If you are based south of Metro Manila and you intend to visit Pampanga without having to endure the stress of driving through vehicular traffic, then the high-tech train just might be the viable option as the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) promised quick travel in the future, 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…
The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) promises commuters from Buendia in Makati or Alabang, Muntinlupa to reach the Clark International Airport in Pampanga in less than an hour.
In Joseph Morong’s report in 24 Oras on Thursday, the high tech train system stretches from Calamba, Laguna to Clark, Pampanga.
The West Valenzuela-Clark segment of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) will be the first to open and will operate in the first quarter of 2028, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
The report said that the Balagtas Station in Bulacan is 95% complete and expected to be the first one to be completed. Meanwhile, the Clark Station beside Clark International Airport is 80% done.
But the whole project itself is just 40% done, as the DOTr is facing a challenge in the right of way particularly in the Valenzuela to Sucat, Paranaque segment.
“Dadaan po tayo sa Buendia, sa EDSA (It will pass through in Buendia and in EDSA) … and then we will have to relocate 13,000 informal settlers from Manila to Calamba,” said Transportation Undersecretary for Rails Jeremy Regino. Hence, the whole NSCR project is expected to be completed by 2031.
The NSCR system boasts 51 train sets that are similar to ones operating in Japan. The train line also promises 40 minutes of travel from Buendia to Alabang. Further, the DOTr said the fare for NSCR will be affordable.
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, would you consider going all the way to Pampanga by train?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the city of Parañaque, the local police pulled off a successful entrapment operation resulting in the arrest of a man for rape and robbery extortion, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A call center agent was arrested by members of the Southern Police District Special Operations Unit (SPD-SOU) during an entrapment operation in Parañaque City, on Friday, July 19.
Authorities identified the suspect as alias Edward,25, he was arrested at around 1:30 a.m. at Annex 35, Parañaque City after a complaint of rape and robbery extortion was referred by Secretary of Interior and Local Government Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos.
According to the Police report, the victim, a 19-year-old female student met the suspect through an online dating application and after establishing several communications they agreed to meet.
The victim told the police that the suspect allegedly raped her and demanded a large amount of money in exchange for not posting her sensitive photographs on social media.
The SPD said that after receiving the report, they immediately conducted an entrapment operation in collaboration with the victim and her father which led to the arrest of the suspect.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be rapists, robbers and extortionists waiting to victimize members of your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Lufia & The Fortress of Doom for Sega Genesis print ad
Considering the eventual scrapping of the Sega Genesis port of Lufia & The Fortress of Doom, this old print ad might as well serve like a tomb stone.
I want to start with this mostly black print ad about the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) Lufia & The Fortress of Doom coming to the Sega Genesis console. This game was released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America and on the Super Famicom in Japan in 1993 and achieved commercial success for the Japan-based publisher Taito. In an attempt to keep on building up the success, a port of the game for the Sega Genesis (Sega Megadrive in other countries) was announced but ultimately it got canceled. It should be noted that Taito’s American division close down in 1995 and the sequel Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals was released in America by a different publisher. That being said, this particular print ad is a sad reminder of a broken promise for Sega Genesis gamers as well as Lufia and JRPG fans who wanted to play the 1993 RPG on a different console.
2. Cloak & Dagger arcade flyer
The front of the arcade flyer. There is even a mention of the Cloak & Dagger movie.
Details of the game explained with arcade operators in mind. I find it odd that there is a vacant amount of blank space on this side of the flyer.
Cloak & Dagger, the Atari arcade game that appeared in the 1984 movie of the same name (read my retro movie review by clicking here), has always been an arcade conversion kit as this arcade flyer showed. For the newcomers reading this, an arcade conversion kit allows the arcade operator to replace an old game without having to buy a brand-new arcade machine. Very cleverly, Atari targeted arcade machines of Robotron: 2084, Defender, Stargate and Joust (all were from the competitor Williams Electronics) with Cloak & Dagger. The Cloak & Dagger flyer’s front shows a picture of the pieces of hardware (for insertion into the arcade cabinet plus some physical adjustments) plus decorations for the exterior of the arcade cabinet. The other side of the flyer contains the technical details that make it convenient for arcade operators to understand on how to convert the older games (limited to the above-mentioned Williams games).
3. NBA Live 95 for Sega Genesis print ad
This print ad is still exciting to look at, especially when you are still passionate with basketball.
Back in late 1994, Electronic Arts (EA) revamped their NBA-licensed basketball game franchise with NBA Live 95 which came with a major game redesign that includes the isometric on-court perspective, T-meter for free throw shooting and more. NBA Live 95 was also the first entry of the NBA Live franchise and brand which lasted for decades. This print ad of the Sega Genesis version of NBA Live 95 has the clever display of several screenshots along with pics of the shot clock emphasizing suspense. The basketball action images themselves are not only eye-catching but strong enough to get gamers excited. This is still a solid print ad to look at.
4. X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse print ad
An X-Men game by Capcom.
If there is anything significant about X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse, it is the fact that it was Capcom’s first-ever X-Men-based production that was also released a month before their own hit arcade game X-Men: Children of the Atom came out. Setting aside Capcom’s involvement, this game contains notable elements from the comic books that strongly resonated with dedicated X-Men fans. Apart from the two screenshots and the game box cover, this print ad has X-Men artwork by Andy Kubert who already was the regular artist of the X-Men monthly series.
5. Space Ace multi-platform print ad
Anyone who is a fan of Don Bluth’s works in animation should be able to recognize the art style of this ad.
First released in the mid-1980s, Space Ace was a LaserDisc video game that was designed and produced by the legendary animator Don Bluth (An American Tail, The Land Before Time, Anastasia). After achieving success in the arcades, new versions of Space Ace were subsequently released on many other platforms, including the consoles and computers that used disc drives in the mid-1990s which this print ad emphasized. By looking at the lower part of the print ad, you will see Sega CD, 3DO, Macintosh and PC as targeted platforms. The most notable visual feature of the ad was, unsurprisingly, official art of Space Ace.
6. BurgerTime arcade flyer
The front of this flyer could make you crave for burgers.
The technical and creative details on the rear of the flyer.
Bally/Midway came up with this arcade flyer of BurgerTime which itself went on to become a beloved classic game. The front showed a very enticing looking hamburger that looked like it could fill a person’s belly and tingle his or her taste buds. Then they showed the hand-drawn in-game characters looking like they really are interacting with the hamburger. The back of the flyer shows details that emphasize what the game is about, why it could be a fun arcade addition and what the specs are. This is an engaging arcade flyer.
7. NCAA Final Four Basketball print ad
Do you know anyone who played this college basketball video game?
If there is anything notable about video gaming in the 1990s that is missing today, that would be the presence of multiple basketball video games released by different game publishers. Along the way, there were some college basketball video games such as NCAA Final Four Basketball developed by Bitmasters and published by Mindscape. This print ad had enough screenshots to show what the game looked like and how it played. The ad also mentioned that the game had 64 real NCAA teams and logos as well. This 1994 video game did not have a strong reception from game critics although it received a very high rating by GamePro magazine. NCAA Final Four Basketball has long been forgotten.
8. Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures print ad
An eye-catching print ad from a more memorable time when the Indiana Jones franchise was still under the full control of George Lucas and his enterprise.
Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures was an ambitious 2D side-scrolling adventure game that also served as an adaptation of the first three Indiana Jones movies (1981-1989) of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Like the Super Star Wars trilogy of games that preceded, this one was a challenging and lengthy game filled with lots of action. This print ad only showed Indy’s whip and hat but the screenshots, the text description and the game box cover (which has a young Harrison Ford as the iconic Jones) were more than enough to convince viewers that this was an Indiana Jones game.
Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-HTRAD) arrested a woman for attempting to sell an infant online, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The National Bureau of Investigation-Human Trafficking Division (NBI-HTRAD) has arrested a woman in Muntinlupa City caught selling a baby online for P25,000.
NBI Director Jaime Santiago said on Thursday that the NBI has received information from the Department of Justice – Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking – NBI CyberTip Center (DOJ-IACAT-NBI Cybertip) regarding a certain Christina Paule who was allegedly engaged in selling babies on Facebook.
The 51-year-old midwife allegedly tried to sell the days-old infant for P25,000 on the social media (platform)
An entrapment and rescue operation by government operatives, with support from non-government organization Exodus Road Philippines, resulted in the arrest of Paule.
She was charged with violation of Child Trafficking under Republic Act 7610, as amended (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act), in relation to RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012), and violation of RA 9208, as amended (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 1998).
The rescued baby was turned over to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region.
National Authority for Child Care (NACC) Undersecretary Janella Ejercito Estrada lauded the government operation.
“This arrest is a crucial step in our relentless fight against child trafficking, and illegal adoption. The NACC is to chair the newly-created DOJ-IACAT-Technical Working Group on Anti-Illegal Adoption,” she said.
“We commend the NBI and all involved agencies for their swift and decisive action. The NACC remains committed to protecting the welfare of children and ensuring that those who exploit them are brought to justice. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities,” she added.
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 there could still be other people out there engaging in child trafficking and selling infants online?
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, Vice Mayor April Aguilar and some local officials took time out to visit evacuation sites which served as temporary places of relief for locals whose lives were disrupted by Typhoon Carina, the City Government revealed through social media.
While the typhoon has since left the country, many people who suffered from flooding, strong winds and excessive rain are still struggling to regain normalcy in their lives.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s social media post. Some parts in boldface…
City Vice Mayor April Aguilar, along with Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) head Alejandro Dela Merced, conducted visits to flood evacuation sites on Wednesday, July 24 in Barangays Manuyo Dos, Pulanglupa Dos, and Elias Aldana, following severe flooding caused by Typhoon Carina and the intensified southwest monsoon.
Vice Mayor Aguilar assessed the conditions and immediate needs of the elderly and families at the evacuation centers, ensuring they received necessary assistance. The city government has prioritized the safety and well-being of its residents, deploying resources promptly to address the impacts of the flooding.
The local government’s efforts include providing shelter, food, and medical assistance to those affected by the floods.
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 lots of people in your local community who got impacted by flooding, excessive rain and strong winds caused by Typhoon Carina?
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 arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1985 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.
For this particular review, we will explore the first chapter of The Assassin Nation Plot storyline that took place within the Amazing Spider-Man series.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #320, published in 1989 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Todd McFarlane.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins inside Empire State University where Peter Parker – working as an assistant in the science lab – takes advantage of the free time and resources to create web fluid using a new formula. He notices that the acetylene torch does not even leave a smudge on the new web he made.
To his surprise, his boss doctor Evan Sloan catches him doing an interesting experiment. Parker comes up with a convincing excuse for the experiment which spares him from getting into trouble. After promising doctor Sloan he will get on the neutron project first thing in the morning of Thursday, Parker leaves, secretly changes into Spider-Man and equipped his brand new web. He then leaves the university and moves deep into the city…
Quality
Peter Parker and Mary Jane having a discussion.
I really like the story David Micheline came up with as the start of The Assassin Nation Plot storyline. This is clearly not your typical good-versus-evil superhero tale starring the webslinger. Instead, there are layers of secrecy, suspense and intrigue that involves a powerful private organization, private armies and diplomats.
Instead of facing off with super villains, Spider-Man finds himself in the middle of something very big brewing behind the scenes, and that puts him in deep danger. That being said, Michelinie’s approach on building up the details of the plot moved very smoothly and the payoff for each buildup was executed on a timely manner. The buildup of details was never boring nor too slow to absorb, and Todd McFarlane excelled with visualizing the plot while still delivering dynamic superhero action.
I should mention that the character Paladin has a strong presence in the story and there were moments when he outweighed Spider-Man in terms of importance.
Conclusion
Spider-Man and Paladin targeted by armed guards.
Amazing Spider-Man #320 (1989) is indeed a very solid story to read and a powerful start of The Assassin Nation Plot storyline. With the way the core concept was presented, this comic book symbolically showed that there are high stakes and other matters that are clearly too overwhelming for Spider-Man to deal with. The story is nicely paced and the creative team knew when and how to execute worthy payoffs for each buildup. By the time I reached the end of the comic book, I became convinced to read the next chapter of this storyline.
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, more than two hundred pregnant women attended the “Buntis Congress” in Barangay Almanza Uno which is part of the local efforts to promote maternal and child health, according to the City Government’s social media post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s social media post. Some parts in boldface…
The City Health Office, led by OIC Dr. Juliana Gonzalez, successfully conducted the “Buntis Congress” on Thursday, July 11, at the Almanza Uno Covered Court. The event saw the participation of more than 200 pregnant women who were eager to learn about various health and wellness topics critical for their journey to motherhood.
The event featured several educational lectures, including sessions on safe motherhood, responsible parenthood and family planning, health for mother and child through good diet and supplementation, and maintaining oral health during pregnancy and for the child. These sessions aimed to equip the attendees with valuable (knowledge) to ensure the well-being of both mother and child.
In addition to the informative lectures, the event also included a raffle and numerous giveaways, generously sponsored by Mayor Imelda Aguilar and Vice Mayor April Aguilar, further emphasizing the city’s commitment to supporting its residents’ health and welfare.
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 there should be more “Buntis Congress” or similar activities for the benefit of pregnant women in other parts of the city?
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
Calling all the multisport enthusiasts, the triathletes, swimmers and other active lifestyle enthusiasts! The National Age Group Aquathlon 2024 event is all set to happen on September 29 at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite. Registration for the event is ongoing and you can get yourself registered by clicking here (note: RaceYa account and log-in required).
Race distances are as follows:
STK-Aqua:
6 yrs. old & under 50m swim – 100m run
7- 8 yrs. old 100m swim – 200m run
9-10 yrs. old 200m swim – 400m run
11-12 yrs. old 300m swim – 1.5k run
Youth Category: 300m swim – 2.5k run
Elite Category: 500m swim – 2.5k run
Age Group: 500m swim – 2.5k run
Race categories are as follows:
Elite Level
Elite Men and Women: 18 years old and over
Jr. Elite Men and Women: 16-19 years old
Youth
Youth Men and Women :13-15 years old
Age Group
Age Group Men: 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & Above
Age Group Women: 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50 & Above
STK-Aqua
6 yrs. old & under, 7-8 yrs. old, 9-10 yrs. old, and 11-12 yrs. old
Team Competition
Top 3 teams in the Age Group category. Each team must have a minimum of 5 members. Cumulative time of the first 5 members to cross will be considered the total team time. Team Names will be submitted upon registration. Minimum of 1 female in each team.
Organized by Triathlon Philippines and sponsored by Philippine Sports Commission, Asian Center for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade-the official hydration partner, LeGarde L-Carnitine, Standard Insurance and Fitbar, the National Age Group Aquathlon 2024 offers the perfect platform for athletes to push their limits and experience the thrill of multisport racing.
Media partners for this event are Radyo Pilipinas 2 and PTV Sports. Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub is the official venue partner.
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, Mayor Imelda Aguilar met with the he members of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) and confirmed her full support for the development projects of the barangays, 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…
Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar vowed her full support for the projects of the barangays in the city that will lead to more development and livelihood for city residents.
In a talk with the members of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) held on Tuesday, July 16, at the Office of the Mayor, Aguilar said the ABC, led by Mori Riguerra, discussed the progress of various projects that are being implemented in each barangay in the city.
The mayor highlighted the city’s administration’s dedication to the continued development and improvement of Las Piñas.
Vice-Mayor April Aguilar also expressed her full support to the ABC and assured its members that the needs and initiatives of the barangays will be given priority in the city’s agenda.
The mayor said the meeting highlighted the collaborative efforts between city officials and barangay leaders for the welfare of the community.
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? Are you looking forward to the mayor’s support for the development projects in your barangay?
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 Muntinlupa, the City Government formally started the distribution of free school supplies for the benefit of roughly one hundred thousand public school students, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The school supplies include bags, notebooks, crayon sets, pencils, pens, and paper to name some.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Muntinlupa City government started the distribution of free school supplies to public school students on July 23 to support education and ease the financial burden of families.
Around 98,000 public school students in Muntinlupa will each receive a Balik Eskwela Package from the city government.
Each package consists of a school bag, notebooks, a set of crayons, pencils or pens, pad paper, and “MUNwalk” sneakers for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. The sneakers will be given to the students in August.
For daycare students, the package includes a school bag, notebooks, jumbo pencils, pad paper, a box of crayons, and a water tumbler.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon visited public schools to lead the distribution of the free school supplies. .
“This distribution is more than just providing school supplies; it’s about showing our students and their families that we are here to support their educational journey every step of the way. We believe that every child deserves the tools they need to succeed, and we are committed to making that a reality,” said Biazon during the distribution at Tunasan National High School..
Parent Mylene Gratil, whose children were among the first batch to receive their free Balik Eskwela packages, expressed gratitude to the program:
“Malaking tulong po ang Balik Eskwela package para sa aking tatlong anak. Lahat po sila makatatanggap ng school supplies at sapatos (The Balik Eskwela package is a big help for my three children. They will all receive school supplies and shoes),” she said.
Biazon emphasized that education is a priority of his administration under the 7K Agenda. Besides the free school supplies, the city provides assistance through scholarships, with more than 80,000 students regularly receiving financial and educational aid.
“Lagi nating paalala sa kabataan, ‘wag sayangin ang pagkakataong ito. Sa Muntinlupa, prayoridad ang edukasyon. Naniniwala tayo na ang magandang edukasyon ay susi sa kinabukasan (We should always remind the youth not to waste this chance. In Muntinlupa, education is a priority. We believe that good education is key to the future),” 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 approve of the City Government’s distribution of free school supplies for the public school students?
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 