Author Carlo Carrasco

I Love Israel: Exchange of scientists between Israel and the Philippines confirmed

July 9, 2021July 8, 2021carlocarrasco

As I was browsing the latest and most relevant news at the Philippine News Agency (PNA) recently, I spotted the latest development about Israel-Philippines ties and it is about the exchange of scientists. Very recently, Israeli health experts provided valuable advise to Philippine authorities on dealing with COVID-19.

For me, this is significant because I observed that Israel itself has made lots of advances in the field of science and this was confirmed by the Bloomberg Innovation Index wherein Israel finished as the fifth most innovative country in the world for the year 2019. Israel also has its high-tech industries and excels in green science or agriculture feeding the world along the way.

To put things in perspective about the Israel-Philippines exchange of scientists, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…

Israel and the Philippines will be sending scientists to each other’s countries as part of capacity building and trainings, an official of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said on Tuesday.

“The specifics such as the number of the experts, duration and date of the visit will still have to be further discussed. While we want to proceed with the activity as soon as possible, we also need to consider the current situation, including travel advisories both in the Philippines and Israel,” DOST Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation Leah Buendia told the Philippine News Agency.

She said the Filipino experts going to Israel will be trained on drip irrigation, medicinal chemistry, Israel’s drug discovery, and artificial intelligence (AI).

On the other hand, the Israeli scientists going to the Philippines will meet with Filipino researchers.

“One of the agreements during the (Philippines-Israel joint committee meeting on science and technology) is to conduct a workshop which will serve as a platform for Filipino and Israeli experts to discuss their works, and identify potential collaboration. During the meeting, our Israeli counterparts said that they want to visit the Philippines,” she said.

DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña said the meeting with Israel’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) chief scientist, Avi Domb, and other officials of both agencies was held virtually last June 30.

He said they talked about the potential joint initiatives to be implemented on the identified priority areas that include agriculture (water management); AI (robotics); and health (biomedical engineering and drug discovery).

The discussed priorities were guided by the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Scientific Cooperation signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his official visit to Israel in 2018, he added.

“Israel is a valuable partner for us. It is part of our 20 priority partners for STI (science, technology, innovation) international cooperation, recognizing their strengths in STI and considering the pronouncements of engaging with non-traditional partners,” Buendia said.

She added that the DOST officials are happy that they finally had the meeting to lay out their plans for the collaboration.

De la Peña earlier reported that capacity building activities include scholarships, visiting professors, and trainings.

The conduct of joint conferences to discuss the respective researches and projects of experts shall also be expected, eyeing the development of AI applications for government/public service and emergency response, among others.

And here are some videos to help you know Israel better…

The latest exchange between Israel and the Philippines regarding scientists is a reflection of the stronger ties between the two nations. We Filipinos should be grateful to the State of Israel, no matter what happens and no matter who are leading as national authorities both here and there. We Filipinos can also give back by supporting Israel in more ways than one. We can pray for Israelites and provide varied support for them (note: refer to the Christians United for Israel reference near the very end of this article below) knowing that there are still terrorists (sponsored by Iran) and other forces of evil that are obsessed in destroying Israel.

Before I end this, here is a holy scripture for you all…

Now, this is what Yahweh says:

“Listen, Jacob, to the One who created you,

Israel, to the one who shaped who you are.

Do not fear,

for I, your Kinsman-Redeemer, will rescue you.

I have called you by name, and you are mine.

When you pass through the deep, stormy sea,

you can count on me to be there with you.

When you pass through raging rivers,

You will not drown.

When you walk through persecution like fiery flames,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not harm you,

for I am your Savior, Yahweh, your mighty God,

the Holy One of Israel!

I give up Egypt as the price to set you free,

Cush and Seba in exchange to bring you back.

Since you are cherished and precious in my eyes,

and because I love you dearly and want to honor you,

I willingly give up nations in exchange for you—

a man to save your life.

I am with you now, even close to you,

so never yield to fear.

I will bring your children from the east;

from the west I will gather you.

I will say to the north, ‘Hand them over!’

and to the south, ‘Don’t hold them back!’

Bring me my sons from far away,

my daughters from the ends of the earth!

Bring me everyone who is called by my name,

the ones I created to experience my glory.

I myself formed them to be who they are

and made them for my glory.”

Isaiah 43:1-7 (TPT)

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful (not religious), you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel, love the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Always stand in support of Israel!

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COVID-19 Crisis: SM Southmall certified safe in Las Piñas City

July 9, 2021July 8, 2021carlocarrasco

SM Southmall, a major shopping and lifestyle destination located along Alabang-Zapote Road in Las Piñas City, recently received its Safety Seal and Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery was present during the inauguration ceremony at the mall.

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

SM Southmall has been awarded with the safety seal. With Las Piñas rolling out the safety seal inspection in the region, SM Southmall is the first mall city to receive the seal.

Present in the inauguration were the Vice Mayor of Las Pinas City, Hon. April T. Aguilar; Chief of the Business Permits and Licensing Office Mr. Willy Gaerlan; Bernice Baculi, AVP of Operations for SM Southmall and Sally Chandumal, Mall Manager of SM Southmall.

“I am very pleased to be here in SM Southmall for the awarding of the safety seal certificate wherein SM Southmall is the first to pass the safety seal inspection conducted by our team,” says BPLIO Head Willy Gaerlan, “we hope we will maintain the standard we’ve already received.”

SM Southmall continues to excel in its safety and sanitation protocols with temperature checks, one-way signs, social distancing rules, alfresco dining, safety protocol officers and constant hygiene maintenance to ensure the safety of its customers.

In my personal observation, SM Southmall and SM shopping malls, literally, went the extra mile in keeping their facilities sanitized, cleaned and orderly. As for what the Safety Seal is, it is the indication that the establishment is compliant in terms of the standard safety protocols and other related requirements. In nearby Muntinlupa City, the Alabang Town Center (ATC) was certified with the Safety Seal and other malls in the city applied for the seal.

Going back to Las Piñas City, the Safety Seal continues to make its presence felt even more. Already offices in Las Piñas City Hall got certified with the Safety Seal making them safe for people to visit. The City Government has a team dedicated on handling Safety Seal certifications.

For South Metro Manila residents reading this, SM Southmall’s safety certification is a big help not just to the mall itself and to its business partners, but also to anyone who needs to be at the mall for their respective needs, dining, and business transactions.

As for local COVID-19 matters, any Las Piñas resident reading this who has yet to get registered for free COVID-19 vaccines can learn the ways (4 methods) by clicking here. Anyone who is ready and willing to register online can click bit.ly/LasPiñasVaccination

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Have you been visiting SM Southmall lately for your essential needs or dining? Are the mall personnel there working to ensure your safety from COVID-19? If you visit SM Southmall more than once a week, how much time do you spend there during each visit?

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 suspects arrested and P1.3 million in illegal substances seized in Parañaque City

July 9, 2021July 8, 2021carlocarrasco

The Manila Bulletin reported that on July 6, 2021 (Tuesday), local police officers successfully seized P1.3 million worth of illegal substances and apprehended two persons as suspects as a result of buy-bust operation that took place in Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City. This is the 2^nd straight illegal drugs-related crime report about Parañaque following the drugs-in-DVD-cases report.

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

Southern Police District (SPD) operatives arrested two drug suspects on Tuesday in Paranaque City and confiscated from them P1.3 million worth of shabu.

SPD Director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, citing a report by city police chief Col. Maximo Sebastian, said the arrests were made during a buy-bust operation along San Juan Miguel St., San Antonio, Valley 6, Barangay San Isidro, Paranaque City on Tuesday.

The arrested suspects were identified as Myrna Sobinsky, 47, and Marjun Estolonio, 30, both residents of Paranaque City.

The police said the suspects were placed under surveillance by members of the Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) after receiving reports on their illegal drug activities.

Members of the SDEU immediately conducted a buy-bust operation and were able to confiscate from the suspects four pieces of medium heat sealed transparent sachet containing about 200 grams of shabu worth P1.3-million.

And now here is the related news video by GMA Network…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are living in Parañaque City, do you believe that the local police officers and barangay tanods are doing enough to protect your local community from criminals? Who do you think is the mastermind behind the presence of illegal drugs in Parañaque City?

Did someone promise you that Parañaque City would be a drug-free or crime-free city soon? Do you believe in the so-called Parañaque Renaissance?

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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DTI-NCR provides carinderia kits to 75 “Muntipreneurs,” Mayor Fresnedi receives Resilience award

July 9, 2021July 8, 2021carlocarrasco

The Department of Trade and Industry – National Capital Region Office has turned over Carinderia Kits to food retailers and other micro-entrepreneurs in Muntinlupa, dubbed as “Muntipreneurs,” in a bid to help them recover and improve their businesses amid the pandemic.

DTI-NCRO Regional Director Marcelina Alcantara, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, and Congressman Ruffy Biazon led the Awarding Ceremony of Carinderia Kits worth P8,000 each to seventyfive beneficiaries of the Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB) at Muntinlupa Sports Complex, Brgy. Tunasan last July 7.

*City Government officials led by Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and the 75 Muntipreneurs. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)*

The LSP-NSB is a program of DTI that allows a wider reach of business development assistance by bringing government services closer to the people through partnerships between relevant local government units and DTI officials.

The program aims to provide individual package of livelihood kits that contains items that could aid in the recovery of affected individuals during catastrophic events including health disasters like epidemics and pandemics.

Other services offered by the LSP-NSB include business registration assistance, SME counseling, product development, financing facilitation, market/business matching, trade promotion, investment promotion, business information and advocacy, trainings, seminars, and workshops, among others. LSP-NSB beneficiaries will undergo monitoring and evaluation to ensure the growth of their businesses.

Other officials attending the program include LSP-NSB National Program Manager Asec. Dominic Tolentino, Muntinlupa Local Economic and Investment Promotions Department chief Gary Llamas, and City Administrator Allan Cachuela.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi extended his thanks to DTI-NCR for providing assistance to local entrepreneurs. He hoped that programs for micro-entrepreneurs in the city will help revive the stalled local economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the program, DTI-NCRO officials also conferred the Certificate of Recognition for being Rank 1 in the Resilience category (HUCs) of the recent Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index to Mayor Fresnedi.

*Mayor Jaime Fresnedi (3rd from right) receives the Resilience Award from DTI-NCRO. Also present was Congressman Ruffy Biazon and other local officials. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)*

For inquiries and other information, interested micro entrepreneurs may contact the local Negosyo Center at Plaza Central, Brgy. Poblacion at 0917 5120269 and look for Ms. Bea Trozado.

In a similar program, the City Government of Muntinlupa also provides financing assistance to micro-entrepreneurs and MSMEs through Tulong Negosyo Program’s zero-interest loans (formerly Dagdag Puhunan). Muntinlupa is the first LGU to introduce the micro-financing program.

Tulong Negosyo caters to MSMEs and provides micro-finance assistance ranging from P2,000 up to P150,000 depending on the business capital ceiling and payment record of beneficiaries. The program aims to provide additional capital for business expansion for aspiring and established business owners in Muntinlupa.

For more information, visit the Joint Resources Financing Program – JRF Facebook Page or visit them at 2F Plaza Central, Brgy. Poblacion with contact numbers 8772-3457and (0921) 888 6124.

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The above information was sourced from the official press release of the Muntinlupa PIO. Some parts were changed for this website.

Skyway Stage 3 toll collection to start July 12, 2021

July 8, 2021July 7, 2021carlocarrasco

For those of you who constantly drive going north or south through Skyway Stage 3, better brace yourselves as the collection of tolls from motorists will formally begin on July 12, 2021. That is this coming Monday already. Take note that it has been seven months since the use of Skyway Stage 3 was kept free for motorists.

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

After nearly seven months of providing the public free use of the 18-kilometer Skyway Stage 3, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Tuesday announced it will start collecting toll on the elevated expressway starting July.

In a statement, SMC said it will be using a revised toll matrix which is lower than the original proposed toll fees.

To recall, the Toll Regulatory Board approved last March the provisional toll rates for the Skyway 3.

The approved provisional toll rates are the following:

For Class 1 vehicles

Buendia to Sta. Mesa – P105.00

Sta. Mesa to Ramon Magsaysay – P30.00

Ramon Magsaysay to NLEX Balintawak – P129.00

Buendia to NLEX Balintawak – P264.00

For Class 2 vehicles, the toll rates are twice as much as the rates for Class 1 vehicles.

For Class 3, the rates are thrice the price of Class 1.

The approved provisional toll rates are lower than San Miguel’s petition ranging from P110 to P274.

SMC said the TRB issued a Toll Operating Permit and a Notice to Start Collecting Toll on Skyway 3.

The company, through its SMC Infrastructure, said it will post the final approved toll rates at the toll plazas prior to the start of toll collection.

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said that the revised toll matrix, as approved by the TRB, takes into consideration the pandemic, its impact on the economy, and on Filipinos.

“We thank the TRB for helping us determine the most equitable toll rates for our motorists. We know from experience that times are hard for many, and even a little relief for motorists can go a long way. These toll rates reflect our deferral of the collection of a substantial amount of the cost to build Skyway 3. We also further lowered the rates for those traveling shorter distances,” Ang said.

He said the tolls it will collect will provide the company revenues to ensure continued efficient operations, maintenance, and safe driving conditions on the elevated expressway—particularly as daily traffic puts a heavy strain on the road infrastructure, necessitating significant maintenance costs.

Skyway 3 reduced travel time from Alabang to Balintawak and vice versa, to only 30 minutes from the previous three hours, and from Buendia to Balintawak, to only 20 minutes.

With a capacity of 200,000 vehicles per day, the elevated toll road has also significantly decongested traffic on major Metro Manila thoroughfares, including Edsa and C-5.

With the start of toll collection, the government can now also start generating significant income from the expressway, as it imposes a 12 % VAT on all toll fees, according to SMC.

SMC said it fully-funded the construction of the project with no government funds or guarantees and had spent over P80 billion– more than double its original cost – to complete the project over a period that spans two administrations.

And here is a related video news report also by GMA Network…

As seen in the above report, clearly it is high time for motorists to pay San Miguel Corporation (SMC) for using Skyway Stage 3 which itself is a magnificent piece of infrastructure (made possible by capitalists, not socialists) that will benefit generations of Filipinos who need to travel north, south and within key parts of Metro Manila. Skyway Stage 3 is a major factor in the decongestion of traffic along EDSA, C-5 and other major metropolitan roads. By the way, what motorists will pay starting Monday, a portion of that will go to the national government in the form of value-added tax (VAT).

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Are you prepared to pay the toll rates for Skyway Stage 3 starting July 12? How many times a week do you travel along Skyway Stage 3? Are the toll rates approved fair to you?

If you are a daily traveler on Skyway Stage 3, how was your travel time between destinations?

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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Illegal drugs contained in DVD storage cases seized in Parañaque City

July 8, 2021July 6, 2021carlocarrasco

Very recently, the Manila Bulletin published new Parañaque City crime news related to illegal drugs. There is a catch, however, because this latest crime development involved the use of a DVD storage cases as a means to contain the illegal substance which amounted to hundreds of thousands of Pesos.

Think about that. Plastic DVD cases not used for storing movies on disc format but for storing illegal drugs instead. Fortunately for the city and the people, the person suspected to be responsible for the illegal drugs got arrested by police officers (who deserve thanks).

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

A 30-year-old man was arrested by members of the Southern Police District Drug Enforcement Unit (DDEU) during a buy-bust operation in possession of P340,000 worth of shabu hidden inside DVD cases in Paranaque City on Monday night.

SPD Director Brig. Gen, Jimili Macaraeg identified the suspect as Roy Francis Tolesora. He is now detained at the SPD custodial detention facility and charges for violation of RA 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, will be filed against him.

Macaraeg said Tolesora was arrested by members of the DDEU along Angelina Canaynay Avenue, Barangay San Dionisio, Paranaque City at about 7:00 p.m.

He said DDEU members conducted a buy-bust operation against the suspect resulting in the confiscation of about 50 grams of shabu amounting to P340,000.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Do you believe that it is possible for local authorities to make Parañaque City a drug-free city? Do you believe that the police are doing enough to get rid of criminals by organizing buy-bust operations? When it comes to crime, what particular form of crime do you think defines criminal activity in Parañaque City?

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: Space Jam 4K Blu-ray combo now available!

July 7, 2021July 6, 2021carlocarrasco

Are you fond of 1990s Hollywood movies? Do you love Michael Jordan during his reign in the NBA? Have you ever seen the famous Bill Murray act with Jordan and Larry Bird? Have you always been a fan of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang?

Here is the news that could be big to you in relation to the above questions – the 1996 hit live-action/animated comedy movie Space Jam is now available on 4K Blu-ray (with digital copy and Blu-ray disc included) and you can order it now at Amazon!

Here are the details on what comes with Space Jam 4K Blu-ray sourced from Blu-ray.com…

Video
Codec: HEVC / H.265
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Audio

English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Danish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Swedish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Norwegian: Dolby Digital 5.1
Finnish: Dolby Digital 5.1

Subtitles

English SDH, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish

Discs
4K Ultra HD
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD-100, 1 BD-50)

Extra stuff – Commentary with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and director Joe Pytka. Jammin’ with Bug Bunny and Michael Jordan featurette. Two music videos and the theatrical trailer.

For those who are not very aware about the legacy of Space Jam, it was a special project of Warner Bros.’ animation group and not only did it star Michael Jordan (who led the Chicago Bulls to its 4^th NBA title in mid-1996), it involved big names like Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters) as producer, comedy icon Bill Murray in a key supporting role and a whole lot of great voice talents such as Billy West (Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd), Dee Bradley Baker (Daffy Duck), and Frank Welker (best known for Transformers’ Megatron) to name a few.

Adding further zest to the cast lots of NBA personalities such as Hall of Famer Larry Bird, Mugsy Bogues, Charles Barkley, Shawn Bradley, Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson, plus cameo appearances of Danny Ainge, Horace Grant, Steve Kerr and A.C. Green to name a few.

Personally, I never saw Space Jam in the movie theater but I got to watch it in the airplane going to the United States in April 1997. I was not able to focus fully on its story as watching it on a small screen behind the passenger seat in front of me was never a comfortable experience. Still, the movie caught my attention when I saw Larry Bird (my favorite basketball player of all-time) act with Jordan and with the iconic Bill Murray. Of course, the quality of animation done by Warner Bros.’ creative teams was pretty good for its time. I should state that Elmer Fudd scoring a basket in basketball uniform was fun to watch.

Going back to the above specs and details about Space Jam 4K Blu-ray, it’s really nice to know that the visuals have been confirmed to be native 4K. Personally, I am interested to see how the 1996 mixed live-action/animation film would look like on the screen of our 4K smart TV at home.

In the official Blu-ray.com review for Space Jam 4K Blu-ray, the visuals were partially described as: Advertised as a new HDR-enhanced 4K master, Space Jam arrives on the format with a mostly pleasing 2160p transfer that corrects a few of the 2011 Blu-ray’s visual shortcomings but back-pedals elsewhere. For starters, it’s worth noting that portions of this film have always looked soft and very light on grain, such as Jordan’s arrival and stay in WB world, including the climactic basketball game; this was a necessary style choice to ensure that live-action elements didn’t stick too far out against the more smoothly-rendered animation. Other built-in source “defects” (for lack of a better word) include a bit of aliasing on specific CG backgrounds, such as a few sharp angles and edges on Moron Mountain and the baseline and free-throw paint on animated basketball courts; it’s easily spotted on screenshot #4, but again hardly distracting in-motion.

Space Jam 4K Blu-ray combo is now available and it should appeal to NBA fans, Looney Tunes fans and just about anyone who feels nostalgic about the 1990s. Take note that when Space Jam was released in cinemas in late 1996, Michael Jordan was on his way to a second three-peat of NBA championships and the movie was clearly part of the legacy of his basketball greatness which defined the NBA in the 1990s (note: Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won the NBA championship titles in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998). Space Jam was made at a time when Hollywood not yet dominated by the Satanic Left, those whiny socialists, the naked Communists and all those liberals who love to use movies as pieces to spread their poisonous propaganda. In short, Space Jam of 1996 was simply made to entertain without any political garbage.

For more entries of my Better than Streaming series of articles, check out my pieces on The Beastmaster 4K Blu-ray, The Transformers: The Movie 4K Blu-ray, Mortal Kombat 2021 4K Blu-ray, and V: The Original Miniseries Blu-ray disc of Warner Archive (read my retro review).

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COVID-19 Crisis: 11.7 million people vaccinated nationwide

July 7, 2021July 6, 2021carlocarrasco

Close to twelve million people here in the Philippines have been vaccinated successfully according to the National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 when it issued a statement two days ago through the Philippine News Agency (PNA). To be more specific, the official count of vaccinated individuals all over the Philippines was at 11,708,029 people.

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

A total of 11,708,029 individuals have been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in the Philippines, the National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 said on Monday.

The latest NTF data shows a total of 8,839,124 individuals have received their first dose while 2,868,905 others have completed their two doses of Covid-19 vaccine as of July 4.

In the past 18 weeks of the national vaccination program, the government has reached a record high of 1,778,989 doses being administered.

The average daily vaccination rate in the last seven days is at 254,141 doses, with 1,197 average number of active reporting vaccination sites.

The NTF reported that 1,714,313 health care workers have already received their first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine while 1,156,220 are fully vaccinated.

Some 2,524,204 senior citizens under A2 category of priority groups, 2,993,197 persons with comorbidity (A3), and 1,350,979 essential sector (A4) and 256,431 indigents (A5) have received their first dose.

On the other hand, some 788,630 of A2, 897,719 of A3, 26,109 of A4, and 227 of A5 are now fully vaccinated against the disease.

Looking at the above official statistics, it is notable that more than a million healthcare workers have been fully vaccinated (two doses). There is still a long way to go before the number of fully vaccinated A4 patients (note: the workers) before reaching the million-mark. A4 patients are essential in the Philippines’ economic revival and business owners need a healthy and immune (against COVID-19) work force to make economic progress happen.

When it comes to South Metro Manila, almost a quarter-million people in Las Piñas City have been vaccinated successfully while 39% of Muntinlupa’s target population have been vaccinated. Parañaque City, meanwhile, had to temporarily halt first-dose vaccination.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Do you believe the national authorities and the local government units (LGUs) are doing enough to get more people here in the Philippines vaccinated? Are there still people in your local community who continue to be defiant and completely avoid getting vaccinated? Do you believe that the secured 13 million COVID-19 vaccines will arrive on time 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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COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa stops accepting walk-ins in vaccination centers due to limited supply

July 6, 2021July 5, 2021carlocarrasco

The City Government of Muntinlupa, through MunCoVac, has announced that vaccination centers in the city will stop accepting walk-ins due to limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Dahil sa limitadong supply ng bakuna, lahat ng ating vaccination sites ay hindi tatanggap ng walk-in simula July 5. Tanging may mga schedule lamang at nakatanggap via text message ang i-aaccommodate sa sites. Magpapatuloy po ang ating vaccination basta’t mayroon tayong supply ng bakuna,” MunCoVac posted in its Facebook page.

MunCoVac further explained that only those who were registered online and were notified via text message for their first and second dose will be accommodated.

The City Government anticipates the delivery of additional supply from the national government in the coming days.

As of July 2, there are 190,747 vaccines deployed in Muntinlupa, of which 149,585 are first dose (38.8% of the target) and 41,162 are of second dose. While, there are 263,952 registered individuals in MunCoVac, translating to 68.4% of the target population to be vaccinated. Muntinlupa targets to inoculate 385,725 residents which is 70% of 551,036, the city’s estimated population for 2020.

Recently, MunCoVac launched the “Drive-Thru Vaccination” and “Bakuna sa Bahay” for bedridden residents and those who have difficulties in mobility.

In Drive-Thru Vaccination, senior citizens and PWDs who have limited mobility are vaccinated in their cars and will not need to fall in line. While for the house-to-house vaccination, members of the vaccination team will visit bedridden patients and other qualified residents for the service.

To request for Drive-Thru Vaccination and Bakuna sa Bahay, the public may coordinate with MunCoVac via the following hotline numbers: 0960-588-5935 / 0960-588-5937 / 0998-249-4580 / 0956-358-9228 / 0915-805-5932. Hotline numbers are available from Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Residents who will be accommodated in the said programs must also register online via https://vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac at present a medical clearance from a doctor.

Further, MunCoVac released an updated list of accepted IDs and documents for vaccination of the following priority groups:

All priority groups – Any of the following proof of residency: Government-issued ID with Muntinlupa address, Muntinlupa Care Card, Proof of billing with Muntinlupa address (utilities like electricity, water, phone bill, etc.), and Village of Condo ID in Muntinlupa;

A1 (Healthcare Workers) – Proof of eligibility: A1 = PRC/Company ID of those involved/connected with giving healthcare services, or A1 OFW = latest contract and other supporting documents showing deployment;

A2 (Senior Citizens) – Proof of eligibility: Government-issued ID with birth date and Muntinlupa OSCA ID;

A3 (Pesons with Comorbidities) – Proof of eligibility: prescription for medicine and medical certificate issued within 18 months, medical clearance issued within 2 weeks of vaccination;

A4 (Economic Frontliners) – Proof of eligibility (Muntinlupa residents): Company ID or Certificate of Employment (Employees); PRC ID, Certificate of Business Registration or latest Income Tax Return (Self-Employed); Certificate of Employment and ID/Proof of residence of employer (Private Household), Driver’s License, TRU-issued ID, Jeepney Association ID, or TNVS ID (Public Transport); Barangay Certificate (Informal Sector);

Proof of eligibility (non-residents): Company ID or Certificate of Employment and 2021 Business Permit of Employer, COE and proof of Muntinlupa residency of employer (kasambahay, family drivers, etc.);

A5 (Indigent Population) – Proof of eligibility: 4PS ID or Certificate of Indigency from Social Service Department.

For more information and inquiries, visit the MunCoVac Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/MunCoVac

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The above information was sourced from the official press release of the Muntinlupa PIO. Some parts were changed for this website.

Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox consoles, PC and Xbox Game Pass this November!

July 6, 2021October 11, 2021carlocarrasco

If you are looking for a great looking and fun-filled racing game this year, the one to go for is definitely Forza Horizon 5 coming out on November 9, 2021 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and on Xbox Game Pass (XGP)!

Very notable for having an excessive amount of time to itself during the Xbox-Bethesda games showcase, Forza Horizon 5 is the newest entry in the best-selling game franchise developed by Playground Games. For the newcomers reading this, the Forza Horizon game franchise that started in 2012 is known for its open-world approach to racing which is more focused on street racing action and stunts (in contrast to the realism focus of the Forza Motorsport series of simulation racing games). The fictional Horizon Festival is an essential part of the core concept of the Forza Horizon series. Creatively, the said festival moves from one country to another as seen in each game of the series – Colorado in Forza Horizon, Southern France and North Italy in Forza Horizon 2, Australia in Forza Horizon 3, and Scotland and England in Forza Horizon 4.

This year, Forza Horizon 5 is set in Mexico which looks stunning as the game was not only made with the most modern Xbox technologies but also the experts of Playground Games really proved what they could do both artistically and technically. The result is a highly photo-realistic game (note: ray-tracing available in Forzavista mode), high frame rates (60FPS performance mode included), super smooth gameplay and a whole lot more!

For greater perspective, watch this demo video that was part of the Xbox-Bethesda games showcase…

As seen in the above video, Forza Horizon 5 is more than racing and exploring the diverse locations of Mexico…it was made to be a whole lot of fun to play. The expedition looks really adventurous while the Pinata Park and Events Lab emphasize creative fun racing! This is racing game design that must be experienced!

And there is more! Check out this excerpt from the official Forza blog emphasizing Forza Horizon 5. Some parts in boldface…

Experience a deep and rewarding campaign, where you’ll meet new characters and determine the outcome of their Horizon Story missions. You’ll take on expeditions across the map, battling the elements in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars.

In multiplayer, experience the most social and connected experience we’ve ever created. The Horizon Open takes the best parts of the traditional Forza Horizon online competitive experience and smashes them all together. Seamlessly jump into Races, Drift challenges, Eliminator sessions, and more. Horizon Tour is your chance to meet up like you would at a car meet and race co-op against Drivatars on circuits all over the map, forming up as a convoy as you hop from one race to the next. From there, you can head to the Horizon Arcade, where you quickly and seamlessly take on some truly wild challenges and minigames with other players.

Next, our creator community can hit up the EventLab. Imagine the Blueprint Builder you’re familiar with in modes like Super7 and Blueprint races, but blown way out with a powerful new toolset that includes custom races, challenges, stunts, entirely new game modes and so much more that you control, down to the rules of the game itself.

After that, it’s time for Gift Drops, like a personalized Barn Find Blueprint. Tune a car, paint it, then leave it hidden for others to find somewhere on the map. It’s a whole new way to share your prized cars with friends or others online.The social aspect of Forza Horizon 5 is huge, with systems like Kudos that allow you to reward other players for positive acts and encourage clean, friendly driving, as well as the Forza LINK system, which enhances your ability to join up with other players by recognizing the things you like to do and finding other players to do similar things with.

Wow! Not only are the experts of Playground Games making Forza Horizon 5 fun and engaging, they are also working hard on making it the most accessible game socially speaking. This is a major Xbox-exclusive game to watch out for this November. Not only will Forza Horizon 5 stand out well among the many, many games on Xbox Game Pass, it will stand out among all racing games for this year and even into 2022!

In ending this piece, here are some Xbox-related videos for your enjoyment!

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