 Corinthians 12:12-30) and it is essential for us to keep living in holiness, serving the Lord (who will never abandon us nor forsake us – read Deuteronomy 31:6) and always ensure that the enemy will NEVER win. Satan can use unbelief, temptations or religion (with idolatry, traditions, rituals, sacraments and the wrongful theology) as weapons against you but as long as you know you were saved and got anointed by the Lord, and as long as you know your true purpose as a Christian, you will get to defeat Satan and beat him again on each and every subsequent attack he throws at you. Always maintain strong faith in God! God is the source and the following scripture explains why.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 1:17 (NKJV)

James 1:17 emphasizes that the Heavenly Father is not responsible for human sin. God is in fact the source of all good, He is also faithful, He is just and He always keeps His promises. God’s promise to Abraham of a son (Isaac) through his wife Sara is one of the most notable promises ever made and fulfilled. Behold the existence of Israel which not only has the Holy Land but also its own State. We Christians have a goal to support the State of Israel, love the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Whatever promise God made to you, rest assured He will fulfill it in due time. Don’t let the devil or anyone representing darkness fool you. Don’t let fear overpower you. You definitely do not want to settle for less knowing that God has a plan for you complete with blessings coming.

Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His Love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:12-14 (NKJV)

The above scripture emphasizes that we Christians are qualified to receive blessings from the Lord and this includes Kingdom Wealth. As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we will each be rewarded according to our respective work. Lord Jesus Himself said in Revelations 22:12 – And behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.

Lord Jesus Himself pulled us out of darkness and helped us break the chains that symbolized danger, death, sickness, hostile situations, wickedness and other negative elements the enemy used on us. As Christians, we have been freed and saved by Jesus. We are new creations, citizens of God’s Kingdom and are living in victory under Jesus whom we worship directly (note: we are not hindered by a religion-led hierarchy which itself only exists to get in the way between a Christian and the Lord).

On with the next scripture…

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)

We Christians each have a race to endure and finish. The race, if you are imagining sports competitions like foot races, is obviously about our souls and the goal of achieving holiness. This means laying aside anything that would hinder the progress being made. Avoiding the committing of sin is a must! However we race, we should not focus on each other as contestants or competitors at all since we are God’s children and citizens of his Kingdom. Instead, when we race, we should always focus on Lord Jesus who saved us.

As part of living in holiness, we Christians should do more than just attending church every Sunday. For one thing, going to church on Sunday is to be done not as an obligation, not as a tradition but rather to prioritize our relationship with God by truly connecting with Him right in the presence of the many members of the spiritual family. Apart from Sunday worship, we need to attend, as much as possible, seminars and prayer meetings at church held during the weekdays. The learning of God’s Word is ever enduring and we need to keep on learning and applying the lessons into our respective lives. This is living in holiness! By doing these dedicatedly complete with strong faith in the Lord, fear as well as other forms of attacks launched against us by Satan will be futile! There is more to deepening our personal relationship with God. Let’s examine the next scripture below.

The LORD upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.

Psalm 145:14-20 (NKJV)

It is clear in Psalm 145: 14-20 that God is gentle, loving, protective and caring for His children while remaining firm to punish those who are wicked. For us, His children, God really loves us and wants to bless us, and all we need to do is to keep submitting to Him, live in holiness and endure to honor, praise and serve Him. Those who sin and keep on doing what is evil and what pleases Satan will end up with doom. This should serve as a reminder that we Christians must make efforts to save the unsaved souls around the us by preaching God’s Word and magnifying the Lord to them. Eventually the unsaved souls will realize something and decide to reach out to God.

Going back to fear, we only need to fear God because it will lead to wisdom (read Proverbs 9:10). All other forms of fear are to be rejected and resisted without question! This way, Satan is defeated yet again!

Another reason to constantly pursue holiness under the Lord is that God has a vision to make you and your church unstoppable and moving on driven by faith. God, after all, is the source of all vision, success, prosperity, progress and holiness. We Christians all need to humble ourselves to Him and to realize His vision for you, you need to tell Him to show it. For insight, read Jesus’ words in John 12:26 and the Lord’s words in Jeremiah 33:3.

Here’s one more scripture…

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

God truly loves us. When we His children commit errors, He makes ways to correct us. When we His children are troubled, he comes to us to help and pave the way for the better. For as long as we His children remain faithful to Him, God’s plans for each and every one us will manifest in due time. Knowing that God’s plans are definitely good, there is no more reason for us to be fearful and weak. Satan has been defeated and will only be defeated again and again.

As of this writing, we in this chaotic world are living in the middle of the storm caused by coronavirus COVID-19. There are people who are suffering from coronavirus and there were those who died. Still no matter what happens, we the faithful Christians have no reason to be scared and lose hope because the Lord is with us. Always maintain strong faith in Him, keep trusting Him, honor Him and thank Him for all the good and the care He keeps on providing us.

We all need to pray to the Lord and trust in Him that coronavirus COVID-19 will fade away, that no more people will be infected and those who are already infected will be spared. Don’t limit your prayer into asking (note: also you should not beg), but believe that God will do it. Trust the Lord! The fear that has crippled millions of people worldwide has gone far enough and already economies have slowed down. The time to keep standing with the Lord on ending this time of crisis is now! The coronavirus COVID-19 crisis is the battle that only the Lord can fight and conquer!

The Lord is our refuge, our protector and provider! Fear and all other negative elements are nothing when we the faithful are with God.

Let me conclude this post with this holy scripture. This one will be remembered for a long time.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Sharing this Christian piece means spreading the good news of the Lord to others. It can help you save the unsaved souls out there.

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 as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

Tahanan Village Playground Being Redeveloped

Tahanan Village Playground Being Redeveloped

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced by means of interviewing people of the Tahanan Homeowners Association (THA) and those connected with them. 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.

This morning I visited Tahanan Village in Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City to meet some of my friends and check on the latest with their homeowners’ association, the Tahanan Homeowners Association (THA).

And then I noticed something at the village park, specifically at the corner of Chrysanthemum street and Jasmin street…..the children’s playground (identified as Tahanan Children’s Park on Google Maps) was being redeveloped and there were several personnel working under the heat of the sun.

20200314_092936.jpg
A view of the work going on at the playground at the Tahanan Village park.

According to former THA president and current village administrator Augusto Tejada, the playground was being redeveloped and it will involve digging and, most notably, fill the gaps with brand new garden soil. The intention was to make the playground a better, safer and cleaner place for children to play at.

A THA maintenance worker at the playground confirmed to me what Tejada said. He added that in order to get the job done, he and his fellow workers had to collect the many stones as well as all the volcanic ash that came from Taal Volcano which erupted this past January. Around the park were these piles of volcanic ash and garden soil.

20200314_093126.jpg
A THA maintenance worker pounds something.

Once the redevelopment of the children’s playground has been completed, it should become much more suitable for the kids to spend time at.

Coronavirus impact on THA

Going back to Tejada, he confirmed to me that their association had to postpone several planned activities due to the impact of the spreading coronavirus or COVID-19. Some meetings that were planned did not push through, and organizing new meetings as well as getting lots of villagers together have gotten more challenging as mass gatherings have been prohibited as part of the Metro Manila community quarantine related to the national government’s effort to prevent COVID-19 from infecting anymore Filipinos.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

 

 

Huelgas and Burgos Lead All Vermosa Aquathlon 1 Winners

Huelgas and Burgos Lead All Vermosa Aquathlon 1 Winners

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Huelgas and Burgos Lead All Vermosa Aquathlon 1 Winners

2-time Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) gold medalist Nikko Huelgas and Erika Nicole Burgos proved how strong they are among all the winners in the standard distance contest of the Vermosa Aquathlon 1 which was held recently at the world-class Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus City, Cavite.

Huelgas was unstoppable from start to finish as he finished the 500 meter swim- 5 kilometer run course in a swift 25 minutes and 54 seconds, easily winning the Male 25-29 age-group title. Meanwhile the next two fastest males were from the 18-24 category namely Juan Francisco Baniqued and Inaki Lorbes who finished in 27:00 and 27:17 respectively.

20200308_083334.jpg
2-time SEA Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas posed for this blog after the race at Vermosa.

Among the ladies in the event presented by Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, Standard Insurance, Apollo Petroleum Jelly, Alviera, LeGarde L-Carnitine, Smart, official timing partner Garmin, hydration partners Pocari Sweat and Sip Purified Water, shoe partner Saucony and recovery partner Air Relax Massage Guns Philippines, Erika Nicole Burgos emerged as the Female 18-24 champion after clocking in 30:33. She was followed by Female 15-17 champion Olivia Kwon with 33:25 while Female 18-24 entry Bea Marie Quiambao registered the 3rd fastest time of 34:30.

The relay champions declared were Team AA (All-Female) composed of Mikaela Arroyo and Boo Pascual, Team Good Boiz (All-Male) composed of Hjalmar Pasaylo and Lorenzo Joaquin Solda, and Team GG (Mixed) composed of Gabriella Venturina and Mark Garin.

Nikko Huelgas, who won the SEA Games gold medals in 2015 and 2017, had high praise for the quality of the design of the race course stating that the lanes in the Olympic-sized swimming pool were spacious while the angular roads around Vermosa provided nice challenge. This was also his first time ever to race in the venue.

Meanwhile, Get Coach’D coach Doray Ellis stated that their team’s preparations, which includes training at Vermosa, paid off nicely as their members won a huge number of awards across different age-groups. For the past two years, their youth athletes developed their racing skills and became more competitive as they grew. Erika Nicole Burgos is a member of their team.

“Despite what has been going on around us, we are very happy with the huge turnout of participants as well as Bike King’s decision to push through with this first race we hosted this year. We are looking forward to hosting this June’s triathlon event and two more aquathlon events in the months to come,” said Vermosa operations manager Andrea Intalan.

The Top 20 finishers of the standard distance contest individual category in the event earned points for the simultaneous Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub Series and the Sun Life Aquathlon Series. The Top Aquathlete per age group will be declared later this year.

For complete race results and lists of winners (including the shorter distances) of Vermosa Aquathlon 1, visit http://bikekingphilippines.com.

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Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub (AVSH) is a complete one stop training facility for tri athletes and sports enthusiasts.  The first development in the country that integrates an Olympic size pool, football field, track oval and sports and science laboratory.

This press release was issued on behalf of Bike King Philippines and Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.

Muntinlupa City Government installs isolation areas, to regulate hoarders under “community quarantine”

Muntinlupa City Government installs isolation areas, to regulate hoarders under “community quarantine”

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Muntinlupa City Government installs isolation areas, to regulate hoarders under “community quarantine”

Tent-1
Members of Muntinlupa City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office install an isolation tent to serve as quarantine area at Ospital ng Muntinlupa grounds following the declaration of Code Red Sub-Level 2 and “community quarantine” in Metro Manila. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)

Following the declaration of Code Red Sub-Level 2 and “community quarantine” in Metro Manila, the City Government of Muntinlupa is rolling out tougher measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including the installation of isolation areas and regulation of hoarders.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi called for an emergency meeting with members of the Local Disaster Risk Response and Management Council today to discuss the city action plan with barangay officials and representatives of the private sector.

Fresnedi called for the active participation of all sectors, especially the barangays, to prevent the large-scale spreading of the novel corona virus in Muntinlupa City.

“As the situation on COVID-19 develops, we all have a responsibility to ensure that the virus won’t rapidly spread in our communities,” the mayor noted.

Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao said that there are now designated triage areas to serve as quarantine areas in Ospital ng Muntinlupa for suspected COVID-19 cases.

Barangays are also instructed to install isolation areas for residents suspected to have contracted with the virus for monitoring by the local health office.

“The quarantine areas in the barangays serve as an augmentation to the triaging efforts of our tertiary hospitals. Our barangays will be the frontline in our fight against the spread of the virus. The barangay health centers are equipped to handle Persons Under Investigation,” Tuliao noted.

She said that the city’s barangay health workers were given training on protocols for the transfer, referral, and management of suspected COVID-19 cases.

Request for the transport of patients in Muntinlupa is 24/7 and can be coordinated through the City Health Office at 541 4813 or Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office at 925 4382.

The Muntinlupa City Council also eyes for the passing of an ordinance regulating consumer behavior during the “community quarantine.”

Coun. Raul Corro, the city council’s majority floor leader, said that they will look into passing a local legislation to address panic buying and prohibit the hoarding of basic commodities. Corro added that the City Council will also discuss the passing of a resolution encouraging the youth to observe a time of prayer during the health event of COVID-19.

Further, the PNP Muntinlupa has identified choke points in the city’s boundaries for initial inspections while awaiting the final guidelines for the restriction of land travel to and from Metro Manila.

The mayor encouraged the public to refrain from panicking and remain calm in this difficult situation. Fresnedi urged the city residents to practice good personal hygiene, observe social distancing, and adopt healthy lifestyles to increase body resistance against infections.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa.

 

 

 

E3 2020 Cancelled!

E3 2020 Cancelled!

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This coming June, the usual excitement for video gaming won’t happen as the 2020 edition of the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) got officially cancelled and already its effects on the game publishers, the game developers, the City of Los Angeles and the gamers are strongly felt.

For your reference, here is the official statement at the website of the E3 Expo:

After careful consultation with our member companies regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry – our fans, our employees, our exhibitors, and our longtime E3 partners – we have made the difficult decision to cancel E3 2020, scheduled for June 9-11 in Los Angeles.

Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation. We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supporters. But we know it’s the right decision based on the information we have today.

Our team will be reaching out directly to exhibitors and attendees with information about providing full refunds.

We are also exploring options with our members to coordinate an online experience to showcase industry announcements and news in June 2020. Updates will be shared on E3Expo.com.

We thank everyone who shared their views on reimagining E3 this year. We look forward to bringing you E3 2021 as a reimagined event that brings fans, media, and the industry together in a showcase that celebrates the global video game industry.

As you can see above, the raging coronavirus (COVID-19) negatively impacted the organizing and worldwide there are a lot of people who have gotten so scared by it their livelihood and lifestyles have been altered dramatically.

Going back to the E3, the cancellation is very unfortunate as a whole lot of game makers and publishers had previously signed up with the organizers to be part of the convention as exhibitors. All their plans to present their games and sell just vanished which will most likely affect their respective finances negatively. No amount of refunds can make up for that.

Also disappointed are the gamers who are fortunate to gain access into the event as attendees, plus the many millions of other gamers worldwide who could only view the E3 via video, blogs and website coverage. Speaking of the Internet, there are a whole lot of bloggers, YouTubers and social media personalities who won’t be able to cover the event live together this year. For Xbox-related coverage of E3 of 2019, I followed the updates from Colt Eastwood who attended the convention. Eastwood’s updates of that particular E3 were so engaging and exciting.

Speaking of Xbox, Microsoft had big plans to organize their media presentation at E3 2020 to formally showcase to the whole world their next-generation console Xbox Series X.

With the cancellation of the big event, Microsoft now has to do a digital event to show off and explain their next-generation plans. Check out Xbox head Phil Spencer’s Tweet below.

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I myself have been anticipating the Xbox Series X not only for playing video games but also for my household’s home entertainment. I have been looking forward to not just new, cutting edge technology and special features, but also the many upcoming games that are already being produced by the many game studios that Microsoft acquired to strengthen the Xbox brand.

From this point on, in the absence of E3, those who are anticipating Xbox Series X and future games will just have to wait for new details from Microsoft as to when their planned digital event will be held, how will it be presented, how much will they be able to show, etc.

Watch out for updates right here.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

 

 

Schools and Government Facilities in Muntinlupa Disinfected To Prevent COVID-19 Outbreak

Schools and Government Facilities in Muntinlupa Disinfected To Prevent COVID-19 Outbreak

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Schools and Government Facilities in Muntinlupa Disinfected To Prevent COVID-19 Outbreak

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A uniformed task force member on his way to disinfect a school in Muntinlupa City. (photo issued by Muntinlupa PIO) 

In its attempt to reduce the risk of ab COVID-19 outbreak in Muntinlupa City, the City Government through the City Health Office conducted a citywide disinfection of public schools and government buildings as part of its preventive measures.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi ordered the CHO on Tuesday to intensify the cleaning and disinfecting of public schools, including the strengthening of information drive on personal hygiene and cough etiquette, to further lower the risk of spreading the novel corona virus among city residents.

“We cannot be complacent with the recent development of local transmission of COVID-19. In response to the rise of confirmed cases in the country, we have placed our City Health Office, local hospitals, and school administrators on heightened alert to prevent the possible spread of the new strain of coronavirus in Muntinlupa. We are mobilizing the city’s COVID-19 task force to implement measures to ensure the public’s safety and health,” Fresnedi said.

The mayor urged the public to be vigilant and practice proper hygiene, observe proper cough etiquette, and adopt healthy lifestyles to increase body resistance against infections.

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Roll-out of cleaning and disinfection of public schools in Muntinlupa City as preventive measure amid COVID-19 threat. (photo issued by Muntinlupa PIO)

Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dra. Teresa Tuliao said the City Government is closely coordinating with the Department of Health and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine regarding the health event and protocols for the referral and transferring of persons under investigation.

Tuliao led an emergency meeting with the City Government’s general service officers, Schools Division of Muntinlupa execs, and school principals for a briefing on COVID-19 updates and the disinfection initiative in public schools.

The city health officer also encouraged the school officials to intensify IEC campaign and reporting of community members with travel history for monitoring. To date, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Muntinlupa City.

Recently, the City Government also called for a meeting with barangay emergency response units, barangay officials and health workers, mall owners, hoteliers, and other commercial establishment owners to discuss the latest updates on COVID-19.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi ordered the creation of Muntinlupa COVID-19 Task Force through Executive Order 2 s. 2020 as a pro-active measure against the spread of the disease in the city. The local task force spearheads the implementation of DOH protocols and guidelines and extends full cooperation with the department and other national government agencies.

Muntinlupa City residents are highly encouraged to immediately visit local health centers or Ospital ng Muntinlupa if they are experiencing symptoms of the virus. For more information, the public may coordinate with Ospital ng Muntinlupa at 8771-0457 or with DOH at 771-1001/711-1002.

This is an official Press Release issued by the City Government of Muntinlupa.

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures #13 (1993)

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures #13 (1993)

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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.

It’s funny how adaptations of adaptations turn out in real life. Long before the first live-action X-Men movie was released, an animated TV series (popularly referred to as X-Men: The Animated Series or X-Men TAS) was produced and arguably brought together the fans of both the X-Men comic books along with the animated X-Men followers.

Along the way, Marvel Comics went on to publish a monthly comic book series called X-Men Adventures which themselves were adaptations of the animated series (which itself adapted stories and concepts from the comic books).

The adaptation-of-an-adaptation approach went deep further when the animated series adapted loosely the story of the classic X-Men comic book storyline Days of Future Past (by legends Chris Claremont and John Byrne) which resulted a story told in two episodes on TV. And then there was also a comic book adaptation that followed starting with X-Men Adventures #13 which is the subject of this retro comic book review.

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The cover.

Early story

Written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman, the comic book begins in the dark future of 2055 in New York. The city is in ruins and mutants on the loose are being hunted by Sentinels. A very old Wolverine appears to help two loose mutants but ends up getting stunned with them by Bishop who turns out to be helping the automated authority of the Sentinels.

As he turns over the captured mutants, the Sentinels betray Bishop telling him that they no longer required him. Afterwards, Bishop and Wolverine (who woke up) each carry a person under the watch of a Sentinel. Suddenly, the two other mutants use their powers to attack the Sentinel and Wolverine followed to back up their efforts. The Sentinel however grabbed Wolverine.

Quality

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A very old Wolverine in the dark future of 2055.

With the exception of some liberties, this comic book closely followed what was told in the first of the 2-episode Days of Future Past animated adaptation. As a comic book story, the story was heavily loaded with details and exposition designed to orient readers about the setting and why the future became a time of darkness in relation to the rise of machines having ultimate power over people.

While the time travel concept of the literary classic involved the mind of Kitty Pryde going into the past, this comic book used the more common concept of having Bishop travel back through time physically which easily reminds me of Kyle Reese arriving from the future in 1984’s The Terminator.

The build-up leading to Bishop’s move to travel back through time was nicely done by the creative team. There was a lot of exposition followed by an incoming attack complete with explosions happening just as Bishop is about to leave. In short, the pay-off was worth it.

The engagement did not end there. In fact, it continued nicely as Bishop meets the X-Men in 1993 with the details of his mission carefully unveiled. Professor Charles Xavier’s reaction to future history (Sentinels taking control of the world) was dramatic and worth re-reading.

As with his other works in the X-Men Adventures comic book series, Andrew Wildman’s art is very good to look at and he knows how to make each scene look engaging whether it’s just an exchange of dialogue between characters or an action scene loaded with a lot of impact.

Conclusion

While it is only half of a 2-issue adaptation of a 2-episode animated adaptation of the Days of Future Past literary classic, X-Men Adventures #13 is still a fun-filled reading experience complete with a lot of engaging moments.

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The money shot by Andrew Wildman!

If you are a serious collector of comic books, be aware that, as of this writing, a near-mint copy of X-Men Adventures #13 costs $6 while its newsstand edition copy is worth $21 in near-mint condition according to Mile High Comics.

Overall, X-Men Adventures #13 is highly recommended. Both dedicated X-Men fans as well as newcomers will have something a lot to enjoy with it.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

2020 Tahanan Village Vehicular Sticker Process Ongoing

2020 Tahanan Village Vehicular Sticker Process Ongoing

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from the Tahanan Homeowners Association (THA) by means of inquiry and 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.

Hey everyone!

Going to and from Tahanan Village in Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City is more challenging nowadays as the still incomplete diggings related to a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) drainage project along Presidents Avenue struggles towards completion leaving motorists no choice but to be stuck in traffic as a result of the reduced road space located near the corner of Don Rufino street.

After enduring a long wait myself, I finally entered Tahanan Village, visited the clubhouse and learned that the Tahanan Homeowners Association (THA) is currently processing applications (both brand new and renewal) for the 2020 edition of their village sticker. As long as there is a supply, stickers get released to the applicant and have it placed on the windshield of the vehicle (with assistance by THA personnel).

How to apply for a 2020 Tahanan Village sticker

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From the application form.

To begin with, an applicant must obtain from the THA an official registration form which is to be filled up with details (including the vehicle). Of course, the required documents such as the certificate of registration (CR), the latest official receipt (OR) and cash for paying the corresponding fee should be prepared.

If the vehicle is under the applicant’s or homeowner’s name, the OR and CR must be submitted. If the vehicle is not under the applicant’s name, a notarized deed of sale must be submitted along with the OR and CR. If the vehicle is under the name of the company, the Company Certification (with the company letterhead) must be submitted along with the OR and CR. If the vehicle has been recently acquired and has no license plate yet, the sales invoice and the delivery receipt  must be submitted.

Applicants who are not residents of Tahanan Village (therefore applying for the non-resident sticker) should obtain an endorsement from a village resident.

Now for the fees….

The cost of the 2020 Tahanan Village sticker

The fees for the 2020 THA sticker for applications made on or before March 31, 2020 are P100 for residents, P150 for non-residents and P700 for commercial vehicles and school buses. Effective April 1, 2020, the fees will be P150 for residents, P300 for non-residents and still P700 for commercial vehicles and school buses.

When it comes to statistics as of this writing, the THA confirmed to me that already 69 non-residents, 2,185 residents, 124 motorcycle operators and 5 commercial vehicles/school bus operators applied for their 2020 stickers.

If you are interested to secure a 2020 THA sticker, visit the Tahanan Village clubhouse now or call 88425955.

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.

 

 

 

Vermosa Aquathlon 1 All Set for March 8

Vermosa Aquathlon 1 All Set for March 8

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Vermosa Aquathlon 1 All Set for March 8

The world-class Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus City, Cavite, is ready to welcome back a wide field of participants from around the nation as the Vermosa Aquathlon 1 fires off on the morning of March 8.

In this official launch event of the 2020 editions of the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub Series and the Sun Life Aquathlon Series, participants as young as 7-years-old to adults over the age of 50 will take on age-appropriate race distances when the gun goes off at 6:30 a.m., beginning with a swim in the Olympic-size pool followed by a run around Vermosa and finish at the track oval. The longest course is the standard distance composed of a 500-meter swim and the 5-km run. The shortest course is a 100-meter swim and a 600-meter run for kids aged 7 to 10.

At stake in the event presented by Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, Standard Insurance, Apollo Petroleum Jelly, Alviera, LeGARDE, Smart, official timing partner Garmin, hydration partners Pocari Sweat and Sip Purified Water, shoe partner Saucony and recovery partner Air Relax Massage Guns Philippines are medals for all finishers, trophies and gift packs for the winners in each category. The awarding ceremony will take place at around 10AM at the pool area.

With regards to the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub Series and the Sun Life Aquathlon Series, points will be awarded to the Top 20 finishers of the standard distance individual category for each aquathlon event. By joining the races of each series, participants can vie for the honor of being named the Top Aquathlete in their age group by the end of this year.

For more information on the Vermosa Sports Hub and the March 8 event, visit http://bikekingphilippines.com as well as http://vermosa.ph. For social media updates, follow @VermosaPH on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub (AVSH) is a complete one stop training facility for tri athletes and sports enthusiasts.  The first development in the country that integrates an Olympic size pool, football field, track oval and sports and science laboratory.

This is an official Press Release issued on behalf of Bike King Philippines and Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub.

 

 

 

New Life Community Care Feeds and Assists Taal Volcano Eruption Victims

New Life Community Care Feeds and Assists Taal Volcano Eruption Victims

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from New Life Community Care by means of an interview and 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.

New Life Community Care Feeds and Assists Taal Volcano Eruption Victims

For a period of nine days, the New Life Community Care Foundation International, Inc. (NLCOM) and its personnel worked hard to take special care of the many evacuees of the Taal Volcano Eruption (which happened on January 12, 2020) in the province of Batangas

It was there where the NLCOM’s very own mobile kitchen was set up. With precision, careful management of resources and dedication to help the evacuees, the team behind the mobile kitchen produced several hot meals daily during the nine days feeding a whole lot of evacuees who had no choice but to leave their respective communities behind.

According to NLCOM’s program assistant Thessa Joy Jimenez, a total of 52,000 hot meals were served to the evacuees who came from varied communities affected by the January 12 eruption. Mathematically, the mobile kitchen produced an average of more than 5,600 meals per day (breakfast and dinner specifically). This was made possible by having the sophisticated food preparation equipment and sufficient supplies of food and ingredients collected from their donors. The feeding is just one form of NLCOM’s assistance for the evacuees.

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One of the many meals being prepared with the utmost care. (photo source – New Life Community Care)
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A child watches as NLCOM’s people prepare to serve him. (photo source – New Life Community Care)

Along the way, their team coordinated closely with the local authorities and helped keep things in order. Their assistance to the evacuees was not limited to feeding as they also provided them with hygiene kits, grocery bags and medical services. They also interacted closely with the local community members with a strong focus on helping. These recent acts were in accordance to the NLCOM’s core approach of Respond-Reach Out-Rebuild.

“During calamities, we organized training for the congregants and the volunteers involved in our foundation. We reached out by doing relief operations, medical missions and the mobile kitchen operation to help those who got affected. We rebuild by means of doing livelihood assistance for them,” Jimenez said during my interview with her at their office.

 

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Relief goods like water, hygiene kits and other useful items were released to the victims by NLCOM. (photo source – New Life Community Care)
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Packages of relief goods organized carefully by the basket inside New Life Alabang. (photo source – New Life Community Care)

Behind the scenes, NLCOM responded quickly to the eruption by communicating first with the local authorities in Batangas. At their facility inside Alabang Hills Village, their team organized a huge collection of relief goods and cash from their donors (including churches within New Life’s own network), carefully arranged all the relief goods (which include the sleeping mats, blankets and water to name some) in a very orderly fashion, and piled up all the needed supplies before making the long trips to Batangas. Their team was led by their Executive Director Edwin Tugano.

“Our initial plan for the Taal Volcano eruption operation was to operate for three days which was followed by an extension of two days. This was in response to the local authorities’ request for more assistance,” Jimenez said. “Shortly after, our operation became seven days all of which were in Bauan. After that, our team rested and eventually returned to Batangas to serve other barangays in different evacuation areas for two days. Breakfast meals were provided during those two days.”

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With sharp precision, NLCOM team prepared the items for relief operations in a very orderly fashion. (photo source – New Life Community Care)

Ultimately, the volcano eruption victims were happy with all the assistance they received. Jimenez recalled that after the seventh day, the victims were very thankful to NLCOM and there were some who verbally expressed their love to them.

“They were very thankful and we could tell through their personal expressions and their hugs to us,” she said. “We really saw the positive impact we made to them. It was all a very heartwarming experience for us all. Tiring but very fulfilling.”

Regarding NLCOM’s volunteers, Jimenez said that they consistently orient them with disaster preparedness methods, group assistance and working closely with the victims and local authorities. Then on February 19, NLCOM completed another distribution of relief goods for Taal Volcano eruption victims (four hundred families) in Barangay Barigon, Agoncillo, Batangas. They assessed the homes that were damaged (partially or totally) from the disaster.

To date, New Life Community Care continues to engage with its partners, its own network of churches and outreach units, and the varied local authorities around the nation. For the future, Jimenez confirmed to me that NLCOM is continuing its preparation of provisions for further emergency operations as well as maintaining contact with varied authorities and planning what could be the next step to take for future assistance.

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Personal interactions with members of the local community is another thing that NLCOM does well. (photo source – New Life Community Care)

Truly New Life Community Care lives up to its name and has an undeniable record of assistance for those who badly need it.

What is New Life Community Care?

New Life Community Care is a foundation, operating exclusively for charitable and social welfare purposes. While associated with New Life Alabang, it is separate and has an independent board.

New Life Community Care is a non-stock, non-profit organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with registration number CN200323699. It is also registered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with registration number DSWD-SB-RL-001582015. Their website is at www.nlcom.org.ph

How Did It Start?

It began in 2003 when their Senior Pastor Paul Chase was led to respond to the needs of street children who were abandoned and neglected. The NLCOM eventually partnered with the City Government of Muntinlupa to take care of the said children.

Ten years later, super typhoon Yolanda (internationally referred to as Haiyan) overwhelmed the Philippines very hard, especially the regions south of Luzon. Tacloban City in the province of Leyte got hit so hard, people lost their homes and belongings, their lives got terribly disrupted and there were several casualties. The damage was so immense, Tacloban caught the attention of the whole world.

In response to the disaster, Senior Pastor Paul Chase and some volunteers of the church came to Tacloban to provide much needed help. This resulted the creation of a makeshift kitchen at the said city and went on to produce six thousand hot meals daily for school children there.

You must be wondering: how was New Life’s team able to create such a high number of meals every day back then? The answer is this: New Life Alabang partnered with Rev. Kim Beam Kon of Truly Good Friends Foundation from South Korea. The joint effort resulted a feeding program that lasted for a year and led to the establishment of the New Life Community Care Foundation.

Along the way, Senior Pastor Paul Chase envisioned the local church to stand in the gap, step up to meet the need and demonstrate God’s love by responding, reaching out and rebuilding the lives of families and communities in the event of disasters. In times of disaster, New Life church provides manpower to NLCOM to enable it to assist victims.

The Foundation’s program is structured this way: Respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims by providing food, relief goods, medical services and executing rescue operations. Reach out with their pro-active volunteers who engage in raising awareness and increasing the knowledge and skills of families, churches and communities on preparing them for disasters and teaching them how to respond during those times. Rebuild by helping the victims by means of clearing the debris, providing shelter kit materials and assisting families and the local communities in the repair and reconstruction of the properties that got damaged from the disaster.

Conclusion

Let me end this post with these three scriptures from the Holy Bible.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6: 2 (NKJV)

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Hebrews 6: 10 (NKJV)

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

Romans 15: 1-2 (NKJV)

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

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 and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.