blogging – Page 119 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 10

June 3, 2024May 16, 2024carlocarrasco

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 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. Double Dragon II: The Revenge print ad

*Nice looking art used to promote the game.*

The beat-them-up sub-genre of gaming was already popular in the 1980s and one of the most defining game franchises of this type of game was the Double Dragon series which proved to be popular with Nintendo Entertainment System (NES in America) and Family Computer (Famicom in Japan) gamers. As the first game was a very big hit on Nintendo’s consoles, the sequel Double Dragon II: The Revenge was promoted in America with strong confidence on the part of publisher Acclaim that it would become another massive hit. This print ad had a very nice looking comic books-style art that not only captured the concept of the game but also visualized the heroes Billy and Jimmy with enough details to focus on. I can say this was an eye-catching ad.

2. X-Men: Children of the Atom print ad

*Great looking ad but the line “100% direct conversion” is not true at all.*

Developed by Capcom in cooperation with Marvel, X-Men: Children of the Atom was a huge hit in the video arcades and it was not surprising that it got released on the Sega Saturn by Acclaim. Acclaim organized an aggressive promotional campaign by pouncing on the fans’ love and knowledge of the X-Men and the high fun factor of Capcom’s game. What this print ad got wrong, however, was the line “100% direct conversion of the #1 arcade smash!” which was wrong and misleading. In reality, the Sega Saturn version of the game had about one-third of the animation frames cut due to the console’s smaller RAM capacity.

As the years passed by, the Sega Saturn became the more suitable console for home ports of Capcom’s further 2D fighting games as Sony’s PlayStation had even more severe limitations and a graphics processor that was not suitable for 2D graphics. By the end of 2000, Capcom’s 2D fighting games on PlayStation all were inferior to the Sega Saturn versions.

3. Sky Shark NES print ad

Released in Japan as Flying Shark, Sky Shark was released on multiple platforms in 1988 and there was an NES version of it which this particular print ad promoted. The American branch of Taito wisely used positive quotes from media outlets to promote the game while coming up with an engaging text description and displayed NES screenshots. And then there was that very engaging painted cover art that gave this print ad a lot of punch. An effective ad overall.

4. Conflict print ad

*This is a very captivating artwork for advertising.*

There is no denying the fact that the Cold War was a strong influence on arcade games and video games. Titles like Contra, Jackal, Metal Gear, Operation Wolf, Cabal and Rush’n Attack were militaristic games that entertained millions of gamers from the young adults to the little children. In 1990, Vic Tokai released the game Conflict on the NES which had a military theme but an unusual game design composed of digital maps with hexagons in which gamers will play with strategy to win battles. That being said, this print ad’s visual concept was very captivating yet also misleading. If you see how the game is played, you will know what I mean.

5. College Slam print ad

*Were you ever interested in college basketball video games?*

This is one of the more eye-catching print ads I’ve seen due to the artist’s illustration of a basketball with a mouth biting the basketball rim which dominates the space. For the newcomers reading this, College Slam was a basketball video game that was actually a repacked version of the popular NBA Jam with focus on NCAA basketball players. With the biting basketball at the center, it was easily an attraction and the screenshots implemented were larger than usual which easily gave gamers a clear look at what the game looked like. While this print ad is eye-catching, it did not help sell College Slam and there never was a follow-up.

6. Tecmo Super Baseball print ad

*From the time when Tecmo was prolific with video games about sports.*

Long before it started the Dead or Alive game franchise, Tecmo was once heavily invested in making sports video games. Tecmo Super Baseball was their first American pro baseball video game released for Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and Sega Genesis, and it was notable that the publisher secured only the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) which resulted in the game featuring real-life players but the teams had no names and no logos. Regardless, this print ad showed how aggressive Tecmo was in trying to attract consumers’ attention by showing ten screenshots with short text descriptions each. The ad’s write-up boasted realism as well as the promise of gaming quality.

7. The Punisher print ad

In the early 1990s, Capcom and Marvel Comics started their partnership resulting in the releasing of the arcade game The Punisher. Developed by Capcom, the said arcade game became a big hit with gamers as it featured fun gameplay, multiple enemies appearing on screen simultaneously and other fun elements. Unsurprisingly, the game was ported (note: Sculptured Software was the lead developer) to the Sega Genesis with significant downgrades in terms of graphics, sound, enemy variety and other related elements due to technical limitations. That being said, this print ad used detailed art of the Punisher (with Col. Fury in the background) in a clever way to promote the Sega Genesis version while keeping their attention away from the obvious visual downgrades of the two screenshots displayed. The Punisher on Genesis was poorly received.

8. Stargate print ad

*If you did not enjoy the movie, were you able to play the video game adaptation on Sega Genesis or Super NES?*

Remember the sci-fi movie Stargate (1994)? The film was a surprise box office hit and eventually video game adaptations of it were made for the SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Gear and the GameBoy. This particular print ad, however, showed screenshots of the SNES and Genesis versions which is made obvious with the side-scrolling adventure plus 3D flying sequence (one screenshot showed it). Combined with images sourced from the movie poster plus an insert of the movie in home video format (lower-right corner), this print ad was obviously an aggressive way to promote the film with the post-theatrical business in mind. In case you are wondering, the cinematic Stargate is not related at all with the early 1980s video game (a follow-up to the classic game Defender) of the same name.

9. Aerobiz Supersonic print ad

*For a simulation game released on consoles, Aerobiz Supersonic is pretty deep and a lot of fun to play.*

The airline simulation game Aerobiz Supersonic is a highly addictive and surprisingly fun game that I enjoyed playing on the SNES (read my retro review by clicking here) and strangely enough I first learned about not through its print ad but by reading a preview published by Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) magazine. As for this print ad made by Koei’s American team, this is really odd to look at due to the ad makers’ choice of showing a not-so-attractive flight meal. In contrast to that, the ad makers did a good job describing the game creatively and showed three screenshots that were strategically selected in my view. Having played the game many times, I can say that this print ad is very truthful.

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

Housing companies in Japan seek more workers from the Philippines and other nations

June 3, 2024May 25, 2024carlocarrasco

Housing companies located in Japan are looking towards the Philippines and other countries as sources of workers that can be hired for their services in connection with the surging local demand, according to a Nikkei Asia news report.

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

Companies in Japan that offer housekeeping services such as cleaning, laundry and ironing are increasingly turning to the Philippines and other places overseas as they rush to meet surging demand from time-strapped customers.

With working from home fading in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of dual-income households rising, more people in the country are willing to pay for help handling chores.

Pushing to keep pace with this growing appetite for their services, housekeeping firms are accelerating their recruitment abroad — especially as relaxed immigration rules for the sector boost the appeal of hiring beyond Japan’s borders.

Indeed, Tokyo-based housekeeping service provider Bears plans to hire an extra 150 foreign workers in 2024 to bolster the 300 it already employs, with each person offered 400 hours of training.

The overseas recruitment drive comes as crushing labor shortages threaten a range of industries in Asia’s No. 3 economy and one of the world’s fastest-aging societies.

“Let’s make sure we clean windows and mirrors evenly by wiping in one direction,” an instructor said to 33-year-old Mundacruz Lizyldeci, who came to Japan from the Philippines this year, during a training session in a living room-like space at Bear’s head office. Listening to the instructions in early May with a serious look on her face, Lizyldeci said, “I will provide the high-quality services demanded by Japanese consumers.“

Bears says it plans to hire work-ready foreign housekeepers such as those licensed by the Philippine government.

Filipino workers hired through Bears’ subsidiary in the Philippines are given Japanese language and other lessons for two months before coming to Japan. They go through a two-week training program in Japan, which includes checks on their housekeeping skills. They are paid and assessed on the same basis as Japanese workers, with help available in Tagalog.

Housekeeping services by foreign nationals without permanent residence status began in areas designated as special economic zones in 2017. The government in 2020 extended the time such people are permitted to stay in the country to five years from three, while offering an additional three-year extension in 2023 for those who meet certain conditions.

In Japan, dual-income households began to outnumber those with stay-at-home housewives in 1992. The amount of two-paycheck families had increased to nearly 13 million by 2023, a roughly 40% rise over three decades, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Japan’s market for housekeeping services had grown to a value of 80.7 billion yen ($516 million) by fiscal 2021, more than doubling from five years earlier, according to the latest survey by Teikoku Databank. But in the research company’s 2023 consumer survey, only 1.8% of some 2,200 respondents in their 20s to 40s said they used housekeeping services. “I know of such services but have never used them” was the reply chosen by nearly 76%.

Nevertheless, potential demand for housekeeping services appears strong as roughly half of households in the survey considered home chores a burden. To convert potential demand into actual demand, fair prices for the services, as well as their quality and safety, need to be ensured.

Another driver for the rising demand is a shift from from the days of the COVID pandemic, when many people worked online from home. More employers are now telling their staff to come into the office.

A 35-year-old woman who has a job at a major financial institution in Tokyo often worked from home during the pandemic. But after restarting commuting to the office, she began using major housekeeping service provider CaSy’s so-called matching service from last November.

“I use ironing and laundry services once every two weeks,” she said. “I didn’t have much time to spare due to lots of overtime work. I can now go out on weekends.“

CaSy has some 170,000 registered customers and 15,000 housekeepers. The matching service introduces housekeepers to customers depending on the chores they need handling. But given frequent mismatches between customers and housekeepers over dates and places of work, CaSy created a program in February to complement orders, when necessary, with other housekeeping service providers. It has so far tied up with 15 companies for the program and hopes to increase the number to 100 in three years.

Before the registration of housekeepers, CaSy screens applicants’ records, including for any criminal convictions, through identity verification company Trustdock. While providing a sense of reassurance to customers, CaSy has set clear criteria for housekeepers about when and how to exit from customers’ homes to protect housekeepers from possible harassment by clients. “We must settle security-related problems while nurturing professional housekeepers,” said Yuki Shirasaka, a CaSy director.

The financial burden on customers is a major barrier to an increase in the use of housekeeping services. In France and Germany where over 10% of people use such services, financial support such as tax breaks are available to customers. Japan’s government will begin an experiment, possibly later in May, to provide subsidies to cover some costs when small and mid-size companies offer home services as a benefit for their employees.

Minimaid Service, which started housekeeping services for wealthy households back in 1983, is expanding its customer base by holding fees in check. A swift, inexpensive service introduced by Minimaid has helped stoke a threefold increase in the number of times its services have been used over the past five years. The company plans to increase its employee numbers by around 50% in two to three years.

Housekeeping services are roughly divided into three business models: the employment of housekeepers as staff, which prioritizes the quality of services through education; matching between customers and housekeepers commissioned by service providers; and websites for matching between customers and housekeepers on a person-to-person basis. Fees vary greatly.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you know anyone in your local community who is willing to work in Japan as housekeeping worker? Do you think the hiring of many Filipino workers by Japanese housekeeping companies will be economically beneficial for their families and the national economy in the long run?

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

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Muntinlupa City Government to give free school supplies and sneakers to almost 100,000 students

June 2, 2024June 2, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced that free school supplies and sneakers will be given to around 100,000 students (from daycare to Grade 12) in accordance to the ongoing local program, 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…

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon announced that public school students from daycare to Grade 12 will receive free school supplies and sneakers under the Balik Eskwela Package program in time for the opening of classes in July.

The free school supplies and shoes will benefit 98,000 students in Early Childhood Education (ECED), Kindergarten, Grades 1 to 6, and junior and senior high school in Muntinlupa.

“We are committed to supporting our students and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed. By providing these high-quality sneakers and school supplies, we aim to ease the financial burden on families and boost student morale,” said Biazon.

For ECED students, they will receive a backpack, two notebooks, crayons, tumbler, two pencils and pad paper.

For Kindergarten, each will get a backpack, jumbo crayons, pencil sharpener, two jumbo pencils, pad paper, eight notebooks and a pair of MunWalk rubber shoes.

Students in Grades 1 to 6 will each receive a backpack, eight notebooks, three ballpens, pad paper, crayons and a pair of MunWalk rubber shoes.

Those in Grades 7 to 12 will get a backpack, spiral notebooks (eight in junior high school and 10 in senior high school), a pair of MunWalk rubber shoes and three ballpens.

Last school year, the Muntinlupa city government provided students with black leather shoes and school supplies.

Biazon explained that the switch to sneakers this year was made because many students still have usable leather shoes from last year and parents requested rubber shoes that may be used for physical education classes.

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 find the new batch of free supplies for students sensible and useful?

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

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Have you been playing Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes?

May 31, 2024May 31, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers! It has been over a month since Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was launched on multiple platforms worldwide and like many other gamers who are currently subscribed to Xbox Game Pass (XGP), I downloaded it and played it a lot although there were a some technical setbacks that happened along the way.

For the newcomers reading this, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a brand new and stylized turn-based Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) developed by Rabbit & Bear studio which was led by the late Yoshitaka Murayama and involved the talents of notable creators who collectively worked on Konami’s Suikoden RPG series.

*In-game world exploration is done with a 3D polygonal environment and your character is a 2D sprite.*

*A battle against a very large monster.*

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a fantasy role-playing game that has a lot in common with the first two Suikoden RPGs in terms of fantasy concepts, gameplay, game design, mini-games, and the recruiting of many characters. Having finished Suikoden and Suikoden II on the PlayStation myself, I can clearly say that this new JRPG is technically a Suikoden game without the name.

As of this writing, I played Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes for over 80 hours on my Xbox Series X console. While I am at the point of moving the story forward leading the army (led by the playable protagonist Nowa) in the struggle against the empire led by Dux Aldric (who reminds me a lot of Suikoden II’s Luca Blight), I have decided to focus first on side quests, resource collecting, the mini-games and recruiting more characters. This RPG was designed to allow players to have sufficient freedom to take on side activities on the side and explore the world for recruits and resources.

*The cooking contest functions very much look those in Suikoden II.*

*Somehow General Elektra reminds me of Valeria in the first two Suikoden games.*

While this is not a game review, I can say that I am enjoying Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes with the way it was designed, how the story was written (lots of intrigue related to the in-game geopolitics which are balanced with fantasy quests), how the characters were presented and the assorted variety of gameplay content. It has been almost three years since this game (along with Rising) was first announced for Xbox Game Pass (click here and here) and considering the fun I had already, I can say the wait was worth it. The mini-games are, for the most part, fun to do and you can watch the short video clips from my progress in the game.

There were some technical setbacks along the way. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes did not run properly on my Xbox Series X resulting in the game crashing and even sudden console shutdowns. I got these console readings of “overheating” and “insufficient ventilation” with the game and these incidents happened only with it. As such, I had to open my Xbox, cleaned up the interior and removed as much dust as I could. Since then, the game developers patched the game but still it pushed my Xbox so hard, game crashing and sudden shutdowns still occurred from time to time. I also noticed there are certain locations within the game that resulted in the sudden acceleration of the Xbox Series X internal fan. Very clearly Rabbit & Bear’s technical support team still has a lot of work to do to meet customer satisfaction.

*Each time you successfully recruit a new character, you will see this quick and flashy visual presentation.*

Along the way, I observed that other games such as Resident Evil 4 remake, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, and the most recent release Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II respectively pushed my Xbox Series X to perform hard (with the internal fan run fast) but there were no game crashes and no sudden shutdowns at all. Only Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes resulted in “overheating” and “insufficient ventilation” readings and disruptions.

Considering the hassles, I managed to get the fun and discoveries with Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on my Xbox. Here is hoping that the game developer will soon release another patch for Xbox Series X to make the game run well while consuming less power somehow. Given the fantastic presentation of the game, technical disruptions on Xbox Series X should not have happened at all.

*There is so much to explore and discover in this game!*

So what are you waiting for? If you are already a subscriber to Xbox Game Pass, you can download Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or the aging Xbox One. If you have extra money and want to support Rabbit & Bear studio, buying the digital copy of the game is the recommended option. For more information about the Suikoden-inspired JRPG, visit https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/eiyuden-chronicle

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Man wanted for murder arrested in Parañaque City

May 31, 2024May 22, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, police officers arrested a man who has been wanted for the crime of murder, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Parañaque City police arrested the Southern Police District’s (SPD’s) top most wanted person for the crime of murder last May 17.

The SPD said the suspect, alias Love Singh, 24, listed in the police gallery as top most wanted person for the month of May was nabbed at around 9:30 p.m. in Barangay Sun Valley, Parañaque City.

Singh was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by Judge Ma. Christina De Pio Lim of Parañaque City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 296 on March 20, 2024, with no bail recommended.

Let me end this piece 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 more people who committed murder still walking freely in the city?

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

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Controversial Bamban POGO linked with scam hub in Parañaque City?

May 31, 2024May 30, 2024carlocarrasco

Local authorities are investigating if the scam hub in Parañaque City is connected with the controversial raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac, according to a GMA Network news report. Take note that Senator Sherwin Gatchalian already called for a probe as he received complaints from residents of a particular Parañaque village.

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

Authorities are looking into the possibility that the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Bamban, Tarlac is connected to a recent human trafficking and online scamming bust in a village in Parañaque City.

According to a “24 Oras” report by Mav Gonzales on Wednesday, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) believes the 10 Chinese and the Filipino bodyguard arrested in the police operations may have escaped from the recently raided Bamban POGO hub.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who had called for a probe into the incident following complaints filed by the residents of the village, agreed with Pagcor.

“Itong mga sindikato umiikot lang sila (These syndicates just switch around),” he said.

The raid was launched on May 2 following complaints from homeowners, who said that the structures violated their 3-story regulations. They also said this was not the first raid connected to POGO inside their village.

“When we saw Bamban, the structures were so similar…the process of applying for stickers, IDs, and also constructions. Some are using already local identification, passports, birth certificates, driver’s license, postal ID [and] all these things. They can’t even speak Tagalog,” said a homeowner.

Below is the related GMA news video as well as a UNTV news video for you to watch. Multinational Village was specifically mentioned as the location of the recent raid.

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 a lot more Chinese nationals committing illegal activities while doing business in the city? Is your village filled with Chinese nationals and new business establishments that were set up to cater to them? How many foreigners and local residents in your village are working in a POGO? Do you think the scam hub in Parañaque is linked with the controversial Bamban POGO as PAGCOR believes?

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

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Young Jiu-jitsu gold medalist welcomed by Las Piñas City Mayor Aguilar

May 30, 2024May 20, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Mayor Imelda Aguilar welcomed the very young jiu-jitsu champion Jeon Bradley Cruz at City Hall, which the City Government confirmed via social media. For the newcomers reading this, the 6-year-old Cruz won the gold medal of the Kindergarten Rooster division of the ASEAN International Jiu Jitsu Open Championship 2024.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s social media post. Some parts in boldface…

City Mayor Imelda Aguilar warmly welcomed six-year-old Jeon Bradley Dela Cruz during a courtesy visit at the City Hall on Thursday, May 16th. Jeon recently competed in the ASEAN International Jiu Jitsu Open Championship 2024, where he won the gold medal in the Kindergarten Rooster division.

*Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar with the young champion and family at City Hall. (photo source – Las Piñas PIO)*

In addition to his recent victory, Jeon also participated in the Marianas Pro Manila Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship 2024, where he secured another gold medal in the same division. His achievements in these prestigious competitions highlight his talent and dedication to the sport.

Mayor Aguilar congratulated Jeon on his accomplishments, expressing pride in his representation of Las Piñas on an international level. She noted that Jeon’s success at such a young age is commendable and brings great honor to the city and emphasized the importance of hard work and dedication, which Jeon has clearly demonstrated through his achievements.

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 very delighted to learn about what Jeon Bradley Dela Cruz achieved for both the city and the nation?

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

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More than P700 million deposited through BSP’s coin machines

May 30, 2024May 21, 2024carlocarrasco

Over P700 million worth of coins have been deposited through the many coin deposit machines (CoDMs) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as of May 15, 2024, as published on their website.

Based on the latest statistics, a total of P707,661,554.41 (over 9% higher than last the previous count of P648,904,160.19) in coins got deposited into BSP machines on 174,656 transactions (about 8% higher than the previous count 161,725 transactions) from customers. In terms of physical quantity, 193,901,254 in coins were deposited. The previous count of deposited coins was 179,641,987.

Doing the math on the latest statistics, customers averaged P4,051.74 per transaction (versus the previous month’s P4,012.39 per transaction) at the machines. As for the grand total Peso amount divided by the number of coins deposited, the average is P3.6496 per coin deposited (versus the previous average of P3.6122 per coin deposited).

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you able to deposit your excess coins into a BSP coin deposit machine in your locality recently? Did the BSP coin deposit machine in your locality break down often?

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

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A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984)

May 29, 2024July 3, 2024carlocarrasco

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 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

By now, you readers should be aware that I reviewed a lot of comic books about Spider-Man and his deadliest enemy Venom. It is already established through comic book history that the iconic webslinger is responsible for the establishment of Venom as he brought into the world the alien costume (the symbiote) coming from deep space (as told in the Secret Wars limited series), and he also became responsible for the destruction of Eddie Brock’s career in journalism. Of course, Venom did not debut immediately after Spider-Man’s return from Secret Wars and there was a lot more about the symbiote when it was with Peter Parker.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #252, published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Roger Stern and Tom DeFalco, and drawn by Ron Frenz. This comic book marked the first appearance of the alien costume.

Early story

The story begins inside the New York headquarters of the Daily Bugle. It has been observed that several superheroes such as Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men and the Avengers have been missing this resulted in a rise of crime. Publisher J. Jonah Jameson and editor-in-chief Joe Robertson discuss the newest edition of their newspaper.

Meanwhile over at Central Park where police officers and others stand by an area that was closed off, a physical structure suddenly appears spreading bright light to onlookers. Suddenly Spider-Man (wearing a new dominant black costume) leaps out of the structure carrying Dr. Connor (the Lizard) surprising the people.

After realizing they have returned home at last after spending lots of time and struggle in deep space (Secret Wars), Spider-Man could not help but feel jubilant to be home. As the police officers don’t realize that they are talking with the same webslinger due to the new costume, one of them was about to draw his gun which prompted the superhero to use his web on him.

Suddenly, the Avengers, Captain America, Thor and Iron Man emerge from the physical structure which provided Spider-Man relief as he thought that only he and Dr. Connors made it home. With the people focusing on the other superheroes, Spider-Man and Dr. Connors slowly exited. Connors asked him what are they going to tell the world about all they have seen and experienced in deep space…

Quality

*Spider-Man’s first night in New York wearing the alien costume .*

I really like this story. I first read this a long time ago and I re-read it all over again for this retro review, and still this story engaged me a lot. There is a lot of richness in the script and you will get to see Peter Parker transitioning into a series of major changes that await him. Without spoiling the plot, there is no hero-versus-villain element here at all. It is all about Spider-Man who just arrived home from a major conflict (and also one of the most significant comic events ever published by Marvel Comics) and the alien costume saga truly began right here. The Venom debut did not happen until a few years later in reality.

In accordance to what was established in Secret Wars (not to be confused with the 2015 series of the same name) and the standards of then editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, the creative came up with a tale that not only showed a different Spider-Man but also portrayed him in ways that defied the tropes and creative ideas the preceded this comic book.

For one thing, Peter Parker is literally like a fish out of water here. As far as the whole world is concerned, only days passed when the superheroes went to deep space. But for the webslinger, a lot more time passed as so many battles, discoveries and intriguing events took place for him along with the others. That being said, Peter Parker’s perception of reality and track of time really got messed up and the weight of Secret War’s events really turned out overwhelming on him. This was well dramatized in the scene wherein Peter – who realized that so much time had passed – he had to call his aunt May fearing that she must be worried sick over him. There was also the moment when by walking down the street, he realized how much he missed not only his home but also the local surroundings.

It was also in this comic book when Peter started getting more oriented with the alien costume he first got in Secret Wars #8 (which was actually published after this comic book) and started to enjoy the benefits with the way it responds to his thinking. Of course, at this stage, he has yet to realize the unfortunate truth about the living costume he brought home and this story really kicked off a new and profound stage in the comic book history of Spider-Man

Conclusion

*When Spider-Man finally arrived home after spending so much time during Secret Wars.*

Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984) is still a great comic book to read all over again. This was released during the time when Secret Wars (1984) was still being published and years before Venom’s big debut in the series’ 300^th issue. In my view, the alien costume saga was a big turning point in the literary history of Spider-Man and the creators who got involved in this comic book really sowed the seeds of compelling and intriguing events that followed. What is intriguing is that all of these significant developments started when a Marvel Comics reader from Illinois came up with the idea of a new costume for Spider-Man, wrote to them and the publisher responded to acquire his idea for over $200 (click here).

This comic book is also a reminder of how significant Jim Shooter’s rule at Marvel Comics really was and I can say that the Marvel’s literary universe of the 1980s should not be ignored.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #252 (1984) is highly recommended!

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Suspect arrested in Las Piñas City for allegedly killing three people

May 29, 2024May 19, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, police officers arrested a man whom they suspect to be responsible for the killing of three people (including the suspect’s live-in partner) whose bodies were discovered in a residence, 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…

The suspect in killing of an employee and two students in Las Piñas were arrested during a follow-up operation conducted by the police on Saturday, May 18.

Las Piñas police Chief, Col. Sandro Tafalla, said the suspect identified as Vicente Karagy, 36, mechanic and was arrested at around 10:15 p.m. along Aurora Drive Extension, Vergon Ville, Pulanglupa Dos, Las Piñas.

Tafalla said the victims were identified as Mary Jean Avellna, 27, live-in partner of the suspect, Natalie Jane Cabintot, 19, and Oliver Bula, 11, both students.

The lifeless bodies of the victims were discovered after Princess Kanagy reported to the barangay, a foul odor originating from the room of the victims located at Charles St., Saint Joseph Subdivision, Barangay Pulanglupa Dos, Las Piñas.

Authorities immediately responded to the scene and discovered the bodies on the floor and the place in total disarray.

According to the family of the victims, they were last seen alive on May 15.

Police suspect jealousy as the motive of the killing as Mary Jean was allegedly having an affair according to Karagy.

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 suspect was indeed responsible for the deaths of the three victims?

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

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