Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, it was announced that reforms at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa (OsMun) will be implemented by the City Government, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The said hospital is located in Filinvest City.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon said the city government will implement reforms at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa (OsMun) in Alabang.
Biazon held a dialogue with doctors of the hospital about concerns.
The supervision of OsMun was returned to the Muntinlupa City government based on an ordinance passed last year. In 2019, the OsMun was designated as a Local Economic Enterprise (LEE) aimed at generating its own revenue.
“Ngunit sa ilang taon ng operations, lumalabas na hindi niya kaya makamit ang nasabing revenue na nagdulot ng kakulangan sa naihahatid na serbisyo (But after several years of operations, it turned out that it was unable to achieve the said revenue, which caused a shortage in the service delivered),” Biazon posted on Facebook.
During the meeting, Biazon explained to the OsMun doctors the changes that will be implemented and listened to their complaints and suggestions.
He said the return of OsMun under the city government was meant to give the hospital the capability to provide the right service.
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 feel confident that reforms at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa will result in improvements?
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 at Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested a Chinese national who was found using a fraudulently acquired working visa, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…
Bureau of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) arrested a Chinese man for using a fraudulently acquired working visa.
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said 23-year-old Li Xuanjun was intercepted at the immigration departure area of NAIA Terminal 1 in Parañaque City on Jan. 22 before he could board a Philippine Airlines flight for Quanzhou, China. Viado said Li’s name prompted a hit in the bureau’s automated derogatory check system.
The hit indicated that the passenger was wanted by the BI for possessing a working visa which he acquired through fraud and misrepresentation.
Verification made by the BI supervisors confirmed that Li and the person who is the subject of the derogatory hit are one and the same.
“We will be deporting him for being an undesirable alien which stemmed from his acquisition of a visa through dishonest means,” Viado said. “His inclusion in our blacklist effectively banned him from re-entering the Philippines.”
The passenger was turned over to the Order Control and Intelligence Unit which brought him to the warden facility in Taguig City as he undergoes deportation proceedings.
Records showed that Li’s working visa was canceled by the BI in 2023 after an investigation revealed that he acquired his visa upon the petition of a fictitious employer company.
A check with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Trade and Industry reportedly found that the purported firm is non-existent.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there are still a lot of Chinese nationals here in the Philippines using visas that were fraudulently acquired? How many Chinese nationals are living in your local community right now? Are you ready to report the presence of illegal aliens to the local authorities?
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
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1987 and explore a notable chapter of the post-Crisis DC Comics universe through the iconic Superman.
To put things in perspective, DC Comics rebooted its entire shared universe in 1986 after the conclusion of Crisis on Infinite Earths. They published the 6-part The Man of Steel mini-series to reboot the iconic Superman and modernize him with the creative leadership of John Byrne. By the time the mini-series ended, the new background stories, the supporting characters and creative foundation of the post-Crisis Superman were established. That being said, a brand new Superman monthly series led by Byrne was inevitable.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #1, published in 1987 by DC Comics with a story written and drawn by John Byrne.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Superman smashing his way through into a secretive, high-tech facility. Noticing so much technology, he begins to wonder why would anyone abandon such a facility. As he slowly makes his way inside, he finds several images of him displayed confirming that someone has been devoting a great deal of time and effort to research him. This makes him concerned that someone in his old home town of Smallville could recognize a picture of Superman as their fellow resident Clark Kent.
As he keeps searching, he finds the body of a dead scientist whose neck was broken. He also notices the corpse’s fingerprints are the same as those found on the truck outside of the facility. The truck itself was involved in the theft of his Kryptonian rocket. After finding more nasty evidence, Superman digs deep down underneath the facility then lifts a huge part of the ground with the said structure on top. He lifts up everything and brought them all into space free from the reach of people below.
Superman then flies off to Metropolis to change into Clark Kent to meet with Lois Lane at the city park…
Quality
I like the way John Byrne told parallel narratives with Superman in the present on the left, and flashbacks of Metallo on the right.
To begin with, this tale written by John Byrne is another inspire piece of work published at a time when the post-Crisis shared universe of DC Comics was still new and expanding. Byrne really defined Superman’s place in the shared universe by modernizing it with the 1980s in mind and he came up with a story introducing the post-Crisis version of Metallo while coming up with a sub-plot of a mad scientist who was not only obsessed with Superman but also was involved with the said super villain.
The plot is clearly well-structured which starts with Superman doing believable detective work of his own which led to the discovery of the mad scientist whose intense research pose a danger to the Man of Steel. Having dual identities and social responsibilities to live up to, Superman also takes the time to adjust to his normal life as Clark Kent at a time when he has to socialize with his Daily Planet colleague Lois Lane. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that you will see the iconic superhero ranging from being mighty to becoming vulnerable, weakened and suffering tremendous pain. How Byrne handled the transition of Superman is excellent.
The sub-plot of the mad scientist obsessing over discoveries about Superman is short and yet highly significant. For one thing, Superman himself has been very careful on keeping his dual identities secret and yet someone managed to secretly photograph him and come up with a lot of information – including the destroyed world of Krypton and the Kryptonian legacy of the hero – that could expose his deepest secrets and ruin his life entirely. The mad scientist’s obsession has strong sci-fi elements related to UFOs and aliens from deep space.
For the Man of Steel, this is too dangerous and also too personal to be left behind untouched. This aspect of the story makes this old tale more relevant in today’s world of drones with cameras, CCTV systems, hacking and the potential of users (or artificial intelligence) who could collect information on people without their consent.
The post-Crisis Metallo looks inspired by the Terminator and appears in human form. He goes by the name John Corben who previously got fatally injured in a car crash and subsequently was taken by the mad scientist (who transplanted the man’s brain into a robotic body). It should be noted that the said scientist also has an obsession about Kryptonians which led to his plan to send a chosen warrior to go against Superman supposedly to prevent Earth from getting conquered. How Metallo and his physical fight with the Man of Steel is a must-read.
Conclusion
Imagine yourself discovering a secret room filled with information and pieces of evidence and visual references about you. This should resonate with people whose privacy got violated. Also try imagining people inside the offices of tech giants with collected information and images about you.
Superman #1 (1987) is still a great read. It has a complex approach on portraying the battle between good and evil without losing focus on the storytelling and the expansion of Superman’s post-Crisis lore. Its sub-plot of the mad scientist and his obsession on Superman will resonate with people who feel vulnerable over the loss of their private information in today’s world of social media, abusive technology giants and artificial intelligence-driven surveillance systems. There is also a lot of superhero action for readers to enjoy, and the spectacle is never silly nor outlandish to look at. Oh yes, seeing Superman in a vulnerable state and getting actually hurt is believable to see.
Overall, Superman #1 (1987) is highly recommended!
The next edition of the long-running Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) – also referred to as the 2025 NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup – will be held at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone on May 3 and 4, 2025, and already online registration is ongoing. This special event is a project of Triathlon Philippines, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Funtastic Subic presented by NTT and Asia Triathlon
The 2-day event supported by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Milo, Standard Insurance, LeGarde, Gatorade, Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc. and Fitbar will have the Standard Elite, U15 and Super Tri-Kids races on May 3 (Saturday). On May 4 (Sunday), the races for Sprint Jr. Elite, Sprint Para, Sprint Age Group and Standard Age Group will happen.
Race distances are as follows: Standard Distance 1.5 Km swim – 40 Km bike – 10 Km run, Sprint Distance 750 M swim – 20 Km bike – 5 Km run, and U15 Distance 500 M swim – 10 Km bike – 2 Km run.
Race distance for Super Tri-Kids are as follows: 6 and under 50 M swim – 1 Km bike – 400 M run, 7-8 100 M swim – 2 Km bike – 800 M run, 9-10 200 M swim – 6 Km bike – 1 Km run, and 11-12 400 M swim – 8 Km bike – 2 Km run.
Registration fees are as follows: Standard Distance Php 6,500 + online reg fees, Sprint Distance Php 6,000 + online reg fees, U15 Distance Php 5,000 + online reg fees, and Super TriKids Php 4,000 + online reg fees.
Effective April 1, 2025, the registration fees will be as follows: Standard Distance Php 7,500 + online reg fees, Sprint Distance Php 7,000 + online reg fees, U15 Distance Php 6,000 + online reg fees and Super TriKids Php 5,000 + online reg fees.
To register for the SUBIT/2025 NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup or see more event details, click https://register.raceya.fit/event/subit2025 (note: RaceYa account required for registration)
In light of the recent apprehension of Chinese nationals who were suspected to be working as spies, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) urged the public to report foreign nationals engaged in illegal espionage here in the Philippines, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday, Feb. 2, urged the public to report foreigners engaged in illegal espionage and other suspicious activities.
“We are serious in our efforts to stop these undesirable aliens from abusing our hospitality,” declared BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado in a statement.
Viado aired his plea following the arrest of six suspected Chinese spies who were caught during a series of operations conducted recently by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The alleged spies were earlier identified by as Deng Yuangqing, Cai Shaohuang, Cheng Hai Tao, Wu Cheng Ting, Wang Yong Yi, and Wu Chin Ren.
They have been charged with the non-bailable offense of violations of Commonwealth Act No. 616, the Espionage Act, in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Viado disclosed the BI has been investigating the arrested suspected spies and found that they have been embedded in the Philippines for years.
“Some have been here as early as 2002,” he said.
“They have been holding legal statuses, and have lived in the country for a long time before they were found to be doing suspicious activities by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),” he also said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be a lot of spies from Communist China living here in the Philippines doing secretive espionage work? Do you think the government should announce financial rewards for information that would lead to arrest of foreigners who committed illegal espionage in the country?
Very recently, Malacañang Palace issued Proclamation Number 792 formally declaring the date of February 13, 2025 a non-working day in Parañaque City marking its 27th cityhood anniversary, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The proclamation was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin by the authority of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Malacañang has declared Feb. 13 a non-working holiday in Parañaque City in celebration of the city’s 27th Cityhood Anniversary.
Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez said the declaration was made through Proclamation No. (792) to give city residents the opportunity to participate in and enjoy the celebration.
Olivarez said the city government prepared various activities, including medical services, from Jan. 27 to Feb. 15.
He said the cityhood anniversary kicked off with the presentation of candidates for the much-awaited search for “Gandang Mamita and Gwapitong Papito” on Monday, Jan. 27. The search for the “Ginoo and Binibining Parañaque” will be held on Feb. 4.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Parañaque City, what is your reaction to this recent development? How interested are you to participate or witness the scheduled activities related to the 27th anniversary of Parañaque’s cityhood? Do you think the 27th cityhood anniversary will help you forget about the rampant crime in Parañaque that involved foreigners?
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
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, almost six hundred residents of Barangay Talon Dos got served with health services by the Health and Wellness Caravan, the City Government announced via social media. Vice Mayor April Aguilar was present during the actvitiy.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media announcement. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas Health and Wellness Caravan, led by the City Health Office, brought essential healthcare services to Talon Dos residents on Tuesday, January 21, at the Bambusetum Covered Court. Nearly 600 beneficiaries availed of the free services, showcasing the city’s dedication to ensuring accessible healthcare for its citizens.
The program offered free medical consultations, blood sugar and cholesterol screenings, chest X-rays, ECG tests, dental services, and pneumonia vaccinations for senior citizens. Additional support included free medicines, PhilHealth registration, Green Card program assistance, and mobile birth registration.
City Vice Mayor April Aguilar graced the event, accompanied by City Councilors Mark Anthony Santos and Henry Medina. City Health Office head Dr. Juliana Gonzalez was also present to ensure the smooth execution of the services, addressing the needs of the residents throughout the day.
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 the Health and Wellness Caravan of the City Government will be able to cover all barangays before the May 2025 election campaign period begins?
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
For the lead economist of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), the economy of the Philippines will accelerate this year in connection to rising household consumption as well as other factors, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…
Growth of the Philippine economy is expected to accelerate this year, driven by the continued expansion of household consumption, an economist from the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) said.
“We expect the Philippine economy to expand by 6.3% in 2025, outpacing the previous year’s performance, with household consumption remaining its biggest driver,” BPI lead economist Jun Neri said in a commentary released late Wednesday.
Neri earlier forecast a 6.1 percent economic growth for 2024.
Neri said factors sustaining household consumption growth such as remittance inflows, remained in place despite the economic slowdown in major economies.
“With aging populations abroad driving the demand for labor, the impact of headwinds on remittances like trade barriers and anti-immigration sentiment will likely be limited. Remittances also have a strong track record of stability and growth even in times of crisis, as seen during the pandemic,” he said.
Neri said the country’s low unemployment rate is also expected to support consumption.
“This should continue to drive the growth of household income and the expansion of the middle class,” he said.
Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the unemployment rate further went down to 3.2 percent in November last year from 3.6 percent in November 2023.
Consumer spending, meanwhile, is expected to grow at a faster pace this year as inflation remains at a manageable level.
“This improvement will likely be most apparent in discretionary spending after a period of slower growth caused by high inflation, as consumers focused more on essentials,” said Neri.
Inflation will likely settle at 3.5 percent this year, well within the government’s 2 to 4 percent target, Neri said.
Meanwhile, he said the recent reduction in interest rates and banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR), will also help boost economic growth.
To recall, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reduced policy rates for a total of 75 basis points this year.
The BSP also reduced the RRR of universal and commercial banks and non-bank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions by 250 basis points.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you think the economy of the Philippines will be able to grow by at least 6.3% this year?
Recently in Parañaque City, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) supported by representatives of theDigital Forensic Laboratory (DFL) arrested eight Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in online phishing, but one other suspect remains at large, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Pieces of evidence were found at the site of the crime.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Eight Chinese nationals allegedly engaged in online phishing operations were arrested in Parañaque City, the National Bureau of Investigation announced on Wednesday.
In a news release, the NBI identified the arrested suspects as Xiao Li, Chuan Zi Gao, Ming Ru Li, Wen Shu Liu, Qui Shun Li, Cai Li Pan, Changfu Liu, and Zhang Zhen. A ninth suspect, Hwang Xiaobin, remains at large.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said the suspects were engaged in investment fraud, crypto asset/currency scam, romance scam and identity theft through the use of social engineering and digital communication schemes.
Following surveillance on Jan. 14, a warrant to search, seize, and examine computer data (WSSECD) was granted by RTC Paranaque City against the group.
On Jan. 17, NBI operatives, together with representatives from the Digital Forensic Laboratory (DFL) implemented the WSSECD.
DFL representatives conducted an onsite examination on a laptop and a desktop found on the site and discovered transcript template of phishing and/or social engineering schemers used in obtaining sensitive information of another person.
Financial transactions of crypto currency scams were also found during the examination, the NBI said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, have you grown tired about your city being such a hot spot of illegal operations, scams and crime involving foreign nationals? What do you think made Parañaque a favorite destination for the remnants of POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) and scammers involving foreigners?
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, over two hundred fifty victims of fire and flood received aid provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which partnered with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), according to the social media announcement of the City Government.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media announcement. Some parts in boldface…
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR), in partnership with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Las Piñas, distributed Livelihood Settlement Grants to fire and flood victims at the Las Piñas Multipurpose Hall, benefiting a total of 253 individuals affected by recent calamities.
Among the beneficiaries were 86 fire victims from Barangays Elias Aldana, Pilar, Talon Tres, and CAA, and 167 flood victims from Barangays Pamplona Tres, Talon Tres, and Elias Aldana. Each qualified beneficiary received financial assistance ranging from ₱10,000 to ₱15,000, depending on the validation results of DSWD-NCR.
The grant aimed to support individuals with small-scale businesses or livelihoods disrupted by the said disasters. The payout process, handled by CSWDO and DSWD-NCR personnel, ensured that aid was provided efficiently and directly to qualified recipients.
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? Were there any fire or flooding victims in your local community who received DSWD aid?
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
Author Carlo Carrasco 