Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1Ashleigh Burton’s Logan reaction video – Finally, after posting several X-Men-related reaction videos on her YouTube channel, YouTuber Ashleigh Burton posted her reaction to the great movieLogan. As it is a great film, you must watch it entirely first. If you have seen it already, then I urge you to watch Burton’s reaction video below.
#2 Woke Hollywood continues to freak out over Donald Trump’s comeback as US President – Remember all those many Hollywood elitists who went all out to fool Americans to vote for Commie Kamala Harris for US President? A lot of them plus Hollywood media are still freaking out over Harris’ loss to Donald Trump (who pulled off the greatest American comeback ever). Watch the videos from Midnight’s Edge and RK Outpost below. Pay close attention to the details.
#3 1990s explanatory video about the Fighter’s History – Street Fighter II case – Back in the 1990s, Capcom USA sued Data East over the video game Fighter’s History for infringing on Street Fighter II. As part of its efforts defending Fighter’s History, Data East released to the media an explanatory video (lawsuit exhibit video) which was recently posted on YouTube for millions of people to watch for the first time ever. Watch it now.
#4 Examining Final Exam – Have you ever seen the 1981 movie Final Exam? It was a low-budget, independently made slasher horror movie that looks inspired by Halloween (1978), Friday The 13th (1980) and even National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978). While it is a fact that the movie faded away into obscurity for decades, it suddenly gained attention among film buffs arguably because of its 2023 release on 4K Blu-ray format. Apart from that, Final Exam has a very interesting story of production and execution, and you can learn more about it in the two videos below.
#5 Spotlight on Predator 2 – While it is clear that the 1990 sci-fi action movie Predator 2 does not match the greatness of its predecessor, it still aged well and clearly succeeded in expanding the lore of the Predator entertainment franchise. It also established very creatively the link between Predator and the Alien film franchise. That being said, it is not surprising that the movie became the subject of several YouTubers’ retro movie review videos and movie reaction videos. Before you watch the selected videos below, I encourage you to watch the film first in case you have not seen it. Otherwise, enjoy the selected videos below.
#6 Halo 2 remembered – Twenty years ago this month, Microsoft launched Halo 2 on the original Xbox console with massive hype and success. I could never forget the excitement leading towards its launch followed by the fun I had playing the single-player campaign. The only problem I had with Halo 2 was the abrupt ending. Regardless, Halo 2 is still memorable and if you feel nostalgic about it, watch the video below. Remember, this is a look back at the time when Team Xbox invested a lot not only on Halo 2 but also on making Xbox fans happy with exclusive content.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of the Manila Standard news report. Some parts in boldface…
Two incumbent Las Pinas City councilors denied allegations that the P103.8-billion Las Piñas-Parañaque Coastal Bay Reclamation Project could lead to “disastrous flooding” in two Metro Manila cities.
Las Piñas City councilors Mark Anthony Santos and Henry Medina said the multi-billion project was already approved by the Supreme Court in 2021, after dismissing the environmental concerns raised by Las Pinas residents.
Voting 11-2, the Supreme Court (SC) en banc approved on Oct. 21, 2021 the reclamation project of around 530 hectares of the Manila Bay coastline in Las Piñas and Parañaque, ruling that the supposed environmental threat was not sufficiently established.
It was penned by Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang, with dissents from Associate Justices Marvic Leonen and Amy Lazaro Javier. Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan did not vote. There were only 14 justices when the ruling was promulgated.
Alltech Contractors proposed developing 321.26 hectares of land in Las Piñas and 174.88 hectares in Parañaque, both along the coastline of Manila Bay in 2009.
The Philippine Reclamation Authority approved the project in 2010, subject to compliance with environmental rules.
Santos said the petitioners against the project failed to provide sufficient evidence of environmental harm and that he supports the reclamation for its potential economic benefits, including socialized housing and job creation.
Medina said while the SC initially granted a Writ of Kalikasan in 2012, it later allowed the Court of Appeals to hear the case.
The CA ruled that the petitioners failed to support their claim by any competent, credible and reliable evidence that the proposed reclamation project will expose Las Piñas and Parañaque residents to catastrophic environmental damage.
According to the CA, Tricore Solutions Inc. and Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines, the companies commissioned by the petitioners, failed to conduct a comprehensive and objective assessment of the proposed project.
The two companies also lacked the expertise necessary in the field of hydrology and hydraulics to competently conclude that the proposed project will cause environmental damage, the CA said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think that any form of reclamation within the city will cause flooding or any other form of severe environmental damage? Do you think that reclamation will be economically beneficial for Las Piñas and its people?
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 engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the city of Parañaque, a successful buy-bust operation resulted in the apprehension of four high-value targets – including one former member of the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippine-Philippines Air Force (ISAFP) – for possessing illegal drugs and weapons, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Members of the District Drug Enforcement Unit of the Southern Police District (DDEU-SPD) arrested four high value individuals, one of them a former member of the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippine-Philippines Air Force (ISAFP), in possession of illegal drugs and firearms during a buy-bust operation conducted in Parañaque City on Monday, November 11.
SPD Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang identified the suspects as alias “J,” 37, alias “Edjane,” 33, a student, alias “Reymar,” 27, and alias “Mark Anthony,” 25.
Yang said the suspects were arrested at around 8:05 p.m. at a drug den located in Barangay Merville, Parañaque City.
He said the suspects were arrested by police operatives from the DDEU-SPD in collaboration with the District Intelligence Division (DID-SPD), District Mobile Force Battalion (DMFB-SPD), Sub-Station 7 of Parañaque City Police Station, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Southern District Office (PDEA SDO).
The SPD chief said confiscated from the suspects were 225 grams of suspected shabu worth P1,530,000 and a caliber 9mm pistol with an inserted magazine and live ammunition.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think your city will still be a hot spot of illegal drugs and loose firearms?
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 engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the Health and Wellness Caravan served more than six hundred residents of Barangay Pamplona Uno with varied services during its stop there, according to the City Government’s announcement via social media.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt of the City Government’s social media post. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas Health and Wellness Caravan continued to provide accessible healthcare to residents at the Balagtas Covered Court in Pamplona Uno on Tuesday, October 29, serving over 600 residents, who availed of a range of health and wellness services aimed at promoting a healthier community.
The caravan offered essential medical services, including consultations, blood sugar and cholesterol testing, blood typing, dental treatments, ECGs, and chest X-rays. Residents also benefited from free medications dispensed at the pharmacy, pneumonia vaccinations for senior citizens, lifestyle-related illness risk screening, and support for PhilHealth registration. Additional services included Greencard enrollment, mobile birth registration, and a dedicated area providing relaxing massages.
City Vice Mayor April Aguilar attended the event, underscoring the local government’s commitment to improving healthcare accessibility. She was joined by City Councilor Mark Anthony Santos, City Council aspirants Alelee Aguilar and Marlon Rosales, and City Health Office head Dr. Juliana Gonzalez. Their presence highlighted the collaborative efforts between city officials and healthcare professionals to bring essential services directly to the community.
Dr. Juliana Gonzalez emphasized that the Health and Wellness Caravan continues to make a significant impact by reaching underserved populations. She stressed the importance of preventive healthcare and the role of these caravans in addressing health issues early, ensuring residents receive comprehensive care and guidance on managing their well-being.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? When was the last time the City Government’s Health and Wellness Caravan was held in your local community?
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 engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Atari print ads
I could not forget the first time I saw this print ad while reading a comic book.
This ad showed the Atari 2600 controller.
Even during its early years under George Lucas, the Star Wars entertainment franchise made its way into video games due to its massive popularity and Parker Brothers really made moves to cash in. This resulted in the Atari 2600 video game adaptation (1982) of The Empire Strikes Back which focused mainly on the memorable Hoth battles between Rebel fighters and the Empire’s AT-AT walkers. Parker Brothers came up with two print ads and each had a different visual concept: one had nicely drawn art along with two screenshots shown while the other had painted art of the AT-AT while showing the Atari joystick. These old print ads still look great and exciting.
2. Double Dragon Japanese and North American arcade flyers
If you read manga (Japanese comics) in Japan, then the art style of this arcade flyer should look familiar to you.
The character designs seem inspired by 1980s Hollywood action cinema.
Released in 1987, Double Dragon became a huge hit in the arcades of Japan, America and Europe resulting in financial gains for developer Technōs Japan and publisher Taito. What I find intriguing was the fact that the Double Dragon arcade flyers for Japan and North America had drastically different art styles used to promote it. The Japanese flyer had art style that is more common with manga while the North American had artwork that seemed inspired by Hollywood action movies (as well as the rise of martial arts films in America during the 1980s). The American flyer even had the two characters identified as Hammer and Spike and they both looked American. This is a classic example of using different approaches to promote a game in each market.
3. Universal Soldier print ad
The people who made this print ad made sure to use the names of the stars to help sell the game.
Even though its worldwide ticket sales did not reach $100 million, the 1992 movie Universal Soldier still caught a lot of attention from moviegoers simply because it had Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren as the stars. Unsurprisingly, the movie had a video game adaptation and because publisher Accolade wanted to cash-in on the film’s hype, they made some deceptive moves by rebranding one of its games (already development) as a tie-in. Advertised as an official adaptation, Universal Soldier was actually a rushed conversion of Turrican II: The Final Fight. This print ad – which even showed the stars’ names – is a reminder of the deception Accolade pulled off.
4. Sega CD print ad
Do you find this Sega CD print ad hilarious?
When Sega was making waves with its Sega Genesis (Sega Mega Drive in Japan), the company was quick to react to the growing use of the compact disc (CD) format as a useful storage medium for video games. The Sega CD (Mega CD in Japan) was released as an add-on device to work with the Genesis console and Sega’s American team came up with a series of promotions. This print ad is just one of the promotions and ad makers came up with a “crazed” or “electrified” gamer dominating one page while showing the Genesis, the Sega CD and screenshots of games (running on CD) on the other page. By today’s standards, the Sega CD print ad is funny and catchy to look at.
5. Snatcher for Sega CD print ad
I find this Snatch print ad looking odd. The ad makers could have done more to focus on the game itself.
First released in Japan in 1988, Snatcher was a cyberpunk visual adventure game that was one of the early works of the famous Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear series). Due to its design and approach on visuals to tell a story, it was not surprising that a Sega CD version of it got released in 1994. To promote the game to the growing number of North American Sega CD gamers at the time, Konami came up with this rather unusual print ad showing the face of a smiling lady dominating the space leaving little room to show the screenshots and the game’s cover. The visual concept is engaging but it takes effort to notice it was promoting the Sega CD version of the video game. This old ad would have worked better had the ad makers increased the sizes of the screenshots and the game cover.
6. Jurassic Park for Sega CD print ad
Does the T. Rex look scary to you?
As part of its drive to add more games to the Sega CD add-on and help it sell more units, Sega acquired the Jurassic Park license and went on to produce an adaptation utilizing the technological features of the Sega CD. To aggressively promote the game, Sega came up with this print ad that had a Tyrannosaurs Rex (looking through spaces) on one page and then several screenshots plus text descriptions on the other. For a click-and-point Jurassic Park game, this ad was really exciting and intriguing to look at.
7. Atari Jaguar print ad
This was indeed an eye-catching ad.
In the early 1990s, Atari made an aggressive move to compete in the arena of video game consoles which they used to dominate from the late 1970s until 1983. This time around, they came up with the Jaguar console which had some pretty advanced technologies for the time. As part of their North American marketing campaign, Atari unleashed an ad showing game screenshots on the first page and huge artwork of a jaguar coming after Sonic, Mario and Yoshi (mascots of Sega and Nintendo respectively) symbolizing that the Atari Jaguar had more power and better technology than the Genesis and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNS). While it was engaging to look at early on, this print ad is now an embarrassment as the Jaguar console failed terribly. Lastly, the marketing of the Jaguar as a 64-bit machine was never real.
8. George Foreman, The Simpsons and Spider-Man Game Gear print ad
This ad appeared in a lot of comic books in the 1990s.
In the early 1990s, Sega released the Game Gear handheld gaming device which instantly placed them in competition with Nintendo’s Game Boy. Through its Flying Edge label, Acclaim Entertainment promoted George Foreman’s KO Boxing, The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants, and Spider-Man for the Game Gear hoping to sell well. This 3-game print ad highlighted the popular figures who had a lot of space for attracting attention. The ad maker managed to insert two screenshots per game, the game covers and a text description to inform consumers what they were being offered. A good ad to look at.
9. Time Gal for Sega CD print ad
The presentation here looks nice but Time Gal herself looked like she was drawn by a different artist.
Originally released in the arcades in Japan in 1985, Time Gal made its way to the Sega CD add-on in the early 1990s. It was a highly unusual video game as it was an interactive movie (with lots of anime footage) made with the use of Laserdisc technology for its arcade version. It played lots of anime scenes and players must choose the on-screen options to execute the character’s next action in order to progress. For the Sega CD version for North America, this print was made to capture the attention of consumers using the protagonist’s sex appeal on the cover art with four screenshots placed on the sides to show what to expect. I noticed that Time Gal on the cover art looked different from how she appeared in the anime sequences. At least the ad makers tried hard to sell the game.
10. Mortal Kombat print ad
Still an effective ad to promote a blockbuster game and make people informed it was coming to multiple platforms.
Considering how successful it was in the arcades, the 1993 release of Mortal Kombat for game consoles and handhelds was unsurprisingly highly anticipated and publisher acclaim came up with this single-page ad. The presentation involved the use of a photographic background of many spectators (to emphasize excitement and popularity), media quotes and screenshots to effectively promote the game.
11. Equinox print ad
Take a close look. Tell me if you find it funny.
I never played Equinox but I heard the loud buzz about its design as a 3D isometric game that had elements of exploration, platform play and puzzle solving. The people responsible for this print ad emphasized the concept that the game is so addicting to play, players will still play it as they get older. This ad has a subtle yet effective approach with humor.
12. James Bond 007: The Duel print ad
Timothy Dalton’s image as James Bond was sourced from Licence to Kill for this game’s ad.
Here is another decades-old James Bond video game print ad I found. Released a few years after Licence to Kill, James Bond 007: The Duel was notable not for its gameplay nor game design but for the fact that it used the image of Timothy Dalton as 007 for its print ad and the opening scenes in the game itself. Dalton’s Bond image here was never new nor originally taken for the game as it came directly from Licence to Kill’s publicity library. Each time I saw this ad, I was only reminded of the 1989 movie which I still enjoy watching.
13. Neo Geo AES console print ad
Do you find this ad both sexy and funny?
Decades ago, SNK made a huge splash in the arcades with lots of really fun games released with their Neo Geo (stylized as NEO GEO) hardware. In 1990, they released the cartridge-based Neo Geo AES console in Japan and America and it carried the same technology as the arcade hardware. To promote the console in North America (note: the Neo Geo console and its games were very expensive), SNK came up with this catchy and funny print ad showing a sexy woman feeling annoyed that her man spends more time with Neo Geo gaming than with her. This was a clever way of emphasizing the arcade-perfect experience in the comfort of home, and it was funny to look at.
14. Gradius II Japanese arcade flyer
Great looking painted art was used for this 1988 arcade game.
Since the original Gradius was a big hit in arcades in Japan in 1985, it was not surprising that Konami released Gradius II three years later. With regards to the use of painted art, the artist showed the game’s spaceship in a dominating position emphasizing high-speed travel and excitement. The image, which also looks more colorful, is a complete reversal of the painted art used in the flyer of the previous which showed the rear of the spaceship as it moves towards a larger spaceship (the opposition). This arcade flyer art still looks great as it has a timeless charm.
Recently in the city of Parañaque, an anti-drug operation resulted in the arrest of a high-valued target and the seizer of more than P2 million worth of illegal drugs, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Authorities arrested a high-value target and seized about PHP2 million worth of assorted party drugs in an anti-drug-operation in Parañaque City, the Southern Police District (SPD) said on Friday.
In a statement, SPD Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang identified the suspect as alias “Kylie,” 26, who was arrested during a buy-bust operation along Greenheights Avenue in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City at about 5:35 p.m. on Thursday.
Yang said PHP2,055,900 worth of assorted party drugs were confiscated from the suspect, consisting of 141 grams of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of PHP747,300; 153 grams of suspected ketamine (PHP765,000); 274 grams of high-grade marijuana or “kush”(PHP411,000); and 78 pieces of assorted ecstasy tablets (PHP132,600).
Also seized were a weighing scale, one genuine PHP1,000 bill, and PHP64,000 in boodle money used in the buy-bust transaction
All recovered substances will be submitted to the SPD’s forensic unit for quantitative and qualitative analysis, while the suspect will face charges for violating Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think your city will always be a hot spot for smuggling or selling of illegal substances?
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 engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
In a move to make the Philippines a prime investment destination, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., recently signed into law the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday signed the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act to promote the Philippines as a prime investment destination.
CREATE MORE Act or Republic Act (RA) 12066, signed by Marcos in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace in Manila, builds on the game-changing economic reforms introduced under the CREATE law by making the country’s tax incentives regime more globally competitive, investment-friendly, predictable and accountable.
Marcos said the signing of RA 12066 signifies his administration’s unwavering commitment to empowering the business sector and enhancing their growth prospects.
“We cannot emphasize enough the important role of the business sector in shaping this law. Your feedback has been essential in our efforts to craft policies that make our country truly competitive on the global stage,” Marcos said.
“As we open new doors of opportunity, we drive businesses to reinvest their capital, build upon the workforce, and initiate a ripple effect that will be felt across generations,” he added.
Marcos said the new law is a reflection of the government’s resolve to foster a climate where businesses will flourish and continue to meaningfully contribute to the Philippine economy.
“By establishing clear timelines and deadlines and by limiting compliance requirements to those mandated by law, we are promoting transparency and predictability. And in so doing, we create a more reliable process that instills confidence in investors and in partners alike,” he said.
“To our investors and development partners, let this be our pledge: The Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) continues to foster an economy where businesses and investments remain at the heart of our progressive development.”
Under the CREATE MORE Act, the maximum duration of tax incentives availment is extended by 10 years to 27 years from 17 years, to attract strategic and high-quality investments.
Registered business enterprises (RBEs) under the enhanced deductions regime will benefit from a reduced corporate income tax rate of 20 percent.
The new law also grants a 100-percent additional deduction on power expenses to cut the costs for the manufacturing sector.
It also further streamlines the value-added tax (VAT) refund process by limiting the documentary requirements and addressing the VAT concerns raised by export-oriented enterprises.
RA 12066 also introduces various reforms such as the rationalization and streamlining of incentives-related processes to address investors’ pain points and cultivate an investment-friendly climate.
It likewise simplifies local taxation by imposing a local tax on RBEs in lieu of all other local taxes, fees, and charges.
The CREATE MORE law also strengthens the respective mandates of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB) and the investment promotion agencies (IPAs).
It institutionalizes the adoption of flexible work arrangements as a business model for RBEs operating inside economic zones and freeports, without disruption in the enjoyment of their tax incentives.
Marcos said the Filipino people would benefit from the passage of the CREATE MORE Act through more and better economic opportunities that uplift their lives, such as high-quality jobs.
The signing of CREATE MORE law is consistent with the Marcos administration’s 8-point socioeconomic agenda.
Lawmakers lauded President Marcos for signing the measure, saying it would stimulate economic growth by attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs).
“With more foreign direct investments that CREATE MORE is expected to generate, more Filipinos will have better employment opportunities that will, in turn, redound to stronger domestic consumption, one of the major drivers of the local economy,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said in a statement.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the CREATE MORE law will succeed in attracting more foreign investments into the Philippines? Do you expect to see results related to the new law over the next eighteen months?
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 engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
It has been over a week since Donald Trump pulled off the greatest American comeback ever when he got elected again as President of the United States and he also won the popular vote. He already promised that once he takes office, the US Government will make serious moves to solve the illegal immigration crisis and that includes mass deportation.
That being said, Filipinos who are illegally staying in the United States have been advised not to wait to be deported and they better act fast before it is too late, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babes” Romualdez on Friday advised Filipinos illegally staying in the US not to wait to be deported following the victory of President-elect Donald Trump.
In an online forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), Romualdez stressed that Trump has “won on the basis that he will deport all immigrants in the United States.”
While there is a smaller number of Filipinos illegally staying in the US at around 250,000-300,000 compared to other countries, Romualdez said those who are still in America without “any kind of status” should voluntarily return to the Philippines or start working on their documents.
“My advice to many of our fellowmen who actually are still here but cannot get any kind of status. My advice is for them not to wait to be deported,” he said.
“Because I can see that the administration of President Trump is really going to be very strict with the immigration policy that he intends to put in place because that is the promise he made to the American public,” he stressed.
Once deported, Romualdez said there is 99% (chance) that they cannot come back to the US.
“You can never come back to the United States. At least, if you leave, there is always the opportunity or a chance that you’ll be able to file,” he said.
Filipinos who are illegally staying in the US could seek help through the attaché from the Department of Migrant Workers at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, Romualdez said.
However, he clarified that the “only assistance” that they can provide is “to give them advice.”
“If they have a potential roadblock to be able to stay in the United States legally, then we tell them to get the right person to help you– a lawyer or whoever it is– and start the process. But if there is none, it’s clear that there’s only one way so that you will have a chance to be able to apply legally but do not allow yourselves to be deported,” he said.
He warned that Filipinos cannot continue to hide from authorities because the exchange of information among US agencies is much easier today.
In his victory speech, Trump reiterated that he would close borders in the US and would impose stricter laws against illegal aliens.
“We gonna have to seal up those borders, we are gonna have to let people come into our country. We want people to come back in, but they have to come in legally… We are gonna start by putting America first,” he said.
Data gathered by the GMA Integrated News Research showed that there are 4,640,313 Filipinos in the US as of last year, according to the latest figures by the US Census Bureau.
For the newcomers reading this, I am not an American citizen and I am based here in the Philippines. I should also state that I personally oppose illegal immigration and I believe that US President-elect Trump (who will formally take office again on January 20, 2025) will do what Americans voted him for and that means securing the border, going after illegal aliens and deporting a lot of them. It is an undeniable fact that illegal immigration adds to crime as well as the rising costs of housing and government spending. Illegal aliens are consuming taxpayers’ funds which is very unfair to the Americans.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think all Filipinos illegally staying in America should surrender themselves and come back home before it is too late? Are there Democrats or any Leftist in your local community who continues to promote illegal immigration, criminal and terrorists? Did the Democrats brainwash a member of your local community into believing that illegal immigrants are refugees?
The 2025 edition of the prestigious FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship is all set to be hosted exclusively by the Philippines from September 12 to 28, 2025.
The event will have the top 32 men’s volleyball teams of the world competing for the championship title. Games will be staged at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Schedules of the games will be announced soon.
The 32 teams are divided into eight pools which are arranged in the following order: Pool A: Philippines, Iran, Egypt, Tunisia; Pool B: Poland, Netherlands, Qatar, Romania; Pool C: France, Argentina, Finland, Korea; Pool D: USA, Cuba, Portugal, Colombia; Pool E: Slovenia, Germany, Bulgaria, Chile; Pool F: Italy, Ukraine, Belgium, Algeria; Pool G: Japan, Canada, Türkiye, Libya; and Pool H: Brazil, Serbia, Czechia, China.
The Philippines is the exclusive host of the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship. It is recalled that previous editions of the event were each co-hosted by multiple nations – Italy and Bulgaria in 2018, and Poland and Slovenia in 2018.
For the 2025 edition, the Philippines emerged as the successful bidder and the final decision was made following a rigorous evaluation process where the FIVB and Volleyball World found the Philippine bid to be particularly strong; with its emphasis on ensuring a continued growth of the event and the country’s commitment to the development of volleyball globally.
FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F° stated that their organization is confident that the Philippines “will host an extraordinary World Championship that will leave a lasting legacy.”
Meanwhile, Volleyball World CEO Finn Taylor stated that the Philippines “is well-positioned to deliver an exceptional championship that will showcase the best of the sport.”
The City of Muntinlupa made it as an awardee of the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) as recorded in the official list of awardees that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) released online.
For 2024, there is a grand total of 714 SGLG awardees nationwide covering cities, municipalities and provinces. Among them are 14 National Capital Region (NCR) cities and Muntinlupa City is one of them.
For transparency, posted below is the 2024 SGLG list of awardees from the DILG. Feel free to download a copy.
It should be recalled that Muntinlupa City was also an SGLG awardee in previous years (click here, here and here).
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you very happy that Muntinlupa is once again an SGLG awardee?
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Author Carlo Carrasco 