Author Carlo Carrasco

Drug-related raids inside Ayala Alabang Village

November 21, 2022November 19, 2022carlocarrasco

Recently, over P100 million worth of illegal drugs were found by elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and a few suspects were arrested in Muntinlupa City, specifically inside Ayala Alabang Village according to a news report by GMA Network. The law enforcers were armed with search warrants.

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

Authorities on Friday seized around P149.6 million worth of illegal drugs during a raid in an alleged shabu laboratory in Muntinlupa, according to a report of Bam Alegre on GMA News’ Unang Balita,

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) at 12:30 a.m. served search warrants in two houses in Ayala-Alabang Village which were allegedly used as improvised shabu laboratory, PDEA said in a report.

At the first house, authorities arrested French national Aurelien Cythere, supposedly the “chemist,” and Filipino Mark Anthony Sarayot.

Trays filled with suspected shabu and equipment for its production were found inside the house, according to PDEA.

Authorities seized 20 kilograms of suspected shabu with a street value of around P136 million.

At a nearby house, another suspect identified as Canadian-Iranian Ariana Golisorkhi was also arrested.

Two packs of suspected shabu were found inside the house, according to authorities. There was no foul smell of chemicals in the area because the suspects used machines with new technology in cooking illegal drugs.

The two houses are being rented for around P300,000 and P70,000 per month, PDEA said.

PDEA officer-in-charge Assistant Secretary Gregorio Pimentel said the laboratory is linked to international drug syndicates.

The above article ended stating that the arrested suspects will be charged for violating Republic Act Number 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002). For added insight, watch below the related news video.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you convinced that international drug syndicates could still be running makeshift laboratories of illegal drugs here in the Philippines?

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

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others as well as 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 athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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 What If #17 (1990)

November 18, 2022November 15, 2022carlocarrasco

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 year 1993 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the reimagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series.

Several years ago, I bought myself a trade paperback collection of the 1987 Spider-Man storyline Kraven’s Last Hunt written by J. M. DeMatteis and drawn by Mike Zeck. That particular storyline was very notable not just for its dark approach to storytelling and visualization, but it also explores what would happen had Spider-Man been defeated and someone very obsessed took his place and go on a rampage disguised as Spider-Man. The storyline also explored how Kraven perceived Spider-Man without ever knowing the defining traits of the man behind the mask – Peter Parker. Eventually, Marvel Comic went on to revisit Kraven’s Last Hunt and explored what would happen had Kraven actually killed Spider-Man through their What If? monthly comic book series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #17, published in 1990 by Marvel Comics with a story written and drawn by Richard Howell.

Early story

The story begins with the Watcher revisiting key moments from the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline. History then takes a turn towards the unexplored when Kraven, armed with a gun, shoots and kills Spider-Man. As the dead webslinger lies in a coffin, Kraven celebrates his victory with a lot of passion believing that he struck back at what he perceives to be the meaninglessness of the world. Kraven is quite mad as he equates spiders with Spider-Man as well as the decline of civilization.

After fearlessly and grotesquely eating spiders, Kraven wears a black body tight costume that looks almost the same as that of Spider-Man’s. While he is victorious, Kraven is not satisfied and he becomes obsessed by becoming Spider-Man and prove himself superior to him. He then moves into the city whose people are familiar with Spider-Man and also are unprepared with who is coming to them.

In an apartment, Spider-Man’s wife Mary Jane Parker is alone and worried. As she does not know that her beloved Peter Parker has been killed, she cannot help but agonize over the strain of his double-life as a civilian and as a superhero. Determined to find Peter, she walks out during the rainy night and is spotted by two men focused on her.

Suddenly the new Spider-Man (Kraven) appears and in an apparent effort to help Mary Jane, he grabs one of the men and brutally pushes the man’s head on to a nearby wall. As Kraven does not recognize Mary Jane, the wife realizes that the Spider-Man she just saw is definitely not her husband. This only makes her wonder again where he is and what happened to him. She then starts calling others for help…

Quality

In addition to being ruthless, Kraven disguised as Spider-Man resembles Venom.

I’ll start with the visuals. This comic book took a serious effort to come close to capturing the look and visual tone of the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline which I enjoyed. Richard Howell visualized the characters, the situations and details properly and there was not a single moment when the visuals overwhelmed the narrative. Howell’s artistic take on the characters is simplistic but they remain recognizable which is a plus. The superhero spectacle was presented with a clear and clean approach, and there were a few key moments of action that got highlighted with some dynamism.

As for the story itself, what I found surprising and also pleasant here was the presentation of Mary Jane Parker as the main character instead of Kraven. This makes sense as Kraven himself was the major attraction of the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline while Spider-Man was out of commission. In the context of this What If story, it only made sense to have Mary Jane as the central figure. Going back to Kraven, Howell captured the essence of the character well when compared to his version in Kraven’s Last Hunt.

In terms of plotting, telling the story through the viewpoint and actions of the superhero’s concerned wife really works well. Without spoiling the plot, you will see Mary Jane get involved with three notable superheroes – including the iconic Captain America – and even with other notable Spider-Man supporting characters such as Flash Thompson and the irresponsible print media figure J. Jonah Jameson. Interactions aside, the plot works sufficiently as a couple of series of events take place before the big confrontation with Kraven (as the new Spider-Man). By the end of it all, I can say that the story is entertaining, engaging and intriguing to read.

Conclusion

*Mary Jane Parker goes out in pursuit of her husband Peter Parker/Spider-Man who happens to be dead already at this particular point of the story.*

I can say that What If #17 (1990) is pretty captivating read and it is a worthy literary companion to Kraven’s Last Hunt. Of course, to really enjoy this alternative tale cleverly told by Howell, you must read Kraven’s Last Hunt first. Otherwise, you would not feel the impact of this comic book very much. I also liked how the death of Spider-Man (note: Spider-Man got killed in another What If tale that itself is worth reading) impacts Mary Jane, how it impacts the superheroes who know him, and most notably how it impacts the fragile relationship between society and superheroes. Lastly, this comic book has one of the more significant portrayals of Spider-Man’s most beloved woman. This is indeed a great story.

Overall, What If #17 (1990) is highly recommended!

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

Kadiwa bazaar in Muntinlupa City nets over P530,000 in first two days

November 18, 2022November 17, 2022carlocarrasco

In the progressive city of Muntinlupa, the Kadiwa bazaar held at the quadrangle at City Hall generated over P530,000 in sales in the first two days, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The said bazaar is a special project involving the City Government, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Agriculture (DAR), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

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

The two-day Kadiwa Christmas bazaar at the Muntinlupa City hall quadrangle generated nearly P536,000 in sales to sellers.

The Kadiwa bazaar, an initiative of the Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Muntinlupa City government, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Social Welfare and Development, was held on Nov. 15 and 16.

Showcasing different Muntinlupa-made products, the Kadiwa bazaar was launched by Mayor Ruffy Biazon and DTI Asst. Sec. Dominic Tolentino on Nov. 15.

According to Biazon, “Gusto natin ma-promote ang produkto ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, dahil tayo ay proud (We want to promote Muntinlupa-made products because we are very proud of them).”

“Ang sagot sa kaunlaran ay nagkakaisang mamamayan (A united citizenry contributes to a progressive economy),” said Tolentino, a Muntinlupa resident.

On the first day, the bazaar generated P326,421 in sales and P209,223 on Nov. 16 for a total of P535,644 in two days.

Other officials at the launch of KADIWA were City Administrator Allan Cachuela, DA-ESO head Marilou Lobo, Alabang Central Market Administrator Randy Garcia, and Cristine Evangelista of DTI.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Do you want to see more bazaars in the city selling more Muntinlupa-made products? Are you more confident now to spend time in bazaars or shopping centers knowing that COVID-19 can be avoided? Are the recent news reports highlighting the Department of Health’s (DOH) recent statements about COVID-19 infections making you afraid to go out?

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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Better than Streaming: The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection Blu-ray scheduled for February 28, 2023 release

November 17, 2022November 16, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back, fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs! Some of you might have gotten tired about the so-called modern take of DC Comics’ iconic crime fighter Batman in varied forms of media. I know a few people who expressed disappointment with the way Batman was presented in The Batman, and I noticed geeks who remain divided over Zack Snyder’s vision of Batman.

If you want a simpler, classic and more straightforward Batman and join his fights against the super villains, then you might be interested to know that The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection Blu-ray will be released on February 28, 2023, according to the announcement published by Blu-ray.com.

*The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection Blu-ray cover.*

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt and key details from the 4K Blu-ray announcement at Blu-ray.com. Some parts in boldface…

The Adventures of Batman was one of the spotlight animated television series to be produced by Filmation, who generated more than 50 animated series, over a dozen television shorts, specials and movies, and eight feature films. The Adventures of Batman was also paired with another famous DC Super Hero to become The Batman/Superman Hour.

Filmation veteran Olan Soule (Super Friends, The Towering Inferno) provided the voice of Batman, while American Top 40 co-founder & host Casey Kasem (Scooby-Doo franchise) played Robin. The supporting cast featured two-time Emmy Award winner Ted Knight (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Caddyshack) as Commissioner Gordon, Larry Storch (F Troop) as Joker, and Jane Webb (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Archie Show) as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl.

Soule and Kasem became the reigning voices of Batman and Robin, respectively, for several years as the Dynamic Duo would appear in two The New Scooby-Doo Movies crossovers, various versions of Super Friends, and The New Adventures of Batman.

Premiering on September 14, 1968, The Adventures of Batman also featured Batman’s primary rogues’ gallery at the time – Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Catwoman, Riddler, Scarecrow, Dollman, Mad Hatter and Simon the Pieman – as well as some notable team-ups of those villains.

The 34 episodes in The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection are:

My Crime Is Your Crime / A Bird Out of Hand

The Cool, Cruel Mr. Freeze / The Joke’s on Robin

How Many Herring in a Wheelbarrow? / In Again, Out Again Penguin

The Nine Lives of Batman / Long John Joker

Bubi, Bubi, Who’s Got the Ruby? / 1001 Faces of the Riddler

The Big Birthday Caper / Two Penguins Too Many

Partners in Peril / The Underworld Underground Caper

Hizzoner the Joker / Freeze’s Frozen Vikings

The Crime Computer / The Great Scarecrow Scare

A Game of Cat and Mouse / Beware of Living Dolls

Will the Real Robin Please Stand Up? / He Who Swipes the Ice, Goes to the Cooler

Simon the Pieman / A Mad, Mad Tea Party

From Catwoman with Love / Perilous Playthings

A Perfidious Pieman Is Simon / Cool, Cruel Christmas Caper

The Fiendishly Frigid Fraud / Enter the Judge

The Jigsaw Jeopardy / Wrath of the Riddler

It Takes Two to Make a Team / Opera Buffa

To see the technical details of The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection Blu-ray, click https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Adventures-of-Batman-The-Complete-Collection-Blu-ray/327428/

In my experience, I first saw re-runs of The Adventures of Batman on local television as a kid and I often had a lot of fun watching the Caped Crusader fight the bad guys. Along the way, I got oriented with the TV series’ presentations of classic Batman villains and the supporting characters. Reflecting its era, the series was clearly wholesome and for the little ones who have yet to read Batman comic books, the series was effective as a warm-up.

Watch out for The Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection Blu-ray on February 28, 2023.

In closing this Better than Streaming piece, posted below is a related video.

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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 athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

TRAP brings foreign-flavored National Duathlon Championships to New Clark City

November 17, 2022November 15, 2022carlocarrasco

The forthcoming 2022 National Duathlon Championships (NDC) will feature the finest Filipino competitors in the run-bike-run event along with a strong foreign participation as the races form part of the selection of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) for the 32^nd Southeast Asian Games (32^nd SEA Games) in Cambodia.

Over 450 duathletes across the country are expected to troop to the New Clark City in Tarlac in time for the December 4 race where they will see action in the Standard Distance races as well as in the Sprint and Super Sprint events along with the best from Singapore and Malaysia.

“The main actions are in the sprint events since the events in the Cambodia SEA Games are all sprints with Singapore and Malaysia sending their best to measure up with our elites,” said TRAP president Tom Carrasco.

The races will be supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), HOKA, Filinvest New Clark City, Standard Insurance, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines (ACIP), Fissan and Fitbar as major sponsors while the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), New Clark City and the local government of Capas, Tarlac are the venue partners.

According to Carrasco, the signature event of the TRAP is the 13-15 age group category (Super Sprint) starring the country’s Youth Olympic Games aspirants and the next generation of duathletes/triathletes in the national team.

“The top Filipino finishers will be in the short list for the SEA Games in Cambodia, but we will also consider the other duathlon events results in 2022,” said Carrasco.

More entries are expected to sign up prior to the races where Pocari Sweat serves as hydration partner and PTV Sports and Radyo Pilipinas 2 as media partners.

A total of 103 team will participate, most of them from 26 cities and provinces in the country and foreign contingents from Australia, Brazil, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.

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Note: This is an official press release issued by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP).

Tales of Symphonia Remastered all set for Xbox release on February 17, 2023

November 16, 2022November 15, 2022carlocarrasco

It took almost twenty years but Bandai Namco is finally releasing a version of their hit Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) Tales of Symphonia on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One on February 17, 2023, and it will come with a lot of stuff apart from the from the enhancements. Already pre-orders are being accepted.

In relation to this really good news, watch first the official Xbox trailer of Tales of Symphonia Remastered posted below…

For added insight, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement from Bandai Namco. Some parts in boldface…

Lloyd Irving and his friends journey is getting closer, confirmed for release on February 17th. Bringing veteran fans and newcomers in the worlds of Sylvarant and Tethe’alla, the game offers visual enhancements, gameplay improvements, and new features.

Alone or with up to four players during battles, players will be able to experience or re-experience the deep and fascinating story in one of the most beloved “Tales of” titles.

Players will have the choice between two editions:

The Standard Edition, only available digitally

The Chosen Edition, containing a metal case, art prints and stickers, with pre-orders already available here

*These are the characters in the game. Tales of Symphonia Remastered will come with anime cut scenes for the narrative.*

For the newcomers reading this, Tales of Symphonia was originally released on the Nintendo Gamecube way back in 2003 followed by the PlayStation 2 in 2004, PlayStation 3 in 2014 and Windows PC in 2016. The game gathered lots of positive reviews from game critics and it sold more than 2,000,000 copies worldwide.

Tales of Symphonia Remastered coming to Xbox in early 2023 adds weight to the Xbox ecosystem becoming the best destination for gamers who love fantasy RPGs and other types of role-playing games. Already Xbox Game Pass has the remastered Ni no Kuni as well as Persona 5: Royal. There definitely is a growing demand for JRPGs in the Xbox ecosystem and it only makes sense for game publishers in Japan to release their JRPGs – be it new or old – on Xbox platforms. I myself never played Tales of Symphonia before and the news of its Xbox-bound release is really good. Now if only Square Enix would remaster Xenogears for an Xbox release. Capcom could do the same with their Breath of Fire RPGs.

In concluding this article, posted below for your enjoyment are Xbox-related videos.

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Maynilad officially distributing “New Water” in two barangays in Parañaque City

November 16, 2022November 15, 2022carlocarrasco

Months after the launch of their “New Water” project, water concessionaire Maynilad has finally started the distribution of the said water in two barangays within the City of Parañaque according to the company’s official announcement.

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

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) recently started the piped-in distribution of its New Water—or potable supply sourced from treated used water—to two barangays in Parañaque City following its receipt of a Conditional Operational Permit (COP) from the Department of Health (DOH) Metro Manila Center for Health Development.

The COP was issued by the DOH after New Water passed a series of tests that proved its adherence to the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW) and squarely met the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on potable reuse. The permit is valid for 12 months, and will be changed to a permanent permit once Maynilad consistently meets all the conditions set in the COP on the supply of New Water within the period, under the strict monitoring of DOH. Prior to the COP issuance, New Water has already been given a Certificate of Potability by the Parañaque City Health Office.

Maynilad’s New Water is the first implementation of potable water reuse in the Philippines.

“The DOH’s issuance of a permit to commence piped-in distribution of New Water is a major milestone for the local water industry, as this is the first time that recycled water will be tapped as an alternative supply source to address water shortages,” said Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez, noting that the recycling of water for potable use is a practice that has been in place for decades in other countries, such as Singapore, Namibia, and parts of the United States.

Maynilad’s Php450-million “New Water Treatment Plant” gets the treated used water discharged by its Parañaque Water Reclamation Facility and converts it to drinkable water supply. The facility’s 10-MLD (million liters per day) output is blended with the supply produced by the company’s La Mesa Treatment Plants before conveyance to Barangays San Isidro and San Dionisio in Parañaque City.

Fernandez said that Maynilad is eyeing to construct four more “New Water Treatment Plants” by 2025, which will get treated used water from the company’s sewage treatment plants in Pasay, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, and Valenzuela.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Maynilad customer based in Parañaque City, does this New Water distribution news make you forget about the other problems you have with the water concessionaire? Do you think that Maynilad’s New Water project will solve public demand for drinking water? If you are running a business that sells water to customers who need to drink, how do you think Maynilad’s New Water project will affect your business? Do you think Maynilad will distribute New Water all over Parañaque City within the next six months? Has anyone linked with the City Government of Parañaque given you the false impression that the New Water project belonged to the City Government?

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

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

“Hired on the Spot” employment program in effect in Las Piñas City

November 15, 2022November 14, 2022carlocarrasco

In the City of Las Piñas, a special program was recently launched to provide employment to local workers who were displaced by the pandemic, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Las Piñas Public Employment Service Office (PESO) conducted house interviews as part of its weekly employment facilitation program called “Hired on the Spot” on Monday, Nov. 14.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the “Hired on the Spot” program is being conducted by PESO, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), with the goal of ensuring prompt and efficient delivery of employment facilitation services.

Aguilar said the program also aims to provide employment to workers displaced by the pandemic, particularly to Las Piñas residents.

She said over 150 applicants send their resume daily to PESO and around 40 percent of the applicants get hired on the spot.

The mayor said that in addition to PESO house interviews, booths are also set-up in the city’s different barangays and partner establishments.

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? Did you notice if the number of members of your local community remained unemployed? Do you consider unemployment a major problem in your city right now?

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

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 2

November 15, 2022November 18, 2022carlocarrasco

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 watch the following videos below…

#1 Minty Comedic Arts’ entertainment trivia videos – I don’t know with you but I enjoy the entertaining approach by Australia-based YouTuber Minty Comedic Arts on explaining trivia related to entertainment. He does his research online, utilizes available content related to the subject matter and does his thing on explaining trivia. He can be quite funny to watch. To start with, watch his videos about The Blob (1958), Friday The 13^th Part 3 (1982) and Ghostbusters (1984).

#2 Worship music videos of Planetshakers – For the newcomers reading this, Planetshakers is a Christian church based in Australia and their very anointed music team produced a lot of original worship songs and music videos that are all engaging for those who need to come to the Lord. Planetshakers’ has always been successful in leading the praise of the Lord and you should read about my Planetshakers worship event experience by clicking here. I should also state that prayers led by Pastor Sam Evans are always powerful and deeply compelling for your faith. Remember that Jesus is the Lord and Savior! That being said, posted below for you are worship music videos of Planetshakers.

#3 More Ashleigh Burton reaction videos – I always enjoy watching Ashleigh Burton’s movie reaction videos as her style, approach and ways of reacting are fun to see. Posted are more for your entertainment. There is a lot to enjoy on her YouTube channel.

#4 Wind and solar power are truly UNRELIABLE – Let’s be clear here. Renewable forms of energy such as solar and wind are truly unreliable and they cannot provide the abundant amount of energy needed by the people, businesses and societies in general. Fossil fuel is polluting but it is more reliable as it can produce abundant energy. Wind and solar power are, at best, additive forms of energy. Learn from the videos below.

#5 Looking back at Xenogears – If you were an avid console gamer back in the 1990s who had a PlayStation and you were focused on Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs), chances are you would have at least heard of Xenogears from Squaresoft (Square Enix’s previous name). While it did not come close to the Final Fantasy games of the time in terms of commercial and critical success, Xenogears remains highly memorable for those who played it and it still has a dedicated following to this day. I myself played Xenogears on my PlayStation in 1998 but I never got to finish it. As such, I would really love it if Square Enix would remaster the game and release it on the Xbox ecosystem (including Windows PC) someday. The production history of Xenogears alone is astonishing to research. Watch the videos below.

#6 X-Men: Fatal Attractions revisited – The 1990s was a wild time when it comes to reading superhero comic books. Apart from the sudden rise of Image Comics and other smaller publishers who collectively gave Marvel and DC a challenge in the market, there was also the comic book speculator boom, a rise of crossover storytelling and the sudden need by certain comic book creators to change the status quo on the franchises they worked on. In 1993, Marvel Comics celebrated the 30^th anniversary of the X-Men and creators who handled the X-Men-related comic books came up with the Fatal Attractions storyline. Fatal Attractions was not exactly a crossover tale, but it had central themes and elements – notably the return of Magneto from his “death” – that affected the X-Men-related monthly comic books of the time. Read my retro reviews here, here and here. Watch the videos below.

#7 Games coming to Xbox in 2023 – If you are an Xbox gamer who has been disappointed with the lack of big-time Xbox-exclusive games this year, then your disappointment will end as a fine mix of exclusive and 3^rd party games will come to Xbox platforms and some of them will come to the Xbox Game Pass (XGP) service. Watch the videos below.

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Philippine economy grew 7.6% in the 3rd quarter

November 14, 2022November 10, 2022carlocarrasco

You may not feel it but the economy of the Philippines grew by 7.6% in the 3^rd quarter this year according to the recent announcement published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). This is very encouraging news following the recent report of the falling unemployment in the country. Indeed, the nation continues to rise after suffering from the COVID-19 crisis’ downturn.

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

The Philippine economy grew at a faster rate in the third quarter of the year at 7.6 percent, higher than the revised gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter at 7.5 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Thursday.

In a press conference, PSA Undersecretary Dennis Mapa said this is the sixth consecutive quarter that the economy recorded expansion.

The country’s GDP growth from July to September 2022 is also higher than the 7-percent increase in the same period in 2021.

“The third quarter’s GDP exceeded the median analyst forecast of 6.3 percent,” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

Balisacan said the average GDP growth for the first nine months of the year stood at 7.7 percent.

“With this, we are on track to achieving the government’s growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for 2022. Given the latest GDP outturn, our economy needs to grow by 3.3 to 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter,” he said.

The PSA reported that all major industries improved their performance in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year, with agriculture, forestry and fishing growing by 2.2 percent; industry, rose to 5.8 percent; and services, up by 9.1 percent.

Services contributed 5.8 percentage points to the 7.6 percent GDP growth in the third quarter, followed by industry which shared 1.6 percentage points, and agriculture, forestry and fishing at 0.2 percentage points.

By industry, wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles contributed 1.9 percentage points to the GDP growth in July to September period, followed by financial and insurance services at 0.77 percentage points and construction at 0.76 percentage points.

Compared to last year, the sector of accommodation and food service activities expanded by 40.6 percent, which is the largest across industries. Transportation and storage also improved by 24.3 percent and construction increased by 12.2 percent.

“This economic performance largely benefitted from the further easing of mobility, including the resumption of face-to-face classes, which boosted consumption among Filipinos,” Balisacan said.

The NEDA chief added that the relaxation of borders and simplifying travel protocols supported the recovery and growth of local tourism and other sectors.

In terms of spending, household final consumption expenditure is the largest contributor to GDP in the previous quarter at 5.9 percentage points, exceeding the share of construction at 1.5 percent percentage points, durable equipment at 0.7 percentage points, and government final consumption expenditure at 0.1 percentage points.

In relation to the above news, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. recently visited Cambodia and there he invited the nation’s business leaders to invest in the Philippines. Posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA Network news. Some parts in boldface…

“We would like to invite at the very least, for you, to have a look at the opportunities that are available. And finally I suppose at some point, since we are not so far away, to come and we will explain to you exactly what we have done and why we have done it and where we have arrived in that process of transforming the economy,” Marcos told business leaders during a roundtable meeting.

“I do not talk about recovery of the economy, I talk about transformation of the economy because the new economy is going to be different from everything that we did in 2019. And so this is what we are looking forward to and I hope to see you all in the Philippines soon,” he added.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent announcement about the state of the Philippine economy? Do you look forward to a more prosperous year in 2023? Are you planning to open a new business soon? If you are an investor, are you confident about investing in the stock market and in companies?

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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