Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures Season II #5 (1994)

April 10, 2024March 30, 2024carlocarrasco

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 X-Men animated series in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.

Before getting to the new retro comic book review, I should state that I visited Canada only once. Even before my one and only visit there, I knew through the comic books that famous character Wolverine is a native of Canada and a former member of Alpha Flight (Canadian government-sponsored team of mutant operatives). Somewhere in his past, he was live test subject of Weapon X. I have to mention this because the X-Men Adventures about to be reviewed here is focused on Wolverine.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #5, published in 1994 by Marvel with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by John Hebert.

Early story

The story somewhere in the wilderness in Canada where Wolverine helps free an animal that was stuck. Suddenly, Alpha Flight’s Vindicator appears and reminds Wolverine of the fact that he deserted them to work of Charles Xavier. It turns out, Wolverine is back in Canada to visit Heather.

Moments later, he finds himself surrounded by Vindicator’s teammates Puck, Shaman and Sasquatch, and tells them that he is never coming back to Alpha Flight. Even though two more members of the Canadian team joined in, Wolverine manages to avoid defeat in battle and hides away.

As he listens to Alpha Flight from a distance, he hears Vindicator mentioning that a certain lab is expecting their team. This causes Wolverine to remember the traumatic time he had as a live test subject of Weapon X…

Quality

A look back at the time Wolverine joined the Canadian government-sponsored superhero team Alpha Flight. Would you want to join a unit serving the woke Canadian government of Justin Trudeau in real life?

I should mention first that the teleplay by the late Len Wein contains a very solid and sensible interpretation of Wolverine’s Weapon X origin (with a modern touch for the 1990s) which turned out to be a detailed reference for Ralph Macchio to adapt into this comic book.

That being said, this comic book’s plot of Wolverine going to Canada for a solid purpose and encountering challenges – both from his past with Alpha Flight and others – while bringing back his painful Weapon X past turned out to be a really engaging read. The Weapon X flashback scenes added a depth to the story as well as Wolverine’s portrayal in this adaptation. You will see the clawed X-Men member being tough and gritty as usual, and yet you will witness his fragile side as he becomes personally troubled about the past.

The appearance of Alpha Flight here was put to good use. Apart from the revelation of Wolverine’s past membership with them, you will see the team truly operate with a clear goal as mandated by their government (note: this is clearly not the ultra-woke, Islamo-Leftist government of Justin Trudeau). In fact, this tale gives readers a glimpse of how the Canadian government analyzes and decides what to do with Canadians who are very exceptional and are more valuable than many other citizens. Alpha Flight is the government’s tool which is strongly emphasized here.

Apart from the plot focused on Wolverine, this comic book managed to move the sub-plot of Magneto and Charles Xavier forward a bit.

Conclusion

X-Men Adventures Season II #5 (1994) has a very engaging and fun tale focused on Wolverine who encounters his fellow Canadians. Anyone who loves the clawed X-Men member will have a lot to enjoy here. The appearance of Alpha Flight here (as well as in the X-Men TAS episode) added a good layer of depth to the plot while also emphasizing the shared Marvel universe in a controlled manner. Lastly, artist John Hebert’s artwork on Wolverine is really good and his high level of visual detail on other characters and locations should be seen.

Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #5 (1994) is recommended.

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Only cash and manager’s checks will be accepted by Muntinlupa Treasurer’s Office

April 10, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced that its Treasurer’s Office will no longer accept personal and company checks as forms of payment, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. This effectively means that only cash and manager’s checks will be accepted by the said office on-site (over the counter).

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

The Muntinlupa City government announced that its Treasurer’s Office will no longer accept personal and company checks as payment.

In a Facebook post on April 1, the city government said this is based on the “Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 2013-004, Items 26-28, Chapter II” or the Revised Cash Examination Manual.

It said only cash and manager’s checks with the City Treasurer of Muntinlupa as payee will be accepted for on-site payment.

Under items 26 to 28 of the COA circular, “Checks presented for payment must be drawn by the payor himself and made payable to the agency or head of agency. In the latter case, only the official title or designation of the agency head concerned shall be stated as the payee.”

It prohibits the following checks as payment: checks drawn payable to the name of the agency head or any of its officers, endorsed private checks, post-dated checks, and stale checks.

“When a check drawn in favor of the government is not accepted by the drawee for any reason, the drawer shall continue to be liable for the sum due and all penalties resulting from delayed payments. Where the reason for non-acceptance by the drawee bank is insufficiency of funds, the drawer shall be criminally liable therefore,” the circular stated.

It added, “Whenever a payor has a record of a previously dishonored private check drawn by him in payment of taxes and dues, even if such check has already been settled, any private check presented by him shall no longer be accepted. In such case, the payor shall be required to pay only in cash or by certified check. Each agency head, or treasurer, in the case of local government units, shall make a list of payors whose checks have been dishonored and shall circularize the list to all COs under his jurisdiction.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you have any issues with having to pay only cash or manager’s checks to the Treasurer’s Office?

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

Electric bike (e-bike) driver hits elderly woman who eventually died

April 9, 2024April 6, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Marikina, an elderly woman died shortly after getting hit by an electric bike (e-bike) while crossing the road which was captured on CCTV, according to a GMA Network news report. The e-bike driver, who is now under the custody of the local police, has been charged for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. The victim was 73-years-old.

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

A grandmother in Marikina was killed after being hit by an electric bicycle or e-bike.

According to Marisol Abduhraman’s report on “24 Oras,” the victim was not immediately brought to the hospital, her family claimed.

As seen on the CCTV footage, after the woman opened her umbrella, she started crossing the road. But while crossing, an electric bicycle hit her.

The woman fell down and was immediately approached by bystanders and the e-bike rider.

The 73-year-old Luzviminda Bisares was declared dead when she was taken to the hospital.

“Hindi ako makapaniwala bakit niya po binangga at sinagasaan po ang lola ko na nagtamo ng brain injury and putol po ang braso niya,” said the victim’s granddaughter, Samantha Bisarez.

(I can’t believe why he hit my grandmother causing her to suffer from brain injury, her arm was broken.)

She added that it was impossible for the rider not to notice her grandmother, especially since she was carrying an open umbrella.

“Sabi niya may tinitingnan daw siya sa bulsa niya pero nasa CCTV at lahat noong tao doon nakita na nagse-cellphone po siya while driving,” said Samantha.

(He said he was looking at something in his pocket but it was seen on CCTV and everyone there saw that he was using his cell phone while driving.)

“Sabihin na nating aksidente pero bakit mo hinayaang manlamig, lumamig ‘yung lola ko. Bakit hindi ka nag-insist na ipagamot yung lola ko o ipadala sa ospital? Para sana madugtungan pa ‘yung buhay niya?” she added.

(Let’s say it was an accident but why didn’t you insist on bringing my grandmother to the hospital so she could be treated?)

The rider explained that he did not immediately take the grandmother to the hospital because he was panicking.

“Malapit na po ako sa bahay nila tapos nandun po kami papasok sa eskinita nahilo po s’ya kaya pinaupo ko po muna s’ya saglit. Hindi na po kami umabot kasi nahilo po s’ya inupo ko po sya dun,” the suspect said.

(We were nearing their house, we were entering the alley…she felt dizzy so I made her sit for a while. We didn’t get there because she was dizzy, so I let her sir first.)

He said a man arrived from the alley and took the grandmother to the hospital. The suspect said he regretted what happened and said he did not mean to kill her.

“Masakit po sa dibdib, sympre po hindi ko naman po sinasadya yung nangyari. Sobrang naging bangungot. Sana po patawarin ako ng pamilya n’ya,” he said.

(It’s painful. What happened was not intentional. It was a nightmare. I hope her family will forgive me.)

But his apology was not enough for the pain of the grieving family.

Posted below is the related news video of GMA Network.

Indeed, what happened in Marikina City was a tragedy and it took place at a time when the start of the declared ban on electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) on major roads of Metro Manila was nearing (April 15, 2024). That being said, e-bikes and e-trikes are very much in people’s minds and already there have been several cases of reckless driving, careless driving, close calls and accidents involving the said electric vehicles captured on video.

This tragedy in Marikina City reported nationwide by GMA News adds further challenges to e-bike and e-trike drivers/owners as it could spark public demand that each e-bike and e-trike should be registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and that all the respective drivers should be required to secure licenses to drive (which means participating in seminars about traffic rules and then passing a test).

As for those private or civic groups that blatantly support the rights of e-bike/e-trike drivers, observe how they will react to the Marikina City tragedy. See how they will come up with excuses as they strive to gain the attention of the media to themselves.

A file photo of an electric tricycle (e-trike) traveling along Alabang-Zapote Road in Muntinlupa City. In relation to the tragedy in Marikina City, do you think it is high-time to compel all e-bike/e-trike drivers to be licensed to drive and have their respective vehicles registered under the Land Transportation Office (LTO)?

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think it is time to require all e-bike and e-trike units to be formally registered under the LTO, and the respective drivers should be required to be licensed to drive? Regarding the e-bike driver responsible for the death of the elderly woman in Marikina City, do you think his explanations make any sense at all? Are there many e-bike/e-trike-related accidents that happened in your city recently? Did you see any e-bike/e-trike using driving recklessly recently?

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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Las Piñas City Vice Mayor reviews and approves Green Card applications

April 9, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Vice Mayor April Aguilar took the time to personally review and approve the local residents’ applications for the Green Card program, according to the City Government’s social media post of March 30, 2024.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s social media post.. Some parts in boldface…

City Vice Mayor April Aguilar on Thursday, March 21st reviewed and approved several Green Card applications from local residents. This action underscores the city’s initiative to provide essential healthcare benefits to its citizens through the health subsidy program.

The Green Card program, established by the late Mayor Nene Aguilar, was created to provide healthcare benefits to residents. It represents a lasting legacy of his dedication to improving health access for all citizens.

To know more about the benefits and relevance of the Green Card, click here, here and here.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Were there lots of people in your local community who applied for the city’s Green Card?

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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Cop arrested for shooting motorcycle rider in Parañaque City, suspect denies allegations

April 9, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, a police officer was apprehended for shooting dead a motorcycle rider in Barangay San Dionisio, according to a GMA Network news report. The incident happened during Holy Week and the suspect (currently in jail) denied the allegations against him.

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

A police officer who is an active member of the mobile unit of the Philippine National Police-Aviation Security Group was arrested for allegedly shooting a motorcycle rider in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque.

According to Mariz Umali’s Saturday 24 Oras Weekend report, 27-year-old Neil Wong was shot dead at around 6:40 a.m. He was seen by a witness talking to the suspect before the attack.

“Nakita ko nang bumagsak na po yung biktima. Tapos sinisigawan ko na yung suspect, sabi ko ‘Huy!’” said the witness.

(I saw the victim fall. Then, I shouted at the suspect, I said ‘Huy!’)

According to the Parañaque Police, the suspect attempted to steal the victim’s motorcycle but ran after it failed to start and was arrested by a passing police patrol.

Taken from the suspect were his service firearm, bullets, and two of the victim’s mobile phones.

“Ang motibo na nakikita namin dito yung robbery,” said Parañaque Police Investigation Chief Police Captain Melvin Garcia.

(The motive that we’re seeing is robbery.)

The victim may also have been in the area because his motorcycle broke down.

Meanwhile, the suspect denied the allegations.

“Bigla niya kong binato out of nowhere. Kala ko di niya sinasadya. Tapos maya-maya bigla niya ko minura. Kaya ko yun nagawa sa kanya, yung binaril ko siya. Humihingi ako ng tawad sa lahat ng kaanak, sa mga magulang at saka sa mga mahal niya sa buhay,” the suspect said.

(He suddenly threw something at me out of nowhere. I thought he didn’t mean it, but later he suddenly cursed at me. That’s why I did it, shooting him. I’m asking for forgiveness from all his relatives, parents, and his loved ones)

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that motorcycle robberies could happen near your local community? Do you think the suspect is telling the truth?

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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Honest and helpful Muntinlupa City Government worker commended

April 8, 2024April 7, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government commended its own employee for honesty and helpfulness as he found P6,000 at a nearby automated teller machine (ATM) and returned it all, 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…

Mayor Ruffy Biazon commended a Muntinlupa City government employee who returned the money that he found at an automated teller machine (ATM).

Patrick Gabriel Moreno, an employee of the Muntinlupa City Health Office, found the money amounting to P6,000 at a Landbank ATM located at the city hall compound.

Instead of keeping the money for himself, Moreno surrendered it to Landbank. Through Moreno, the money was returned to the owner.

Moreno, who recently got married, was praised by Biazon.

“This is very admirable, and it’s important to recognize such behavior to inspire others. Here in the City Government of Muntinlupa, we aim to promote the exemplary qualities of a Muntinlupeño,” said Biazon.

For his good deed, Moreno was awarded a certificate of commendation during the city government’s flag ceremony on April 1.

The Muntinlupa City government, through its Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence or PRAISE Committee, recognizes employees who perform extraordinary actions beyond what is expected of their functions.

The recognition highlights the importance of integrity in public service and reinforces Muntinlupa City’s dedication to fostering a culture of honesty and accountability, the Public Information Office said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you happy about this local news?

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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Scammers who pretended to be DBM personnel arrested by NBI

April 8, 2024March 27, 2024carlocarrasco

Here in the Philippines, scammers are almost everywhere. There are scammers who will send you direct electronic messages or call you with offers of job openings, promos, investment opportunities, subscriptions and the like. What caught my attention was the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) recent apprehension of scammers who posed as personnel of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), according to a news article published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

Operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested on Tuesday eight individuals pretending to be officials and employees of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in an entrapment operation in Mandaluyong City.

The DBM, in a news release Wednesday, said one of the suspects introduced herself to the complainant as an Undersecretary of the DBM supposedly in charge of the agency’s “special projects.”

The scammers promised the complainant, who is a project contractor, access to some PHP1.3 billion worth of government projects involving the construction of a dam.

The suspects assured the complainant that the project will be awarded to her once “grease money” was provided for the project’s “Blue Print” to initiate the processing of documents for the project award.

The illicit activity was uncovered after the contractor conducted an initial verification with the DBM.

After receiving and accommodating the complaint, the DBM sought the help of the NBI to carry out an entrapment operation where the suspects were arrested after accepting the PHP500,000 marked money.

“Mariin po nating kinokondena ang ganitong klaseng gawain. May proseso po tayong sinusunod na naaayon sa mga umiiral na batas (We strongly condemn this kind of activity. We have a process that is consistent with existing laws),” Budget Secretary Mina Pangandaman said.

She said the DBM is hoping that the incident will “send a strong statement to the public” that it will never tolerate fraudulent activities.

“Seryoso po ang DBM sa paglaban sa katiwalian gaya po ng ganitong mga gawain. Kaya naman po hinihikayat ko po ang taumbayan na agad magsumbong at i-report kung may mga mae-encounter sila na ganitong mga indibidwal (The DBM is serious about fighting corruption. That’s why I encourage the people to immediately report if they encounter scrupulous individuals),” Pangandaman added.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be a lot more scammers out there pretending to be representatives or officials of government departments or corporations trying to deceive people over their money? Have you been scammed before?

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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Two CPP-NPA members charged for financing terrorism

April 8, 2024March 27, 2024carlocarrasco

Two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) were charged for financing terrorism and the Department of Justice (DOJ) claims it found compelling evidence against the suspects, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said it found compelling evidence to indict two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) responsible for collecting revolutionary funds and financing terrorism.

Following information gathered by the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), accused Leonor Taguinod Dumlao and Valentin Cruz Tolentino will be charged with violation of Section 8 of R.A. No. 10168, known as “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.”

The charges will be filed before the Batangas City regional trial court, the DOJ said in a statement.

The two were originally arrested under Oplan Paglalansag in Mindoro Oriental and Rizal in August 2023.

According to reports, the two accused possessed firearms and ammunition with no definite source of income or apparent purpose, prompting authorities to initiate background checks and collaborate with intelligence counterparts from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) to ask the court’s issuance of search warrants against the two.

Authorities discovered firearms, ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), IED components, and a significant sum of money.

Dumlao and Tolentino, the DOJ said, are alleged members of the National Finance Commission (NFC) of the CPP/NPA which had direct involvement in demanding money from construction firms, telecommunication companies, bus companies, mining companies, and businessmen in the guise of “revolutionary taxes.”

The two were also allegedly responsible for the creation of the National Economic Striking Force (NESF) of the CPP/NPA, which serves as security of the “Rebolusyonaryong Buwis sa Kaaway na Uri” or the RBKU.

“We will never let even an inch of terrorism’s tyranny sow fear among our citizens, much more let the cowards behind this menace run free. This is a time when we Filipinos should fortify our resolve and show our resilience in fighting this evil,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there are several Communists here in the Philippines who are secretly financing terrorism, smuggling weapons and plotting chaos? Do you think the young leftist activists living in your local community could secretly be agents of the CPP/NPA?

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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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 6

April 5, 2024March 29, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will examine print ads from the 1980s and the 1990s that caught my attention and I will explain why they are worth look back at.

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.

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

1. Operation Wolf print ad

*Even though there were screenshots from the game, this was still an eye-catching print promoting Operation Wolf for the Nintendo Entertainment System.*

Looking back at the history of pop culture, the 1980s saw the surge of Hollywood action movies that emphasized or even glorified militarism. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Tom Cruise were just a few Hollywood stars who found success playing military figures. It was not surprising that there were game developers in Japan who noticed the Hollywood military trend and were inspired to make games that had similar themes. The Japan-based company Taito developed and released the light gun shooter arcade game Operation Wolf which became a huge commercial success worldwide. Unsurprisingly, versions of Operation Wolf were eventually made for the existing home computers and game consoles of the time.

The above print ad of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version of Operation Wolf only showed the official artwork, descriptive text and noticeably no gameplay screenshots. While the ad made the NES version of the game look exciting to look forward to, the actual game looked and felt nothing like the arcade version as the console’s limitations resulted in really small 2D sprites (which made shooting tough) and the 2D art used were rather ugly to see. I can only speculate that the people at Taito knew their product for the NES had sub-par quality and only hoped for the best trying to fool gamers to buy it.

2. Foreman For Real print ad

*Apart from boxing and endorsing grills, are you aware that George Foreman is also a worship leader and preacher of God’s Word?*

In late-1994, George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight boxing title and the last time he had it was way back in 1974. For the newcomers reading this, Foreman halted his professional boxing in 1977, established his connection with God, preached His Word, opened a youth center and became a major product endorser. Foreman came back into fighting in 1987 and stunned everyone when he became heavyweight champion seven years later.

That being said, it was no surprise that game publisher Acclaim (which already released a video game with the boxer in 1992) quickly returned to Foreman to get him as the titular endorser in the 1995 video game Foreman For Real which was released on multiple gaming platforms less than a year after his championship victory. Apart from showing Foreman’s dominating image and screenshots from the game, the ad even had a promo of a free 2-week membership with Gold’s Gym. This ad was a lively reminder of the significance of Foreman’s presence in professional sports and it was instantly eye-catching.

3. BurgerTime print ad

*Arcade hits like BurgerTime also made it into personal computers.*

Previously, I showed an eye-catching print ad of the arcade classic BurgerTime. This time, the BurgerTime print ad shown here focused more on the IBM and Apple computer versions. This print ad had a photograph of an actor playing chef Peter Pepper carrying a huge burger bun running away two eggs and a hotdog, and near them were the respective boxes of BurgerTime for IBM and Apple. This is a sharp change of visual style away from the comic book-style art used in the other BurgerTime print ad. I can only imagine how excited IBM and Apple computer users became after seeing this ad back in the 1980s.

4. Shining Wisdom print ad

*Even though this was a very eye-catching ad that appeared in several publications, Shining Wisdom went on to become a forgotten game after receiving mixed reviews from game review writers.*

Here is another print ad of Working Designs from the 1990s. Released only on the Sega Saturn in 1996, Shining Wisdom was a fantasy action-adventure game from Japan that publisher Working Designs localized with North Americans in mind. This meant taking lots of creative liberties with the story, name changes, insertions of pop culture jokes and even altered the personalities of the characters. Developed by Sonic Software Planning and Camelot Software Planning, Shining Wisdom started as a project for the 16-bit console Mega Drive (Sega Genesis in America) that was revised for the more powerful Saturn console. While this print ad caught the attention of gamers and readers, Shining Wisdom received mixed reviews from critics upon release. Sadly, not too many gamers talk about this game anymore.

5. Cabal print ad

*Military action and shooting strongly emphasized in this print ad for the Nintendo Entertainment System version of the arcade smash Cabal.*

Like many games released in the 1980s, Cabal had a strong military theme and allowed players to engage in bouts of shooting playing soldiers who have to fight entire armies of bad guys. This print ad about the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version of the game had really nice art dominating the page, the packaging of the game plus three screenshots showing what gamers could expect. This was a very eye-catching print ad that made Cabal look both exciting and enticing.

6. Metal Gear print ad

*Wow! So many weapons and pieces of equipment displayed in this Metal Gear (NES version) ad.*

Back in the late 1980s, the NES port of Metal Gear had a notable promotion in America thanks to this cleverly designed print ad. When it comes to emphasizing “gear” from the title, the marketing team emphasized the words “Gear up” and literally filled the ad spaces with lots of pieces of equipment that was not only eye-catching but also gave readers the idea that a huge adventure awaits them in Metal Gear. As for the game box on the lower left corner of the print, the cover art highlighting the character Snake was an artistic copy of a still image of actor Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese in The Terminator (1984). This print ad was both entertaining and intriguing to look at.

7. Dino Crisis print ad

*For many gamers, Dino Crisis was like a combination of Resident Evil and Jurassic Park and this visceral looking print ad really got lots of people interested in the game.*

In 1999, Capcom released Dino Crisis for PlayStation in America and the timing was almost perfect as millions of gamers who owned the console enjoyed the releases of Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2 (both games from Capcom) firmly establishing the survival horror genre as a popular one. That being said, a lot of RE fans anticipated the release of Dino Crisis due to the fact that the game shared several elements with Resident Evil games in terms of exploration, survival, control and shooting. Not only that, Resident Evil creator and original game director Shinji Mikami was in charge of the making of Dino Crisis. Mikami pointed to the films The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) and Aliens (1986) as influences on making the game which for most gamers was perceived as “Resident Evil filled with dinosaurs.”

The print ad above had a very engaging visual design that symbolized action, horror and tension well. Mikami clearly wanted gamers to experience the intense violence of encountering dinosaurs and this ad gave viewers a small sample of that. It’s safe to say that this print ad was effective as Dino Crisis went on to sell millions of copies and established Regina (the red-haired lady in the ad) as another memorable character from Capcom.

8. Airwolf/Knight Rider games print ad

*Very clearly, the advertiser focused on the cool look to sell the games of Airwolf and Knight Rider.*

Back in the 1980s, Airwolf and Knight Rider were wildly popular TV series that each had winning formulas to entertain millions of viewers with action, suspense and storytelling. It was not surprising that video game adaptations of them were produced on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). This particular print ad was an efficient way of promoting the Airwolf and Knight Rider games which featured two players looking cool with jackets and sunglasses. Acclaim clearly aimed for the TV series’ fans and slightly older players among the NES owners/users.

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Tourist spots in New Bilibid Prison?

April 5, 2024March 26, 2024carlocarrasco

If plans between the different authorities indeed push through, then it would mean that tourist spots inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City will be realized, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

Plans are afoot to convert historical sites inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa into possible tourist sites following a Monday meeting between Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. and Muntinlupa City Mayor Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon.

During the meeting attended by officials from BuCor, the Department of Justice, and the city government, Catapang assured his full support to revive the Muntinlupa’s economy through tourism, the BuCor said in a statement on Tuesday.

Included in the circuit tours inside the NBP being eyed by the Muntinlupa City Tourism Culture and Arts Department are: Kiyosi Oshawa Shrine / Memorial for Peace Shrine; the Jamboree Lake, the smallest lake in the Philippines; Director’s Quarters – Presently the official residence of the Bureau of Corrections Director General; Lethal injection and Death Chamber, which has since been mothballed following the suspension of the death penalty; Japanese Cemetery, a garden cemetery located inside the NBP Reservation Compound dedicated to the Japanese Soldiers who died in Muntinlupa; Memorial Hill, the burial place of Major Eriberto B. Misa Sr. which served as a tribute to the former Bureau of Prison Director for his 12 years of service, making him the longest-serving prison director up to this date.

The government earlier announced plans to decongest the overpopulated penal facility and convert it into a high-value multi-use development once the inmates are relocated to other facilities throughout the country by 2028.

In November last year, prison officials said an open park at the heart of Metro Manila similar to Central Park in New York, is among the components of the plan by the BuCor to develop the NBP.

Catapang said that Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla’s vision for the property is to turn a 100-hectare lot of the more than 350 hectares of NBP into an open park, while the remaining area will be for a mixed-use space to house a government center, and lease parts to private entities to generate funds for the national government.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you see any potential benefit of establishing tourist spots inside the NBP?

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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