America – Page 2 – Author Carlo Carrasco

2026

January 1, 2026January 1, 2026carlocarrasco

Happy New Year to everyone! 2026 is finally here!

In 2025, so much has happened here in my native Philippines and around the world. Here in the Philippines, there is this growing economic uncertainty in relation to the flood control corruption scandals which angered many Filipinos and made foreign investors doubtful about the state of the nation. The most recent quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) report showed a clear slowdown while the Philippines has fallen behind its Southeast Asian neighbors when it comes to attracting foreign tourists.

Overseas, US President Donald Trump made his presence felt a lot. In 2025 alone, his administration prevented new wars from happening, helped Israel defeat Iran during the 12-Day War, helped end the war in Gaza and saw the release of surviving hostages who went home to Israel, and America struck Islamic terrorists hard in Syria and Nigeria. Along the way, America grew stronger economically in 2025 and that was backed by high tariff revenues. Now on his 2^nd term, Trump keeps on proving he is a President of action with expertise on making deals. His movement of Make America Great Again (MAGA) continues to make waves with the American people and even with those in other parts of the world. We are clearly living in the age of Trump and there are still a few years left in his 2^nd term.

Over in Japan, the new Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and her administration are implementing reforms to protect the Japanese, reviving their national economy and securing the nation not only from Communist China but also from the international mob of illegal immigration, human traffickers, Islamists and arrogant globalists.

With regards to what was achieved with my website and blog www.CarloCarrasco.com, I am thankful to our Lord and also delighted to share with you the numbers for the year 2025. About 113,000 hits (page views) worldwide were counted with roughly 80,000 visitors worldwide recorded, plus almost 1,000 likes worldwide counted within the WordPress network.

The top nations of hits and visitors for 2025 are the Philippines, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Hong Kong and Sweden. With regards to lifetime hits of my website and blog, it is roughly 1,130,000 hits worldwide since January 4, 2019. The page views and number of visitors of 2025 are huge improvements over the 2024 blog numbers. I thank you readers for visiting my website and reading my blog posts.

When it comes to social media, I am thankful to the Lord for the surge of new members in my South Metro Manila Facebook group. From the 3rd week of October until December 31 of 2025, the FB group’s members jumped from a little over 6,000 to over 9,200! That’s a surge of more than fifty percent in less than a quarter’s time. In relation to what South Metro Manila is about geographically, members based in the southern Metro Manila cities of Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa combined for more than 3,800 members. A great majority of the FB group’s overall membership are based in the Philippines. Many times, I shared my blog posts in the South Metro Manila Facebook group and I encourage you to visit it by clicking https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673.

There will be no slowdown with blogging about local community developments, magnifying the news that mattered, making special features, preaching the Word of God, publishing entertainment stuff and more in 2026. That said, I thank the businesses, the community organizations, the local authorities, the local churches, the YouTubers, and others who trusted me and my long-term online publishing. My thanks to the Lord God for these growing achievements and the lively connections.

I also thank the Lord that I am now a businessman and a certified professional. I now have my own enterprise and achieving growth and establishing new connections are my goals now. I can make contributions to the Philippine economy.

For 2026, I encourage you all to live on with uncompromising faith in Lord Jesus and in the Word of God. The world we live in is twisted and worldliness will only lead you to evil.

That being said, I prepared the following scriptures from the Holy Bible for your enlightenment below…

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.

Acts 10:34-36 (NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to him,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:3 (NKJV)

Lord Jesus is the Savior and the Hope of ALL nations! There is no doubt about that. As for the people living with evil reading this, I encourage you to come to Lord Jesus for repentance and submission so that the evil within your heart will go away. The many forms of evil in this world – Islamist beliefs, Communism, socialism, Marxism, antisemitism, idolatry, LGBTQ ideology, secularism, rabid feminism and much more – have led many away from the Lord. Still, there is time for the people consumed by evil to change themselves for the better by turning away from darkness and surrendering to Lord Jesus.

Follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and spread the Word of God to others so that the lost and the unsaved around you will stop being wicked and realize Lord Jesus is the Savior of all! Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

Once again, Happy New Year!

+++++

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

A Look Back at Prime #10 (1994)

December 31, 2025December 25, 2025carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Ultraverse fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Ultraverse to take a look at one of the many tales of Prime from the monthly series that first launched in 1993.

Within the Ultraverse is a hero that was notably absent in the many UV comic books I reviewed, and Malibu Comics even published a regular series of the character. That character is Firearm who goes by the civilian identity as Alec Swan. Swan, who has no super powers, is a British private investigator who was formerly a member of an elite cover bureau in his home country. He has been working as a PI in California and he has encountered several super-powered people in the Ultraverse. In this comic book review, he gets involved with Prime.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Prime #10, published by Malibu Comics in 1994 with a story written by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones, and illustrated by the late Norm Breyfogle.

Early story

The story begins Prime crashing into a secret facility where Colonel Samuels and his crew have been working in. Prime angrily accuses the colonel for lying to him and pushing him close to killing the people in the nuclear plant and almost getting him killed in a nuclear blast.

Samuels immediately pulls a switch to electrocute Prime (note: through the collar Samuel placed on Kevin Green’s neck) with a massive amount of energy which knocks him out. A short time later, Prime finds himself restrained in front of the colonel, guards and scientists. Samuels reveals to him that the secret society Aladdin has been stepping up efforts to control ultras (super-powered beings) since the incident on the moon (Break-Thru) happened, and they want him out of business.

What Colonel Samuels and staff do not realize is that Firearm is discreetly watching them and listening in the shadows…

Quality

To begin with, I can say that the Strazewski-Jones-Breyfogle team literally turned things upside-down to tell a Prime story while smoothly integrating Firearm into the narrative. This is the first-ever encounter between Prime and Firearm (who at this point of the story met Kevin Green’s father)

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that this tale is heavy with the action which is justified by the presence of Firearm. Prime himself is in a more vulnerable state as Colonel Samuels has clever advantages over him. The result is a story packed with action and has some suspense and intrigue mixed in. The reading experience flowed smoothly and there never was any boring moment in any scene.

Firearm’s presence here opened some opportunities for the creative team to develop Kevin Green’s personality and what they came up with was executed efficiently and with depth. As for Colonel Samuels, his wickedness reached a boiling point in this tale and the creative team came up with something that caught me off-guard. I promise you, what happened to Samuels here is worth discovering and it will compel you to examine or anticipate the consequences of the action he took.

Conclusion

*Somehow, Colonel Samuels and his staff failed to notice Firearm’s presence.*

While the previous issue was a return to form for the regular series, Prime #10 (1994) was a pleasing crossover tale that successfully showcased action, suspense, intrigue and new dimensions of Kevin Green’s personal growth. This first-ever encounter between Prime and Firearm was executed solidly and the reading experience in general was engaging from start to finish. The way I see it, this old Ultraverse comic book will please fans of both Firearm and Prime.

Overall, Prime #10 (1994) is highly recommended.

+++++

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. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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/.

A Look Back at Prime #9 (1994)

December 29, 2025December 23, 2025carlocarrasco

For the newcomers reading this, Prime is one of the definitive, major heroes of the entire Ultraverse along with Hardcase, Mantra and Prototype. Prime is also a major part of the team UltraForce. What makes the muscular and super strong Prime interesting is that his true identity is a teenager named Kevin Green who finds himself struggling between his superhero activities, his social life and his family. Having previously read and reviewed lots of Prime comic books, I can say that I had a lot of fun along the way. There are still some comic books about Prime that I have yet to review.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Prime #9, published by Malibu Comics in 1994 with a story written by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones, and illustrated by the late Norm Breyfogle.

Early story

The story begins with Kevin’s mother helplessly tied to a chair with her mouth covered inside their home. By this time, Kevin (Prime) has been gone for more than a week already and her husband Russ won’t even call the police for help. For her, the people who informed her that Kevin has to be isolated because of some kind of a disease lied.

Suddenly a uniformed man armed with a rifle tells her that she will be in trouble if she makes so much noise. He tells her that Kevin is just outside the house and his team intends to collect him again.

Outside, Kevin just arrived following his unexpected adventure with Mantra (for crossover references, the comic books are Mantra #7 and Prime #8). Not knowing who Mantra really is, he remembers getting kissed by her and has an intention to see her whenever he wants. As soon as he opens the front door of their home, Kevin immediately gets dragged inside and restrained by two armed men. Colonel Samuels is inside…

Quality

*Prime has no choice but to do the dirty work of the abusive Colonel Samuels (who has access to US President Bill Clinton).*

Being set shortly after the events of Break-Thru (read my retro reviews by clicking here, here and here) and Prime’s encounters with Mantra, this tale is clearly a return to form for the Prime monthly series. Symbolically, Colonel Samuels returns as the chief antagonist and he clearly is not done yet with messing with Prime as well as with the Green family while abusing his power. Samuels is clearly evil and having served in the American military for decades, he has access to the government’s information regarding the ultras (which places the Green family in disadvantageous situations) and he has all resources needed to ruin Prime’s life.

Prime here gets involved in a mission being at a serious disadvantage as Colonel Samuels has the power and means to make him do dirty tasks. Samuels even has direct access to US President Bill Clinton (a real-life abuser of women, a leader who empowered Islamic terrorists and a profiteer with his family’s foundation) to do high-risk operations supposedly in service of America.

What is very clear in this story written by Strazewski and Jones is that intrigue (backed by twists) made the narrative powerful and engaging to follow. Even though there is a clear bias supporting the hippies, the political correctness minds, the anti-nuclear zealots and the solar power extremists, the tale is still entertaining to read. More notably, you will see how Prime develops as he tackles a very dangerous situation that involves annihilation in American land. I really like the way the writers showed Prime struggling to analyze what to do as the pressure mounts immensely on him.

Conclusion

*Easily the most dynamic image of the comic book drawn by the late Norm Breyfogle.*

Prime #9 (1994) is another very solid Ultraverse tale made by the Strazewski-Jones-Breyfogle team. It is creative a return to form for the Prime monthly series (because Prime got busy with Break-Thru and spent time with Mantra) and seeing the evil Colonel Samuel raise the stakes added a lot of depth to the story. At this particular stage of the series, Kevin Green’s life is getting out of hand and his parents are already in the middle of a series of very unfortunate events. This old comic book is still fun to read.

Overall, Prime #9 (1994) is recommended.

+++++

Trump’s America Hits Islamic Terrorists In Nigeria

December 27, 2025December 26, 2025carlocarrasco

When US President Donald Trump declared Islamic terrorists in Nigeria a target, his administration backed it up with real action as America struck the evil ones in the African nation in coordination with the government there, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post. Specifically, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) executed Trump’s order.

For the newcomers reading this, Islamic terrorists have been killing Christians there in Nigeria for a long time already. This newest development proves that Trump’s America really means business when it comes to fighting the terrorists.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) launched a strike against Islamic State terrorists in Nigeria, US President Donald Trump announced on social media early on Friday.

AFRICOM stated that the strike in Sokoto was carried out “in coordination with Nigerian authorities” and killed multiple terrorists.

The strike was ordered due to “the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism,” the Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement.

“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” Trump said, adding that he wishes a “MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.“

The Defense Department additionally published declassified footage of at least one projectile launched from a warship.

Following the strike, the Nigerian Foreign Ministry stated that they would continue to work with the US and international partners to “weaken terrorist networks, disrupt their financing and logistics, and prevent cross-border threats.”

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, in a Christmas statement released on Wednesday, affirmed that he is “committed to doing everything within [his] power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect Christians, Muslims, and all Nigerians from violence.”

“No one, regardless of ethnicity or belief, should be made to suffer for professing or practicing his faith,” Tinubu added.

Islamic State terrorists carry out several mass kidnappings, church attacks in Nigeria –Islamic State attacks on Christian Nigerians, including mass kidnappings and attacks on churches, have risen in recent months.

On December 17, an attack on a church in Kogi, Nigeria, resulted in at least 13 worshippers being abducted by gunmen, according to state officials.

On November 21, over 300 schoolchildren were abducted from a Catholic school by terrorists, according to Tinubu’s spokesperson.

As of Monday, all of the children had been released, with 130 of them having been held in captivity for nearly a month.

In early November, Nigeria said it was open to US help in combating the rise of violent Islamic State terrorism.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you glad that the Trump administration struck the many Islamic terrorists in Nigeria quickly and decisively? Do you think this new development will enable the Nigerian government to effectively fight the Islamic terrorists in their country?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Better than Streaming: Do You Have Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray In Your Collection?

December 26, 2025December 22, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!

Similar with Godzilla Minus One, it took more than two years to watch Oppenheimer, and I finally did it on 4K Blu-ray. I recently acquired Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray through Amazon for less than $20.

*Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray set came with 3 discs. The standard Blu-ray disc of the movie is underneath the 4K Blu-ray disc on the left.*

My personal history with Oppenheimer goes like this. In 2023, the movie was released in lots of cinemas all over the Philippines and there was strong pre-release hype for it. Having seen several movies of director Christopher Nolan, I was interested to watch the acclaimed movie in the cinema. However, something in the back of my mind told me not to pursue it on the big screen.

As time passed, I met with a few friends who claimed to have seen the movie. I told them I have not seen Oppenheimer yet, so that prevented them from revealing spoilers. One of them told me that it is crucial to find the right time and the right mindset to watch Oppenheimer as it heavily tackled not only the history behind J. Robert Oppenheimer and his work on the Manhattan Project (the atomic bomb) but also the thick web of politics and intrigue.

So I took my friend’s advice. When my 4K Blu-ray copy of Oppenheimer arrived, I did not watch it immediately. Eventually, I found the right time to view it on a not-so-busy Saturday night. I had the TV room, the movie and my Xbox Series X (our default 4K Blu-ray player) all to myself.

To be clear to you all, this is NOT a review of the movie. What I can say is that Oppenheimer is indeed a very astonishing movie made with great production values, rock solid performances and intense direction by Nolan. Cillian Murphy is great as the physicist Oppenheimer and the supporting players have such performers like Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Jason Clarke (still great as an antagonist), and Kenneth Branagh (excellent as a mentor) who all delivered fine dramatic performances.

Oppenheimer is not an easy movie to watch and enjoy as it requires you to have enough knowledge about the physicist, the Manhattan Project, World War II and the political climate of the time. My friend is absolutely right that you have to see it with the right time and right mindset because the movie is very heavy with historical and political details. Not only that, the film is very talky – lots and lots of dialogue scenes – and you really have to exert effort to pay attention to all the details. As an information overload-type of film, Oppenheimer can be more challenging to watch than Shin Godzilla.

I had a very engaging viewing experience with Oppenheimer, and the native 4K visuals are great to see! Very clearly, Christopher Nolan and his team ensured the best possible 4K imagery for us viewers and movie collectors to enjoy, and like the past Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray releases of his other movies, the screen aspect ratio adjusts between the IMAX-filmed scenes and the non-IMAX shots. Being a modern production, I can say that Oppenheimer’s 4K Blu-ray visual quality is as phenomenal as that of Top Gun: Maverick 4K Blu-ray. I am not exaggerating!

With great visuals and a lot of extra stuff packed in, Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray should be in your list of movies to get on 4K Blu-ray format if you have not acquired it yet. At less than $20 as of this writing, you will get great entertainment value in return.

If you have decided already to order a copy of Oppenheimer 4K Blu-ray, click here. For technical details of the 4K Blu-ray release, click here.

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, cinematic trends, Blu-ray releases and more relevant stuff, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

+++++

A Look Back at X-Men Adventures #12 (1993)

December 24, 2025December 23, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero ans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the X-Men Adventures monthly series – the first series specifically – which was the literary adaptation of the popular X-Men animated series of the 1990s.

If you are familiar with the classic lore of X-Men literature, you will remember Warren Worthington as Angel who is one of the original members of the X-Men introduced in 1963. That same character would eventually get involved with the super villain Apocalypse and gain a deadlier form as Archangel.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures #12, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins inside a facility on Muir Island where genetic experimentation happens and draws mutants who seek a cure for the curse that makes them different. Already four mutants have arrived and were ready to undergo a grand experiment. The doctor in charge of the facility – Gottfried Adler – has already disappeared and in his place is the very powerful mutant Apocalypse.

Apocalypse succeeded in turning four mutants into his Four Horsemen composed of Archangel, War, Famine and Pestilence. For Apocalypse, the age of chaos is at hand.

Meanwhile at Charles Xavier’s School For Gifted Youngsters, the leisure session of Jubilee, Gambit, Jean Grey and Rogue suddenly ends when Storm grabs their attention and shows them TV footage that Professor X wants them to see.

TV news footage shows an important meeting happening in France for the conventional weapons disarmament. Moments later, Apocalypse crashes into the meeting with his Four Horsemen causing harm…

Quality

*Rogue takes on Archangel while Wolverine is busy dealing with Apocalypse.*

This comic book marks the emergence of Apocalypse as a tremendous force of evil following his series debut in issue #10 and short appearance in issue #11. As the main antagonist, Apocalypse – who is obsessed with survival and progress – really comes out in full force against humanity with his Four Horsemen as his deadly enforcers.

The threat of Apocalypse and his Four Horsemen towards humanity is clearly the main feature of this comic book and Macchio’s script has a good structure for the narrative. This makes the story easy to follow while still presenting a lot of details that can be absorbed efficiently. Apocalypse’s presence not only drew the X-Men to spring into action, it also drew Charles Xavier’s own fear that they would face an enemy more dangerous than Magneto.

While the main plot is consistently intense, this comic book also serves as a continuation of Rogue’s personal pursuits since issue #10 which is worth reading. Along the way, Archangel (whose new appearance started at the end of issue #11) notably got enough share of the spotlight and is easily the more captivating member of the Four Horsemen. The way Warren Worthington is portrayed here is clearly different from his literary version and that means you should not expect Professor X to claim him as one of his original X-Men members.

When it comes to the visuals, Andrew Wildman’s artistic style is present but many of the drawings here look rushed. In fairness, Wildman succeeded in making Apocalypse and the Four Horsemen look really threatening to human civilization thanks to his nice execution of visual dynamism in certain pages.

Conclusion

*Professor X reveals his fear of Apocalypse to his team during their meeting.*

X-Men Adventures #12 (1993) is a pretty good read thanks to the strong script by Macchio based on the teleplay from the animated series. It concluded the Muir Island saga in a very satisfying manner which includes putting Rogue’s subplot with solid closure (complete with a moral lesson about accepting her team as her family). By the time I reached the end of the comic book, it was clear that Apocalypse is a major antagonist with the long-term in mind.

Overall, X-Men Adventures #12 (1993) is recommended.

+++++

Philippines Attracted Only 5.235 Million International Tourist Arrivals In January-November 2025 Period

December 23, 2025December 17, 2025carlocarrasco

Even though there already is a foreign tourism boom in Southeast Asia, the Philippines has literally been left behind by its neighbors as it attracted only 5.235 million international tourist arrivals for the period of January to November 2025, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

For the newcomers reading this, the Philippines has been struggling throughout the year when it comes to attracting foreign visitors. In 2024, the Philippines attracted 5,949,350 foreign visitors which is way off the declared target of 7,700,000. A real estate advisory firm pointed to domestic travel as the key for the recovery of the nation’s tourism industry. Read my previous blog post by clicking here.

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

VISITOR ARRIVALS in the Philippines fell by 2.16% in the first 11 months, amid a decline in tourists from South Korea and China, Tourism department data showed.

Data from the Department of Tourism (DoT) showed international tourist arrivals dropped to 5.235 million in the January-to-November period from 5.35 million in the same period in 2024.

Of the tourist arrivals, the bulk or 4.918 million were foreign tourists, while the rest were overseas Filipinos.

South Korea remained the biggest source of tourists in the first 11 months, accounting for 21.66% of the total. While 1.134 million South Koreans visited the Philippines as of November, this was a 21% decline from the 1.436 million Korean tourists a year ago.

The US was the second-biggest source of tourists, at 894,835 or 17.09% of the total as of end-November. This was 6.57% higher than last year’s 839,635 tourist arrivals from the US.

Japan was the third-biggest source of tourists, accounting for 406,794 or 7.77% of the total, 15.36% up from 352,630 a year ago.

Tourist arrivals from Australia increased by 16.17% to 268,892 in the 11-month period. Meanwhile, tourists from China fell by 16.55% to 248,339 as of end-November.

The other top markets were Canada, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Malaysia, which cumulatively accounted for 793,750 of the total arrivals.

“The weaker South Korean won amid a volatile political and economic situation over the past year and slower economic growth in China, which is the world’s second-biggest economy, on top of territorial disputes partly weighed on foreign tourism numbers,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

Mr. Ricafort noted that the government should improve infrastructure to make it more convenient for tourists to travel around the country.

“Challenges include the need to further expand and develop tourism-related infrastructure such as airports, seaports, accommodation facilities, and train systems, including the Metro Manila subway and toll roads,” he added.

Despite the decline in the first 11 months, Mr. Ricafort said that it is still possible for the country to surpass the tourist arrivals last year, which reached 5.949 million.

“It is still possible, considering some seasonal increase in foreign tourists during the Christmas holiday season, especially overseas Filipino workers and balikbayans, to spend the most festive time of the year, while others escape winter,” he said.

“A higher US dollar-peso exchange rate would make it cheaper for foreign tourists to come to the Philippines,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ricafort noted the growth in tourist arrivals from India and other countries, which helped “offset the decline in major traditional sources such as South Korea and China.”

India was the 11th biggest source of tourist arrivals in the January-to-November period, accounting for 85,885 or 1.64% of the total. Tourists from India increased by 17.06% from 73,369 arrivals in the same period in the previous year.

Earlier this year, the Philippines and India signed the Implementation Program on Tourism Cooperation for the years 2025 to 2028.

For his part, Colliers Research Director Joey Roi H. Bondoc said that with only 5.235 million as of end-November, it will be difficult for the country to even surpass last year’s arrivals.

“I think it will be very difficult… We may not be able to beat that or even meet that, but of course we want to end the year stronger,” he said in a phone interview.

“We see a lot of foreign tourists still in December because of the holiday season. Definitely that optimism should spill over to next year,” he added.

As for the drop in arrivals from South Korea, Mr. Bondoc attributed this to the economic downturn and political crisis in the country.

“If you look at some integrated casinos, they were initially targeting Koreans… so they are experiencing the pinch of slower arrivals from South Korea,” he said.

Mr. Bondoc said the Philippines should try to attract tourists from other markets.

For further insight about the tourism industry problem of the Philippines, watch the CNA Insider video below.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you think the Philippines can still beat its 2024 record of international visitor arrivals and generate huge revenues for the economy? Do you think the current administration will be able to improve the nation’s infrastructure and make travel more efficient and convenient for all tourists? Do you think the Philippines is too expensive when it comes to air travel?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 115

December 22, 2025December 16, 2025carlocarrasco

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 videos I found.

#1 Terminator 2 Arcade Game Revisited – As a teenager, I was a huge fan of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. In 1992, the official arcade game of Terminator 2 arrived here in the Philippines and there was this time I played it in a Makati arcade (with one other player on the other gun), spent a lot of money on tokens for it and played the game extensively. As the game was very hard and overly chaotic, us players were unable to finish it. Recently, I saw this analytical, retrospective video about the Terminator 2 arcade game on YouTube by Mass Replay. It was a very engaging video to watch as it examines the game very closely, explains why it is so challenging to play and how much would it cost gamers today to finish it. Watch the video below and pay attention to the details.

#2 Problems With Windows 11 – Are you using Windows 11 on your personal computer? The way the Microsoft operating system is right now with artificial intelligence (AI) integrated, it has attracted a lot of user complaints over its reliability, lack of efficiency, features, forced updates and being not so user-friendly. The complaints and criticism over Windows 11 are only getting louder as of this writing and you can find out exactly why by watching the ColdFusion video below.

#3 Japan’s Ekiben – You might be familiar with the packed meal in Japan called bento. The Ekiben is a specific type of bento which is normally sold at train stations and those who bought it enjoy their meals while traveling. Ekiben comes with different types of food, ingredients and flavors, and it also highlights the local cuisine of the station or region it was sold in. To learn more about it, watch the Nippon TV video below.

#4 Sega’s Best Games On Xbox 360 – Over twenty years have passed since Microsoft first launched the Xbox 360 game console in America which eventually became the most popular gaming console in Xbox gaming history as well as having the best online gaming network of the 7^th console generation. As with the original Xbox console, Sega released several games on Xbox 360 (a mix of remastered games and brand new ones) via retail and through the Xbox network online (AKA Xbox LIVE). Recently Sega Lord X posted a video highlighting the best of what Sega released on the console, and it is fun to watch!

#5 Street Fighter 1994 Movie Revisited – In late 1994, the live-action movie Street Fighter was released in cinemas and there was buzz about it among Street Fighter II groups of fans of the time. Not only did the filmmakers have Jean-Claude Van Damme as its main attraction, they had to make up a functional story and cram a lot of characters into it. The film event had Australia’s icon Kylie Minogue as Cammy. To this day, some moviegoers (including gamers and fans of the Street Fighter franchise) enjoyed Street Fighter while there were others who found it very flawed. If you want to discover Street Fighter (1994) but are not willing to spend precious time and money on it, watch the videos below.

#6 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – When it comes to movies set during the Christmas season, do you enjoy watching comedies? Way back in December of 1989, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – starring Chevy Chase – was released to mixed reviews but managed to achieve commercial success and movie buffs today consider it a classic of the Christmas season. How much of an impact the movie can have on first-timers can be seen in Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video below.

+++++

America Eyes Expansion In The Philippines As Demand For Food Intensifies

December 20, 2025December 19, 2025carlocarrasco

Following its aggressive move to export more fresh fruits to the Philippines, the United States under President Donald Trump will ramp up its agricultural exports to the country in connection with strong Filipino demand for food, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

For the newcomers reading this, not even the softened economic growth of the Philippines dampened the Filipinos’ rising demand for food and the young population is a factor behind it. America sees opportunities to export more meat, seafood and other agricultural products to the Philippines.

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

The United States (US) is gearing up to increase its agricultural exports to the Philippines, banking on the country’s growing food demand and potential economic growth.

In a Dec. 17 report, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the country was the ninth-largest market for US exporters last year, with agricultural goods valued at $3.5 billion.

The foreign agency expects continued growth in the years to come, especially given the country’s fast-growing economy, which ranked third among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries last year.

While it noted that the Philippine economy “continues to face risks from geopolitical tensions and trade policy uncertainties,” the USDA said it will likely remain resilient in the coming year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier lowered its forecast of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth from 5.4 percent to 5.1 percent this year, before rebounding to 5.6 percent in 2026.

The USDA also cited the easing of inflation and income inequality, driven by a growing population, as fueling demand for more agricultural commodities.

“With its rapid population growth, the Philippines has a young population that increasingly demands imported agricultural products,” it said.

According to the USDA, these market dynamics provide opportunities for US agricultural product exporters to broaden their presence in the country.

The report said products that have the “greatest potential for expansion” include dairy, poultry, ethanol (non-beverage), pork, beef, processed potatoes, confectionery and snack foods, and seafood.

Last year, the US was the top single-country supplier to the Philippines, with a market share of 18 percent, behind ASEAN at 31 percent.

The USDA noted that despite this strong performance, US exporters remain at a disadvantage relative to other exporters due to logistical and tariff challenges.

In this case, members of ASEAN benefit from lower tariffs and cheaper shipping costs, whereas the US is subject to slightly higher taxes under the most-favored nation tariff rates.

On top of this, the USDA said exporters also face higher costs due to government policies such as the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC)—a document required before shipment of any agricultural product to the Philippines.

“SPSICs are valid for 20 to 90 days, depending on the commodity. The limited validity period adds costs and complicates the timing of exports, among other factors,” the report read.

In this view, the USDA emphasized the need for exporters to keep up to date with market trends to maintain the competitiveness of American products in the local market.

For instance, it noted that young Filipinos are more open to new flavors and experiences, which suppliers could consider when promoting their products.

For the full report of the US Department of Agriculture related to the news story, click here.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you looking forward to more American agricultural products plus seafood in the local markets? Do you think exporters of America are on the verge of becoming more competitive globally over the next 24 months?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

Trump Announces $1,776 Christmas Bonus For American Troops

December 19, 2025December 18, 2025carlocarrasco

I believe that every nation has to reward its armed forces in return for the extensive services they rendered for the citizens and the government throughout the year. Just today, I learned via a Newsmax news report that US President Donald Trump announced that every active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces will receive a Christmas bonus worth $1,776 – called the Warrior Dividend – and already the checks are on their way to them (1.45 million service members).

Before proceeding with the news and details, let me remind you all that Christmas is all about Lord Jesus, and never about the character called Santa Claus. Lord Jesus is our Savior and the Hope of ALL nations! Wherever you are, celebrate Christmas with your family remembering Lord Jesus and living on with His peace. All the praise, honor and thanks to the Lord!

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

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that every active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces will receive a $1,776 Christmas bonus, unveiling what he called the “Warrior Dividend” during a nationally televised prime-time address from the White House.

Trump said the one-time payment would go to roughly 1.45 million service members and is already being distributed, with checks scheduled to arrive before Christmas. The amount, Trump said, was deliberately chosen to honor America’s founding in 1776. That’s just ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, to be celebrate (throughout) the coming year.

“I am also proud to announce that 1,450,000 military service members will receive a special — we call Warrior Dividend — before Christmas, a Warrior Dividend in honor of our nation’s founding in 1776,” Trump said during the address, which was carried live by Newsmax from the White House Diplomatic Room.

“We are sending every soldier $1,776. The checks are already on the way,” Trump said. “Nobody deserves it more than our military. And I say congratulations to everybody.”

The Warrior Dividend emerged as a highlight of Trump’s year-end prime-time address, which the White House framed as a review of economic gains and fiscal changes achieved during his second term and promised gains in the (coming) years of the president’s second term. The speech focused heavily on revenue growth, job creation, and what Trump described as a reshaping of federal finances.

Trump tied the military bonus directly to increased government revenue generated through tariffs and recent legislation, arguing that stronger trade enforcement and changes in economic policy produced results that exceeded projections.

“We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs, and the bill helped us along,” Trump said.

The president cast the dividend as both a tangible reward and a symbolic gesture, presenting it as recognition of service members’ sacrifices while reinforcing claims of economic revival. Trump said the payment reflects an administration that prioritizes military families and uses economic strength to deliver direct benefits rather than expanding federal debt.

The prime-time address marked Trump’s final nationally televised speech of the year and served as a capstone to a broader messaging effort focused on economic performance. Trump used the speech to highlight tariff revenue, domestic manufacturing investment, and wage growth, arguing that those factors allowed the administration to deliver what he described as meaningful, immediate relief.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you find the Warrior Dividend a nice bonus for the active members of the United States Armed Forces? Are you looking forward to the 250^th Independence Day of the America? What are your current feelings or opinions about the US Armed Forces right now?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

+++++

	Instapundit »… on Venezuela To Turn Over 30 Mill…
	Instapundit »… on Venezuela’s Dictator Maduro Ca…
	Instapundit »… on Japanese Prime Minister Takaic…
	Luke on Japanese Language Proficiency…
	Instapundit »… on Japanese Language Proficiency…

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: