Are you tired of using face shields when moving around in public here in the Philippines during this COVID-19 crisis? The issue about face shields became hot recently in relation to what President Rodrigo Duterte said about them which drew mixed reactions on a national scale. That being said, the national government made a move about the issue with the local government units (LGU) according to a news report by GMA Network.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA Network report. Some parts in bold…
Local government units must adjust their ordinances on the use of face shields to match the national government’s decision on the matter amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to Vonne Aquino’s report on “24 Oras Weekend,” Inter-Agency Task Force co-chairperson Secretary Karlo Nograles said President Rodrigo Duterte currently has a memorandum on the use of face shields.
“Apart from ‘yung sinabi ni Pangulo na hospitals, may idadagdag din doon sa memo na list nung places kung saan kailangan mag soot ng face shield,” he said.
(Apart from the what President said on hospitals, the memo includes other places where the use of face shields is mandatory.)
“So completely and clearly, makikita natin doon saan lang talaga… na dapat mandatory magsoot ng face shield. All other places, it won’t be mandatory. Kumbaga, magiging ano na lang siya… voluntary,” he added.
(So completely and clearly, we can see places where use is mandatory. All other places, it won’t be mandatory. It will be voluntary.)
Malacañang on Thursday said the President’s statement on the wearing of face shields on top of face masks only in hospitals is considered policy.
Nograles said local governments must adjust their ordnances.
“It cannot be over and beyond ‘yung policy ng national, no? You cannot have LGUs na mas strict ‘yung guidance or ‘yung enforcement kaysa sa ano, kasi magkakalituhan, eh,” he said.
(It cannot be over and beyond ‘yung policy ng national. You cannot have LGUs with stricter guidance or enforcement because it will lead to confusion.)
Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Council said it has yet to tackle the issue.
“Ang mag mayors, may kaniya-kaniyang pananaw dito… it’s better for the IATF since they got experts there. At, of course, mapag-uusapang maiigi ito,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos said.
(The mayors have varying views on this. It’s better for the IATF since they have experts there. Of course, we will talk about this.)
And now here is a related news video by GMA Network…
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Do you believe that there more disadvantages than advantages with the use of face shields in public? Do you believe that face shields are truly protective? Is your local government clear and specific with regards to the use of face shields? Do you believe that it is excessive for a person to be arrested and imprisoned for failing to use a face shield? Do you think that the national government knows what it is doing over the issue of face shields?
Who do you think would benefit the most when people are required to use face shields?
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
As the City Government of Muntinlupa launched the rollout of vaccination for the A5 priority group or indigent residents, qualified individuals are urged to register online or through their community leaders.
Those who do not have access to online registration may opt to manually register through their barangays, homeowner’s associations, purok leaders, and other organizations in the community.
The City Government of Muntinlupa has started inoculating indigent residents last June 17. Muntinlupa LGU clarifies that the A5 priority group is not exclusive for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed Executive Order No. 19 s. 2021 providing guidelines in the administration of COVID-19 vaccines among all qualified segments of the population under the category A5.
Under EO 19 s. 2021, the Social Services Department (SSD) shall take the lead in the identification of qualified residents including 4Ps members and marginalized sectors together with the Urban Poor Affairs Office (UPAO) and City Planning Development Office (CPDO). Other economically-vulnerable sections of the city shall also be identified and encouraged to sign up in the city’s COVID-19 Vaccination Registration System.
Requirements for the members of the A5 priority group include a Valid ID or Barangay Certificate as proof of residency in Muntinlupa, and 4Ps ID or Certificate of Indigency from Muntinlupa SSD.
While the City Government has identified mega-vaccination sites, the City Health Office may open and operate vaccination sites that are closer and more accessible to the members of the A5 priority group for a limited period of time.
Further, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Muntinlupa for deployment within the next four months are advised to coordinate with MunCoVac to be prioritized under the A1 priority group. OFWs may contact the following the numbers for scheduling: 09563589228 / 09158055932 / 09605885935 / 09605885937 / 0998-2494580.
Requirements that will be asked from the qualified OFWs include a Valid ID with Muntinlupa address and latest verified employment contract such as overseas employment contract or seaman’s contract, among others.
As of June 17, there are 123,177 vaccines deployed in Muntinlupa, of which 95,832 are first dose and 27,345 are of second dose.
For more information and inquiries, visit the MunCoVac Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/MunCoVac or send a message to MunCoVac hotline numbers at 0956 358 9228 / 0915 805 5932 / 0960 588 5935 / 0960 588 5937 / 0998 249 4580.
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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
Criminal activities in Parañaque City involving Chinese nationals (to understand the trend click here, here, here and here) continued as a gang of six people – one local citizen and the rest were Chinese nationals – were arrested by the local police for attempting to kidnap a 23-year-old Chinese national (working for an Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator or POGO) this past Thursday according to a report published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
It is notable that none other than Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar himself gave statements about what happened in Parañaque City. To put things in perspective, below is an excerpt from the news report. Some parts in boldface…
Five Chinese nationals and a Filipino were arrested for attempting to kidnap their compatriot in Parañaque City on Thursday.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar identified the suspects as Li Yang, Zhou Hao, Liu Jie Yong, Zhang Jia Hao, Qui You Bo, all Chinese nationals; and their Filipino driver Nelson Malavega.
Citing a report from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Eleazar said the victim, a 23-yearold male Chinese worker of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO), was approached by the suspects after he alighted from a transport network vehicle service in a hotel in Aseana, Barangay Tambo at around 1:40 p.m.
After a heated argument, the victim was forcibly taken by the suspects aboard a Toyota Hi-Ace van.
The commotion caught the attention of hotel security personnel who immediately reported the incident to the Sub Station 2 of Parañaque City Police Station.
Duty personnel who responded to the incident immediately intercepted the suspects’ vehicle and rescued the victim.
Initial reports said the victims owed a debt worth PHP750,000.
Here is a related news video by GMA Network…
Going back to the PNA article, PNP Chief Eleazar expressed gratitude as their community of police officers quickly responded and successfully rescued the victim from the kidnappers.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are living in Parañaque City, do you believe that Chinese nationals are causing trouble in your local community? Are you concerned that POGOs within Parañaque are adding to illegal activities?
If ever you spot an act of kidnapping in person (regardless of nationality), are you willing to report the incident to the local police?
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
According to a news report by the Manila Bulletin, the local COVID-19 vaccination program of Las Piñas City has been picking up (citing Las Piñas City Representative and House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar) as over 136,000 residents have been vaccinated as of June 14, 2021. It should be noted that Representative Villar initiated an incentive program to encourage city residents to get vaccinated and the number of local residents vaccinated exceeded the 100,000 mark recently.
For relevance, watch this news video that involves Representative Villar and her program…
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin’s report. Some parts in boldface…
Citing the latest data from the City Health Office, Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas City Camille Villar said the vaccination program in the city has continued to pick up.
Villar said that as of June 14, 136,733 of the city’s population have already received the jab. The city has a population of nearly 600,000, it was learned.
“We continue to encourage our kababayans to get themselves vaccinated to help protect them against COVID-19 and the threats of new variants,” said Villar.
The health office said there has been a 35.3% increase from the 101,059 total administered doses on June 8.
Further, 102,742 people have been vaccinated with a first dose, a 45.2% jump from 70,770 a week ago. Those vaccinated with the second dose rose by 12.2% to 33,991 from 30,289.
The local government started vaccinating economic frontliners or those under the A4 priority group last week as more vaccines are being deployed.
“These figures represent our relentless efforts toward reminding everyone about the positive effects of vaccination which gives full protection to everyone,” said the House leader.
Villar, who started a vaccine incentive program dubbed “May Bahay sa Bakuna” to boost inoculation rates within her constituency, also expressed gratitude to everyone who came forward in various vaccination sites which may have resulted in lower infection rates.
In other local developments, Robinsons Place Las Piñas along Alabang-Zapote Road became the city’s 18th vaccination site. Also the City Government announced a 4th method to help local residents get registered by means of using an app. See the visual references below.
Any Las Piñas resident 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: If you are an unvaccinated Las Piñas resident, does Congresswoman Villar’s incentive program convince you to come out, get registered and line up for the free COVID-19 vaccine in your city? Are the house, consumable goods and motorcycles offered through said program very enticing to you personally? Knowing that a new method of registration is now in effect, does this encourage you to get registered?
If you are still unwilling to get vaccinated, what exactly are you afraid of? Do you have a phobia of needles? Did you hear too much about the potential side effects of the vaccines? Are you too scared to get out of your home because of COVID-19?
How exactly do you want your local officials to help you?
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
As I viewed the Xbox-Bethesda games showcase live on my PC, I got delightfully surprised when the two Eiyuden Chronicle Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) – Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes and Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising – were revealed and confirmed to be coming to Xbox Game Pass (XGP) separately in the near future. Really, I never anticipated that the Eiyuden Chronicle games developed by Rabbit & Bear (led by Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama) would appear in the showcase nor did I anticipate they would be added to XGP (on Xbox consoles and PC) which has many millions of active subscribers worldwide.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official press release (titled: Microsoft partnership announcement at E3, franchise trailer, and website launch) from the Eiyuden Chronicle official website. Some parts in boldface…
Revealed today during the Xbox E3 showcase, a new trailer for the Eiyuden Chronicle franchise formally announcing that 505 Games, Rabbit & Bear Studios, and Microsoft are bringing legendary game developer Yoshitaka Murayama’s (Suikoden I & II) latest JRPG adventures, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising and Hundred Heroes, to Xbox Gamepass. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is set to release in 2022, and Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is set to release in 2023.
This is the companion game Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2022.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is the first entry in the franchise and a companion game to Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes that is set in the same world and tells the pre-war tales of various characters who will appear in the main game. The action-RPG melds key backstory with fast-paced combat, town-building mechanics and 2.5D platforming, and is set to release in 2022.
This is what Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes looks like. Coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2023.
“We’ve been working hard on the Eiyuden Chronicle franchise and love to see the amazing reactions from fans following our trailer at the Microsoft E3 event,” said Studio Lead Yoshitaka Murayama. “We’re telling a rich story with the Eiyuden Chronicle franchise, so much so that we couldn’t possibly tell it all within the confines of a single game. We set out to solve that problem with our companion game Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising which features key backstory to the main game and a completely different gameplay style.”
Studio Lead Yoshitaka Murayama and Director Osamu Komuta are joining forces once again to bring an unforgettable journey into their fully-realized world of Allraan. In Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes Rabbit & Bear Studios are taking the turn-based strategy game experience to the next level with a fine crafted six-character battle system. The developers are using meticulously created 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds to deliver a riveting story with over 100 playable characters and engaging gameplay that’s meant to bring players a modern take on classic JRPGs.
And here’s the video…
Since I first heard about its successful Kickstarter campaign, I have been following the news about Eiyuden Chronicle, specifically the Hundred Heroes game which was the precise project of the said campaign. Why? Because that game was clearly designed as an inspired successor (or spiritual successor as others call it) to the early Suikoden RPGs of Konami. When I was still a PlayStation fan, I was fortunate to have played and enjoyed a lot Suikoden and Suikoden II on the original PlayStation. Rabbit & Bear Studios head Yoshitaka Murayama was the producer, writer and game director of Suikoden, Suikoden II and Suikoden III (on PS2) during his time with Konami.
Other than the Eiyuden Chronicle franchise coming to XGP, the announcement of the companion game Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising coming out first (2022) was also very surprising. It was just unexpected but still it made sense as the developers really have a huge concept and a living universe of the Eiyuden Chronicle franchise that just could not fit in one single game. Clearly Murayama and his creative team are up to something that could shake gamers’ love for Japanese RPGs for the better eventually.
Significance to Xbox
A character in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes about to throw a strong punch at the monster during a battle.
Back on August 2020, I expressed confidence that Xbox as an ecosystem (the consoles, PC, cloud and Xbox Game Pass) will become a haven for gamers who love fantasy role-playing games (fantasy RPGs). That article was published before the megaton announcement about Microsoft acquiring ZeniMax Media (to integrate Bethesda with Xbox) and the addition of the Elder Scrolls fantasy RPG franchise further adds credibility to Xbox for fantasy RPG enjoyment (as well as RPGs as a whole).
So where can the Eiyuden Chronicle RPG franchise fit in? For one thing, Xbox fantasy RPG enthusiasts who love Suikoden or those who enjoy turn-based strategy, or those who are looking for nice alternatives to Square Enix’s Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games on Xbox can experience something new and fun with the Rabbit & Bear Studios-developed JRPGs. It is also clear that the Eiyuden Chronicle RPGs help fill the perceived lack of JRPGs on this current Xbox console generation.
The combination of highly detailed 2D sprites and 3D polygonal environments makes Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes look radically different from most JRPGs on Xbox.
Second, gamers will be able to experience role-playing with the game design and storytelling philosophies of Yoshitaka Murayama. In addition, Murayama’s production team created a very unique visual style that combines highly-detailed, well-animated 2D sprites (pixel artworks) with 3D polygonal environments combined with strategic camera angles and movements. The way I see it, it seems to be an inspired take on modern gaming’s visuals while still retaining that artistic link back to the glory days of the Suikoden game franchise.
In this age of high-definition, highly detailed polygonal graphics and 120FPS frame rates, it is refreshing to see Murayama and his team use pixel artworks as a key visual element in their presentation with Eiyuden Chronicle JRPGs.
Third, the battles seen in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes strongly resemble the functions and speed of what I enjoyed in Suikoden and Suikoden II on the original PlayStation console. Unlike other turn-based Japanese RPGs of the 1990s, battles in the early Suikoden games were NEVER stressful and grinding was not too present. Even during times in Suikoden or Suikoden II when I needed to have my characters level up to be stronger, doing so with battles was smooth and painless. The trailer of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes even showed the developers pushing the battle design of their game, going beyond the limits of the early Suikoden games. In one sequence, they showed one of the playable characters in the foreground firing a shot at a monster far into the background. This could suggest strategic placings for battles and we will find out soon how this will turn out.
Fourth, having Eiyuden Chronicle JRPGs in the Xbox ecosystem adds more variety into the current lineup of upcoming fantasy RPGs. Even with the likes of Elder Scrolls VI (which Phil Spencer mentioned during the Xbox-Bethesda games showcase), Fable and Avowed, I believe that Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising and Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will fit in very nicely and even attract a lot gamers who want a lot of fun with role-playing on their Xbox consoles. I also believe that the global Xbox fans community can provide Murayama and his team a suitable audience of not only buyers of their games but also help establish a large base of fans for the Eiyuden Chronicle game franchise.
The addition of the Eiyuden Chronicle JRPG franchise makes fantasy role-playing on Xbox even more exciting! It is also another great reason to sign up for Xbox Game Pass subscription!
That being said, I urge you my readers, fellow Xbox fans, fans of Suikoden and others who love playing fantasy RPGs that we all have the time and opportunities to acquire our own copies of the two Eiyuden Chronicle JRPGs upon release on the Xbox ecosystem and help Murayama and the rest of his team fulfill their goals with their fantasy RPG franchise! We can also convince Team Xbox to get more involved with Rabbit & Bear Studios to ensure that future installments of Eiyudin Chronicle will come to Xbox!
Think about the future of fantasy RPGs on Xbox: Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, Avowed (Xbox-exclusive), Fable (Xbox-exclusive) and Elder Scrolls VI (Xbox-exclusive)…I want them all on Xbox via Xbox Game Pass!
In ending this piece, here are some Eiyuden Chronicle and Xbox-related videos for your enjoyment!
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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
According to a Manila Bulletin news report, the City Government of Las Piñas announced that it has officially started sending packs of food and other useful items to more than a thousand local residents who are quarantined at home in relation to COVID-19.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report. Some parts in boldface…
Las Piñas City has started to distribute again food packs and hygiene kits to its 1,533 home quarantined COVID-19 patients.
Based on April 8, 2021 data, the city has 4,903 home quarantined COVID-19 patients, and of which, 2,560 have already received their food packs and hygiene kits
Each food pack is comprised of 10 kilos of rice, canned goods, noodles, biscuits, Vitamin-C, paracetamol, and lagundi tablets, while a toothbrush, toothpaste, alcohol, soap, shampoo, face mask, face shield, and an oximeter are inside the hygiene kits.
Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the city government will continue to provide the needs of its COVID-positive patients, including those who are quarantined at home.
Any Las Piñas resident who has yet to get registered for free COVID-19 vaccines can learn the ways (3 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: Are you quarantined at home for COVID-19? If you are, what can you say about the goods that the City Government is providing?
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
Have you been practicing caution there in Parañaque? Were there people around you who moved around without wearing a face mask or face shield? Did you find yourself caught in the middle of a thick crowd of people in the city lately?
Well, now is a good time to focus more on meeting the local health protocols because the Department of Health (DOH) has classified the cities of Pasay and Parañaque as high-risk areas for COVID-19 according to a news report by GMA Network News.
For this post, we will focus more on Parañaque as it counts as a city of South Metro Manila. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report. Some parts in boldface…
The cities of Parañaque and Pasay have been classified as high-risk areas for COVID-19 due to their increasing cases and high average daily attack rate (ADAR), the Department of Health (DOH) said Tuesday.
Data from DOH Epidemiology Bureau director Dr. Alethea De Guzman showed that only three cities in Metro Manila posted a positive case growth rate during May 30 to June 12: Parañaque (2%), Pasay (19%), and Malabon (30%).
Parañaque’s ADAR over the same period was high risk at 9.09 cases per 100,000 population, higher than the DOH threshold of seven cases per 100,000, while the city’s intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate stood in the moderate risk category at 62.5%.
And here is a related news video…
What could be the factors that caused Parañaque’s ADAR to hit 9.09 per 100,000 people? It’s hard to determine at this point but there is a possibility that the huge crowd and long lines of people at the May 17 Pfizer launch held at a certain shopping mall in Parañaque might have added to the ADAR (for the period of May 30 to June 12) somehow.
Of course, the news media cannot cover everything that happens around the city. What if local health protocols were violated/disregarded within the local communities by individuals who stopped being careful? Or imagine a squatter or a street beggar approaching others in public while not practicing caution.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are living in Parañaque City, do you believe that the local vaccination organizers are doing a good job serving or assisting the patients? Each time you travel through the city, how many people did you notice did not wear face masks or face shields in public? Do you think that the City Government of Parañaque and its health personnel can do something to make the city safer from COVID-19 infections?
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
The cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas are back in the crime news again as two separate operations organized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) resulted the confiscation of over P130 million worth of illegal drugs as well as the apprehension of suspects. For the newcomers reading this, this latest development is not to be confused with the other PDEA operation in Parañaque that involved a foreigner as a suspect.
Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested three persons and confiscated PHP135.4 million worth of shabu in separate operations in the cities of Parañaque and Las Piñas on Tuesday.
PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon, in a statement, said suspect Moises Joshua Esguerra, was arrested in the operation in Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas City at around 3 p.m.
Seized from Esguerra were more or less 18 kg. of suspected shabu valued at PHP121.8 million, a mobile phone, and a bundle of boodle money with one genuine PHP1,000 bill.
Meanwhile, January Berroya, 40, and Rolando Sanchez, 57, were arrested in another buy-bust operation in an open parking lot of a mall in Parañaque City by a joint team of police officers and PDEA agents at around 1:30 p.m.
The two suspects yielded PHP13.6 million worth of shabu, mobile phones, and two drivers’ license cards.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: As a resident of Las Piñas or Parañaque, do you feel safer as a result of the successful buy-bust operations of the PDEA?
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
I can start by saying the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcasewas indeed worth the wait and even though it was not perfect (a few games shown that were not too interesting and a certain 1st party exclusive game had an excessive amount of time of the showcase), Team Xbox, Bethesda and their strategic partners in gaming succeeded in delivering the great stuff. There were so many games, including very promising Xbox-exclusive games and many new additions into Xbox Game Pass (XGP), the people who hated Xbox became silent during the showcase and some time after!
To put things in perspective, those of you who missed out on the livestream – plus the Xbox haters whether they saw it or not – I encourage you to watch the Xbox-Bethesda Games Showcase YouTube video below. Take your time.
So you must be wondering what I think about the showcase.
Other than the fact that it was efficiently organized, nicely paced and the Xbox and Bethesda executives/producers had a nice physical stage that gave the online event a more impressive viewing atmosphere, the amount of games – from the big budget productions to the smaller, indie productions – was incredible! Then again, that should not be a surprise at all! Not only did Phil Spencer and the Xbox core team learned from last year’s standalone games showcase, the integration of Bethesda and its games being mixed with the others (from the 3rd party game makers and other Xbox game developers) resulted a powerful lineup for the whole world of gamers to see! Not only that, there is a huge load of games to be added into Xbox Game Pass which I am confident will attract even more gamers to join in and subscribe!
As for the games and key moments that I found engaging, I should say that starting the showcase with Starfield (with Todd Howard as presenter) in the form of a teaser trailer (which used real-time graphics powered by the Creation 2 engine) was very surprising as I anticipated it to be shown somewhere in the middle of the event. Regardless, I enjoyed it a lot and, in a way, it was like Team Xbox and Bethesda decided to confirm the release date and the Xbox-exclusivity of the game once and for all.
Todd Howard presenting Starfield early in the showcase.
The trailer looked great and it shows what kind of environment and visual style Bethesda is aiming for. It also shows that Howard and his team are aiming for something unique and fresh apart from what they did with The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. The moment I saw the 11-11-22 appear as the trailer played, I quickly realized that, in light of this pandemic, Starfield will be released on November 11, 2022 and I immediately understood that it’s not yet time for them to show gameplay footage. More importantly, Starfield is indeed an Xbox-exclusive title coming to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC! That’s right! The Xbox fans who want Starfield but are still stuck with the aging Xbox One, they still have time to upgrade by acquiring an Xbox Series console (which is still hampered by supply constraints) or having a Windows PC that is capable of running the game.
What Microsoft owns, Sony and Nintendo cannot touch! Starfield is exclusive to Xbox!
Given its late 2022 release date, I believe that next year’s edition of the Xbox-Bethesda showcase will show Starfield with gameplay footage! As written in Xbox.com: Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.
Next is Halo Infinite!
After the stage presentation by Bonnie Ross and Halo franchise veteran Joseph Staten, Halo Infinite was shown with real-time (in-engine) graphics emphasizing more of the in-game environment of the Halo ring and, more notably, the story concept was emphasized more with the iconic Master Chief floating through space (he even took a moment to look at one of his fellow soldiers who died) and meeting a new female AI who eerily resembles Cortana (who was the villainess in Halo 5: Guardians). Then they showed a real-time preview of the multiplayer of the game which was impressive.
Unlike last year, Halo Infinite looks so much better and it was clear that serious adjustments were made to achieve the next-generation look. The signature look of the Halo franchise has been maintained but with much more striking visual details and a really smooth frame rate.
While the multiplayer is very impressive, I find it baffling that they did not show any single-player gameplay footage as I hoped to see them improve over last year’s disappointment. While it is clear they have yet to complete the game in time for the 2021 holiday season (even an Xbox One version has been confirmed) and probably were not prepared to show single-player gameplay footage in the showcase, I speculate that Team Xbox and 343 Industries could be preparing another presentation of Halo Infinite at this year’s Tokyo Game Show (TGS 2021) which will be an online event.
As for the minimal showing of the story concept of Halo Infinite, I am satisfied with that right now and I prefer that 343 Industries and the Xbox marketing team should refrain from spoiling the plot (which is too common in Hollywood blockbusters) and save it for gamers to find out. I am confident right now that this new game has what it takes to exceed Halo 5: Guardians. What Team Xbox needs to do announce a final release date.
When it comes to the smaller, indie productions, the Japanese RPGs (JRPGs) Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes & Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising really surprised me! I never expected these spiritual successors to Suikoden to be part of the showcase at all!
As written in Xbox.com: 505 Games, Rabbit & Bear, and Microsoft are teaming up to bring the next incredible JRPG adventure by legendary game storyteller Yoshitaka Murayama to Xbox! We’re also thrilled to present the first official Eiyuden Chronicle franchise trailer for you today.
Studio Lead Yoshitaka Murayama (Suikoden I & II) and Director Osamu Komuta are joining forces once again to bring us an unforgettable journey through the world of Allraan.
Anyone who played the first two Suikoden games will notice the similarity of aesthetics in this upcoming game.
Wow! Not one but TWO Eiyuden Chronicle games are coming to Xbox consoles and Xbox Game Pass with one in 2022 and the other in 2023! Having been a Suikoden fan as well as having played Japanese RPGs on consoles long ago (note: I was a PlayStation fan along the way), I am very delighted about this latest announcement. The Eiyuden Chronicle games add even more to the build-up of Xbox becoming the premier destination and ecosystem for gamers who love playing role-playing games (RPGs)!
For more on the Eiyuden Chronicle franchise of games, I encourage you to visit them at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
More on RPGs, I recently expressed I wanted more science fiction RPGs (sci-fi RPGs) from Team Xbox. As Starfield has been confirmed as Xbox-exclusive for 2022 from Bethesda, RPG specialist Obsidian Entertainment made my wish come true with the announcement of The Outer Worlds 2! That was easily one of the highlights of the showcase for me personally as I love Western RPGs and I replayed The Outer Worlds many times! Watch this CGI trailer!
There is so much to love in the 2019 multi-platform RPG The Outer Worlds and in recent times its full vision and concepts – both of which were limited by time and budget – were finalized with the release of the two DLC packs. Now that The Outer Worlds franchise is under the full control of Team Xbox, it is inevitable that Obsidian Entertainment will have tremendously more resources and access to better technologies (note: imagine certain game engines made by Bethesda being utilized by Obsidian) to make their grander concepts and new gameplay features come true in The Outer Worlds 2! This is another Xbox-exclusive RPG to look forward to after Avowed which Obsidian is focusing on right now.
Next that interested me is The Ascent.
Having seen the game a year ago, The Ascent has very nice visuals, a solid art style, a nice presentation of future technologies and most notably a lot of action that are so good to look at. It’s coming out on July 29, 2021 already and I am confident it will be a hit with Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Microsoft made the smart move on approaching the game makers. The Ascent will launch exclusively on Xbox game consoles (including Xbox One) and Windows PC.
Even though I never got to play the original Psychonauts from a long time ago, the sequel still impressed me and sparked my interest with regards to platform action, adventuring and the visual concepts from the mind of Tim Schafer. It should be noted that Microsoft acquired Double Fine and purchased the publishing rights from the previous owner. Psychonauts 2 is set for an August 25, 2021 release.
Contraband is a future project exclusive to Xbox Series consoles and PC.
The CGI trailer was pretty cryptic and at best only showed visual concepts that should be realized in the form of gameplay in the future. Very clearly, this is an Xbox Game Studios project in partnership with Avalanche Studios (Mad Max, Just Cause games). As written in Xbox.com: Contraband is a co-op smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan, and our most ambitious and spectacular game to date. We’re taking everything that we’ve learned from 18 years of being at the forefront of creating beautiful, vast open game worlds filled with stunning vistas and incredible emergent gameplay moments.
I can confidently say that this game is very atmospheric, gritty and even horrifying. It’s a first-person shooter designed to grab the player and pull him/her deeply into its ravaged in-game setting. I can speculate that this game could push players to come up with the courage to not only endure its challenge but also overcome the horror elements along the way. This one’s heading to Xbox Series consoles and PC on April 28, 2022.
As for Team Xbox’s newest exclusive racing game, Forza Horizon 5 turned out to be real and the same goes with its Mexico setting. This one’s coming to all Xbox consoles and Windows PC on November 9, 2021!
Forza Horizon 5 is a stunner on Xbox Series X! The photo-realism is so high (from the specific parts of the car right up to the many elements comprising the vast open world) this new game made by Playground Games could easily convince people they were looking at real-life, physical objects and places.
As written on Xbox.com: Forza Horizon 5 showcases powerful, all-new graphical features. Experience sweeping vistas and scan the distance to see the adventure that lies ahead. Encounter the smallest of details throughout the world which is rendered with striking realism, down to the smallest details like the light that glows through each needle on a Cholla cactus. Our Mexican HDR sky captures illuminate the world to the point that you will feel as if you are right there. And thanks to Xbox Series X|S, ray tracing is utilized in Forzavista to make the cars look even more true to real life.
I am looking forward to playing Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox Series X!
To my surprise, Xbox chief Phil Spencer appeared near the end of the Xbox-Bethesda showcase and gave the remarks. He did say that they had one new thing to show and it’s another exclusive thanks to Bethesda’s developer Arkane Austin…Redfall! Watch this CGI trailer and just imagine how they turn its visual concepts into actual gameplay in the near future. I find this intriguing and unique.
As written in Xbox.com: Redfall is coming exclusively to Xbox X|S and PC in Summer 2022 and will be available with Game Pass on day one.
Conclusion
The Xbox-Bethesda showcase is not only great…it also shows that with the full-backing of Microsoft, the integration with Bethesda, the 23 active Xbox game studios, and strong business relationships with game makers/publishers going on, Team Xbox is stronger than ever and Phil Spencer’s leadership is something worth emulating. They have what it takes to make video gaming more exciting and more enjoyable than even the Xbox 360 console generation. 30 games showcased (with a great majority of them heading to Xbox Game Pass) and with many Xbox-exclusives among them, the years-old belief that Xbox has no games is dead and those who keep on moving with that belief are just wasting their lives and spreading their poisonous thoughts through social media.
As for Xbox fans and all others who love video games, the Xbox-Bethesda showcase is more than just a grand presentation of gaming…it is a celebration of the love and enjoyment of video games as well as the benefits capitalism makes for consumers! As seen in the showcase, there is definitely something for most gamers and their tastes. Now is a good time for newcomers in gaming to join the Xbox community and ecosystem.
Gaming on Xbox is more exciting and more promising than ever! In due time, gamers from around the world will be able to enjoy games on Xbox consoles and Windows PC!
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Did the Xbox-Bethesda games showcase live up to your expectations? On a scale 1 to 10 (lowest to highest), how would you rate the showcase? What was the biggest surprise among the major games and the small, indie games? Was the inclusion of the Eiyuden Chronicle games in the showcase surprising to you?
What do you think about Forza Horizon 5 and its Mexico setting? Does the announcement of The Outer Worlds 2 make you excited about playing RPGs only on Xbox consoles and Windows PC? Was the confirmation of the Xbox-exclusivity of Starfield surprising to you? Do you look forward to playing Redfall and/or S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl in 2022?
In closing this article, posted below are Xbox-related videos for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!
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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
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas city government opened on Monday, June 14, its 18th vaccination site that can serve around 300 to 350 A1 to A4 priority groups per day.
Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the new vaccination site is located at the Robinsons Mall in Alabang-Zapote Road, Las Piñas City.
A look at the Robinsons Place Las Piñas vaccination site. (source: City of Las Piñas Facebook page)
Aguilar said she is hopeful that with the opening of new vaccination site, more city residents will be encouraged to have themselves vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
She said the city government will add more vaccination sites to help city residents who wish to register for their vaccination through on-site assisted registration.
The mayor added that those with scheduled vaccination can also visit the nearest vaccination for their convenience.
Any Las Piñas resident who has yet to get registered for free COVID-19 vaccines can learn the ways (3 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: Are you a Las Piñas resident who got vaccinated already at Robinsons Place Las Piñas? If you were vaccinated there, was the venue comfortable? Were the vaccination site personnel there efficient and caring towards you?
Does the opening of the vaccination site at Robinsons Place Las Piñas encourage you to get registered and line up for the free COVID-19 vaccine?
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
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