Author Carlo Carrasco

Parañaque Congressman Yamsuan Encourages Use of Technology With Transparency In Mind

September 9, 2025September 9, 2025carlocarrasco

In this age of social media and smartphones, achieving transparency is more crucial than ever. Recently, Parañaque City’s 2^nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan reached out to his fellow lawmakers to use digital tools to establish bridges of transparency and close the gap between people and their government, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan has called on fellow lawmakers to leverage digital tools to build “bridges of transparency” that will heighten awareness about state-funded services, strengthen public trust, and bring government closer to the people.

Instead of relying on traditional and often tedious modes of delivering public services, Yamsuan said government officials should learn to adapt and take advantage of digital solutions to make such processes simple, fair, and convenient for potential beneficiaries.

“In this digital age, information is no longer confined to the halls of government or the pages of textbooks –it flows through the screens and smartphones of every Filipino. And with that flow comes an opportunity: an opportunity to connect, to inform, to empower, and above all, to build trust,” Yamsuan said in a privilege speech on Monday.

He said the Philippines’ distinction as the world’s social media capital with 97.5 million internet users illustrates how Filipinos have become heavily reliant on online platforms in getting information, which the government can capitalize on to connect with citizens and make them aware of its various programs and projects.

“The government, and we public servants, are often criticized for not doing enough to address problems or bridge gaps. But sometimes the issue is not the lack of programs, but the lack of awareness,” the vice-chairperson of the House Committee on Public Information said.

“As representatives of our respective districts and sectors, we are in a prime position to be part of the solution. We can take the lead in providing information that is easily digestible and understandable, and most importantly, information that is relevant to the needs of our constituents.”

He said delivering the “right information and the right services” to Filipinos can help regain public trust and confidence in “our institutions because people would be able to see and feel that they have a government they can rely on.”

Pointing out the lack of public awareness about government support programs, Yamsuan cited a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed that while over 93 percent of Filipinos know about the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), only 34 percent were aware of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

A nationwide survey conducted in 2023 by the research firm Capstone-Intel also showed a lack of knowledge about the various initiatives of the Department of Health (DOH), with only 45 percent of the survey participants being aware of the Universal Health Care program, he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you like what Congressman Yamsuan has been doing since he took office? Do you think there is hope that social media will be used for transparency and cooperation instead of tribalism-related division?

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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 99

September 8, 2025September 2, 2025carlocarrasco

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 videos I found.

#1 Close Encounters of the Third Kind Revisited – The first time I ever saw Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind was not in the cinema but on home video in the early 1980s. Being so young, I was not aware that the movie I saw was the director’s cut version (which showed the interior of the alien space ship). In 1998, the movie regained spotlight with the release of its 3^rd and final version. That being said, it is not surprising that Spielberg’s film became the popular subject of YouTube movie reaction videos. I can only wonder what exact versions are the YouTubers reacting to. Watch the selected videos below (including a trivia video by Minty Comedic Arts and a Dan Monroe retrospective).

#2 The Rise, The Fall and Scandals of E3 – I love playing video games and there was a time when the annual E3 became the one video game convention I wanted to attend. I never had the opportunity to attend it and E3 came to an inevitable demise due to many factors like the high costs of event organizing, irrelevance with game industry players, and a variety of scandals. To know more about E3 and why it has a terrible history despite being an entertaining event for gamers, watch the video below.

#3 Greta Thunberg Is Back (Again) – Climate change zealot and Islamic terrorist supporter Greta Thunberg is back yet again. After failing to reach the Gaza Strip with her activist pals, Thunberg is trying to do the same thing again and Israel is watching. She clearly has no respect for authority, continues to be allied with evil elements of the world (she refused to condemn Palestinian terrorist group Hamas) and she is living with a very distorted perception of reality. Watch and learn from the Sky News Australia videos below.

#4 SPAM’s Impact On Food In Japan – Like many others out there, I enjoy eating SPAM lunch meat from Hormel from time to time. It is a great addition for making sandwiches or rice meals. When I had a solo holiday in Hawaii, I saw SPAM on ready-to-eat food items there. SPAM also had impact on certain food of Okinawa in Japan and you can learn more by watching the video below.

#5 Are You Aware Of The History Of Comico? – Have you ever read any comic book from Comico: The Comic Company? I did and they were direct adaptations of episodes of Robotech in the 1980s. I know they published many other titles during their years of business but I never got to see any more Comico releases at retail here in the Philippines. As it turned out, Comico closed down in 1997. You can learn more about the beginning, rise and closure of Comico by watching the video below.

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US State Department Will End Anti-Christian Practices

September 8, 2025September 7, 2025carlocarrasco

Thank the Lord for United States President Donald Trump as the State Department officially announced it will put an end to the anti-Christian practices that went into effect by the previous administration, according to a Newsmax report.

For the newcomers reading this, when Joe Biden took office in January 2021, the State Department became hostile towards Christians in various ways while favoring Satanic Leftist ideology and causes (example: LGBT). In other words, the State Department under Biden and the Democrats became discriminating towards Christians. Let us not forget the Democrats’ love for unholy causes like abortion, same-sex marriage, critical race theory (CRT), and more.

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

The State Department said Friday that it will “eradicate” anti-Christian practices that were in place under the Biden administration, as directed by the Trump administration.

“Our nation was founded on the recognition that moral virtue and a steadfast faith in God are necessary preconditions of freedom,” the department said on its official X account. “Yet under the Biden Administration, U.S. foreign policy belittled Christianity and weaponized government against faith.

“That era has ended,” the post continued. “Under @POTUS’s leadership, the State Department will eradicate practices that devalue and demean the Christian faith.”

In its initial assessment, the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias found that under the Biden administration, the State Department “stigmatized employees for religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate” and cast “blame for disease on the unvaccinated.”

“The Department of State empowered employees to publicly shame and demean their colleagues with religious objections, even calling them ‘plague rats’ and ‘murderers,‘” the report said. “In one instance, an ambassador directly accused an unvaccinated subordinate of ‘wanting to kill’ the ambassador’s mother. The process used for determining religious exemptions involved an invasive questionnaire demanding highly personal information, reportedly far exceeding the legal requirements.

“Those who received religious accommodations were further shamed and humiliated as they were required to test for COVID weekly in view of others; disclose their accommodations to colleagues; and wear masks essentially marking them with a scarlet letter,” the document said.

In the State Department under Biden, Christian homeschool parents who were federal employees were harassed because of their religious beliefs, and their “commonsense parental choice” was likened to “child abuse.”

These parents were targeted with “Inspector General investigations, IRS referrals, and threats of criminal charges and disciplinary action,” according to the report.

The State Department’s foreign policy “disfavored Christians” and imposed “ideologically driven LGBT policies and programming on foreign governments” while offering “only muted responses to brutal attacks on, and the repression of, Christians overseas.”

The department also limited “humanitarian relief to Christians.”

According to the report, overseas leave policies under Biden “discriminatorily disfavored Christian State Department employees, instilling a culture of bias in which Catholics and other Christians reported being mocked for their religious beliefs by their colleagues.”

“In some cases, State Department employees were given leave for Muslim holidays, even as operations continued on Passover, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday and Monday,” the document stated.

Now, I want to share with you the following verses from the Holy Bible.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

And their righteousness is from Me,”

Says the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:9-13 (NKJV)

For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2:5 (AMPC)

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you like the major changes being done in government under President Trump’s leadership? Were you a victim of discrimination by the Biden administration?

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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More Than 4,000 Kids Receive Free Uniforms And Useful Items From Las Piñas City Government

September 8, 2025September 2, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, more than four thousand young children received free uniforms from the City Government which is related with their enrollment with the local Child Development Centers (CDCs), 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…

The Las Piñas City government has distributed free uniforms to more than 4,000 toddlers enrolled in the city’s Child Development Centers (CDCs) to help ease the financial burden on parents.

The distribution was held at the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and the Mayor Nene Aguilar Multi-Purpose Hall in BF Resort, Barangay Talon Dos.

This marks the first time the city has provided free CDC uniforms under the “Alagang April” program, which aims to help young learners focus on their studies while reducing school-related expenses for families.

Along with uniforms, the city also distributed school supplies and interlocking puzzles designed to enhance children’s memory, problem-solving, and planning skills.

She said that education starts at an early age, and by supporting the children’s needs, they can focus on their studies.

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? Do you think the City Government should continue distributing more items for CDC-enrolled kids?

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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Moody’s Predicts 5.7% Growth for Philippine Economy in 2025

September 7, 2025September 1, 2025carlocarrasco

Based on its latest economy research, Moody’s Ratings announced that the economy of the Philippines will achieve 5.7% growth for the year 2025, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY is on track to grow by 5.7% this year on the back of strong household spending, steady remittances and sustained public investments, Moody’s Ratings said.

“We expect the Philippines to maintain strong economic growth relative to regional and rating peers,” Moody’s said after the completion of a periodic review of Philippines’ credit rating.

“Growth will be supported by resilient household consumption, stable remittance inflows from overseas workers, and public investment spending, and ongoing structural reforms,” it said in a report.

Moody’s forecast is within the government’s revised 5.5-6.5% gross domestic product (GDP) growth target for this year.

In the second quarter, GDP expanded by an annual 5.5%, up from 5.4% in the first quarter but slower than the 6.5% in the same period last year. For the first half, GDP growth averaged 5.4%, slower than the 6.2% a year ago.

Moody’s flagged downside risks to the outlook arising from the US tariff policies.

“Although the Philippines’ exposure to trade and global value chains is relatively low, uncertainty around US trade policy and tariffs presents some downside risks to domestic consumption and investment,” it said.

Since Aug. 7, the United States has been imposing a 19% tariff on Philippine goods entering the US. The US is one of the top destinations for Philippine-made goods.

Growth will also be supported by its fiscal consolidation efforts, but Moody’s flagged the government’s high debt stock and interest burden.

“Fiscal consolidation efforts are on track to meet the government’s revised Medium-Term Fiscal Framework of reducing the deficit to 4.3% of GDP by 2028, supported by the implementation of reform measures at enhancing revenue collection and spending efficiency,” Moody’s said.

While this will help temper Philippines’ debt burden, Moody’s said debt will remain “above pre-pandemic levels.”

As of June, the Philippines’ sovereign debt hit a fresh high of P17.27 trillion, up 11.5% from P15.48 trillion in the same month in 2024.

This brought the debt-to-GDP ratio to 63.1% at the end of June, the highest ratio since 2005. This is above the 60% debt-to-GDP threshold considered by multilateral lenders to be manageable for developing economies.

“Debt affordability, measured by the ratio of interest payments to revenue, is expected to weaken over the next two years, before gradually normalizing as global refinancing rates decline and economic growth returns to its long-term trend,” the debt watcher said.

“Despite rate cuts by the central bank since the second half of 2024, elevated government funding costs and a lag in the monetary policy transmission will keep interest burden higher,” it added.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think Moody’s Ratings of a 5.7% economic growth for 2025 will turn out true? What do you think it will take for the Philippine economy to reach 6% growth this year?

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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Dredging Work in Las Piñas City Intensified

September 6, 2025August 30, 2025carlocarrasco

In an effort to reduce the risk of flooding, dredging in the city has been intensified under the watch of the administration of Las Piñas City Mayor April Aguilar, according to a news article by Dredging Today.

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

The City Government of Las Piñas, under the leadership of Mayor April Aguilar and Vice Mayor Imelda Aguilar, is intensifying its flood mitigation initiatives through the conduct of a clearing and dredging operation in Bangkalan Creek, Barangay Almanza Uno.

“This operation is not just an environmental effort – it is a proactive measure to safeguard lives, protect properties, and keep our city resilient against climate change and extreme weather events,” CENRO Las Piñas said.

“By conducting dredging and clearing works, the City Government ensures that waterways remain open, deeper, and unobstructed, thereby reducing the risks of overflow.”

The initial dredging operations uncovered plastic bags, plastic bottles, soda cans, and other non-biodegradable materials that had been stacked up through the years.

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? Do you think the City Government is doing enough to reduce the risk of flooding in the near future?

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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A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #281 (1991)

September 5, 2025September 27, 2025carlocarrasco

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 1991 to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series…Uncanny X-Men #281.

For the newcomers reading this, Marvel had a major reorganizing of their X-Men-related comic book series in the 2^nd half of 1991. After the events of the Muir Island Saga, the X-Men grew into such a large group they had to be divided into two teams – Blue and Yellow – under Charles Xavier who returned as their leader. When X-Men #1 (by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee) launched in 1991, it showed the Blue Team dealing with Magneto. Uncanny X-Men #281 was released the same month as that comic book and it shows the first mission of the Gold Team composed of Storm, Jean Grey, Colossus, Iceman and Archangel. Very notably, its story took place immediately after X-Men #5 was released in 1992.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #281, published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio and script by John Byrne. The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

Early story

The story begins in the Australian outback where the Reavers are relaxing while the sandstorm is happening and with them is Donald Pierce. Suddenly, a group of Sentinels attacked them resulting in deaths of some of their members.

Elsewhere in New York City, Storm, Jean Grey, Archangel, Colossus and Iceman – all in formal attire as civilians – attend a lavish party at the headquarters of the Hellfire Club. It turns out, they were invited by Emma Frost who leads the club. Even with several guests and a lot of enjoyable things around them, the X-Men remain prepared to react if something unfortunate happens.

After a brief moment of tension between the X-Men and the Hellions, someone in a powered suit of armor crashed through a door near Jean, Storm and Archangel. Emma Frost emerges, takes the helmet off the armored person (a young woman) and even welcomed the X-Men. Frost claims that the armored lady was another assassin who tried to take her life and it is the 2^nd assassination attempt she encountered over the past weeks….

Quality

*The Sentinels, Lady Deathstrike and Donald Pierce in an intense scene.*

As this comic book was part of the new era of the X-Men, the creative team came up with tale that is loaded with sub-plots that had a mix of old (the X-Men fought with the Hellfire Club during the Dark Phoenix Saga, and had encounters with the Sentinels a number of times) and new (Trevor Fitzroy – the illegitimate son of Sebastian Shaw – and the Upstarts are the new antagonists of the X-Men) creative elements for the X-Men’s Gold Team to encounter. The fact that the Hellfire Club is present in the story requires readers to have some knowledge about them from previous X-Men comic books as well as other characters and past tales that formed the background of the newer characters.

The story was made to modernize the X-Men and their struggle with people they encounter, while creatively reconnecting with the past. This should not be a surprise because writer John Byrne (yes, the same creator behind The Man of Steel mini-series) himself was involved in the Dark Phoenix Saga. The result is a tale of intrigue, twists, action and a lot of tension here.

When it comes to encounters, I enjoyed the discussion the X-Men had with Emma Frost (first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129) who was their fierce enemy (Frost previously tried to manipulate Kitty Pryde) before having a change of heart and partnered with Professor X. Their exchange of words was civil, smart and there were some nice pay-offs in the form of intriguing revelations. The script by John Byrne was really solid here.

The artwork by Whilce Portacio here is still great to look at and his contribution on modernizing the X-Men’s look for the 1990s is a must-see. The same can be said with his take on Emma Frost, and the other established characters here. Portacio’s visualization of Trevor Fitzroy has that strong science fiction vibe combined with that fluffy early 1990s look.

Conclusion

*The X-Men witness an intense moment followed by the emergence of Emma Frost.*

Even though there were a few bumps on the flow of the narrative, I can say that Uncanny X-Men #281 (1991) is a very enjoyable read filled with intrigue, twists, reconnections to the past, notable character moments and sufficient spectacle. Its story has a lot of details and attachments to the past which will resonate with long-time X-Men fans. At the same time, Whilce Portacio’s art works made this one of the finest looking Uncanny X-Men issues of the 1990s and that is saying a lot. Considering the details and the richness of the writing, this Uncanny X-Men comic book should be read at a moderate pace as paying close attention to what was presented is essential.

That being said, this first tale of the Gold Team of the X-Men is a great read.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #281 (1991) is highly recommended!

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Tren de Aragua Gang Eliminated By America At Sea

September 5, 2025September 4, 2025carlocarrasco

United States President Donald Trump really means business when it comes to protecting his nation and citizens as America eliminated a vessel from Venezuela operated by the Tren de Aragua gang carrying illegal drugs, according to a Newsmax news report. Already the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago praised the strike.

For the newcomers reading this, Tren de Aragua is a transnational criminal organization from Venezuela and its members has spread throughout Latin America and even in the United States. Tren de Aragua is officially a terrorist organization.

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

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang.

The president said 11 were killed in the operation.

“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,” Trump said in a social media posting. “No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier on X that the vessel was being operated by a “designated narco-terrorist organization.” He described the operation as a lethal strike.

Rubio addressed the strike on Tuesday shortly before he was scheduled to depart for Mexico and Ecuador for talks on drug cartels, security, tariffs and more.

The U.S. recently announced plans to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels.

The U.S. has not signaled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed. Still, President Nicolás Maduro’s government has responded by deploying troops along Venezuela’s coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.

For clarity, posted below is the entire social media post by President Trump regarding the strike. Pay close attention to the details:

Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere. The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE! Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you like what the Trump administration is doing with regards to combatting terrorists and the wave of illegal drugs coming from Latin America? What will it take to apprehend all the remaining Tren de Aragua members in the United States? Do you think bringing down the Maduro regime in Venezuela can be achieved during Trump’s 2^nd term?

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 Congressman Santos Says Zapote River Drive Narrowed Waterway and Made Flooding Worse

September 5, 2025August 29, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Congressman Mark Santos visited the Zapote River Drive and pointed out that the construction of the road made the waterway narrower and resulted in worse flooding in recent times, according to a GMA Network news report.

For the newcomers reading this, the Zapote River stretches for several kilometers and it physically separates Las Piñas City from Bacoor City (Cavite province). The Zapote River Drive itself was constructed to decongest traffic in Las Piñas City.

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

The construction of a road along the Zapote River in Las Piñas City has narrowed the waterway and worsened flooding in parts of the city, according to a lawmaker.

In Maki Pulido’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” a resident of Barangay Zapote 2 said floodwater enters their home during heavy rains.

Due to the rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) in July, several areas in Las Piñas City were submerged in the ensuing floods.

According to Las Piñas Rep. Anthony Santos, there is a flood control project for the Zapote River, one of the major waterways in the city. But instead of dredging and cleaning the river, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) constructed a road alongside the river.

As a result, Santos said the river became narrower and prone to faster overflowing, causing more floods in different areas of the city.

“Malaki po ang inoccupy nito doon sa Zapote River kung saan makikita natin ngayon na medyo nabawasan yung puwang o luwang ng river na nagdudulot ngayon ng problema dito sa Las Piñas nung raw na mas malapad ito mas maraming tubig ang dumadaloy,” Santos said.

(The road occupies a larger portion of the Zapote River. The width of the river is now smaller, which is causing problems here in Las Piñas. When it was wider, more water was able to flow.)

The DPWH is currently repairing riprap after a portion of it collapsed.

“Itong river na ito, hindi dapat tinayuan para gawing kalsada. Ito po ay para linisin lang ang river, pero kita niyo ang nag initiate na predecessors ko. Conflict of interest po, very clear po dito, kasi lahat ng kalsadang dinaanan papunta sa mga lupa nila ng mga Villar kasi nagpagawa bridge papunta sa mga property nila. Ang dulo nito ay isang malaking mall na pag aari ng pamilya Villar,” Santos said.

(Roads were not supposed to be constructed alongside the river. It was intended for just cleaning the river, but look at what my predecessors did. It’s very clear that there is a conflict of interest because all the constructed roads lead to the properties of the Villars. At the end of this road is a mall owned by the Villar family.)

According to Santos, the road construction began in 2012 and now stretches to at least 10 kilometers.

Posters along Las Piñas Zapote Road indicate the road is a project by siblings and senators Mark Villar and Camille Villar-Genuino and their mother, former senator Cynthia Villar.

Santos won the congressional seat against the elder Villar during the 2025 Philippine elections.

“Wala naman pong kwestyun kung sino mag be-benefit dito e nag re-reklamo mga kababayan ko sa baha (there is no question who will benefit from this project, but the people are complaining about the floods),” Santos said.

Roads were also built alongside the city’s creeks, including Talong Creek in Barangay Pulang Dos.

According to a resident, in 2024, the retaining wall collapsed due to the volume of water and accumulated garbage in the narrower creek.

“Gumiba siya. Nag breach aming wall pinasok kami tubig. May portion pa na neck-deep. Kinakatakot namin papasok na naman tag-ulan wala na natutulog dito,” resident Elmer Pascual said, adding that their subdivision experienced flooding for the first time.

(The wall collapsed after it was breached by the water. In some areas, the floodwaters rose to neck-deep levels. We’re concerned that it might happen again during the rainy season.)

In a statement, Cynthia Villar said the Las Piñas Zapote River Drive is a flood control and traffic decongestion project to rehabilitate the Las Piñas River.

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? Have you ever traveled along the Zapote River Drive in Las Piñas City? Are you convinced that the Zapote River Drive made the river narrower and made flooding worse? Do you think the Zapote River Drive succeeded in decongesting traffic within the city? Do you live in a residential community bordering the Zapote River?

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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Trump’s America Is a Shining Example of Solving The Illegal Immigration Crisis

September 4, 2025August 29, 2025carlocarrasco

There is no doubt that United States President Donald Trump and his administration have successfully secured their borders as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed during a recent cabinet meeting that absolutely zero illegals entered their country over the past three months, according to a Newsmax news report.

Trump’s America not only succeeded in securing the borders, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to apprehend and deport illegal immigrants with criminal records, other illegal immigrants volunteered to be deported back to where they came from, the safety of the citizens has improved and more citizens have gotten employed this year. Homeland security is working in tandem with the other departments of the government such as Defense, Justice and Immigration. These developments are indeed change that Americans and Trump supports can believe in.

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

The U.S. has gone three straight months without an illegal immigrant entering the country and 1.6 million inside the country have self-deported, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday.

Noem, speaking during a Cabinet meeting that aired live on Newsmax and the Newsmax2 free online streaming platform, thanked President Donald Trump for his support and said that her department is following through on his campaign promise to make America safe again.

“Today, the average family and individual that lives in this country is safer than they’ve been in years because of what you’ve done,” Noem said. “We’ve gone three months in a row now with zero illegal aliens coming into this country.“

Noem also thanked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for helping her agency with border enforcement.

“They’re down at the border with us, still helping us keep that border secure and make sure we know who’s coming into this country,” she said. “You’ve arrested and brought to justice hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens, criminals that have perpetuated violence against American people. Sir, you’ve had 1.6 million people voluntarily go home to their home countries that were here in this country illegally. Because of your strong message and you enforcing the law, they decided to go home on their own so that they could come back the right way someday and be American citizens.

“But what I think is one of the most remarkable statistics is that under Joe Biden’s administration, 88% of new jobs went to foreign born individuals. Under your administration, 2.5 [million] Americans have jobs today that they didn’t under the previous administration. And they have those jobs because you created opportunities.

“You made this country safe. You opened up the economy. You enforced the law. Now people can get up and provide for their families and go to work every day and be confident in that.“

Noem also talked about the savings made on the president’s immigration crackdown, noting it cost American taxpayers between $8,000 and $9,000 to support each illegal immigrant “in what they were taking out of our social programs, out of Social Security.”

“You saved this country billions of dollars, about $15 billion just in what those illegal aliens were costing us in social programs,” Noem said. “I’ve cut over 450 different contracts at the Department of Homeland Security. We’re getting rid of corrupt ones, ones that were not efficient for taxpayers, weren’t focused on our mission of keeping us safe. And we’ve also renegotiated and brought in our biggest vendors and said, you have to do better.

“And we’ve saved the taxpayers over $13 billion doing that, as well. So, we’re continuing to be accountable with taxpayer dollars [and] focused on doing the mission of what you’ve committed, and that’s to keep us safe and to make sure we put Americans first.”

Trump appeared pleased to hear Noem’s report, thanking Noem, Hegseth and Tom Homan, his point man for mass deportations and border security.

Wow! What was revealed during the cabinet meeting was indeed a bunch of breakthroughs. The Trump administration is truly progressing with its immigration policies, economic efforts and putting Americans first. 2025 still has a few months left and already the United States is blossoming and has established itself as the shining example of solving the illegal immigration crisis and preventing foreigners from trespassing into the country.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you like what the Trump administration is doing with regards to border security, illegal immigration, job creation and the wellbeing of American citizens? Are you still surrounded by people who love illegal immigrants while they keep on attacking the Trump administration for serving the American people? How many people in your local community still follow the Democrats and the Islamo-Leftists?

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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