Author Carlo Carrasco

Disturbance in Ayala Alabang Village

September 21, 2021September 20, 2021carlocarrasco

This past weekend, an operation organized by varied officials of Philippine immigration, the police and the Korean Embassy happened within Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City targeting a foreign fugitive according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The focus of the report, however, was more about the protests of the homeowners’ association (Ayala Alabang Village Association) and Barangay Ayala Alabang with regards to an alleged lack of prior coordination and the alleged disregard of the autonomy of the barangay.

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

Officials of the Ayala Alabang Village and barangay in Muntinlupa are protesting the raid conducted by Philippine immigration and police, and the Korean Embassy inside the exclusive subdivision Saturday night.

In a statement issued on Sept. 19, the Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) and Barangay Ayala Alabang (BAA) said at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18, “an armed operation took place in a residential unit in San Enrique Street in alleged pursuit of a Korean fugitive.”

They said the authorities introduced themselves as members of the Bureau of Immigration Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU), Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and the Korean Embassy.

The authorities entered Ayala Alabang Village through the Madrigal Gate, the subdivision’s main gate, aboard vehicles.

“During the operation, shots were fired which alarmed some residents,” the AAVA and BAA added.

The raiding team showed a warrant of deportation to barangay and AAVA officials who confronted the authorities “for the lack of prior coordination with the local police authorities, the Barangay Ayala Alabang (BAA), and the Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA).”

“BAA and AAVA officials decried the authorities’ complete disregard of the autonomy of the Barangay and the security protocols set by AAVA,” according to the statement.

According to AAVA and BAA, they “will send a letter to BI-FSU in light of the recent incident, clearly stating that while the effort of their agency to capture criminals is appreciated, security protocols of the village must still be followed and coordination with local authorities must be sought.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Do you believe that the AAVA and Barangay Ayala Alabang both have valid points with regards to autonomy in cases of pursuits of wanted people happening inside Ayala Alabang Village? If you are a resident of Ayala Alabang Village, how would you know if a wanted foreigner is living next door to you?

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. 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 as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

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 Dazzler #3 (1981)

September 20, 2021February 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, comic collectors, 1990s culture enthusiasts and fans of Marvel Comics! After a very fine start, things really went downhill with the story and presentation in Dazzler #2. That comic book had Dazzler (then a hot new property for Marvel Comics) completely overshadowed by the big mix of established Marvel superheroes fighting opposition elements. To say the least, Dazzler #2 was a major letdown, a very big disappointment and anyone who loves Dazzler should avoided it.

Will we see Dazzler presented much better in the next issue? We can find out in this look back at Dazzler #3, released in 1981 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by John Romita, Jr., and A. Kupperberg.

Early story

The story begins with Dazzler (not wearing her face paint) participating scientific test conducted by Fantastic Four leader Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic at his team’s headquarters in New York. Dazzler has been converting every nearby sound into radiance and she’s beginning to sense her limitations. The test was done to determine Alison Blaire’s mutant capabilities. Also present were Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm and Sue Richards. Johnny reads a newspaper report about the United Nations’ plan to display the crown jewels that once belonged to their deadliest enemy Dr. Doom.

Afterwards, Dazzler meets her boss at his office and learns that she will be one of the openers at the benefit concert of UNICEF which is supposed to help her with her music career. The next morning, she decides to visit her old home where her father lives in. Over at the Bavarian Alps, Dr. Doom gets informed that among the jewels set to be displayed at the Unite Nations is the Merline stone. This compels him to make a move…

Quality

When compared to the disaster of issue #2, this comic book’s story is indeed an improvement as it has the expected superhero storytelling formula intact. The good news here is that the character development on Dazzler has returned and there is once again the strong emphasis on her relevance with the people of New York with regards to her being both a superhero and a musician.

The story moved at a moderate pace and it is clear that the creative team took the necessary steps to gradually build up the plot leading to the inevitable encounter between Dazzler and the Fantastic Four’s most definitive enemy (and Marvel Comics’ iconic villain). Take note, however, that the Dazzler-Dr. Doom conflict here is only the beginning.

As this story is more focused on Dazzler, you will get to see an early look at her tainted relationship with her father who desired her to become a lawyer like him, plus there is some focus on the behind-the-scenes development in one of the big events involving her. When it comes to spectacle, there is a right amount of it here which makes this comic book more fun to read than the previous issue.

Conclusion

*A look at the business side of the music industry that Alison Blaire/Dazzler is involved with.*

Dazzler #3 (1981) is indeed fun to read and the creators succeeded in developing Alison Blaire more while delivering the good stuff. While the match-up between her and Dr. Doom looks awkward from the surface, the strong writing justified it and all along Dazzler never looked like she was out of place being with Marvel’s iconic supervillain.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Dazzler #3 (1981), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $28 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $60.

Overall, Dazzler #3 (1981) is recommended.

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COVID-19 Crisis: Over 550,000 vaccinations in Muntinlupa City registered

September 20, 2021September 18, 2021carlocarrasco

This past weekend the City Government of Muntinlupa announced through its MunCoVac team that it has administered more than 550,000 vaccines as of September 17, 2021.

To put things in perspective, the following statistics released by MunCoVac were recorded as of September 17, 2021:

Total number of individuals vaccinated: 324,690 (note: 12,916 of these were vaccinated in Muntinlupa private companies)

Total number of individuals fully vaccinated: 233,866 (note: 723 of these were vaccinated with in Muntinlupa private companies)

Declared total of vaccines administered: 554,197

According to MunCoVac: 554,197 vaccines have been administered in our city as of yesterday, September 17. 84.2% have had their first dose, while 60.6% of our target population have been fully vaccinated.

As we are nearing the end of the 3rd quarter of this year, we ask all Muntinlupeños to continue following our health protocols, and, go to your assigned vaccination schedule once you have received a text from MunCoVac.

As before, these latest numbers from MunCoVac do not add up. 324,690 plus 233,866 equals 558,556. There is a discrepancy of 4,359.

Residents of Muntinlupa City who remain unregistered and unvaccinated should make a move to get registered by learning the ways to do it. Those who are prepared (with personal information available) and willing to go through online registration for the free vaccines in Muntinlupa are encouraged to click https://vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac/

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Are the remaining unregistered and unvaccinated members in your local community making efforts to get vaccinated? Is there a strong awareness about the Delta and Lambda variants among your neighbors?

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: Mad Max Anthology 4K Blu-ray coming out on November 2, 2021

September 17, 2021September 15, 2021carlocarrasco

Welcome back, fellow geeks, film enthusiasts and fellow Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray collectors!

I should state that it has been over forty years since Mad Max was first released in cinemas in Australia and because it achieved a lot of success, it went on to establish its own entertainment franchise with three cinematic sequels and has branched out to other entertainment media forms like video games and comic books.

Warner Bros. just announced that all four Mad Max movies (1979-2015) will be released in a 4K Blu-ray set titled Mad Max Anthology set for release on November 2, 2021 and you can order it online right now!

Mad Max Anthology 4K Blu-ray has Mad Max, Mad Max: The Road Warrior (AKA Mad Max 2), Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Mad Max: Fury Road. These four movies combine for more than 400 minutes screen time. For the newcomers reading this, the Mad Max films follow the stories of Max Rockatansky who encounters several violent people and found himself in the wasteland. The film franchise not only helped Mel Gibson climb the ranks among the many movie stars of Hollywood, it also established Australia’s place in cinema. I should state that director George Miller is the creator, the definitive Mad Max storyteller as well as one of the very best action film directors. The Mad Max film franchise is also very well known for having many great car chases!

Posted below are key details of Mad Max Anthology 4K Blu-ray from its Blu-ray.com page. Take note that as of this writing, it is not yet clear if the visuals will be native 4K or upscaled 4K.

Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 4K (2160p)

HDR: HDR10

Aspect ratio: 2.40:1, 2.34:1

Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1

Audio

English: Dolby Atmos

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Subtitles

Mad Max 4K

English SDH

Mad Max: The Road Warrior 4K

English SDH, French, Spanish

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome 4K

English SDH, French, Spanish

Mad Max: Fury Road 4K

English SDH, French, German SDH, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish

Discs

4K Ultra HD

Blu-ray Disc

Four-disc set (4 BD)

Digital

Digital copy included

Playback

4K Blu-ray: Region free

I’ve seen these movies and in my view the 2015 film Mad Max: Fury Road is truly the best action film of the decade of 2010-2019. I own a Blu-ray disc copy of the film that starred Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron and I still replay it as it truly is a great movie. My only disappointment is that the 4K Blu-ray of Mad Max: Fury Road only had upscaled 4K visuals. I really hope that the Mad Max Anthology 4K Blu-ray will have all four movies with native 4K visuals complete with proper color grading.

In ending this piece, posted below are some Mad Max-related videos for your enjoyment. Beware of potential spoilers.

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, Space Jam 4K Blu-ray, V: The Original Miniseries Blu-ray (read my retro review), V: The Final Battle Blu-ray, Highlander 4K Blu-ray, The Suicide Squad, Super Dimension Century Orguss Blu-ray, Unbreakable 4K Blu-ray, Injustice 4K Blu-ray, The Suicide Squad 4K Blu-ray, Terminator 2: Judgment Day 30^th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 4K Blu-ray.

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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

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City implements new COVID-19 Alert Levels system

September 17, 2021September 16, 2021carlocarrasco

In connection to the Alert Level 4 rules and guidelines that took effect all over Metro Manila yesterday, the City Government of Muntinlupa formally implemented the new COVID-19 Alert Levels System 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…

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi issued guidelines in the implementation of the new COVID-19 Alert Levels System, the new community quarantine classifications in the National Capital Region (NCR) starting Sept. 16.

Under the new classification, Metro Manila is under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Alert Level 4 from Sept. 16 to 30.

Fresnedi issued Executive Order No. 40 dated Sept. 15 outlining the various activities allowed and prohibited from Alert Levels 1 to 5, and the implementation of granular lockdowns in communities.

The order is based on the resolution issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on the new quarantine classifications.

According to the executive order and resolution, Alert Level 1 “refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, total bed utilization rate, and intensive care unit utilization rate is low” while Alert Level 2 pertains to “areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, healthcare utilization is low, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are low and decreasing but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate is increasing.”

Areas to be placed under Alert Level 3 are those “wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at increasing utilization,” while those to be under Alert Level 4 are “areas wherein case counts are high and/or increasing, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at high utilization.”

Alert Level 5 “refers to areas wherein case counts are alarming, with total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate at critical utilization.”

Under Alert Level 4, according to Fresnedi, the following will not be allowed outside their residence: persons below 18 years old, persons over 65 years old, persons with immunodeficiencies, comorbidities or other health risks, and pregnant women. But they are allowed to go out to obtain essential goods and services, and report for work in permitted industries and offices.

The mayor will have the sole authority to declare an area under granular lockdown, according to the executive order, and he may impose it on an entire barangay, individual house, street, block, purok or sitio, compound, subdivision, village and other gated communities.

Granular lockdown will be in effect for at least 14 days and persons under it will not be allowed to go out.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, do you anticipate significant changes to happen locally? Do you think the new guidelines make sense?

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: Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 4K Blu-ray coming out on November 16, 2021

September 16, 2021September 16, 2021carlocarrasco

Welcome back, fellow geeks, film enthusiasts and Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray collectors!

All those who love the 2001 computer-generated movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within should be aware, and excited, that it will be released in a 4K Blu-ray combo on November 16, 2021. 4K Blu-ray collectors who have not seen the said movie will have their chances to add it to their collection and the good news is that it can be ordered online right now!

Posted below are key details of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 4K Blu-ray combo from its Blu-ray.com page. Take note that as of this writing, it is not yet clear if the visuals will be native 4K or upscaled 4K.

Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: 4K (2160p)

HDR: HDR10

Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Audio

TBA

Subtitles

None

Discs

4K Ultra HD

Blu-ray Disc

Two-disc set (2 BD)

Digital

Digital 4K

Digital copy included

Playback

4K Blu-ray: Region free

2K Blu-ray: Region A

Posted below are the special features and technical specs of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 4K Blu-ray…

HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
BRAND NEW DOLBY ATMOS TRACK + original theatrical 5.1 audio
Original Special Features:
- Two Feature-Length Commentaries
- Interactive Documentary: The Making of Final Fantasy
- Original Opening
- Aki’s Dream Reconstruction
- On the Set with Aki
- Character Profiles
- Vehicle Scale Comparisons
- Compositing Builds
- Joke Outtakes
- The Gray Project
- Theatrical Trailers

I first saw Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within on a Friday night at the local theater in July twenty-o-one. While social media was not yet common back in those days, the movie still was hyped a lot through the Internet and traditional media.

As for the theatrical experience, I found the movie to be not so engaging mainly due to the story’s pacing (note: it was directed by Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and Motonori Sakakibara), the sentimental stuff within the script, the not-so-interesting characters and the lack of true connection between the vocal performances and the motion-captured moves of the digital characters. Being one of the first major movies to be fully made with computer-generated images (CGI) complete with digital human characters and the approach to achieving photo-realism, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was indeed a flashy and fancy looking picture but it really did not have much to appeal to me with regards to my interest in cinema and even with Final Fantasy games. The movie ended up being hollow for me personally.

For the newcomers reading this, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was a tremendous box office failure and it led to the closure of Square Pictures. Still the movie could find new life in 4K Blu-ray format and I know it has its own following of dedicated fans. Perhaps the fans of Ming-Na Wen, Alec Baldwin, Donald Sutherland, James Woods, Ving Rhames, Peri Gilpin and Steve Buscemi would be interested to experience the movie in 4K.

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, Space Jam 4K Blu-ray, V: The Original Miniseries Blu-ray (read my retro review), V: The Final Battle Blu-ray, Highlander 4K Blu-ray, The Suicide Squad, Super Dimension Century Orguss Blu-ray, Unbreakable 4K Blu-ray, Injustice 4K Blu-ray, The Suicide Squad 4K Blu-ray and Terminator 2: Judgment Day 30^th Anniversary 4K Blu-ray.

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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

87-year-old lady dies inside her house during fire incident in Parañaque City

September 16, 2021September 15, 2021carlocarrasco

Tragedy struck Parañaque City yesterday when the Valenzuela Compound in Barangay Sto. Niño, Parañaque City got hit by fire which resulted several families becoming temporarily homeless and the death of an 87-year-old lady who was trapped in a house that got burned according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

An 87-year-old grandmother died when she was trapped inside their burning house early Wednesday morning in Parañaque City.

The victim, identified as Lolita Matadling, who was bedridden, was trapped at the second floor of their burning house at Kaingin 2, Valenzuela Compound, Barangay Sto. Niño, Parañaque City.

According to the report of the Parañaque Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), the family member of Matadling were not able to rescue her because the second floor of the house where she was staying and where the fire reportedly started, suddenly collapsed.

The BFP said about 50 families were affected by the fire and they are now temporary staying at a covered court in Barangay Sto. Nino.

The BFP is still investigating the cause of the fire.

Posted below is a related news video by GMA Network.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this latest tragedy in Parañaque City? Is the nearest residential compound in your barangay prone to fire incidents?

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: Online vaccine registration for minors in Muntinlupa City ongoing

September 16, 2021September 15, 2021carlocarrasco

Recently the City Government of Muntinlupa officially launched the online registration process for local minors (aged 12 to 17) for the free COVID-19 vaccines according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Muntinlupa was one of the six local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila to engage with such a process. These recent developments are all part of a collective effort to achieve herd immunity.

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

The Muntinlupa City government on Tuesday launched the online vaccination registration for 12 to 17 years old in the city.

This after the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for 12 years old and above.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi urged parents and guardians to register their children for the Muntinlupa City COVID-19 Vaccination Program (MunCoVac) as protection from the adverse effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

He said the registration is intended to create a database of the adolescents’ group eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in preparation for the final guidelines from the Department of Health (DOH).

Muntinlupa residents aged 12 to 17 may register online through the city’s COVID-19 vaccination registration system at www.vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac and choose category “C – Rest of Population.”

As of Sept. 8, the Muntinlupa City government has administered a total of 507,964 vaccines, according to MunCoVac.

A total of 192,360 individuals are now fully vaccinated in Muntinlupa, or 49.9 percent of the target population of 385,725, while 319,963 individuals got their first dose, or 83 percent of the total target.

The local government also advised residents who registered online but haven’t received their schedule to fill out a form to be scheduled: https://forms.gle/fEAELhwxURe4aNZU8.

Other residents of Muntinlupa City who remain unregistered and unvaccinated should make a move to get registered by learning the ways to do it. Those who are prepared (with personal information available) and willing to go through online registration for the free vaccines in Muntinlupa are encouraged to click https://vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac/

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident whose child is qualified for the free vaccines due to his or her age, are you willing to have him or her registered for the COVID-19 vaccines?

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: Another 4K Blu-ray of Terminator 2: Judgment Day coming out December 6, 2021 (for the British market)

September 15, 2021September 13, 2021carlocarrasco

Welcome back, fellow geeks, film enthusiasts and Blu-ray/4K Blu-ray collectors!

If you are based in England and you love the works of Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron, as well as the bastardized Terminator film franchise, then you might be interested in the just announced new 4K Blu-ray of Terminator 2: Judgment Day coming from StudioCanal which you can order online right now for £60.00. It is set for a December 6, 2021 release as of this writing.

To be more specific, this newest 4K Blu-ray of the 1991 blockbuster film is a commemorative edition highlighting its 30^th anniversary.

Posted below are key details of Terminator 2: Judgment Day 4K Blu-ray combo from its Blu-ray.com page.

Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)

HDR: HDR10

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1

Audio

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

English: Dolby Digital 2.0

Subtitles

English SDH

Discs

4K Ultra HD

Blu-ray 3D

Blu-ray Disc

Five-disc set (1 BD-66, 2 BD-50, 2 LPs)

Packaging

Slipbox

DigiPack, Inner print

Playback

4K Blu-ray: Region free

2K Blu-ray: Region B

And here are details of the special features and technical specs from the Blu-ray.com announcement…

PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
T2: Reprogramming The Terminator documentary (including exclusive interviews with James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong and many more) – 55 mins
2 Feature Commentaries; 23 Members of Cast & Crew (1993)/Director James & Co-Author William Wisher
The Making of T2 (1993)
Seamless Branching Of The Theatrical Version (137 mins approx.)
Special Edition Version (154 mins approx.)
Extended Special Edition Version (156 mins approx.)
2 Deleted Scenes With Audio Commentary
Trailers – T2:3D (2017)
T2 Theatrical Trailer ‘This Time There Are Two’/’Same Make New Mission’/’Building The Perfect Arnold
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature

Extra stuff and fine packaging aside, the above-mentioned “PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM” confirms that the new 4K Blu-ray will not have a brand new remaster which alone concerns me as a collector and fan of the movie. I’ve read Blu-ray.com’s review of the previous 4K Blu-ray of Terminator 2 (the product released by Lionsgate Films) which rated its 4K video quality with a score of 2.5 out of 5 while the 2K video quality was rated 3/5. In that same review, it was mentioned that there was a near absence of film grain and an altered color palette resulting “a kind of greenish-teal tone to several scenes that never had them before.”

Personally I’m not too confident about this upcoming release from StudioCanal. The picture quality for 2K and 4K viewing should be nothing less than excellent. As for you movie fans and Blu-ray collectors reading this, you will have to do your analysis before making the crucial decision to buy this 4K Blu-ray of Terminator 2.

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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

COVID-19 Crisis: Alert Level 4 all over Metro Manila from September 16 to September 30, 2021

September 15, 2021September 14, 2021carlocarrasco

Change is indeed coming to Metro Manila starting September 16 as the national authorities announced yesterday (as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer) as the entire metropolis will fall under what is referred to as Alert Level 4 in relation to the new guidelines that got ratified by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

What can National Capital Region (NCR) residents and stakeholders expect over the 15-day period? To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Inquirer report. Some parts in boldface…

Metro Manila will be placed under Alert Level 4 starting Sept. 16 until Sept. 30, which is the start of the pilot run of granular lockdowns, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Tuesday.

Año said Metro Manila mayors have agreed to implement just one alert level as a whole “for uniformity and easier enforcement.”

“Yes, under Alert Level 4 because the NCR (National Capital Region) mayors reached a consensus that they will follow one Alert Level only,” he said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

“For uniformity and easier enforcement within NCR, they agreed to be under Level 4. Hanggang Sept. 30 ang pilot testing,” he added.

Año said the majority of areas in the metro belong to Alert Level 4, anyway, but some qualify for Alert Level 5 while at least two areas under Alert Level 3.

Based on the new guidelines on granular lockdowns, areas under Alert Level 4, which is the second highest alert level in the new system, are those with high and/or increasing COVID-19 transmission and high total bed and intensive care unit utilization rates.

Persons aged below 18 and above 65 and those with health risks, including pregnant women, must stay at home unless they need to access essential goods and services or have to go to work.

Intrazonal and interzonal travel for persons who are not required to stay at their homes may be allowed subject to guidelines of their destination local government unit.

Individual outdoor exercises are likewise allowed in areas under Alert Level 4 for all ages regardless of comorbidities or vaccination status, but they must remain within the area of their residence.

Government agencies in areas placed under Alert Level 4 must remain fully operational while employing at least 20 percent on-site capacity with the rest under a work-from-home or flexible schedule scheme.

Under Alert Level 4, outdoor dine-in services in restaurants and eateries are only allowed at 30 percent venue capacity.

Meanwhile, indoor dine-in services are allowed to open at 10 percent capacity, but they may only cater to persons fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

All workers of these establishments must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Furthermore, LGUs may decrease the allowable capacity for these restaurants and eateries.

Personal care services limited to barbershops, hair spas, nail spas, and beauty salons are allowed at 30 percent capacity “if such services are conducted outdoors regardless of vaccination status.” But if these are indoors, the IATF said they may only operate at 10 percent capacity.

Clients must also wear face masks at all times and all employees should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Religious gatherings, meanwhile, can be held on 30 percent venue capacity if conducted outdoors regardless of vaccination status but only 10 percent will be allowed if conducted indoors and they may only accommodate persons fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, or other religious ministers and the assistants of these religious congregations must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must observe minimum public health standards.

That was a heavy load of details above. Were you able to read and understand it immediately? If you are having trouble understanding, you are not alone. What I’d like to point out that it is a relief for businesses offering personal care services and businesses in the food-and-beverage industry to be allowed to operate with the declared limits above. For the restaurants, coffee shops and other related food-and-beverage joints, take-out and delivery are still too limiting for their survival.

As for churches allowed to hold faith gatherings, what was stated above is a relief albeit with limitations. The 10% limit on venue capacity for indoor worship services is indeed small even for the fully vaccinated people who want to worship the Lord on-site (which is much more engaging than online worship). The 10% limit for on-site worship will have to do for now in Metro Manila until the end of this month. Whatever the declared limits are, never lose faith in God and keep praying to Him that the national and local authorities will do better and govern knowing that He is watching all of us.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about the Alert Level 4 status for Metro Manila lasting for the rest of September? If you are a business owner, are the declared Alert Level 4 limitations good enough? If you are a pastor or church organizer, what do you think about the 10% limit on capacity venue for indoor worship? Is the requirement for pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, or other ministers and personnel on churches to be fully vaccinated too imposing on the part of the government and possibly unconstitutional? Do having multiple alert levels look confusing to you right now? Do you heavily trust the Metro Manila mayors and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) over the way they have been managing the metropolis?

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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