Alabang – Page 13 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Have you been to X-Site amusement center inside Festival Mall lately?

November 11, 2024October 23, 2024carlocarrasco

In times of prosperity or hardship, Festival Mall (originally named Festival Supermall) in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City continues to attract families and shoppers. Since the mall’s early days in 1998, its amusement center X-Site kept on succeeding on attracting visitors and providing them bouts of varied fun in return to what the customers paid for. X-Site is a lively form of entertainment-focused capitalism that just keeps on moving forward and attracting visitors.

Located at the 3^rd floor (note: officially referred to as the 2^nd Level or 2L or 2^nd Floor by the mall. The 1^st floor and 2^nd floor of the mall are referred to as Lower Ground Floor and Upper Ground Floor respectively), the X-Site Amusement Center has a wide floor space with a high ceiling.

The way it was designed, X-Site has several arcade games (lots of fun retro games included), merchandiser games, a virtual reality ride, KTV booths, motion-sensing dance spot, the ring toss, entertainment stores, indoor sports games, redemption games, bumper cars, and the indoor roller coaster (which explains the need of having a high ceiling). Watch below the YouTube video and the images I prepared below.

*At the arcade games section inside X-Site.*

Having a high ceiling made it possible to have an indoor roller coaster (tracks above the machines and people in this image). Other amusement centers in Alabang had lower ceilings which made their places feel small or tight when compared to X-Site.

*Some newer machines plus indoor sports games added into the arcade games section.*

*This is the place for those who love dancing and music.*

When I was much younger and Festival Mall was still new, I played lots of games at the arcade of X-Site. Elevator Action Returns, Tekken 2, Tekken 3, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Tekken Tag Tournament were some of the games I played there as far as I could remember. I never rode the indoor roller coaster because my fondness for roller coasters had faded away even before Festival Mall opened its doors (May 1998).

Back in 1998, I know a few friends whose had not even visited Festival Mall (at the time we talked) yet they already heard of the positive word-of-mouth feedback about the indoor roller coaster of X-Site.

*The indoor roller coaster of X-Site remains a favorite ride for those who kept coming back.*

On December 25, 2023, I visited Festival Mall to look around. I passed by X-Site and I saw an unusually large number of people there composed of young people, children and their parents/guardians.

For the newcomers reading this, December 25 here in the Philippines is a time of having fun during the Christmas season and also it is the day when the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) opens in cinemas. This explains why a lot of people spend time at the shopping malls and it is a cultural thing here in the Philippines.

Considering the fact that the original cinemas of Festival Mall have deteriorated leaving only 2 or 3 screens operating (note: the mall also has modern cinemas at the expanded side), a lot of people still visited the mall to watch the MMFF movies that opened on December 25. As for the large number of people who flocked to X-Site that same day, I can only speculate that some of them might have been moviegoers passing the time as they wait for the next screening of movies to watch.

*I took this shot of X-Site on December 25, 2023. Look at the high number of people on the floor.*

If you plan to visit Festival Mall in Alabang and if you are craving for fun rides or games, then you might want to visit X-Site Amusement Center.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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

Muntinlupa City Government distributing Christmas packages to households

November 8, 2024November 7, 2024carlocarrasco

Very recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government started the distribution of Christmas packages covering roughly one hundred forty thousand (140,000) households, 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…

Christmas came early for residents of Muntinlupa as the city government started the distribution of its Pamaskong Handog packs.

The Muntinlupa City government is targeting to distribute the Christmas packages to about 140,000 households in the city.

“Gusto nating bawat household sa Muntinlupa ay may celebration ngayong Pasko. Kaya tiniyak natin na lahat ng 140,000 households sa lungsod ay makakatanggap ng Pamaskong Handog (We want every household in Muntinlupa to have a celebration this Christmas. That is why we assure that all 140,000 households in the city will receive the Pamaskong Handog),” said Mayor Ruffy Biazon who led the distribution of the packages.

Each Pamaskong Handog package has three kilos of rice, a pack of 400 grams of spaghetti pasta, a pack of 900 grams of spaghetti sauce, a pack of 400 grams of elbow macaroni, a box of 113 grams of instant champorado, a can of 175 grams of corned beef, a can of 150 grams of meat loaf and a can of 85 grams of liver spread.

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, have you contacted your local community officials about updates of Christmas packages coming in?

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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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

8 illegal aliens who were arrested in Alabang will be deported

November 4, 2024November 2, 2024carlocarrasco

The eight illegal aliens – seven Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese citizen – who were recently arrested inside Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City, will soon be deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). All of the suspects were found to be undocumented and also under suspicion of scamming.

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

The eight foreigners apprehended for illegally staying in the country at a village in Muntinlupa City are set for deportation, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday.

Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, in a news release, said seven Chinese nationals and a Vietnamese national were arrested by operatives of the BI’s intelligence division along three streets inside the village on Oct. 22.

“The homeowner association representatives of the Ayala Alabang Village were very helpful in helping us verify target areas,” he said in statement.

All of them were found to be undocumented — two of whom were also found to be overstaying while one was suspected to be an illegal entrant.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) earlier reported that items used for online scamming were seized from the suspects.

Viado noted that they have received information that smaller “pockets” of scamming hubs are forming after the closure of big Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs in the country.

“We have found reason to file deportation cases against them. They will be considered undesirables once their cases are resolved, and face deportation,” the BI chief added.

The operation was conducted with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the NBI National Capital Region (NCR).

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 delighted that the local authorities arrested the illegal aliens and prevented them from proceeding with scams? Do you think there are small groups from POGOs that could be secretly operating in your local community?

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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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

Eight foreigners (suspected scammers) arrested inside Ayala Alabang Village

November 2, 2024October 24, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, eight foreigners – seven Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese citizen – suspected for scamming got arrested inside a house in Ayala Alabang Village as a result of an operation by elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), according to a Malaya Business Insight news report.

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

SEVEN Chinese and a Vietnamese suspected as scammers were arrested in an operation in Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City, the Department of Justice said yesterday.

In a statement, the DOJ said the operation, carried out with the Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, stemmed from information provided by residents and corroborated by intelligence regarding the presence of the foreigners in the posh village.

The DOJ said three Chinese were initially nabbed, two of whom were found to be overstaying in the country, while the other one could not present any documentation.

It said one of the three served for a time as a manager of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga.

“Upon entry, there was a live computer operated by a Chinese individual. When read by an interpreter, the screen showed scripts used in a standard phishing scam,” the DOJ said, adding operatives also found a voice-over IP, an equipment usually used in telephone scams to avoid detection.

Four Chinese and the Vietnamese were later arrested.

The DOJ said four failed to present documentation and were considered illegally staying in the country.

“One Chinese national, though not lacking in documentation, is suspected to have harbored the illegal aliens in violation of immigration laws,” the DOJ said.

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 concerned that scammers from overseas could be living somewhere in your local community secretly doing illegal operations? Do you think that foreign POGO workers could be secretly staying in your village right now? Do you think the seven arrested Chinese nationals could be spies of Communist China?

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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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

All 9 barangays in Muntinlupa City pass standards for Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) desks

October 28, 2024October 17, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, all of the nine barangays successfully passed the standards for Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) desks, 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…

All the nine barangays in Muntinlupa have passed the standards under the law for their VAWC (Violence Against Women and Children) desks.

“Congratulations to all barangays of Muntinlupa for achieving 100% compliance with our VAWC (Violence Against Women and Children) desk standards!” said Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon.

Under the standards, he said, the functionality of each barangay was assessed based on policies, personnel, resources, planning and budgeting, implementation, good practices, and regular submission of reports.

“At talagang commendable ang bawat barangay for having met these standards (And each barangay is really commendable for having met these standards),” he said.

Under a memorandum circular issued in 2023 by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), VAWC) is defined as “any act of or a series of acts committed by any person against a woman who is his wife, former wife, or against.a woman with whom the person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, or with whom he has a common child, or against her child whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the family abode, which result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.”

These acts include physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence and economic abuse. Biazon lamented the violence happens inside a household.

“Pero naririto ang City Government at mga barangay to ensure that women and children have somewhere to turn to for help. Tinitiyak natin na meron laging tutugon sa kababaihan at kabataang humihingi ng saklolo (But the City government and barangays are here to ensure that women and children have somewhere to turn to for help. We ensure that someone will respond to women and children who seek help),” the mayor said.

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, do you think having a VAWC desk in your barangay will be helpful? What is the first thing that comes to your mind whenever you think about the VAWC

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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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

Mardi Gras Warehouse Sale 2024 set for November 15 to 17 at Madison Galeries

October 26, 2024October 22, 2024carlocarrasco

Madison Galeries announced that the 2024 edition of the Mardi Gras Warehouse Sale is all set to happen from November 15 to 17, 10AM to 8PM, at The Events Place at the 3^rd floor of the mall in Barangay Cupang, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

For the newcomers reading this, Madison Galeries is located along Don Jesus Boulevard and it is a short drive away from Alabang Hills Village as well as the West Service Road.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Madison Galeries’ Facebook announcement. Some parts in boldface…

Exciting news, everyone! The ultimate Warehouse Sale is back and better than ever! Mark your calendars! Mardi Gras is coming on November 15-17, 2024, at The Madison Events Place.

This is the anticipated event of the year where you can score amazing deals with up to 80% off a wide range of items! Whether you’re hunting for unique finds, fresh stocks, or just looking to snag low prices, this sale is not to be missed.

Those who wish to receive updates about Mardi Gras Warehouse Sale via Viber can join the community by clicking https://tinyurl.com/MardiGrasViberComm

The accepted modes of payments at the sale are cash, GCash and credit cards. Like the previous years’ Mardi Gras sale/bazaar, there will be a wide range of items offered such as coffee mugs, utensils, kitchenware, clothes, toys, bags and more. Mardi Gras Warehouse Sale is also an opportunity for shoppers to buy items for Christmas gift-giving.

For more information, contact Madison Galeries by sending email at social@madisongaleries.com or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MadisonGaleries

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377 families graduate from Muntinlupa City’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)

October 22, 2024October 14, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, three hundred and seventy-seven families (377) graduated from the local Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), 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…

A total of 377 families graduated from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Muntinlupa.

4Ps is the Philippine government’s “national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven (7) years, to improve health, nutrition and education,” according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The beneficiaries of 4Ps “are households that: are classified as poor and near-poor based on the Standardized Targeting System and the poverty threshold issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) at the time of selection.”

The DSWD led the Pugay Tagumpay Graduation Day attended by Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon where the families were recognized.

“Sabi nga nila, walang forever, at mas maganda talaga na walang forever pagdating sa pagtanggap ng tulong mula sa gobyerno (As they say, there is no forever, and it’s better that there is no forever when it comes to receiving assistance from the government),” said Biazon.

He said 4Ps can be seen not only as a chance to get financial assistance from the government but to learn life lessons including saving, budgeting and prioritizing needs.

“Ayaw natin na umaasa lang ang mga tao sa gobyerno (We don’t want people to rely solely on the government); we want every family to be self-sustaining,” the mayor added.

“The City Government will continue to support Muntinlupeño families, especially in the education of your children. Congratulations to all the graduates! Patuloy tayong magsikap para sa mas maliwanag na kinabukasan! (Let’s continue to strive for a brighter future),” he added.

According to the Muntinlupa City government, the graduation from 4Ps meant that a family is now out of poverty and has the capability to become self-sufficient.

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, do you know any family in your local community that needs to get enrolled in the local 4Ps program? How many families in your local community were among the 377 graduates?

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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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

Over P1 billion deposited through BSP’s coin machines

October 18, 2024October 17, 2024carlocarrasco

A major breakthrough has been realized with regards to recirculating massive amounts of loose change in the Philippines as more than P1 billion in coins have officially been deposited into the coin deposit machines (CoDMs) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 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…

Over a year since the launch of coin deposit machines (CoDMs), the monetary value of coins deposited through the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) initiative to promote coin circulation has breached P1 billion.

In a statement on Thursday, the BSP said the total value of coins which coursed through CoDMs has reached P1,008,889,490.24.

The CoDMs, introduced in June 2023, were launched in a bid to encourage the public to make use of their idle coins.

The BSP said that since its launch, the CoDMs have accumulated more than 260,000,000 pieces of coins and facilitated almost 240,000 transactions.

Through CoDMs, people can place legal tender coins in the machines, with the total value credited to e-wallet accounts in GCash or Maya, GoTyme bank accounts, or converted into shopping vouchers.

As of this writing, the BSP’s coin deposit project website has yet to have the latest numbers published. Previously, the official numbers were P950,361,380.76 in overall value, 250,352,704 coins counted and 228,482 transactions registered as of September 15, 2024. You can read my September 26, 2024 post by clicking here.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you deposited your loose change into a BSP coin deposit machine in your locality during the past sixty days?

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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Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) declares Megarahe Sale 2024 a huge success

October 13, 2024October 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Were you able to attend the Megarahe Sale 2024 inside Alabang Hills Village on September 28 or 29? In recent times, the Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) declared this year’s edition of the annual Megarahe Sale a huge success.

To see what Megarahe Sale 2024 looked like, you can watch the video I recorded by clicking right here.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from their official website update of October 4, 2024. Some parts in boldface…

We would like to thank everyone for participating in our recently concluded community event, the Megarahe Sale 2024.

The Megarahe Sale showcased a total of eighty eight (88) vendors and a large number of attendees and shoppers. It was a weekend of fun selling by our residents, good finds for shoppers & delicious treats for foodies.

We hope to solicit your support once again to the forthcoming community events that are in store for you for the rest of the year.

To see the rest of the message, click https://alabanghillsvillage.com/2024/10/04/megarahe-sale-a-huge-success/

For the newcomers reading this, the Megarahe Sale (sometimes referred to as “Megarahe Sale & Kids Bazaar, Ukay-Okay!”) is held annually inside Alabang Hills Village. Every time it happens, there were lots of vendors selling a variety of goods such as clothes, shoes, bags, wallets and other household items that customers can choose from. Also present were sellers of food and drinks for the needs of visitors.

Going back to AHVA’s message, they specified the exact number of vendors of the Megarahe Sale 2024 although no numbers nor estimates were provided about the people who attended and/or shopped. Of course, it is very challenging to determine how many visitors arrived and how many individual transactions happened.

As the AHVA mentioned in their post, there are still more community events coming before the year ends. To find out about AHVA’s future events, visit https://alabanghillsvillage.com/ or call them at 88508254. You can visit their office at 1 Don Jesus Boulevard inside Alabang Hills Village from Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM. Always remember to follow their rules and speed limits whenever you are in the village.

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Muntinlupa Mayor and One Muntinlupa teammates file certificates of candidacy (COCs)

October 5, 2024October 4, 2024carlocarrasco

Very recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, Mayor Ruffy Biazon and his teammates under the One Muntinlupa banner filed their respective certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the local Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office for the May 2025 elections, according to Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Reelectionist Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon and candidates from the One Muntinlupa (1Munti) political party filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) on Oct. 4 for the May 12, 2025 national and local elections.

They all trooped to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Muntinlupa office at South Park Center in Alabang to submit their COCs.

Biazon is running for reelection for his second term as mayor.

His vice mayoral bet is Allen Fresnedi-Ampaya who is the barangay captain of Poblacion and the president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) in Muntinlupa.

Rep. Jaime Fresnedi also accompanied them and will be filing his COC with the Office of the Regional Election Director-National Capital Region in San Juan.

One Muntinlupa has been accredited by the Comelec as an official party-list.

The political party’s candidates for councilor in District 1 (Barangays Tunasan, Poblacion, Putatan and Bayanan) are re-electionists Atty. Raul Corro (majority floor leader of the City Council), Atty. Rachel Arciaga, Paty Katy Boncayao, Alexson Diaz, Ting Niefes, and Jedi Presnedi, and Amanda Camilon and Walter Arcilla.

The candidates for councilor in District 2 (Barangays Alabang, Ayala Alabang, Sucat, Cupang and Buli) are re-electionists Ryan Bagatsing, Engr. Arlene Hilapo, Eliot Martinez, Dado Moldez, and Metong Sevilla, and Shalimar Baes-Reyes, Kaye Ann Rongavilla and Atty. Reggie Landrito.

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, have you decided already which candidates to vote for in the May 2025 local elections? Are you satisfied with the way the current administration at City Hall has been governing since mid-2022?

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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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

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