blogging – Page 147 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Muntinlupa City Government receives Seal of Good Local Governance Award 2023

December 7, 2023December 6, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, the City Government added another major achievement to its list of accomplishments as it received from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) the Seal of Good Local Governance Award 2023, 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 received the Seal of Good Local Governance Award 2023 from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Muntinlupa is one of the 493 local government unit awardees including 11 from the National Capital Region (NCR).

Awardees from the NCR are Muntinlupa, Caloocan, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Navotas, Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, Valenzuela, and Quezon City.

LGUs were assessed based on 10 governance areas. These were financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection and sensitivity, health compliance and responsiveness, sustainable education, business-friendliness and competitiveness, safety, peace and order, environmental management, tourism, heritage development, culture and the arts, and youth development.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon said Muntinlupa was also an awardee in 2022, 2019 and 2015.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you delighted with this newest award the City Government received?

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 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #23 (1984)

December 6, 2023December 2, 2023carlocarrasco

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 culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1980s to explore Marvel Comics’ extensive publishing of a comic book series based on the wildly popular military-themed franchise of toys – G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

Whenever a war between good and evil happens, it is only desirable for people siding with the good guys to score a major breakthrough against the evil ones. Breakthroughs include annihilating the enemy entirely or compelling them to surrender unconditionally, or capturing one of their most powerful leaders alive.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #23 published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with the main story written by Larry Hama and drawn by Mike Vosburg.

Early story

The story begins near the Italian border of Switzerland. GI Joe member Snow Job sits high up on a cliff and monitors an institute from long distance. He carefully sees the Baroness (wearing a white garment) and reports to Duke about it. Duke, who is seated close to Roadblock in public, tells him to maintain passive surveillance as their team is anticipating that the Baroness will lead them to Cobra Commander.

Moments later, Roadblock notices a man across the street coming out from one of the buildings. The man turns out to be Major Bludd, a mercenary working for Cobra. Duke then sends a message to Cover Girl and Clutch (both of them riding a car elsewhere) to follow Major Bludd…

Quality

*Cover Girl and Clutch chase the vehicle that has Major Bludd and Baroness.*

I really like this story. While this is clearly not the bombastic, gun-blazing conflict between G.I. Joe and Cobra, this tale has stronger elements of espionage, suspense and intrigue nicely mixed together. The story moved at a medium pace and there were suitable pay-offs to the build-up that occurred throughout.

While the cover of this comic book is indeed a spoiler, it is within the details of the script and its story structure that justified the capture of one of Cobra’s most notorious figures. How G.I. Joe pulled it off and what obstacles they went through were nicely portrayed by the Hama-Vosburg team.

Not only that, the comic book also shed light on the character moments and story developments told through the side of Cobra which are quite intriguing to read.

Conclusion

*Cobra Commander making his way through in the American town of Springfield which is their front.*

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #23 (1984) is another fun and engaging tale Larry Hama crafted. The creative team succeeded in justifying the capture of Cobra Commander (as seen in the cover) while giving readers some new insights about the characters and how they do their duties. By the time I reached the end of this comic book, I was satisfied and convinced to look forward to what would happen next.

Overall, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #23 (1984) is recommended.

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The pending resurgence of sex tourism in the Philippines is a major concern for the BI

December 6, 2023December 4, 2023carlocarrasco

While the Philippines continues to attract more tourists from around the world (read the related post), the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is concerned about the pending resurgence of sex tourism in the country, according to a Manila Times news report. Already there have been reports of sex offenders from abroad who were intercepted by the local authorities.

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

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has expressed alarm over the likely resurgence of sex tourism in the country as indicated by the frequent arrival and interception of foreign sex offenders (FSO) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other major ports of entry.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said on Sunday that entry attempts by sex offenders into the country have become almost a “daily trend” and are not limited to the national capital Manila, but are also in provincial airports such as Cebu.

Tansingco also said that some unscrupulous groups or individuals could be promoting sex tourism, the practice of traveling to foreign countries with the intention of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for money.

“We will not allow that to happen. We are duty-bound to implement a provision in our immigration act that prohibits the entry of aliens convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude. We will not allow the entry of these undesirable aliens to pose a threat to our women and children,” Tansingco said.

He attributed the possible resurgence of sex tourism to the reopening of the country’s border after the pandemic.

“During the pandemic, there was an increase in online exploitation of women and children. When international travel resumed, the number of FSOs rose, which could show that the exploitation is being continued,” he said. “With the return of tourism, foreigners who intend to abuse our hospitality seem to be returning.”

“We warn these predators not to attempt to enter the country, as we have close coordination with different governments, who provide us information about sex offenders that might attempt to enter the Philippines,” he said.

Under the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, those who have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude, which includes sex offenders, are ineligible to enter the country.

The Philippines is regarded as among the top 10 sex tourism destinations in the world. Others on the list are Germany, the Netherlands, Columbia, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Kenya and Brazil.

Just over the weekend, BI frontline officers intercepted two more FSOs, identified as Mark David Scanlon and Richard Stuard Patterson, both Americans convicted of sexually molesting minors in the US. They arrived via separate flights at the international airports in Cebu and Manila.

Scanlon, 53, was intercepted after arriving aboard an Eva Air flight from Taiwan at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), while Patterson, 33, was turned back upon arriving from Los Angeles via a Philippine Airlines flight at the NAIA 1 terminal.

Both passengers were sent back to their ports of origin hours after they were denied entry.

Information obtained by the BI revealed that in 2012, a court in Cook County, Illinois, convicted Scanlon on the charge of indecently soliciting a child over the internet.

On the other hand, Patterson was convicted in Oregon in May 2011 on the charges of sexual abuse in the second degree and sodomy in the third degree, where the victims were 15 and 13 years old, respectively.

Scanlon and Patterson are only two of the more than 150 foreign registered sex offenders (RSOs) who have been refused entry at the airports since January.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Do you consider sex-related tourism a major issue for the Philippines’ standing in international tourism? Do you think that there are lots of suspected business joints within your city that could secretly be engaging in prostitution, pornography and human trafficking? What do you think should be done to prevent sex tourism from growing in the Philippines? Do you think that illegal sex-related activities involving foreigners here in the Philippines (for insight, click here, here, and here) are somehow attracting foreign sex offenders to come into the country?

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

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Anti-human trafficking operation in Las Piñas City results in the rescue of several therapists and the arrests of two suspects

December 5, 2023December 1, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, an anti-human trafficking operation conducted by law enforcers resulted in the rescue of several therapists of a so-called wellness spa and the arrests of two suspects, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The operation took place within Barangay Pamplona Dos.

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

Eight wellness spa therapists were rescued while two suspects were arrested in an anti-human trafficking operation conducted early Thursday, Nov. 30, in Las Piñas City.

The police said members of the Southern Police District (SPD)-Special Operations (SOU), together with members of the Women and Children’s Concern Section (WCCS) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-National Capital Region (NCR), conducted an entrapment operation at around 12:10 a.m. in a wellness spa located in Barangay Pamplona Dos, Las Piñas City.

The SPD said the arrested suspects were identified as a certain Mary who served as a pimp and receptionist, and a certain Fred, security and maintenance head of the establishment.

The police said the eight rescued victims are now under the care of the DSWD-NCR while the two suspects were brought to the SPD headquarters for documentation and filing of charges.

Police recovered the P500 marked money, used condoms, and three logbooks with details of some customers.

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 that there are spa businesses in your local community that could secretly be involved with prostitution and human trafficking?

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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2024 National Age Group Triathlon Subic Bay Freeport race set for January 27-28, registration ongoing

December 5, 2023December 1, 2023carlocarrasco

If you are looking to start the new year with multisport action and competition, then you might be interested to join the 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay race set for January 27 and 28, 2024. Registration for the event is ongoing as of this writing.

Right now, the registration fees are as follows: P8,500 for Standard Distance Team Relay, P5,500 for Standard Distance, P5,000 for Sprint Distance, P4,500 for Super Sprint Distance and P3,500 for Super Trikids.

The Super Trikids and Super Sprint races will start at 6AM on January 27. The Sprint and Standard Distance races will take place on January 28 at 6AM.

The start and finish will be at The Boardwalk within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay event is a qualifying race for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games and also a part of Triathlon Philippines’ trials and talent identification for the Philippine Triathlon Team. To learn more about the event, visit https://register.raceya.fit/event/nagt-2024

The 2024 National Age Group Triathlon – Subic Bay event is a joint project of Triathlon Philippines (formerly Triathlon Association of the 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.

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

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Chinese national (alleged POGO operator) convicted by Las Piñas City court, sentenced to 20 years prison and P1 million fine for human trafficking

December 4, 2023November 29, 2023carlocarrasco

Human trafficking is a very serious crime here in the Philippines and this was strongly reflected in the decision of a regional trial court (RTC) in Las Piñas City when it convicted a Chinese national and sentenced him to twenty years imprisonment along with a fine of P1 million, according to a Philippine Star news report. The said suspect was reportedly the operator of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) located in Las Piñas City which got raided.

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

A Las Piñas court has convicted a Chinese man, reported to be a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO), for human trafficking.

In a decision dated Oct. 27, Judge Phoeve Meer of Regional Trial Court Branch 275 found Andy Chen guilty of violating Republic Act 9208 as amended by RA 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

Meer sentenced Chen to 20 years imprisonment and slapped him with a fine of P1 million.

The court also ordered Chen to pay his victim, a Chinese woman, P400,000 in moral and exemplary damages.

The victim, a POGO worker, was rescued by operatives of the Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) during a raid on XinChuang Network Technology on Alabang-Zapote Road in Barangay Almanza Uno on Dec. 1, 2021.

WCPC director Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad assured the public that perpetrators of human trafficking will face the full force of the police.

In June, 2,724 people, many of them foreigners, were rescued from XinChuang’s compound during a police raid.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, are you satisfied with the RTC’s decision on the suspected POGO operator? Are you concerned that other POGOs in the city could be hot spots for criminal activity? Is the POGO in your local community causing more crime?

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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Philippines’ credit ratings affirmed by S&P Global Ratings

December 4, 2023November 30, 2023carlocarrasco

The credit ratings of the Philippines for both long-term and short term were affirmed by the US-based S&P Global Ratings which also saw stronger economic growth for the country in the next few years, 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…

United States-based S&P Global Ratings on Wednesday affirmed the Philippines’ ‘BBB+’ long-term and ‘A-2’ short-term sovereign credit ratings, citing the country’s sustained economic recovery due to the government’s ongoing efforts to address infrastructure gaps and improvements in the business climate.

“The stable outlook reflects our expectation that the Philippine economy will maintain healthy growth rates and the fiscal performance will materially improve over the next 24 months,” S&P Global said in a report.

According to S&P, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow by 5.4 percent this year, reflecting the impact of high base and the slower growth of the world economy.

The report also showed that Philippine economic growth is projected to accelerate to 5.9 percent in 2024, 6.2 percent in 2025 and 6.4 percent in (2026).

The credit rater expects that the Philippines’ economic growth will remain well above the average among its peers “due to the government’s ongoing efforts to address infrastructure gaps and improvements in the business climate through regulatory and tax reforms, which will further support expansion in economic productivity.”

It also recognized the government’s efforts to prioritize infrastructure development and fiscal measures and cited crucial reforms such as the public-private partnership (PPP) framework and the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act.

“The Philippine government has generally enacted effective and prudent fiscal policies over the past decade. Improvements to the quality of expenditure, manageable fiscal deficits, and low general government indebtedness testify to this. This track record of sustainable public finances helped the government accumulate fiscal resources to respond to the pandemic,” the report said.

It also underscored the importance of tax reforms in ensuring that public finances remain sustainable, while infrastructure and social needs are addressed.

S&P said the general government (GG) deficit is estimated to decline and to settle at 3.8 percent of GDP in 2023, from 4.4 percent in 2022.

“We believe the fiscal shortfall will continue to narrow over the coming years while the economy regains its footing and the government scales back stimulus measures. We expect the medium-term fiscal framework (MTFF) revealed by the Marcos administration last year to guide the consolidation process,” it said.

The report also highlighted the country’s solid household and corporate balance sheets and sizable remittance inflows, and expects foreign direct investments to remain stable this year.

However, S&P said it may lower the country’s ratings if economic recovery falters, if general government debt exceeds 4 percent of GDP, if net debt stock exceeds 60 percent of GDP or if interest payments exceed 15 percent of revenue on a sustained basis.

“We may raise the ratings if the economy recovers much faster than we expect, and the government achieves more rapid fiscal consolidation,” it said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you satisfied with what was accomplished this year with regards to foreign tourist arrivals and the related revenues? Do you think the Philippine economy will continue to grow stronger each year until 2026? Do you believe in the findings of S&P Global Ratings?

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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Philippines finally surpasses 2023 foreign tourist arrivals target

December 1, 2023November 29, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced that their set target of 4.8 million foreign tourist arrivals for 2023 has finally been reached and already hundreds of billions of Pesos have been generated, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news report. To say the least, the foreign tourist arrivals-related numbers achieved by the Philippines this year is a tremendous improvement over what were achieved in 2022 and there are still a few weeks left before 2023 closes.

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

The Philippines has recorded more than 4.82 million foreign visitor arrivals, including Filipinos based overseas, breaching its target even before year end, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco said Tuesday.

DOT data show that as of Nov. 28, a huge chunk of foreign arrivals comes from South Korea with 1,275,887 foreign visitors and 4,231 overseas Filipinos for a total of 26.46 percent.

It is followed by the United States with 923,409 foreign visitors and 123,828 overseas Filipinos and Japan with 323,029 and 49,299 overseas Filipinos.

Other international arrivals in the top 10 come from Australia, China, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, United Kingdom and Malaysia.

The foreign arrivals have brought PHP404 billion to the economy.

Citing a report by economic managers, Frasco said this manifests that Philippine tourism is the second highest driver of economic growth for the Philippines.

“This cements our position as one of the strongest pillars of the Philippine economy that employs no less than 5.35 million Filipinos in the tourism industry sector, ensuring jobs, livelihood, and the well-being of communities all over the country,” she added.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you satisfied with what was accomplished this year with regards to foreign tourist arrivals and the related revenues? Are you confident that the Philippines is on-track to becoming a major tourism player in Asia by the year 2028? Do you trust the Department of Tourism more now that they were able to hit their 2023 targets already? Do you think foreign tourist arrivals here in the Philippines will reach the 5,000,000 mark before the end of the year? Could it be possible that the gains of Philippine tourism will help the nation achieve at least 6% economic growth this year?

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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Vietnamese national arrested in Parañaque City for illegal drugs

November 30, 2023November 27, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, a man from Vietnam was arrested by police officers as a result of a successful buy-bust operation, 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 Vietnamese national was arrested by members of the Parañaque City Police Station Drug and Enforcement Unit (SDEU) in a buy-bust operation on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

The Southern Police District (SPD) said the suspect was identified as a certain Le. He was arrested at around 8:85 p.m. along Macapagal Boulevard, Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.

Recovered from him were five grams of shabu worth P34,000; three plastic sachets containing 18 tablets suspected to be ecstasy worth P30,000, and three grams of powdered ketamine worth P15,000.

The recovered drugs were turned over to the SPD Forensic Unit for quantitative and qualitative analysis.

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 foreigners engaging in illegal drugs within your local community?

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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Las Piñas City’s indigent senior citizens benefit from social pension cash pay-out

November 30, 2023November 27, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, indigent senior citizens benefited from the cash pay-out organized by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the City Government announced via social media. The cash pay-out happened in Barangay Pilar Village and was attended by Vice Mayor April Aguilar.

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

In an event dedicated to the welfare of its elderly residents, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Las Piñas conducted another Social Pension Cash Pay-out for indigent senior citizens on Tuesday, November 21st. The event, held at the Aguilar Sports Complex in Barangay Pilar Village, was a part of the city’s ongoing commitment to support and honor its senior community.

The occasion was graced by City Vice Mayor April Aguilar, reflecting the local government’s dedication to the welfare of its elderly population. Vice Mayor Aguilar’s presence underscored the importance the city places on its senior citizens, acknowledging their contributions and ensuring their comfort in their later years.

The pay-out event was organized efficiently, ensuring that the process was smooth and respectful for the elderly beneficiaries. A significant number of senior citizens from various parts of Las Piñas attended the event, adhering to health and safety protocols.

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 delighted with what the City Government and the CSWDO continued to support local senior citizens? Did any senior citizens in your local community benefited from the recent cash pay-out?

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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