Barangay BF Homes’ Erla Cortesta Recognized as an Outstanding Nutrition Scholar in NCR

Barangay BF Homes’ Erla Cortesta Recognized as an Outstanding Nutrition Scholar in NCR

Nutri1
Erla Cortesta of Barangay BF Homes (holding the award) was one of fifteen National Capital Region-based nutrition scholar recognized by the National Nutrition Authority as a City/Municipal Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholars. (photo contributed by Barangay BF Homes)

On the afternoon of July 26, Erla Cortesta of Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City brought home honor to her locality as she was recognized as a City/Municipal Outstanding Barangay Nutrition Scholar for 2018 during the 2019 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony – National Capital Region held at The Heritage Hotel in Pasay City.

Specifically, Cortesta was one of only fifteen such scholars to receive such a recognition and she is the lone awardee of Parañaque. Considering the multiple barangays there are in the NCR involved in the search, being among the fifteen scholars is a significant achievement on its own. Like her fellow scholars, Cortesta received a plaque of recognition as well as a cash prize.

Nutri2
Standing beside awardee Erla Cortesta were Barangay BF Homes Nutrition Action Officer Zeny Pascual and Kagawad Cielo Lazatin. (photo contributed by Barangay BF Homes)

“It is a significant distinction for Barangay BF Homes as there were several contenders in NCR and only few were awarded,” Barangay BF Homes Kagawad Cielo Lazatin said. “They all went through a very intensive evaluation before getting declared as awardees.”

Present during the ceremony, apart from Kagawad Lazatin, Barangay BF Homes Nutrition Action Officer Zeny Pascual and Parañaque City’s First Lady Janet Olivarez.

The 2019 Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony – National Capital Region was an event organized by the National Nutrition Council.

 

 

 

Trust the Lord with all Your Heart! Don’t Hesitate and Just Do It!

I want to share to you a valuable lesson I learned during Sunday worship service at church.

The lesson was all about putting our trust in the Lord.

It clearly makes sense. As I learned from attending prayer sessions, holy seminars, Sunday worship, listening to our pastors and reading the Holy Bible, God is a just god who loves us, who cares for us, who is gentle with us, who is merciful and, at the same time, He is NOT a tyrant. God gave us His begotten Son, Jesus Christ, so that we can all be saved and truly find salvation.

Those truthful descriptions about the Lord are some great reasons we need to put our trust in Him.

Why settle for less at all when we have the Lord? Why put our trust elsewhere or to someone who is inferior to the Lord?

Going back to the church lesson, the scriptures emphasized were in Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NKJV).

Let’s start with Jeremiah 17:5-6 (NKJV) which states:

Thus says the Lord:

Cursed is the man who trusts in man

And makes flesh his strength.

Whose heart departs from the Lord.

For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,

And shall not see when good comes.

But shall inhibit the parches places in the wilderness

In a salt land which is not inhabited.

Here is my take….we should always take the words of the Lord very seriously. In the above scriptures, it is made clear that people like us will not prosper nor find happiness, satisfaction, peace and harmony if we trust in people instead of the Lord. As His creations living in the flesh, we need to have the Holy Spirit in our hearts and realize our true purpose under the Lord. This brings me back to what I mentioned before: people need to be born again and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

We live in a really chaotic and screwed up world. There are indeed many unsaved souls living around us and among them are secularists, atheists, agnostics and others who prefer to ignore God believing that they can live greatly and happily without Him. There are also those who are trapped by religion (many of them even propagate religion helping it trap others and prevent them from establishing a true relationship with God) and they have yet to realize their souls need saving. There are also people who don’t realize they are spiritually unsaved or even spiritually lost. Clearly there is a curse when people don’t trust the Lord and instead trusted their fellow humans.

Be aware that as you trust in people instead of God, God Himself is watching you all the time and there definitely is no hiding from Him (Proverbs 15:3 NKJV). Don’t even think about running away or using the latest in technology to cover your tracks because God is almighty and you are better off coming out in the open, repenting to Him directly (this means NO HUMAN MEDIATOR and NO HUMAN INTERVENTIONIST between you and God) and surrender yourself to Him.

With regards to making flesh our strength, there are lots of people out there who end up being consumed by worldly developments. Instead of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, there are those who prefer to become part of social or political movements (look at all those rallies that disrupt society, the activists who appear on TV spreading their ideology, etc.), or engage in crime, or engage in obsessive acquisition of money and/or things (under the influence of covetousness), or engage in the endless wave of news generated by corporate media organizations whose agenda is to manipulate people instead of informing them properly, etc. And there are those who allowed themselves to get lost by exploring social media.

Without the Lord, we would end up suffering, get lost, experience frustration and make the world even more chaotic. This is the cursed life the Lord warned us about when we trust our fellow man over Him.

There is however hope for people who choose to trust the Lord and He Himself is hope! Learn from Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV) which states:

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is the Lord.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

It is indeed true that a person who trusts the Lord gets blessed by Him. I know! I myself experienced that. Since becoming born again and placing my trust in Him, I have been blessed by the Lord a lot and, gradually, a lot of positive things happened to me personally not only financially but also socially, morally and within the family. I now have my own website, a new job, new business clients for freelance projects and I have prepared myself better for the future with regards to financial planning. Things have gotten better for me under the Lord and for as long as I remain faithful to Him, trusting in Him, honoring Him and applying His Word in my life, the blessings and favor from Him will continue to happen.

This bring me to my next point – the Lord cares! He is loving, gentle and absolutely blesses His faithful followers abundantly. All it takes to be blessed a lot by the Lord (and have a happier future complete with prosperity) is faith and the first step you need to do is to be born again and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Trust in the Lord is truly essential and the scripture above confirms that. Do not be deceived by others out there who would teach you the wrong lessons about trust. Do not allow yourself to be fooled or manipulated by taking inspiration from sources other than the Holy Bible. In my old life, I used to take inspiration from watching movies, reading comic books and playing video games. The result was a life of confusion, hardship and frustration for me. I certainly do not want these past experiences of mine to happen to you.

It took a very dear friend of mine to invite me to attend a holy seminar at her church and as the pastor emphasized lessons from the Holy Bible, I saw the light, and just a few days later, I repented and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

In my experience, trust in the Lord really started a series of positive changes in my life. It is normal for me to read the Holy Bible (applying lessons into my life), pray in tongues, practice faith by the heart, avoid worshiping idols (man-made objects and people), avoid doing repetitive prayers (religion’s deceptive practice), pray privately in my room with the door shut, give back to the Lord cheerfully, doing my part as a member of the spiritual family at our church and worship the Lord with them on Sundays. Becoming born again is truly the greatest change in my life.

Trust in the Lord and you will be reformed and get blessed. You trust the Lord, then chaos, curse and frustration will not affect you. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength (Isaiah 40:31 NKJV). There is no denying that!

Eventually after that, you will realize the happiness that comes being blessed and being a blessing to others. This is part of true Christian living and I confirm to you, my readers, that I got blessed and became a blessing to others.

With Jesus and God’s kingdom in you, you will be blessed and become a blessing to others. With God on your side and with the Holy Spirit in your heart, nothing is impossible.

Here is another verse from the Holy Bible about trusting the Lord.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV)

See? We are all better off trusting the Lord who created plans for each and every one of us before we were even created! Our true purpose in life is not about religion but it is all about the Lord! God has a high calling for us to realize, prepare ourselves by having faith in Him and to ultimately reach.

Don’t trust religion and other elements that will hinder you from connecting with Him. Go ahead to trust the Lord with all your heart and be more direct with Him because each and every one of us has a personal relationship with Him.

There is more to your personal relationship with the Lord than religion.

Let me end this piece with another significant verse from the Holy Bible for you all.

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 16:31 (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 and the lost 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 with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) Updates (July 27, 2019)

The Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) in Alabang Hills Village, Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City announced that more village stickers for specific people will be released very soon.

Firstly, the 2019 edition of the vehicular stickers for Alabang Hills residents will be released on August 5, 2019. Each sticker will cost as follows (according to the AHVA’s Secretary’s Certificate dated July 6, 2017):

First four cars – P100 per vehicle

Next three cars – P300 per vehicle

Next three cars – P600 per vehicle

11 or more cars – P1,200 per vehicle

For the commercial vehicles, the stickers will be released on August 12, 2019. The stickers will cost P1,500 per vehicle (four wheels) and P2,250 per vehicle (six wheels).

Last but not least, stickers for motorcycles and bicycles will be released on August 12, 2019. The rates for resident motorcycles and bicycles are P100 each, while non-resident motorcycles and bicycles will cost P225 per sticker.

20190726_104537.jpg
Pay close attention to the details displayed.

The same AHVA Secretary’s Certificate shows that the replacement sticker rates are at P50 for residents and P100 for non-residents.

AHVA clubhouse update

Meanwhile, the AHVA announced on July 18 that the repair of the village clubhouse locate along Don Jesus Boulevard will be completed next month although no specific date was mentioned. The association announced that its Board of Directors made a decision to allot spaces to service providers that should benefit the residents.

The association officially invited interested parties for the following types of service (with space):

Coffee shop (90 square meters)

Beauty Salon and Barber Shop (70 square meters)

Convenience store (33 square meters)

“The renovated AHV Clubhouse promises an enticing site to relax, socialize and hangout apart from providing security, clinical health and business services,” AHVA president Benjamin Y. Munasque, Jr. wrote.

For the service providers, letters of intent (LOI) with a brief business description are to be submitted to AHVA Village Manager Lanie Rosas BEFORE 5PM of July 31.

For clarifications and inquiries, it is best for you to call the association at phone numbers 850-8254, 850-9631 and fax number 850-7685. They can be reached by email at ahvainc08@yahoo.com

 

 

 

 

 

Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) 2019 vehicular stickers and RFID tags now available for both residents and non-residents

20190725_163101.jpg
Applicants inside the clubhouse along Narra street waiting to be called.

The Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) recently released the 2019 edition of their vehicular stickers and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags for both residents and non-residents. Already they are receiving and processing applications at the clubhouse (Neighborhood Center) along Narra street in Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City. The following details were from the tarpaulins of AAVA and the non-resident application form itself.

To apply, fill-up the form as well as the members (referring to AAVA members) registration update (CERD). Apart from filling up the application form, a valid contract of lease (for lessee), the TCT (for owner) and the official receipt and certificate of registration (OR and CR) or the sales invoice for new applications must be submitted.

The AAVA’s rates of fees (note: not for non-residents) for the new sticker and RFID tag are as follows:

1-5 cars – P200 per vehicle

6-10 cars – P2,000 per vehicle

11-15 cars – P4,000 per vehicle

16 or more cars – P6,000 per vehicle

AUVs (above 10-seating capacity) – P5,000 per vehicle

Motorcycles – P200 per vehicle

Meanwhile, the sticker and RFID tag rate for non-resident private motorists (or “visitor/guest with AAVA ID”) is P2,700. The rate is the same for Alabang Country Club members. For motorcyclists, the rate is P500.

P5,200 is the rate for AUVs (with more than 10 seating capacity w/o decal), accredited school bus service (maximum 18 passengers), trucks (food delivery/catering), Elf, Canter and all types of vehicles with company decals. Accredited school bus service with 19 or more passengers is at P7,200. For the accredited school bus service described as “full/big bus”, the rate is P10,200.

P3,200 is the rate for passenger-type jeeps, multicabs and taxis (resident owned). For tricycles that ply inside the village, it is P1,200.

Other requirements for non-residents and the like: Company certification authorizing the applicant to use the vehicle (specifically company-owned vehicle) and the Car Rental Agreement (for rent-a-car).

Once the application has been approved and the fees have been paid, applicants must be ready to get into their vehicles, drive and have it lined-up for the installation of the sticker and RFID tag (which will be done off Narra street).

The installation of the sticker and RFID tag REQUIRES the physical presence of the vehicle. In other words, make sure you bring your car to the AAVA clubhouse to have the association’s personnel install the sticker and the RFID tag.

20190725_163437.jpg
The installation of the RFID tag and the new sticker takes a short time to complete.

Schedule of processing

Monday – Districts 1 and 2

Tuesday – Districts 3 and 4

Wednesday – District 5

Thursday – District 7

Friday – Schools and non-residents

Saturday – All districts of Ayala Alabang Village.

Cut-off time is 8AM to 4PM Monday to Friday, and 8AM to 11AM on Saturday.

For more information, visit the AAVA or call them at landline 809-2282 and 842-4411. Send them email at admin@aava.com.ph

RFID defined

RFID is the use of radio waves to read and capture information stored on a tag attached to an object. The said tag can be read from up to several feet away and does not need to be within the direct line of sight of the reader to be tracked.

With regards to vehicular use, a car will be detected electronically as each entry into or each exit from the village will be registered into the database. Since RFID stickers are issued to motorists whose applications were accepted, it is obvious that the vehicle’s information (including the name of the owner, model of the vehicle and others) can be verified by the village quickly. With regards to non-residents entering and leaving the village with their vehicles, they can be monitored more efficiently than compared to the old, non-RFID system.


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. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Observations: Fried Chicken Meal and Cajun Fries at Popeyes Alabang

20190719_121350.jpg
Popeyes restaurant at Alabang Town Center, specifically located right beside Krispy Kreme.

On July 19 at a commercial space (right beside Krispy Kreme and steps away from Fully Booked) at the area of Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City, the newest branch of Popeyes Philippines opened and right from the start it drew a long line of curious and hungry customers.

I personally witnessed many people waiting in line seated as many chairs were provided for their comfort. Once inside, they joined the line at the counters to make their orders and then wait to be served.

As there were so many people, I decided to skip the weekend and try one of Popeyes’ meals on a weekday. Fortunately, yesterday, I found an opportunity to visit the Popeyes ATC branch and the line outside was much shorter. When I sat in line, there were less than ten people ahead of me.

The wait on line at the counters inside the restaurant took longer. I noticed that the Popeyes personnel receiving orders had to answer the many questions asked by the customers who had their turns. During that time, I carefully examined the meals, side dishes and drinks displayed. By the time I got my chance to order at the counter, I quickly ordered a 2-piece fried chicken meal with single rice (and drink included) and their Cajun Fries.

So here is my meal.

20190722_111858.jpg
2-piece fried chicken with rice (still wrapped) and the Cajun Fries.

To make things clear, I did NOT use any condiments as I really wanted to determine if the food cooked by Popeyes were really tasty on their own.

When I started with the fried chicken, I opened the meat to see if it was well cooked. They did their job.

20190722_112000.jpg
The fried chicken cut open.

The result? For the fried chicken, they were tasty on their own. While Popeyes constantly emphasized their “Louisiana taste” a lot, I did not find the flavor of their fried chicken special. When it comes to taste, Popeyes fried chicken is tasty enough to enjoy without any condiments. However, if I may compare, I find the fried chicken of Mini-Stop (under their Uncle John’s sub-brand) clearly tastier than Popeyes. At the same time, I noticed Popeyes fried chicken pieces were slightly smaller compared to what was served at Mini-Stop, 7-Eleven, Jollibee, SNR and FamilyMart. Lastly, I noticed Popeyes’ fried chicken is not too greasy and that’s a good thing.

For what I paid (P167 or more than US$3), the 2-piece fried chicken meal at Popeyes Alabang was filling enough but it could have been better. If you want fried chicken meals that are more flavorful and more filling for less cost, you are better off with Mini-Stop, 7-Eleven and others.

20190722_112544.jpg
Popeyes Cajun Fries.

As for the Cajun Fries, they are tasty enough to be enjoyed without condiments. The texture and taste remind me somewhat of McDonald’s twisted fries I tasted long ago. In a way, the Cajun Fries are more enjoyable than the standalone fries of other fast food restaurants that need condiments to be flavorful. The medium-sized Cajun Fries cost me P57.

I don’t know when to return to Popeyes at ATC but if I revisit, perhaps I’ll try out one of their burger meals.


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. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. 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

 

Muntinlupa products, community group lauded in DOST Nat’l S&T Week

072319
Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (4th from left) congratulates Muntinlupa winners in the 2019 National Science and Technology Week by DOST during the city’s flag raising ceremony last July 22. The mayor lauded Dielles Apiary and Meadery Inc. and Muntinlupa Southville 3 Homebased Producers Association Inc.  for winning Best Packaging and Labelling Innovation, Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program and Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology Program categories in the 2019 NSTW. Also present were: (L-R) DOST MuntiParLas Cluster Director Kim Atienza, Muntinlupa City Technical Institute Director Francisco Santella, Muntinlupa SHBPAI president Nympha Palafox and Councilor Raul Corro. (source – City Government of Muntinlupa)

The City of Muntinlupa made waves in the field of science and technology recently as Muntinlupa-based wine maker Dielles Apiary and Meadery, Inc. and Southville 3 Homebased Producers Association Inc. (SHBPAI) snagged three major awards in the recently held 2019 National Science and Technology Week (2019 NSTW) by Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

As a result, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi formally congratulated Dielles Apiary and Meadery, Inc. and SHBPAI whose officials were presented before City Government officials at the grounds of City Hall during the July 22 flag raising ceremony.

To put things in perspective, the 2019 NSTW showcased the latest innovations in technologies, products, and research that contribute to national development. During that particular showcase, Dielles Apiary and Meadery, Inc. won the Best Packaging and Labelling Innovation in the regional and national level. Further, it also represented NCR as the regional winner in the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program national category.

For its part, SHBPAI emerged as the winner in the Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology or CEST Program in NCR and became the finalist in the national category.

Dielles Apiary and Meadery, Inc. and Muntinlupa SHBPAI received S&T assistance such as package development, training, laboratory and consultancy services from DOST to improve their operations and boost their productivity and competitiveness.

Dielles Apiary and Meadery, Inc. owner Luke Deogracias Macabbabad, also a beneficiary of the City Government’s zero-interest loan assistance, expressed his thanks to the City Government for its assistance to local Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. Also present during the same ceremony SHBPAI president Nympha Palafox and DOST MuntiParLas Cluster Director Kim Atienza.

In line with the DOST’s thrust, Muntinlupa City supports budding entrepreneurs and MSMEs to scale up their businesses through various programs, having the Tulong Negosyo zero-interest loan assistance as the flagship project which provide financial assistance from 2,000 up to 150,000 pesos depending on business capital ceiling and payment record.

The DOST and the City Government continuously work towards providing innovative solutions for the communities. DOST MuntiParLas Cluster Office is located at Muntinlupa City Technical Institue in San Guillermo St., Barangay Putatan.

+++

 

 

A Look Back at The Solution #1

Back in the 1990s, there was a flood of superhero comic books that introduced brand new heroes, teams and even anti-heroes. A strong contributor to this was the market presence of Image Comics, Valiant Comics, Malibu Comics and other smaller publishers that tried their best to gain shares in what was back then the highly lucrative superhero comic book market which was long dominated by Marvel Comics and DC Comics.

With Malibu Comics, their Ultraverse franchise of superhero comics was a blast and I had a lot of fun reading comic books of The Strangers, Prime, Hardcase, UltraForce, Mantra, etc.

For this review, here is my look back at the Ultraverse team comic book The Solution #1 (September 1993).

RCO001_1469696446~2.jpg
The front cover.

Written by the late James Hudnall and drawn by Darick Robertson (inked by John Lowe), the story begins when Russian personnel get killed by a team of deadly people whose purpose is to raid the nuclear storage buildings.

As a result, several nuclear warheads were taken away without a trace. A KGB agent discusses the tragedy with an Aladdin agent and seeks help. In response, the Aladdin agent recommends to him The Solution.

“We’d like to (help) but our agency can’t give you any direct assistance. You know how it is. However these people might be what you need. Just remember…I never told you about them,” the Aladdin agent said.

RCO022_1469696446~2.jpg
Meet The Solution.

In Hong Kong, a member of the triad instructs his hired assassins to distribute a shipment of illegal substances without getting any interference from The Solution. Predictably, the said team happens to be with them in their secret venue which starts a wave of martial arts, shooting and use of magic.

Enough with the plot. The Solution is a team of super-human mercenaries composed of Lela Cho/Tech (the leader), Eara/Shadowmage, Vurk/Outrage and Dropkick. Quite literally, whenever a major problem happens someone will call The Solution (the answer) to solve it for a fee.

In terms of character design, The Solution has a rather visceral look which was clearly emphasized on the cover art. Outrage, for example, looks very monstrous and one could easily mistake him for an evil figure.

RCO011_1469696446~2.jpg
Obvious antagonists.

Illustrator Darick Robertson’s art is nice to look at and when the action happens, he sure delivers the goods making the hard action moves look intense. Even showing characters firing their guns look intense. The violence in this comic book is quite bloody and the opening scenes really show that.

Even with the non-action, talking scenes, Robertson’s art makes the members of The Solution look believably human. Facial expressions are good and they quite match the dialogue written. The team shot on page 21, which shows Lela Cho in the foreground talking to her teammates in the background, really looks nice.

In terms of writing, I found this comic book to be a bit bloated in terms of details and plot. Most notably, the pace of the story moves very fast and while it does its job establishing The Solution (and part of its purpose as a team-for-hire), the circumstances and the team’s place within the Ultraverse, the story felt really crammed even though there were 28 pages of story and art. I noticed that while the comic book is about The Solution, it ended up showing a total of three different teams (including the hired assassins).

In terms of character development, there was clear focus on Lela Cho which is not a surprise since she is the team leader. It turns out Lela has lots of vested interests in the corporate world and instead of being in a fancy office, she goes out in the field to get things done. She has a very direct, personal access to information online by means of wetware embedded in her skull. She also has a touch of business in her approach with leading The Solution.

“Our potential client has a problem with some Ultras. They want us to take care of it,” Lela Cho said on page 23.

RCO010_1469696446~2.jpg
You got a problem? Call The Solution!

While it may not look as prominent as The Strangers or UltraForce as far as Ultraverse superhero teams go, The Solution stands out nicely for it is unique and its team-for-hire concept is very interesting. When I first read this comic book long ago, I was convinced to pursue the succeeding issues. Even by today’s standards, this old comic book remains fun and engaging.

The Solution #1 is recommended.


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. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. 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

Jane de Leon the new cinematic Darna

JaneDarna
Jane de Leon and Darna. (note: picture of the actress sourced from IMDB.com)

Remember when Israeli actress Gal Gadot revealed that she auditioned for a role at Warner Bros. not knowing that she would eventually get hired to play Wonder Woman?

Such a development like that happened here in the Philippines as ABS-CBN formally announced on July 17 that they hired 20-year-old actress Jane de Leon as the new cinematic Darna (finally replacing Lisa Soberano) and this puts the much delayed Darna live-action movie back on track.

In an interview with Preview.ph, de Leon revealed that she went through a process that involved a public audition, a special audition for artists, the final call, the panel meeting and the big meeting with the bosses at ABS-CBN. Along the way, she remembered auditioning for a villain role and the audition involved the participation of around three hundred candidates (according to ABS-CBN’s official announcement).

In the network’s official announcement, there was the final deliberation in which the network management asked the actress how committed she is in getting the role. De Leon replied that she would “everything and anything” for it and added that she believes “in what Darna stands for.”

Olivia Lamasan, who is the ABS-CBN Films managing director, asked De Leon (translated from Tagalog): “Are you ready? Are you ready to hold the stone? Are you ready to be Darna? This is because we are giving you (the role of) Darna.”

Unsurprisingly, De Leon got shocked with getting the role. Darna, after all, is a Philippine superhero icon that started way back in the 1950s and multiple comic books, movies and TV episodes were made featuring the character. The late Mars Ravelo created Darna.

Lamasan stated to ABS-CBN News that the Darna movie is a “genesis story” (origin) with a coming-of-age theme. She added that having someone “young and with an air of innocence” as well as “strength of character.”

Personally, I am not surprised that an origin story is the concept of the still unmade movie. This is, after all, the newest version of Darna under ABS-CBN and the new actress has to not only play the icon but also make her relevant with today’s moviegoers, including the many Filipinos born just before or just after the year 2000.

Behind the scenes, experienced filmmakers were involved in the selection process and they carefully made their choices. Darna movie director Jerrold Tarog said that De Leon was their unanimous choice.

Very notably, after the announcement, former Darna actress Liza Soberano congratulated De Leon on winning the role.

Beyond the casting for the icon, it remains to be seen what kind of quality moviegoers will get once the Darna film project finally gets made. We moviegoers have to ask: how much spectacle will the film have? Will the script have childish humor? Will the Darna costume for Jane de Leon still be the traditional 2-piece swimsuit with boots, helmet and that front loincloth? Will the movie serve as a platform for the possible launch of single, shared cinematic universe of Mars Ravelo’s superheroes?

From this point on, the producers and filmmakers should be able to move forward at last with making the Darna movie while Jane de Leon prepares herself.

Details of De Leon

A native of Laguna province, Jane de Leon stands 5’3 and is talented with acting, singing, dancing and playing drums and guitar. She also took part in modeling. With regards to movies and television, her credits include The Debutantes (2017 movie), Ipaglaban Mo (TV series), Maalaala mo kaya (TV series), and Halik (TV series).

Regarding her talent, check this out.


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. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linggo ng Kabataan 2019 Events in Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City set for August 17

As announced by the Barangay BF Homes Sangguniang Kabataan (BFSK) during its July 14 general meeting, the much-awaited Linggo ng Kabataan 2019 (Youth Week 2019) will commence on August 17 mainly at the Phase 1 gym along Pilar Banzon street, BF Homes subdivision, Parañaque City.

Linggo2019
The official sign of the Linggo ng Kabataan 2019. (photo care of the BFK Facebook page)

Linggo ng Kabataan 2019 is a whole day event filled with multiple activities organized by the BFSK (led by its chairperson Mariel Angela Tumang) which has already invited youths of local communities aged 15 to 30-years-old.

Activities include:

1) Palarong Pinoy (games) – A variety of games will be held. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shirts, leggings, pants, jogging pants and sport shoes. Prohibited is the wearing of shorts and slippers. Going beyond the games, there will be a program and other related activities that will happen until the evening. Participants are reminded that sportsmanship is a key value of taking part here.

2) Malayang Taludturan/Tula-Salitaan (Spoken Word Poetry) – As part of the BFSK’s celebration of the Buwan ng Wika, there will be literary contests happening and the use of Filipino or Tagalog as language is essential. Poems written in Tagalog should be originally composed by the participants.

3) Trashionista – a competition that encourages creativity with a strong sense of taking care of the environment by means of using recycles materials. This is a challenge to make gowns composed of fully recycled materials and participants must ensure that the gowns can actually be worn. There is a requirement for presenters of the gown to be a member of the LGBTQA+. Each presentation will be judged by authenticity, creativity, originality, effort and audience impact.

All youths residing in Barangay BF Homes are highly encouraged to participate.

“We are hoping that youths can gain something and enjoy in all the activities that we will be giving them on the event. We would love to see them smiling and enjoying while participating in the Linggo ng Kabataan,” Barangay BF Homes SK chairperson Mariel Tumang said. “They could enhance their skills especially in the Contests that we’ve prepared. They can showcase their talents, build up their confidence and especially develop sportmanship and learn how to socialize with their fellow youths.“

The Linggo ng Kabataan 2019 in Barangay BF Homes is being prepared by the BFSK led by Tumang with the full support of their SK council members (SK kagawads) Alma Galindo, Roselyn Regis, Jerry Dalmero, Kelly Haboc, Irene Juanico, Anne Gabrielle Corre and Stephanie Sebullen plus BFSK Secretary Darrenz Fabros and BFSK Treasurer Jefferson Ching. Barangay BF Homes chairman Paolo Marquez, who previously served as an official and leader of the BFSK, naturally supports the Linggo ng Kabataan 2019.

For inquiries, visit the BFSK’s official FB page here or visit Barangay BF Homes hall along Elsie Gatches street.

To read my exclusive interview with BFSK chairperson Mariel Tumang, click 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. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. 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

 

 

Year-long Donation Drive in Barangay BF Homes launched

A donation drive program called DOnate GOODs was formally launched on July 20 at the Robinsons Townville in Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City and anyone from the public who is generous or has a genuine intention to help are welcome to give.

DOnate GOODs is a year-long donation drive organized by Barangay BF Homes’ Nutrition Council (led by Kagawad Cielo Lazatin) in cooperation with Robinsons Townville for the benefit of malnourished children of the local community.

The donation drive is in support of the “UKAY-UKAY/ROLLING STORE” program. It is an income-generating initiative that would provide financial assistance to the parents/guardians of the beneficiaries in attending to their daily needs.

Donors’ used goods like clothes, shoes, bags, toys, etc. that are still in good condition are accepted.

To donate, visit the administration office of Robinsons Townville BF Homes which is physically connected with Pergola Mall. The whole place is along Aguirre Avenue connected to Elsie Gatched street (where the Barangay hall is located at).

Goods are accepted Monday to Saturday, 10AM to 2PM.

The launch

According to Kagawad Cielo Lazatin, the July 20 launch held at Robinsons Townville BF Homes also had extra activities emphasizing health such as free blood pressure check and vital signa check. A Zumba marathon was held which attracted a lot of participants and sponsor Byba Philippines gave out free sample products.

Below are images contributed by the barangay. Click any image to enlarge.