blogging – Page 144 – Author Carlo Carrasco

The New Year 2024

January 1, 2024December 31, 2023carlocarrasco

Happy New Year to everyone!

2024 is finally here. Whether you look back to the year that passed or look forward in the new year, never let anything nor anyone separate you from the Lord and His Word (the Holy Bible).

In my experience, 2023 was a very blessed year. The Lord blessed me when I visited Israel on a pilgrimage tour with my local church New Life Alabang. Together, we visited several significant sites in the Holy Land such as the Pool of Siloam, the Dead Sea, the Yardenit baptismal site, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Caesarea Philippi, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and its region, and, of course, Jerusalem. Following God’s Word, I arrived in Israel to love and bless the Jewish people for the rest of my natural life. My support for Israel is uncompromising!

For those of you who enjoyed my Israel 2023 tour feature articles, I will be posting some more this year. As it was a blessing from the Lord, the Israel 2023 pilgrimage tour I joined was truly a blessing from Him and along the way I witnessed the Holy Bible come to life right there at the holy sites we visited. What was written in Matthew 6:33 is absolutely true!

*This image of the sun rising in the distance was from my early morning visit at the Dead Sea beach (Ein Bokek) during the Israel 2023 pilgrimage tour I joined. I took this picture.*

*This was me touching the pillar inside the Upper Room during the Israel 2023 pilgrimage tour. I’ll soon be posting new articles of Israel 2023 sites I visited.*

I am also thankful to the Lord for other blessings in the past year such as the establishment of a new business entity (my first-ever registered), the successful selling of comic books from my collection (click here to see more), the very anointed New Life Conference 2023 I attended, and the continuing reach of my official website and blog at www.CarloCarrasco.com

Speaking of my website, I am thankful to our Lord and also happy to share with you what was achieved in 2023. Over 136,000 hits (page views) worldwide were achieve in the past year with over 97,000 visitors worldwide recorded. The top f nations of hits and visitors are the Philippines, Cambodia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. The 2023 numbers pushed my website’s lifetime hits to over 940,000 worldwide and I hope the figure will reach the 1,000,000 hits mark this year.

When it comes to newer developments online, I am thankful for the first-ever online donations the came in related to my website and I wish to thank all the donors for trusting my online publishing. Those who wish to donate can do so at https://carlocarrasco.com/donate/. Your donations will be very helpful in keeping my website and blog going.

January 4, 2024 will mark the 5^th anniversary of my website. Looking back to the day it all started – January 4, 2019 was a Friday – I am very happy with what was achieved with www.CarloCarrasco.com through the years. The blogging of local community developments, magnified news articles or reports, special features, Christian teachings, Christian music appreciation, entertainment pieces and other forms of content helped me achieve good connections (and the trust) of varied communities, organizations, businesses, local churches and many other people. My thanks to the Lord God for these growing achievements and connections, and I am also grateful to you readers, the local government units, the homeowners’ associations, local churches, the local news media outlets and other private entities your trust in my website and blog.

For 2024 and the future, I urge all of you readers to never lose faith in the Lord and keep living on with unwavering faith in Lord Jesus who is truly the hope of all nations! Keep moving forward with faith in Him and the Word of God. May the following scriptures below help you all…

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 8:12 (NKJV)

For God is one, and there is one Mediator between God and the sons of men—the true man, Jesus, the Anointed One.

1 Timothy 2:5 (TPT)

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 (NLT)

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.

John 3:16 (AMPC)

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (AMPC)

Therefore, the honor that belongs to the Father he will now share with his Son. So if you refuse to honor the Son, you are refusing to honor the Father who sent him.

John 5:23 (TPT)

Always trust, honor and praise the Lord God as His love for the us the faithful children is endless and He made plans for each and every one of us which clearly means He will not abandon us. God’s mercy is real and His promises never fail. Learn from the scripture below…

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV)

Always remember to maintain unwavering faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus to move on with the year 2024. Reject the evil ways of the world, push the idols out of the way, and reject religion, political correctness, wokeness, atheism and secularism so that you can clear your path of faith in the Lord and make room for Him in your heart. In addition, I request you all to pray for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and ultimately push back against the forces of evil. Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

Once again, Happy New Year!

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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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 12

December 29, 2023April 17, 2024carlocarrasco

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 The 6-minute explanatory gameplay trailer of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the upcoming Japanese role-playing game (Japanese RPG) set for a global release on April 23, 2024, was in the spotlight recently as publisher 505 Games released a 6-minute trailer that showcases and explain to gamers what to expect in terms of game play and features. What long-time gamers enjoyed so much about Suikoden and Suikoden II can find them also in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Watch the whole trailer below…

#2 Lord Jesus lived as a Jewish man and NEVER was a Palestinian – There is so much chaos in this world and you can see that through the Palestinians (a displaced people whose leaders have long engaged in terrorism and hatred against Israel and the Jewish people) and their brainwashed supporters (the pro-Palestine freaks). In many parts of the world, a lot of pro-Palestinian believers (activists who are often rowdy, arrogant, violent and ignorant at the same time) kept shouting the big lie that Lord Jesus was a Palestinian (an overblown fantasy that spreads wickedness and deception). To push back against the lies of the pawns of the enemy (Satan), watch Israeli YouTuber Oren explain in detail the truth that Lord Jesus truly lived as a Jewish man, was born into an existing Jewish society and had Jewish people as His believers/followers (the early Christians).

#3 2023 Batman Returns reaction videos and more – For some time now, I’ve been watching varied movie reaction videos from YouTubers Ashleigh Burton, TBR Schmitt, Jen Murray and EOM Reacts. What I found very surprising was the fact that each of them published reaction videos of the 1992 superhero movie Batman Returns this year, and three of those videos were just weeks apart from each other. I posted those Batman Returns reaction videos below and I added two more related videos that should orient you about the movie.

#4 Get to know the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Israel – This past February, I visited Israel on a pilgrimage tour. It was indeed the greatest overseas travel experience in my entire life as it was blessed and anointed by the Lord who answered my prayers to visit Israel to deepen my faith in Him. I also visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem which is one of the most significant places to visit in the entire world. That being said, I posted below the Christian Broadcast Network’s Temple Mount special video and my personal video of my first-ever moments at the holy site.

#5 Pro-Palestine believer exposed as a LIAR! – The people who support the wicked causes of the Palestinians are clearly ignorant, misled, pretentious and dishonest. A lot of pro-Palestine people have posted videos on varied networks to spread lies and misinformation regarding history, and some of them are very young people (Generation Z) who clearly do NOT know all the details, who were fed lies by their Islamo-Leftists superiors and they are clearly not intelligent. The Palestinians are truly a displaced people and they were NEVER the indigenous people of the land of Israel! Watch the video below and enjoy.

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Departing Indonesian arrested at airport, gets charged for overstaying, working without a permit and cyber crime

December 29, 2023December 26, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), an Indonesian man who previously worked for a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Las Piñas City was intercepted and arrested by law enforcement agents before he could leave the country, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The suspect has been charged for overstaying in the country, for working without a permit and for cyber crime.

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

An Indonesian national who worked for a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility that was raided by law enforcement agents mid this year was apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last Dec. 21 before he could board his flight to Singapore.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) identified the arrested foreigner as Angga Pratama, 24, who used to work with Xinchuang Network Technology, Inc. (XNT) in Las Pinas City.

Angga has been charged with overstaying in the Philippines and working without a permit. He was also charged with cybercime while employed at XNT, BI said.

XNT was raided by agents of the Philippine National Police (PNP) last June 27 for alleged human trafficking and cybercrime.

The PNP rescued from the facility around 2,700 persons including Filipinos and foreigners who were believed (to) be human trafficking victims.

Following the raid, the PNP filed before the DOJ charges against five foreigners who were involved in the operations of the illegal POGO, namely, Li Jiacheng, Xiao Liu, Yan Jiayong, Duan Haozhuan and LP Hongkun.

“The BI remains vigilant in its efforts to safeguard our borders against individuals involved in illegal activities,” Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement issued on Sunday, Dec. 24.

“We are committed to ensuring the security and integrity of our nation’s borders,” he said.

During inspection at the NAIA, Angga’s name was found included in a derogatory hitlist of the BI.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that there are still lots of foreigners who committed crime here in the Philippines who are trying to leave without getting caught? Do you think POGOs are hot spots of cyber crime and other illegal activities?

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

Use of firecrackers and open mufflers in Muntinlupa City prohibited

December 28, 2023December 25, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, the City Government advised the public that using firecrackers and open mufflers within the city remains prohibited, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Muntinlupa City government warned the public that the use of firecrackers or any pyrotechnic devices, and open mufflers or pipes that emit loud noise is prohibited especially this Christmas season.

“Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang paggamit at pagbebenta ng paputok o anumang uri ng pyrotechnic device sa Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, alinsunod sa City Ordinance No. 14-092. Ito ay maaaring maging sanhi ng aksidente (The use and sale of firecrackers or any kind of pyrotechnic device is strictly prohibited in the City of Muntinlupa, in accordance with City Ordinance No. 14-092. This can cause accidents),” the city government posted.

Ordinance No. 14–092, passed by the Muntinlupa City Council in 2014, prohibits “the manufacture, display, sale, distribution, possession or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices and such other similar devices and the exploding of firecrackers or other similar explosives within the territorial jurisdiction of Muntinlupa City.”

Violators face fines and imprisonment. For the first offense, the penalties are a fine of P1,000 or imprisonment of not more than one month but not less than two days, or both depending on the discretion of the court.

For the second offense, violators will be fined P3,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months but not less than three months, or both, at the discretion of the court.

For the third offense, violators can face a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months but not less than three months, or both.

“lf the violation is committed by a business establishment, the President or General Manager or the Person acting in behalf of either the President or General Manager shall be held liable in the case of a corporation or partnership, or the owner or proprietor or the person acting in his behalf shall be held responsible in the case of a single proprietorship,” according to Section 5 of the ordinance.

Open mufflers/pipes – The Muntinlupa City government also warned that the use of open mufflers or pipes, sound boosters or any modifications in motorcycles or other vehicles that emit noise is banned based on Ordinance 04-022 or the Muntinlupa City Traffic Code.

Section 9 of the traffic code prohibits the use of gadgets on vehicles that “emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds.”

“No private person shall use or cause to be used sirens, bells, horns. whistles or similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including dome lights and emergency red flashing lights installed in either front or rear, and emergency red light blinkers and other similar signaling or flashing devices that actually impede and confuse traffic and which are inconsistent with sound traffic discipline and control on the roads,” according to the section of the ordinance.

Section 85 of the ordinance also states that “no person shall operate a motor vehicle on a street unless such motor vehicle is equipped, at all times, with a muffler or mufflers in constant operation and of sufficient capacity for the motor, and equipped with an exhaust system to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke and unusual noise.”

Violators can face fines from P2,500 to P7,500.

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 that firecrackers and open mufflers must remain prohibited? Do you consider both air pollution and noise pollution as the two most serious disturbances during the Christmas season as well as New Year’s celebration?

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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Top triathletes to join 2024 National Age Group Triathlon Subic Bay Freeport race

December 28, 2023December 26, 2023carlocarrasco

With the 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay race scheduled to happen on January 27 and 28, 2024, the top-seeded triathletes of the nation will be joining in, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) sports news article.

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

The country’s cream of the crop will see action in the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) on Jan. 27 and 28, 2024 at Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo.

The competition features Super Sprint Distance (500m swim-10km bike-2.5km run), Sprint Distance (750km swim-20km bike-5km run), Standard Distance Individual and Team Relay (1.5km swim-40km bike-10km run) and Super Trikids events.

The categories are Super Trikids (6 and under, 7-8, 9-10, 11-2); Super Sprint (13-15 boys and girls); Sprint (Elite Men and Women, Jr. Elite Men and Women 16-19 years and Age Group Men and Women 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50 and above); and Standard (Men and Women 18-24, 25-29, 3034, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50 and above).

Registration deadline is on Dec. 31.

The tournament, organized by Triathlon Philippines headed by Ramon Marchan, will serve as qualifying race for the 2025 Thailand Southeast Asian Games.

The (NAGT) is also part of the triathlon association’s trials and talent identification for the Philippine team.

Last year’s sprint elite champions were Filipino-Spanish Fernando Jose Casares (men) and Cebu City’s Raven Faith Alcoseba (women), while the winners in the Junior Elite divisions were Benguet’s Dayshaun Ramos and Cebuana Kira Ellis.

The 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay event is a joint project of Triathlon Philippines, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and FUNtastic Subic Bay. The supporters of the event are the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Asian Centre for Insulation Philippines, Inc., Standard Insurance and Gatorade. Those who intend to join have a few days left to get registered online by clicking https://register.raceya.fit/event/nagt-2024

For future events and key updates from Triathlon Philippines visit https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil.

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Gameplay trailer of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a must-see!

December 27, 2023December 25, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back, fellow gamers, geeks, Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) enthusiasts and fantasy lovers! As many of you are already aware, the much-awaited JRPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is set for release on April 23, 2024 on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and the Xbox Game Pass (XGP) subscription service.

Having enjoyed the 1990s JRPGs Suikoden and Suikoden II, I really am eager to play Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on my Xbox Series X as that new game’s developers include Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama and other talents who also worked on the Suikoden series. Having played so many Japanese RPGs for decades, I can clearly say that there is no JRPG that has the fun and clever mix of gameplay and features of the early Suikoden games Murayama worked on and we can experience the creator’s RPG magic in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes.

Recently, game publisher 505 Games published a new 6-minute gameplay trailer of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes designed to orient gamers what they can expect in terms of characters, story, gameplay and other features. Watch the gameplay trailer below…

As you can see in the above trailer, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has a lot in common with Suikoden and Suikoden II in terms of gameplay, art style and variety. There will be group battles, large-scale army battles, fantasy world exploration, mini-games, headquarters expansion, character recruitment (which build up your army and affect the expansion of your headquarters) and more. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is looking very much like a Suikoden game but just without the name (and without Konami).

*This one strongly reminds me of the cooking contest in Suikoden II.*

*A high-stakes meeting about to take place within the game.*

*Some of the many characters you can recruit throughout Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes.*

If Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes can achieve tremendous commercial success, it just might spark a revival of the heavy use of pixel art in role-playing games (RPGs) and influence the way other game developers implement mini-games and features (common with the early Suikoden RPGs) into their RPGs.

Watch out for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows PC plus Xbox Game Pass on April 23, 2024. For more about the JRPG, visit https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/eiyuden-chronicle

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Muntinlupa City’s residents and achievements highlighted during 106th founding anniversary celebration

December 26, 2023December 20, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, the outstanding residents and the achievements of the city were highlighted by Mayor Ruffy Biazon during the celebration of the city’s 106th founding anniversary, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Mayor Ruffy Biazon paid tribute to outstanding residents, including most valuable player in basketball Karl Kevin Argana Quiambao, and cited the gains of the city government this year as Muntinlupa celebrated its 106th founding anniversary on Dec. 19.

“Today, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, proud inheritors of a legacy that stretches back over a century. In fact, it has been 38,690 days since Muntinlupa was established as an independent municipality by the stroke of a pen by an American Governor-General of the Philippines,” said Biazon in his address at the anniversary celebration.

It was on Dec. 19, 2017 when Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison signed Executive Order No. 108 that made Muntinlupa a municipality.

“Muntinlupa remains a beacon of strength and resilience. Our city has weathered storms, both literal and metaphorical, and emerged stronger each time. As we reflect on the past year, let us not only acknowledge the challenges we faced but also celebrate the victories, both big and small, that have shaped our community,” said Biazon.

Awards – Biazon cited the different awards the Muntinlupa City government received this year.

One of them was the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), which, he said, meant that the city government has been delivering excellent services to the public.

Muntinlupa also received eight awards at the Urban Governance Exemplar Awards of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In city competitiveness, said Biazon, Muntinlupa garnered third place in resiliency and infrastructure pillars and fifth place overall most competitive local government unit among highly urbanized cities in the country.

Muntinlupa also received the Green Banner Seal of Compliance Award, “the highest recognition given to LGUs for its sustainable intervention programs to combat and completely eradicate malnutrition especially among children.”

“Each individual department and office of the City Government also has its own share of victories and triumphs. In the past year alone, we have welcomed and hosted several fellow local governments (cities and municipalities) both from Metro Manila and the provinces which conducted benchmarking activities and learning visits in the City,” said Biazon.

Outstanding residents – Biazon named residents who stood out in their respective fields this year.

One of them is tricycle driver Dexter Pacquiao from Barangay Cupang who returned P413,000 in cash that was left by an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).

Quiambao, a resident of Barangay Bayanan, was also hailed by the mayor for being the MVP in basketball in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86.

Biazon also mentioned athletes who won medals for the country in different sports events including the 19th Asian Games.

Among them were Asian Games gold medalist Annie Ramirez of Barangay Cupang who won the feat in the Jiu-Jitsu Women’s 57KG category, and bronze medalist Kaila Napolis of Barangay Poblacion who bagged the award in the Jiu-Jitsu Women’s 52KG category.

He also cited brothers Shugen at Keisei Nakano who won silver and bronze medals, respectively, in judo in the 32nd SEA Games, and Daryl Mercado who won a bronze medal in the same sport.

The mayor also mentioned three students of Colegio de Muntinlupa who competed in the 2023 Vex Robotics World Championship. They were Arthur Simundac, Kenneth De Guzman, and Mark Lawrence Ragus.

“It has been 437 days since I assumed the post of Mayor of Muntinlupa City. It is not just the leaders who make reform and progress happen..it is often the hard work of those on the ground,” said Biazon.

He added, “We are here now celebrating this significant day because of all the men and women who showed up, who fought hard, whose battles were marred by defeat and victory, but showed up nonetheless in the arena.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa, are you delighted with what the city and the outstanding residents collectively achieved this year? Do you see a bright future for Muntinlupa City in 2024?

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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Chinese national arrested in Parañaque City for illegal possession of firearms

December 26, 2023December 21, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers arrested a Chinese national for illegally possessing two guns and several pieces of ammunition, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The arrest took place in Barangay Don Galo.

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

A Chinese national was arrested by members of the Parañaque City Police Sto. Nino Substation after he was caught in possession of two .45-caliber pistols on Wednesday, Dec. 20.

Police said the suspect, identified as “Jung”, was nabbed at around 12:50 a.m. in front of a hotel on Macapagal Boulevard in Barangay Don Galo, Parañaque City.

A concerned citizen sought help from Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officers after seeing the suspect with a gun while on board a pickup truck. They then asked for assistance from the police to apprehend Jung.

The police said that upon their arrival in the area, the suspect immediately threw his gun into the back of his vehicle.

The suspect was arrested after police recovered from him two .45-caliber pistols with 13 live bullets.

He was immediately brought and detained at the Parañaque Police custodial facility.

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 Chinese nationals moving around in your local community illegally carrying guns and bullets? Are you concerned that such foreigners could cause trouble locally?

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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Hideo Kojima’s Xbox project is OD (Overdose)

December 22, 2023December 17, 2023carlocarrasco

Since the initial announcement of the Xbox Game Studios partnership with Kojima Productions (led by legendary game creator Hideo Kojima who is known by many for his Metal Gear works) was made, a lot of gamers could not figure out what kind of game will be realized. The long wait and speculation ended as the two entities announced during The Game Awards 2023 the new game (designed by Hideo Kojima) titled OD (Overdose).

To begin, watch the official teaser trailer of the Xbox-exclusive OD below…

To add punch to the announcement, Kojima himself appeared on-stage during The Game Awards 2023 which you can see below…

To learn more details about OD (Overdose), posted below is an excerpt from the official press release issued by Kojima Productions. Some parts in boldface…

KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS and XBOX GAME STUDIOS officially announced OD at The Game Awards. World-renowned game creator Hideo Kojima has partnered with Academy Award winning filmmaker Jordan Peele, the acclaimed film director of “Get Out,” “Us,” and “Nope,” who will be one of several talented storytellers involved in the project.

“We are working with Xbox Game Studios and their cloud gaming technology to take on the challenge of creating a very unique, immersive, and totally new style of game – or rather, a new form of media,” said Hideo Kojima, Game Creator and Founder of KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS.

A HIDEO KOJIMA GAME, OD explores the concept of testing your fear threshold, and what it means to OD on fear – while blurring the boundaries of gaming and film. The new teaser for OD also reveals Sophia Lillis (“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”), Hunter Schafer (“Euphoria”) and Udo Kier (“Flesh for Frankenstein”), who will play the lead roles in the upcoming project.

While there were little details about OD unveiled and the teaser trailer showcased what the production team is doing with the technologies they have, the Xbox-exclusive project is intriguing to say the least. Sure, there was no gameplay footage shown nor plot elements but the unveiling showed that OD was aiming for a new experience with horror, suspense, emotion and immersion in mind.

Kojima Productions’ utilization of cloud gaming technology and Unreal Engine could result in something new and fresh from Hideo Kojima whom I believe must have been experimenting a lot with designs not only for video gaming but also for interactive viewing. It is also interesting to see that OD will involve the talents of selected actors and director Jordan Peele. I can only speculate that, in relation to Kojima’s quote in the press release, the game will be cinematic and will somehow get the gamer/viewer involved in ways not seen before.

A lot of questions about the Xbox-exclusive OD remain particularly on how exactly will it be playable, what the plot is, will the game push photo-realism to the next level, how will it immerse gamers/viewers into it, when will it be released on Xbox Game Pass (XGP), when will it be released and more.

Whatever OD (Overdose) will be, we can only hope that Hideo Kojima and his team will create something groundbreaking and great. Stay tuned for future updates about OD here.

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Department of Tourism (DOT) chief Frasco vows to build more tourist rest areas (TRAs) nationwide

December 22, 2023December 19, 2023carlocarrasco

As the Philippines succeeded in attracting a lot more foreign tourists this year compared to 2022, the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) chief Christina Frasco aims to strengthen the nation’s tourism industry by establishing more tourist rest areas (TRAs), 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…

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco vowed on Monday to open more tourist rest areas (TRA) across the country to further boost the industry.

Frasco made the statement as she led the inauguration of TRA in Cebu province’s wildlife adventure capital.

In her speech, Frasco said the TRA in Cebu’s northern town of Carmen is the fourth in Cebu and 10th in the country and pledged to build 18 more of these facilities “all the way from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.”

The opening of these TRAs would be realized through the partnership with the local government units (LGU) and private stakeholders.

Frasco said more mayors in Cebu have requested her mother, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, to open the same facility in their respective areas, optimistic these would boost their local tourism efforts.

The Carmen TRA will be managed by the Cebu Zafari, a wildlife park that is home to over 1,000 animals of 120 species in a 170-hectare property.

“Gov. Gwen expanded the support beyond Cebu through her initiative to open TRAs in the sister province of Albay and Zamboanga-Sibugay,” she added.

Medellin, a sugarcane town also in Cebu north, is the first LGU in the Philippines to establish its own TRA. Other TRAs were inaugurated in Carcar City and Moalboal.

Like in three other facilities, the Carmen TRA offers various amenities, including a coffee shop, a pasalubong and souvenir store, a tourist information area, clean restrooms and free charging stations.

The souvenir shops not only sell local delicacies but also serve as a platform for Cebu’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to showcase their local products, providing them with additional livelihood opportunities and employment for the locals.

DOT-7 regional director Shahlimar Tamano said groundbreaking for TRAs in Bogo City, Dumanjug, Santander and Pinamungajan are in the pipeline.

“TRAs are precisely what we needed to promote tourism,” Garcia said in her remark during the inauguration ceremony at Carmen, citing complaints from local and foreign tourists that the Philippines lack restroom facilities for travelers.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think it makes sense for the DOT to establish more TRAs around the country to help the tourism industry? Do you think having more TRAs will be helpful in comforting tourists?

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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