Author Carlo Carrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 8

May 6, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s and 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related hardware.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Enemy Zero print ad

*I should say Sega did a solid job by making this intriguing and eye-catching print ad for Enemy Zero.*

The first time I saw this print ad of Enemy Zero in the late 1990s, I was intrigued by its visual concept and it got me interested to learning more about the game. Enemy Zero was a sci-fi video game developed by Warp and released as a console-exclusive on the Sega Saturn. Since I never owned a Saturn, I never got to play the game but I was inspired to learn more about Warp (which developed the hit game D). As it turns out, Enemy Zero started as a project for PlayStation but because of Sony’s failure to fulfill the pre-orders of D on PlayStation (100,000 copies ordered but less than 30,000 copies printed by Sony), Warp’s head Kenji Eno decided to make Enemy Zero exclusive to the Sega Saturn. Enemy Zero was published by Sega worldwide while Warp published it in Japan, and the game sold between 500,000 to 700,000 copies (based on Eno’s claim).

2. Bionic Commando print ad

*For the American market, Capcom showed what the game box and front cover art would look like, then added the details and two screenshots for readers to examine.*

Back in the late 1980s, I played Bionic Commando and managed to finish it after enduring lots of challenges along the way. It was a very unique adventure game as it used a highly unusual method of moving from one platform to the next by means of a futuristic grappling gun. This particular print ad showcased what the game’s actual box looked like (with cover artwork made for North America) and used two screenshots from the game. This ad hardly captures the excitement and intensity that awaited gamers and yet it manages to give people a clear look at the grappling concept. While the North American version of the game has certain content altered, it still had the same gory ending (and Adolf Hitler as the main villain) as the Japanese version.

3. RoboCop print ad

*This served as an extension of the impact of the very violent 1987 movie.*

RoboCop made huge impact on moviegoers as well as people who love science fiction and the R-rated action films Hollywood studios released in the 1980s. That being said, it was not surprising that a video game of RoboCop was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System (Family Computer in Japan) by Data East and the print ad they came up with cleverly used imagery from the movie poster and the screenshots showed exactly what RoboCop fans expected to see such as the enemy robot ED-209 and thugs. This game strongly reflects the business trend of the 1980s when companies made merchandise and adaptations of R-rated blockbuster films to sell to kids and teenagers.

4. Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko print ads

*This print ad for Europe had a James Bond vibe.*

*March 1998 Playmate of the Month on the hood of the car looking at Gex.*

*The 2-page print ad of Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko.*

In 1999, Eidos Interactive – the company behind the wildly popular Tomb Raider games of the decade – became aggressive marketing Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko for PlayStation and Nintendo 64. They were so aggressive, they featured actress and Playboy’s Playmate of the Month (March 1998) Marliece Andrada alongside their star character Gex in the marketing which was not limited to America. For the newcomers reading this, a multimedia approach was implemented on the narrative of the game’s PlayStation version which explains why it has full-motion video sequences featuring Andrada as the character Agent Xtra. As seen in these print ads, Eidos Interactive had Andrada looking pretty and sexy to really sell the game.

5. Barkley Shut Up and Jam! print ad

I remember the many types of basketball video games that were released on game consoles back in the 1990s. While there were NBA video games that had in-depth rosters of players with seasonal gaming in mind, there were other basketball-related video games that were not about the said league but featured an NBA star. In this print ad, publisher Accolade prominently featured NBA star Charles Barkley to promote the game Barkley Shut Up and Jam!, posted some words emphasizing sports intensity, and showed one screenshot to assure gamers that this is a basketball game. While the critical reception was mixed, the game must have sold enough to convince Accolade to release a sequel two years later with Barkley still the endorser.

6. The Death and Return of Superman print ad

*This print ad clearly aimed for the fans of the comic books as well as gamers looking for an action-packed game to play.*

Now this is one very eye-catching print ad that appeared in comic books and magazines in the 1990s. Anyone who knows comics would recognize the grey fist (with sharp bones protruding on the knuckles) belonging to Doomsday who killed Superman in Superman #75 (1993), and the bloody presentation on the famous S was very aggressive for its time. The game itself was an adaptation of the two storylines (published in 1992 and 1993 respectively) that saw Superman’s death, his return and the appearances of new Supermen. While sales figures are not available, The Death and Return of Superman eventually attracted mixed reviews from the critics.

7. Dragon Force print ad

*This was printed in magazines at a time when Working Designs had a strong business relationship with Sega.*

While the Sega Saturn was undeniably a huge commercial disappointment in North America, the console still had some great games that was widely praised by game critics and heavily bought by gamers. One of those outstanding games on the console was Dragon Force (developed by Sega and J-Force in Japan, localized in America by Working Designs) which received great critical acclaim and achieved commercial success both in Japan and in America. The popular magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly named Dragon Force as the Saturn Game of the Year as well as Strategy Game of the Year in 1996. As a Working Designs release, this print ad has an ambitious fantasy concept visually emphasized, detailed lines of descriptions and screenshots that strongly appealed to the gamers, anime enthusiasts and those who love fantasy. This ad is also a sad reminder that the business relationship between Sega and Working Designs went downhill afterwards (read: Bernie Stolar) and the sequel Dragon Force II was never released outside of Japan.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Ramos and Avanzado top Super Sprint 13-15 contests of 2024 NTT Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT), age-group winners declared

May 6, 2024May 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Youth triathletes Euan Arrow Ramos and Eleora Avanzado emerged victorious in the Super Sprint-13-15 contests during the 2^nd day of action of the 2024 NTT AST Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) held at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone yesterday, according to Triathlon Philippines. The day also saw many age-group triathlon contests as well.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the official release from Triathlon Philippines. Some parts in boldface…

Euan Arrow Ramos and Eleora Avanzado came up with impressive performances to reign supreme in the Super Sprint 13-15 category in the 2024 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) here on Sunday.

Ramos of Baguio Benget Triathlon clocked 35 minutes and 34 seconds to claim victory in the men’s division in the race held at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Freeport Boardwalk.

Get Coach’D Army bets Peter Sancho Del Rosario (36:42) and Diego Jose Dimayuga (36:58) pocketed the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Avanzado, meanwhile, submitted the best time of 39:26 to capture the gold medal in the women’s division of the event presented by NTT and Asian Triathlon and organized by Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with SBMA.

Christy Ann Perez of TLTG-Go for Gold registered 40:00 to settle for the silver medal while Yvaine Osias secured the bronze medal in 41 minutes and 42 seconds.

The winners are aspiring to represent the country in the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games that will take place in Dakar, Senegal in 2026.

In the Sprint age group, Daniel Cadavos (1:08:25) ruled the men’s 16-19 over Jacob Tan and Peter Jaynario, who both finished the race in 1:09:00.

Podium winners in other categories were John Wayne Ybanez (1:06:33), Daniel Nazarro (1:07:37) and Carlos Santiago Arenas (1:08:40) in the men’s 20-29; Allan Racines (1:19:51), Samuel Ebuen Bada (1:25:03) and Benjamin Asiddao Jr. (1:44:00) in the men’s 30-39; Raffy Dolor (1:17:37), Bryan Lucas (1:19:04) and TJ Rabena (1:25:25) in the men’s 40-49; Dato Arroyo (1:31:46), Diosdado Soriano (1:38:37) and Joey Gatchalian (1:47:43) in the men’s 50-above.

The top three winners in the women’s division were Dhana Victoria Seda-Loboy (1:17:51), Aira Danara Gregorio (1:19:19) and Akyzxa Tangalin (1:25:29) in the 16-19; Anne Geleene De Vera (1:40:16), Manell Queen Aquino (2:29:58) and Paula Patrice (2:45:26) in the 20-29; Yasuko Sato (1:29:34), Eda Maningat (1:38:01) and Chiaki Otsuka (1:39:36) in the 30-39; Alfie Yu (1:45:03), Aubrey Ambata (2:22:16) and Lourdes Alejandro (2:22:47) in the 40-above.

Meanwhile, JB John Piodo (2:27:10) won the gold medal in Standard men’s 18-24 category over Ronald Mendez (2:28:01) and Loyd Allen Bergonio (2:28:38).

Other top three finishers were Julius Constantino (2:19:00), David Gordon (2:38:02) and Ron Eirrol Perez-Mazo (2:38:47) in the men’s 25-29; Deo Timbol (2:12:57), Jemuel Clemente (2:26:22) and Ashley Tuazon (2:40:10) in the men’s 30-34; Luigi Victor Robles (2:18:16), Tranayn Leo Brian Cayabyab (2:27:56) and Angelo Blanco (2:34:41) in the men’s 35-39; Jonathan Arellano (2:25:30), Marlon Cataquis (2:34:56) and Alexander Badajos (2:36:42) in the men’s 40-44; Ricarte Dayata (2:41:00), Marvin Baldemor (2:43:39) and Joffrey Ano (2:44:22) in the men’s 45-49; Philip Bucad (2:35:39), Junrox Roque (2:37:22) and Geron Guanlao (2:39:38) in the men’s 50-54; Emmanuel Mondero (2:31:55), Benjamin Tan (2:51:57) and Ronald Allan Ginez (2:56:52) in the men’s 55-59; and Eduardo Francisco (3:06:44), Thierry Mauranne (3:14:55) and Benjamin Villagracia (3:28:54) in the men’s 60- above.

Champions in the Sprint para-triathlon were Alex Silverio (PT4); Raul Angoluan (PT5); Jerome Nelmida and Al-Shyrel Amiladjid (PTVI); and Steve and Audrey Coleman (SPC).

In the Super Tri-Kids, Bruen Lukas Platz clocked 33:59 to win the boys 11-12 category, beating Joeffrey Fiam Arellano (34:52) and Kurt Evans Cruz (35:10).

Lauren Lee Tan (33:57) topped the girls division while teammate Aliya Nora Adre (34:15) placed third. Alaina Bouffaut (33:58) was second.

The top three finishers in the 9-10 category were Chris Donovan (25:30), Jon David Julian (25:54) and Thomas Mhigel Edangal (26:30) in the boys division, while in the girls division were Mitch Raine Salva (26:10), Lagnajita Bhakat (28:59) and Zoe Angel Da Silva (29:23).

Winners in the 7-8 category were Eli Julian Dela Cruz (21:10), Zavier Prequenza (22:03) and Aleph Ignacio Javier Avellanosa (23:07) in the boys division, while in the girls division were Ami Takei (20:55), Isabelle Georgina Delos Santos (23:54) and Stacey Ailia Aisha Escala (54:40).

Ruan Azriel Santos (11:52) and Jan Cristel Culanag (15:38) dominated in the 6-and-under category.

The SuBIT, which is the longest running Olympic distance triathlon in Asia, is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Asian Center for Insulation, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Western Guaranty Corp. and Fitbar.

For Philippine triathlon updates, click https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil

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NTF-ELCAC points to NDF as the top “terrorist groomer” in the Philippines

May 6, 2024April 24, 2024carlocarrasco

In its continuing fight against Leftist and terrorist forces, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) reminded the public that the National Democratic Front (NDF) is still the top “terror-groomer” in the country, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

The National Democratic Front (NDF) remains the “foremost terror-groomer” among the various terrorist groups still operating in the country, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has said.

“Even in the CPP’s (Communist Party of the Philippines) 2016 Constitution, under Article 10, it shows that the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) is an integral and inseparable part of the CPP-NPA (New People’s Army). It is the core and most consolidated group that provides support to the armed and organizational expansion of the CPP,” NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said in a statement Tuesday night.

Torres said the pervasive threat posed by the NDF, established 51 years ago on April 24, 1973, undermines the very fabric of Filipino society.

The NDF’s orchestration of worker strikes, student boycotts, and protests aimed at destabilizing the government underscores the imperative to confront their malevolent agenda, he added.

“These duplicitous organizations thrive on the suffering of the Filipino people, deceiving innocent individuals to join their corrupted cause and needlessly perish for it,” Torres said.

He added that the CPP-NPA-NDF has methodically recruited innocent Filipinos into their armed components, perpetrating terrorist activities nationwide through its deceptive facade of front organizations.

Torres also said the insurgents’ exploitation of vulnerable sectors and their manipulation of social issues have sown seeds of violence and anarchy in marginalized communities.

He noted that the targeted recruitment of vulnerable sectors, such as students and youth for terrorist grooming, is part of the “intricate dynamics” of the Underground Mass Organizations (UGMOs) of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their front organizations.

He emphasized the overarching authority of the NDF across diverse sectors within the CPP-NPA-NDF network nationwide.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be members of your local community who might be undergoing brainwashing under the NDF or any Communist-filled organization? Do you think there are a lot of secretive Communists among the teachers in schools around the country right now? Are you ready to report any Leftist or terrorist agents to the NTF-ELCAC?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Australia and South Korea top elite contests of 2024 NTT Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT)

May 5, 2024May 4, 2024carlocarrasco

Australia’s Luke Bate and South Korea’s Jeong Hye Rim respectively won the Men’s Elite and Women’s Elite titles of the 2024 NTT AST Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone yesterday, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) sports news report.

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

Australian Luke Bate came up with an impressive performance to win the men’s elite title in the 2024 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SuBIT) here on Saturday.

The 25-year-old from Perth submitted the best aggregate time of 54 minutes and 25 seconds in the race held over 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Freeport Boardwalk.

Compatriot Christopher Deegan posted 54:32 for second place while Japan’s Amu Omuro (54:38) was third.

Australians Rory Thornhill (54:48) and Jack Chrome (55:00) came fourth and fifth, respectively, followed by Japanese Satoshi Iwamoto (55:13), Hokuto Obara, (55:28) and Kenshin Mori (55:34); Korean Kim Jusin (55:41); and Australian Samuel Mileham (55:47).

“I’ve been racing for eight years so I really wanted to win,” said the 6-foot-1 Bate, who resides in Wollongong City.

“It’s my first time in the Philippines, I’m glad I won,” said Bate, currently No. 8 in Australia. “I hope I can come back next year. It depends on my schedule.”

Cebuano Andrew Kim Remolino, who won two silvers in triathlon and one silver in duathlon at the South East Asian (SEA) Games, was the best finisher among the locals. He clocked 56:09 for 13th place, while province mate Matthew Justine Hermosa (56:38) was 16th.

Joshua Ramos of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (56:53) was 19th, and Filipino-Spanish Fernando Jose Casares, a two-time SEAG gold winner, was 23rd with a time of 57:44.

Meanwhile, South Korean Jeong Hye Rim registered 1:01:22 to secure the women’s title in the event presented by NTT and Asian Triathlon and organized by Triathlon Philippines in cooperation with SBMA.

Iceland’s Edda Hannesdottir (1:01:32) took the silver medal while Australia’s Chloe Bateup (1:01:47) settled for the bronze.

Indonesia’s Martina Ayu Pratiwi (1:02:11) was fourth followed by Japan’s Manami Hayashi (1:02:15), Filipino Raven Faith Alcoseba (1:02:20), Guam’s Manami Iijima (1:02:31), Japan’s Himeka Sato (1:02:38), and South Korea’s Kim Gyuri (1:03:19) and Kim Ji Yeon (1:03:50).

“It’s too hot, (but) except for the weather, I’m okay,” the 25-year-old Jeong said through an interpreter.

Jeong, who hails from Daejon City, was only hoping for a podium finish after placing 20th last year. She first joined in 2018.

“I did not expect to win. It’s been six years since I first joined the tournament, so I am very happy that I won the gold medal,” said Jeong, who pocketed the bronze medal in the junior division of the 2016 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Cozumel, Mexico.

Jeong debuted at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games where she won the silver medal in the mixed relay. At the 2022 Hangzhou Asiad, she was seventh in the individual event.

In the junior elite category, the top three finishers in the men’s division were Dayshaun Karl Ramos (1:02:05), Juan Miguel Tayag (1:02:40), and Darell Johnson (1:03:22).

The winners in the women’s division were Naomi Felicity Aytin (1:18:42), Edellaine Mae Diggs (1:18:36), and Maria Celinda Raagas (1:19:05).

To see the official results, click here for the Men’s Elite and click here for the Women’s Elite.

For Philippine triathlon updates, click https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 18

May 3, 2024May 3, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 X-Men (2000) movie reaction videos plus trivia and retrospective – When it comes to superheroes, I am fan of the X-Men and most of the engaging stories I read were comic books written by Chris Claremont who is also responsible with defining many key characters. The first-ever live-action X-Men movie was released in 2000 and I saw it on opening day here in the Philippines inside a cinema of Festival Mall and it was not even half-full. Today, a brand new live-action X-Men movie under Marvel Studios has yet to be released and now is a good time to look back at the first movie through the varied movie reaction videos, trivia video and retrospective video below…

#2 Flavors of NCR 2024 videos – If you love food and enjoy food bazaars or food festivals, then you should read my article about the 2024 edition of Flavors of NCR which I attended recently. Flavors of NCR is an annual food festival supported by the local governments of the National Capital Region (NCR) here in the Philippines which gives visitors opportunities to try the food and beverage products offered by different small businesses from each local government. This year’s Flavors of NCR was hosted by Muntinlupa City and Filinvest City Central Park was the venue. Watch and enjoy my videos below…

#3 The Leftists love terrorism, murder, destruction and genocide – On more serious matters, the Islamo-Leftist believers (people who hate Israel and support Iran, the Palestinian terrorists and other evil forces of the world) have turned more chaotic with their protesting and they don’t even care about the safety and concerns of the public. Here are the facts: Leftists/socialists/Marxists/Communists/liberals are consumed by evil and they took sides with the terrorists not realizing they are supporting evil forces. It is also a fact that many pro-Palestine believers don’t even have full knowledge of what they are campaigning for and their ignorance was exposed! Many pro-Palestine believers want to commit genocide against the Jewish people even as they blatantly blame Israel for genocide (a big lie). Observe the evil, the ignorance and recklessness of the people who hate Israel in the videos below. They are clearly very lost people who constantly fail to realize the evil of their ways.

#4 Wicked Iran failed to destroy Israel and got hit strategically – Iran is the heart of evil in this world we live in. Iran – which has a very wicked and unholy regime since 1979 – is Satan’s tool for spreading death, chaos and genocide through the form of terrorism. Iran’s massive attack on Israel turned out a major failure as their missiles (plus some from their terrorist proxies) were deflected by a rate of 99% by Israel’s defenses and assistance from its allies (including Saudi Arabia). Iran was humiliated not only because of the failed massive attack (which cost them many billions of Dollars) on Israel but also because a new coalition of Western and Arab nation was formed to defend Israel.

Shortly after that, Iran suffered from a strategic attack which was not even massive in terms of explosives but was more than enough to rattle Iranian systems. The attack on Iran happened the same day their supreme leader turned 85 and their evil regime got very humiliated. Watch and learn from the videos below…

#5 The Jessica Alfaro Story (1995) full movie – Here in the Philippines, the Vizconde Massacre case is one of the most controversial and most sensationalized cases ever. This is about the 1991 tragedy of three family members – mother, adult daughter and little daughter – who were found dead with multiple stab wounds in their home in BF Homes, Parañaque. In 1995, Jessica Alfaro emerged as the so-called star witness claiming she knew the suspects, was at the Vizconde home when the murders happened, and pointed to several suspects who happened to be members of prominent families. Conviction of the suspects happened in January 2000 followed by further legal disputes through the following years. In December 2010, seven of the nine accused were acquitted as a result of the Supreme Court reversing the earlier judgment of the lower court and the Court of Appeals.

Going back to 1995, believe it or not, a live-action movie dramatizing the life and times of Jessica Alfaro was actually released shortly after the star witness first emerged. The movie was The Jessica Alfaro Story (1995) which starred Alice Dixson which you can watch entirely (note: Tagalog language and several minutes of the film was muted on YouTube due to use of copyrighted music) below.

Take note that due to legal reasons, the Vizconde name was not used in the film which resulted in the use of an alternative name (examples: Vizconde massacre is called Ilagan massacre, Carmella Vizconde is referred to as Lorraine Ilagan), and do not expect to hear Hubert Webb’s name in the film. This goes the same with the other real-life suspects. The Vizconde Massacre case officially started in 1995 and the 2010 Supreme Court decision made The Jessica Alfaro Story’s overall value questionable by today’s standards. However, the movie should still appeal to people who love Alice Dixson, as well as film buffs who are interested to see how Filipino filmmakers dramatize reality and controversial cases.

#6 Elevator Action retrospective – Decades ago, I enjoyed playing Elevator Action games on console and at the local arcade. Specifically, I played the original Elevator Action game on the Family Computer (Nintendo Entertainment System in America) as a young boy. A decade later, I played the sequel Elevator Action Returns which was very fun and immersive arcade game! To learn more about the history of Elevator Action, watch the video of PatmanQC below…

#7 Stargate reaction videos – Before Independence Day (1996) and the atrocious Hollywood Godzilla (1998) were released, the creative duo of producer Dean Devlin and director Roland Emmerich made Stargate (1994). This is the very movie that served as the foundation of the eventual Stargate SG-1 TV series which itself was a sequel. To learn more about the Stargate movie, watch the selected reaction videos below…

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NEDA says inflation may ease in 2nd half of 2024

May 3, 2024April 24, 2024carlocarrasco

In the view of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), headline inflation may ease in the 2^nd half of 2024 as a result of the subsiding of pressure on food prices connected with the El Niño effect, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

HEADLINE INFLATION may start easing in the second half of the year as pressure on food prices subsides after the El Niño weather event ends, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief said.

“In the second half of this year, we expect the pressure from food prices to diminish, because a big part of that food inflation was imported in the sense that food prices, particularly for staple, have been rising in the world market,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan told reporters on the sidelines of a forum on Monday afternoon.

Inflation rose for a second straight month in March to 3.7% amid rising food prices. Food inflation accelerated to 5.7%, its fastest pace in four months, mainly driven by rice.

Rice inflation surged to 24.4% in March, the highest since the 24.6% print in February 2009.

“But for rice, (pressure) is expected to decline, (as prices) reached the peak and will start falling after June as the El Niño phenomenon is waning,” Mr. Balisacan said.

The El Niño weather phenomenon is expected to persist until May, but the Philippines may continue to feel its impact until August, the Department of Science and Technology said earlier.

Mr. Balisacan said he is hoping that April inflation would fall within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2-4% target band, although oil prices pose a risk.

He noted April inflation will likely be close to the 3.7% print recorded in March.

“[The] 2-4% is still a fighting target. Of course, we are watching closely the developments in the Middle East. If the oil prices would be affected by the development, there would be some pressure for us,” Mr. Balisacan said, refer-ring to the conflict between Israel and Iran.

The local statistics agency will release April inflation data on May 7.

Mr. Balisacan said that economic growth in the first half may be affected if inflation continues to breach the target.

“[It’s] a challenge because domestic consumption, particularly home consumption and investment, are very sensitive to inflation and interest rates,” he said.

Earlier this month, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) revised its gross domestic product (GDP) growth target range to 6-7% this year from 6.5-7.5% previously amid geopolitical tensions, price upticks, and trade restrictions.

The local statistics agency is set to release first-quarter GDP data on May 9.

“With food prices starting to come down, that should be good for growth. But of course, if the energy prices continue to rise, then it could affect logistics, distribution, and it could impact food prices too. But we hope that it will not be serious,” Mr. Balisacan said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think headline inflation in the Philippines will go down slightly in the 2^nd half of this year? Do you think external economic developments will cause inflation to rise?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Immigration officer relieved for allowing overstaying foreigner to pass through airport passenger gate without a clearance

May 2, 2024April 23, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently at the Clark International Airport (CIA), an officer of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) was relieved of his post as a result of allowing an overstaying foreigner to pass through the passenger gate with a clearance, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

An immigration officer has been relieved of his post and ordered investigated after he reportedly allowed an overstaying foreigner to pass through the passenger gate at the Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga last April 17.

The foreigner, Indian national Jasbir Singh, was intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration’s Border Control and Intelligence Unit (BI-BCIU) before he could board a flight to Singapore.

In a statement, the BI said that the immigration officer, whose name was withheld pendng results of the investigation, allowed Singh to pass through the passenger gate without a stamp of clearance from the bureau.

According to BI-BCIU Acting Chief Vincent Bryan Allas, Singh presented his boarding pass with an immigration departure stamp and emergency travel document without a BI stamp,” it said.

“Allas said it was obvious that the passenger wanted to leave without paying the immigration fees and fines that overstaying alien tourists are assessed and required to pay before they could be cleared to leave the country,” it also said.

The BI noted Singh arrived in the Philippines last Dec. 9, 2023 and was admitted as a tourist for 21 days. He is now detained at the BI’s facility in Taguig City pending his deportation.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be even more overstaying foreigners in the country who might slip through immigration officers’ watch at the airports?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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P25 billion worth of residential projects planned by Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) this year

May 2, 2024April 22, 2024carlocarrasco

Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) will continue to be aggressive with property development as they recently announced they will introduce this year more residential projects worth an estimated P25 billion located in different parts of the country, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

GOTIANUN-LED property developer Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI) has announced plans to introduce residential projects worth P25 billion this year.

“(We) aim to optimize our land bank and sustain our strong market presence in cities where we are already present,” FLI President and Chief Executive Officer Tristaneil D. Las Marias said during the company’s virtual annual stockholders meeting on Friday last week.

Some of the residential projects eyed to be launched this year are located in Cavite, he added. These include the company’s first mid-rise condominium project in Bacoor, as well as new developments for its 94-hectare The Wood Estates residential township in Trece Martires.

“We will upgrade our Wood Estates… with commercial shops, transport terminals, and affordable low-rise condo developments,” he said.

Mr. Las Marias also announced that FLI will launch the 11.4-hectare Iloilo Centrale residential township in Leganes, Iloilo, which will include supermarkets, daycare centers, public transport terminals, a park, and a football field.

“Iloilo Centrale will also offer our first walk-up project which will provide very affordable condo units located in a complete residential setting that provides social spaces, outdoor sports, activity event areas, and modern amenities at very affordable prices,” he said.

“We have also kept a balanced geographical portfolio for our residential business by exploiting residential business opportunities in key cities in Visayas and Mindanao,” he added.

He said that FLI will open several mid-rise condo buildings in Dumaguete, Zamboanga, and General Santos.

The company also plans to launch taller condo buildings in Cebu and Davao to “match the growing market potentials in these highly urbanized cities and optimize land bank values.”

“We have also seen the huge unserved demand in housing. We plan to continue to offer affordable housing projects in Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bataan, Zamboanga, and other second class cities in Visayas and Mindanao with the intent to make housing accessible to as much government and private workers within the mass market income bracket and help more Filipinos build their dream,” he said.

FLI is also planning to complete nine additional ready-built factories at its Filinvest Innovation Park in the next two years. The planned factories will span 12,500 square meters each.

Last month, FLI completed the turnover of a ready-built factory to StB GIGA for the production of lithium iron phosphate batteries.

The Filinvest Innovation Park is within the Filinvest New Clark City mixed-use township, which is part of the 9,450-hectare New Clark City development in Capas, Tarlac.

“We also have about 55 hectares of land available for long-term lease already built at the moment,” he said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the planned residential projects of FLI will make positive socio-economic impact in the mentioned locations around the country? Do you think there is good demand for new homes around the country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #9 (1994)

May 1, 2024February 28, 2026carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore the adaptation of the second season of the famous X-Men: The Animated Series (X-Men TAS) in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that the subject X-Men Adventures comic book will involve Carol Danvers in a supporting role (in rather creative ways). Yes, I’m talking about the one character who in the history of the Marvel Comics shared universe was identified (in no particular order) as Ms. Marvel, Binary, Warbird and as Captain Marvel. As the subject comic book was published in 1994, Carol Danvers here is obviously not the woke garbage version played by Brie Larson in the movies.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #9, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by John Hebert.

Early story

The story begins at night in New York City. There, Mystique and Mister Sinister have a serious talk. Sinister believes that without Charles Xavier’s presence, the X-Men are very vulnerable and they will eventually become disorganized and fall down quickly.

Over at the mansion of Xavier, Rogue wakes up from a very intense nightmare which prompts Cyclops and Gambit to calm her down. Rogue reveals that she has been having very disturbing visions ever since Professor X disappeared. It turns out, Xavier helped her previously by using his mental abilities to block out the unpleasant memories of hers.

Jean Grey enters the room and she reveals (in response to Cyclops’ question) that she ran a computer search on the woman Rogue saw the other day and came up with several pictures. As soon as Rogue examines the pictures, she then remembers who the woman is which causes her to be consumed by another vision from deep inside her mind. She sees Ms. Marvel…

Quality

*There is a lot of stuff here that Rogue fans will enjoy.*

The first obvious thing about this comic book is that it is a character-driven tale told mainly through Rogue. In fact, this is actually a creative portrayal of Rogue’s origin written for TV by Marty Isengerg and Robert Skir, and Macchio’s adaptation here made a really solid reading experience for me.

Without going too much into spoiler territory, I can say that this origin story of Rogue was not only written for TV viewers in mind but also crafted to cater to what was back then the modern tastes of X-Men fans in general. I’m talking about 1990s X-Men and society specifically and the thing is, everything here aged well. Nothing here feels out of place. I should also state that Rogue’s upbringing are well worth exploring here.

The writing by Macchio and art by Hebert are of high quality and this comic book is really worth reading again from start to finish. The emotions channeled through Rogue are very intense without ever reaching to the point of showing her insane. Hebert’s art, meanwhile, fills every page with a good amount of visual details complete with strong facial expressions (including some very scary faces from Mystique and Ms. Marvel) and some dynamic superhero action that really spiced up the reading experience.

As mentioned earlier, Carol Danvers appears in a supporting role and the creative team came up with clever ways to emphasize the character both visually and through dramatics. The way Danvers is portrayed here should inspire readers to go out and read Marvel’s published comic books of her as Ms. Marvel. The same thing can be said about Rogue whose origin and gradual rise from an occasional character (a super villainess no less) to a prominent superhero told through Marvel Comics’ shared universe are worth revisiting.

Conclusion

*A very disturbed Rogue in the presence of her teammates.*

X-Men Adventures Season II #9 (1994) is indeed a very powerful and gripping character-driven comic book that will appeal to fans of Rogue, the X-Men and Carol Danvers. Considering the wholesome aesthetic of the X-Men animated series TV episode, this comic book has a much darker presentation that will strongly appeal to X-Men fans who want a more serious portrayal to read. As it was mainly focused on Rogue, I can say that the conflict was nicely built up and the resolution was a strong pay-off. Very clearly, the Macchio-Hebert creative duo really delivered great stuff.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #9 (1994) is highly recommended.

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Almost P650 million deposited through BSP’s coin machines

May 1, 2024April 22, 2024carlocarrasco

Almost P650 million million worth of coins have been deposited through the many coin deposit machines (CoDMs) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as of April 15, 2024, as published on their website.

Based on the latest statistics, a total of P648,904,160.19 in coins got deposited into BSP machines on 161,725 transactions from customers. In terms of physical quantity, 179,641,987 coins were deposited.

Doing the math on the latest statistics, customers averaged P4,012.39 per transaction (versus the previous month’s P3,914.27 per transaction) at the machines. As for the grand total Peso amount divided by the number of coins deposited, the average is P3.6122 per coin deposited (versus the previous month’s average of P3.55749 per coin deposited).

In my experience, depositing coins at the BSP coin deposit machine inside Festival Mall in Alabang got a bit more challenging to do. I noticed that the machine in the said mall has been breaking down or malfunctioning more compared to previous times.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you able to deposit your excess coins into a BSP coin deposit machine in your locality recently? How long did you wait in line before you got your turn to deposit coins at the BSP coin deposit machine? Whenever you successfully deposited your coins, is GCash your main choice of e-wallet?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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