blogging – Page 151 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Local authorities raid Parañaque POGO, alleged prostitution den uncovered

November 13, 2023November 8, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, elements of the Southern Police District and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) raided an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) establishment resulting in the arrests of suspects and the discovery of what could be a prostitution den, according to a GMA Network news report. The raid was done due to the POGO’s lack of a license to operate.

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

An alleged prostitution den was discovered during a raid in an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) establishment in Parañaque City on Wednesday, authorities said.

The Southern Police District and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) raided the POGO hub due to lack of license to operate, Nico Waje reported on Unang Balita.

“While doing the inspection, nakita nga namin iyong prostitution den (we saw the prostitution den),” PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said.

“Kung mapapansin niyo, mayroon mga babae na nandoon and they have rooms na ginagamit nila sa prostitution (If you notice, there were women there and they have rooms that were being used for prostitution),” he added.

The women, who are all Filipinos, said they are offering only massage services.

In the parking lot on the seventh floor of the building, private rooms and spa rooms were discovered aside from computers and gaming consoles.

The operation on other floors has a license but the workers, most of them Chinese, failed to present proper documents like passports, according to the PAOCC.

Cruz said the workers said their bosses were holding their passports.

With a total of 2,000 workers, the POGO hub declared only 900 of them to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Two Chinese nationals who manage the POGO hub were arrested, according to Unang Balita.

In a statement, the SPD said at least 16 employees alleged to be victims of human trafficking were rescued in the operation.

The PAOCC is looking into the possible closure of the establishment due to violations of human trafficking, labor, and immigration laws.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration is set to visit the area for the profiling of the POGO workers.

Posted below is the related YouTube news video…

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 illegal activities, exploitation and abuses linked with the POGOs within your city? If there is a POGO within your local community, did you notice anything suspicious?

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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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

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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 9

November 10, 2023November 10, 2023carlocarrasco

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 Debunking the lies of the Palestinians and the Satanic Left – Israel has been all over the news for over a month now as the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas attacked them on October 7, 2023, and committed acts of murder, kidnapping and torture of many innocent people (including foreign nationals). Israel responded by going into war with Hamas and already they have several soldiers operating inside the Gaza strip searching for the terrorists while trying to rescue the hostages.

Around the world, anti-Semitism has intensified as a lot of public rallies or protests events supporting the Palestinians and condemning Israel continues to happen. Unsurprisingly, the Satanic Leftist elements in governments, mainstream news media outlets and social media all organized a major misinformation campaign highlighting the Palestinians as victims while portraying Israel as the antagonists. Collectively these Communists, socialists, Marxists, liberal, diversity advocates and other anti-Semitic elements have been spreading lies repeatedly to attack Israel while lifting up the Palestinians.

Fortunately, YouTuber Oren who handles the channel travelingisrael.com published in-depth videos that debunked the Arab-Palestine-Hamas-Leftist propaganda complete with details and facts that the liars did not even bother to check. I stand with Israel and the Holy Bible confirms that Israel is the land that God designated to the Jewish people (read Genesis 12:1-3 and Genesis 35:10-12), not the Arabs and certainly not the Palestinians. There really never was an ancient Palestine and the Palestinian identity as a people did not even exist before the 20^th century (not even during the time when the Ottoman Empire had authority over the land of Israel). That being said, I strongly recommend you watch the videos below and pay close attention to the details…

#2 Trustworthy look at Israel – Still on Israel, I want to tell you all that you cannot trust the mainstream news media outlets as they have an anti-Israel and anti-Semitic agenda in connection with their Leftist worldviews. You cannot trust CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, BBC, Vox and others as they are laser-focused on smearing Israel and putting the lives of Jewish people in danger. Those abusers of media and information are spreading lies and hate! If you want a clearer and more credible look at Israel and the developments that happened, I recommend you follow CBN News (the news program of the Christian Broadcasting Network) and TBN Israel. Posted below are some of their YouTube videos for you to see…

#3 Macross nostalgia videos – And new we shift into the world of entertainment. When it comes to the world of anime, Macross is my favorite franchise. To be more specific, the Super Dimension Fortress Macross TV series, Macross: Do You Remember Love? (read my retro movie review by clicking here), Macross Plus and Macross Zero are the ones I enjoyed replaying and there were some video game adaptations released along the way (read my retro game review by clicking here). If you share my Macross passion or if you are simply interested with anime and related video games, I recommend you watch the videos below…

#4 Cloak & Dagger (1984) nostalgia – A few months ago, I published my retro review of the 1984 movie Cloak & Dagger which remains a very unique film by today’s standards. For one thing, the film was the 4th cinematic adaptation of the short story “The Boy Cried Murder” written by Cornell Woolrich. It also had Henry Thomas (the same kid in Steven Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial) as the protagonist, a plot filled with strong elements of espionage, a video game as a key item in the story, and most notably, a very intense tone complete with shooting and killings. Cloak & Dagger, which is now available on 4K Blu-ray format, is the kind of movie that Hollywood does not make anymore. Of course, I do understand that Hollywood has so many Commies and SJWs (social justice warriors) among its screenwriters, actors and directors who could not understand Cloak & Dagger. To learn about the 1984 movie, watch the videos below…

#5 Friday The 13^th Part 3 reaction and retro review videos – Some time ago I declared in my retro review that Friday The 13^th Part 3 is the 2^nd best film of its franchise (note: Friday The 13^th: The Final Chapter is still #1). Sure, it was flawed and the filmmakers struggled to make the movie as they intended to film it with 3D cinema viewing in mind, but the way things turned out it marked a crucial turning point in Friday The 13^th’s general formula on storytelling and the presentation with Jason Voorhees as the enduring antagonist. This is the very movie when Jason first got his hockey mask and the actor’s muscular build gave him a more intimidating look than in Part 2. That being said, it is no surprise that the 1982 movie became the subject of multiple movie reaction videos and retro reviews on YouTube and you can watch some of them (plus one trivia video by Minty Comedic Arts) below…

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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 athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Madison Galeries’ Mardi Gras Bazaar set for November 18 to December 31, 2023

November 10, 2023December 4, 2023carlocarrasco

NOTE: Shortly after the launch of Mardi Gras Bazaar, Madison Galeries renamed it into Mardi Gras Warehouse Sale which had its last sale on December 2 and 3, 2023. The previous announced schedule of Mardi Gras Bazaar set for November 18 to December 31, 2023, no longer matters.

Madison Galeries, the nice open-air shopping mall located along Don Jesus Boulevard in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, recently announced the return of their popular Mardi Gras Bazaar which is all set to take place from November 18 up to December 31, 2023 at the 3^rd floor.

*The official image and details that Madison Galeries posted through social media.*

For the newcomers reading this, the Mardi Gras Bazaar is a well-known special event of Madison Galeries’ with an emphasis on shopping as well as a wide variety of products that buyers can choose from for gift-giving or for the use of their respective households. It should be noted that several products will be offered at discounted rates which should easily attract bargain hunters as well.

In 2019, I published two posts about the Mardi Gras Bazaar which you can read by clicking here and here. My post-event article has some pictures which should you give an idea of what to expect at the next edition of the Mardi Gras Bazaar.

For the 2023 edition of the Mardi Gras Bazaar at Madison Galeries, the announced schedule of November 18-December 31 is pretty extensive and it should give people a lot of time and opportunities to shop. The schedule of the bazaar for each day is 10AM to 8:30 PM.

What to expect at this year’s bazaar? Based on the official image from Madison Galeries, there will be clothing, toys, appliances, electronics, hardware and other items that can be ideal for gift-giving this Christmas season. As with the past editions of the Mardi Gras Bazaar, a discount of up to 80% will be applied on certain items for sale.

Still on Madison Galeries, it should be noted that The Madison Events Place Facebook page shared the 2023 Mardi Gras Bazaar post which suggests that the 3^rd floor venue (The Madison Events Place itself) will be the place to go to. Going back to 2019, I personally attended the Mardi Gras Bazaar and the Village Food Fair 2 (click here) on separate occasions and both special events utilized The Madison Events Place as the main venue. The said venue is a really nice and spacious indoor facility that is also comfortable, secure and fully air-conditioned.

Personally, I am eager to attend this upcoming event. For those of you who have yet to visit Madison Galeries in Alabang, the mall has sufficient parking spaces (note: there are elevated indoor parking levels inside).

Watch out for Mardi Gras Bazaar at Madison Galeries on November 18 to December 31, 2023. Visit the mall along Don Jesus Boulevard in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City. The said boulevard is accessible through Alabang Hills Village (for those who have AHVA car stickers) and the West Service Road. Visit Madison Galeries’ official FB page at https://www.facebook.com/MadisonGaleries

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Muntinlupa City Government recognized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)

November 9, 2023November 6, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently the City Government of Muntinlupa was recognized and commended by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), 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 Muntinlupa City government earned recognition and commendations from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The PCCI gave the Muntinlupa City government a special recognition at the 2023 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Awards.

The city government also received eight major commendations at the 2023 Urban Governance Exemplar Awards organized by DILG.

“Indeed, we have many, many reasons to be proud of our city. But most of all, we are very grateful for the validation of our efforts to make life better for all Muntinlupeños. Mabuhay tayo!” said Mayor Ruffy Biazon.

The city government earned the special citation from the PCCI for its continuing commitment to excellence in business transactions, such as the multi-awarded Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) system.

It can be recalled that Muntinlupa has been recognized several times by the PCCI as the Most Business-Friendly LGU in the country for its innovative and people-centric approach to business transactions.

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 over what the City Government achieved with regards to public service, business-friendliness and efficiency?

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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IRR of the Maharlika Investment Fund finalized

November 9, 2023November 6, 2023carlocarrasco

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., announced through social media that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) have been finalized, according to a GMA Network news report.

Take note that the implementation was previously suspended and things should move forward from this point on. Already there were business leaders of Saudi Arabia who expressed interest in the MIF.

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

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Monday that the implementing rules and regulations of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) have been finalized, weeks after he said its implementation was suspended.

“The Investment Rules and Regulations of Maharlika Investment Fund have been finalized,” Marcos said on Instagram.

“Upon our approval, we’ll swiftly establish the corporate structure, getting the MIF up and running,” he added.

The IRR, which would spell the beginning of MIF’s operationalization, was released in August. Marcos announced the suspension of its implementation “pending further study” on October 18.

Before leaving for Saudi Arabia last month, Marcos clarified that the MIF was not put on hold, saying the government was still working to have it operational within the year.

“We are, the organization of the Maharlika Fund proceeds apace, and what I have done though, is that we have found more improvements we can make, specifically to the organizational structure of the Maharlika Fund,” the President had said.

Marcos had said the suspension of the IRR should not be misinterpreted as a judgement of rightness or wrongness of the MIF.

he President also maintained that economic managers and “personalities who will actually be involved in the fund” had been consulted regarding the MIF.

Marcos signed into law Republic Act No. 11954 or the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act of 2023 in July, with the aim to tap state assets for investment ventures to generate additional public funds.

The law creates the Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC), a government-owned company that will manage the MIF — a pool of funds sourced from state-run financial institutions that will be invested in high-impact projects, real estate, as well as in financial instruments.

Under the law, the initial capitalization of the MIF would be sourced from Landbank at P50 billion, DBP at P25 billion, and the national government at P50 billion.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that there is no stopping the implementation of the Maharlika Investment Fund in the near-future?

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 #1 (1982)

November 8, 2023November 4, 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 early 1980s to explore Marvel Comics’ launch of a comic book series based on the wildly popular military-themed franchise of toys – G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

For the newcomers reading this, Hasbro launched the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline in 1982 which was actually a revival of the original G.I. Joe series of toys (sized 12 inches) in the 1960s and 1970s. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys had a new format for its action figures influenced by the success of the Micronauts and Star Wars toys. Veteran writer Larry Hama (the same guy behind the memorable Wolverine #75 of 1993) was already working for Marvel and was developing the concept of a new comic book about elite commandos fighting terrorists. Such development happened before the 1982 relaunch of G.I. Joe, and eventually Marvel’s editor-in-chief Jim Shooter approached Hama for a new comic book project based on Hasbro’s military toyline. Eventually a series of developments followed that saw the creation of the evil organization Cobra, the core villain Cobra Commander and more.

The impact of G.I. Joe as a licensed comic book series turned out positively as it helped attract new readers at the newsstands and it developed a strong following with young readers who were not highly interested with superheroes.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with the main story written by Larry Hama and drawn by Herb Trimpe.

Early story

The story begins with an Amtrak train traveling between New York City and Washington, D.C. Inside the nuclear physicist Dr. Adele Burkhart who previously served as one of the brains behind the Doomsday Project. It turns out, Burkhart was declared a traitor for denouncing the military claiming that she was misled by them to work on the said project. Inside the train, she has several security personnel guarding her as she is on her way to testify in front of a certain congressional committee.

As she speaks during a press conference inside one of the train’s cars, several flying soldiers of Cobra attacked the exterior of the train. In front of Burkhart, a few of the journalists turned out to be elements of Cobra led by the Baroness. The Baroness and her companions succeed in defeating the bodyguards and kidnapped Burkhart by means of flight.

At the Pentagon, the kidnapping of Burkhart compels the military to call in their special counter-terrorist group called G.I. Joe for a rescue operation. The stakes are high as they know that they cannot let Cobra keep Burkhart long enough to use her and they cannot let her die as the whole world is aware that they considered her an embarrassment. They ordered Colonel Clayton Abernathy (code name: Hawk) to assemble the Joe Team composed of Clutch, Flash, Breaker, Rock ‘n Roll, Scarlett, Stalker, Short-Fuse and Snake-Eyes…

Quality

*Dr. Burkhart held hostage by Cobra and in the presence of Cobra Commander, the Baroness and many terrorists.*

To get straight to the point, the main story (Operation: Lady Doomsday) was carefully structured by Hama to tell a story engagingly while also functioning to introduce readers to the characters and immersing them into the illustrated literary universe of G.I. Joe that is noticeably separated from the popular cartoon series. It is a classic portrayal of good versus evil laced with militarism and espionage.

The story moved at a medium pace and the approach on build-up and pay-off was executed carefully. There were scenes that had a sufficient amount of details regarding the plot or character moments (as opposed to development) that made the reading experience immersive. In short, there was no rush in the narrative while the pace never slowed down to a halt (no boring moments).

That being said, you will get to see lots of scenes that focus on the side of G.I. Joe as well as on the side of Cobra which is led by Cobra Commander (who is obsessed and scheming) followed by the Baroness (who is more focused on achieving goals but cannot do so without authority). You will see a certain gap between Cobra Commander and the Baroness which shows something seems off within their terrorist organization. This served as a creative contrast with G.I. Joe being more straightforward with the way they organize themselves.

The only weakness this comic book has is the fact that with so many characters from both the good and the bad sides, identifying them was pretty challenging especially when their military uniforms obscured their looks. Characters like Cobra Commander, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Rock ‘n Roll, Stalker and the Baroness are instantly recognizable.

As the main story remains a really good read, the 2^nd story (Hot Potato) also written by Hama but drawn by Perlin served as a nice additive to this comic book.

Conclusion

*G.I. Joe starts getting ready for the high-stakes rescue mission.*

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (1982) is indeed a very solid reading experience. This is a strong introduction of the literary version of G.I. Joe and its portrayal of good versus evil remains believable and compelling. I also enjoyed the way the creators balanced the build-up of tension, plot and character moments with spectacle or twists utilized as pay-off. Lastly, I should say that this comic book has lots of action for you to enjoy and the execution of the action scenes made sense within the context of the stories. Remember that this marked the beginning of a memorable long run of G.I. Joe comics that reached into the 1990s. This one is a true classic and it should remind you that there was a time when political correctness and wokeness did not get in America’s way of fighting terrorists.

Overall, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 (1982) is highly recommended!

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Las Piñas City Government recognized for nutrition program implementation

November 8, 2023November 5, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, it was revealed that the City Government gained recognition for sheer improvements with its implementation of its nutrition program, according to a Manila Bulltin news report.

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

The Las Piñas city government was awarded by the National Nutrition Council-National Capital Region (NNS-NCR) as the “Most Improved LGU Performance” in tems of nutrition program management.

Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar thanked the NNS-NCR for the recognition as she vowed that the City Nutrition Committee (CNC) will continue to work hard on the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action (PPAN) for Nutrition to better serve the city residents.

Aguilar said the CNC, through their perseverance and collective efforts, gained ground in their bid to improve the planning, implementation and management of their local PPAN.

She added the CNC is conducting regular meeting to discuss the status of nutrition program implementation and agree on ways to improve the way they do things to reach their targets.

The mayor noted that the local nutrition committees at the city and barangay levels implemented strengthened and revitalized innovative strategies in conducting the PPAN nutrition programs.

One of the innovations of the city government born during the pandemic is the Community Auxiliary Feeding Program using the Kusina ng Las Pinas Mobile Food Truck which Aguilar spearheaded together with Vice Mayor April Aguilar.

The auxiliary feeding program is in collaboration with the City Nutrition Office, which aims to provide hot meals to children, pregnant and lactating women, and other nutritionally vulnerable population groups to alleviate hunger.

The mobile food truck visits barangays where around 600 individuals, preferably children, are given hot meals and bottled water being managed by the Nutritionist-Dietitians and Barangay Nutrition Scholars to ensure that the meals served are nutritious and safe.

Aguilar also added that CNO also partnered with the City Tourism/ Media Office and City Environment Natural Resources Office (CENRO) for the food tourism campaign dubbed as “Flavors of Las Pinas” to promote culinary food tourism.

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 happy with the newest recognition that the City Government gained for its local nutrition program implementation?

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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BIR admits taxing social media influencers is difficult

November 7, 2023November 3, 2023carlocarrasco

As far as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is concerned, implementing taxes on social media influencers and collecting from them are still hard to do, according to a Philippine Star news report.

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

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) continues to have difficulty in making social media influencers comply with the country’s tax laws even amid a widening adoption of various social media platforms as a form of income.

BIR Assistant Commissioner Jethro Sabariaga said the country’s largest revenue collecting agency remains in dialogue with social media influencers for them to pay their tax obligations to the government.

The BIR decided to seek a dialogue with the influencers in March this year. Sabariaga admitted that it is difficult for the BIR to get revenues from the digital space.

“Yes, (it is difficult). We will not mince with words. It might take some time, but that’s what we’ve been doing,” Sabariaga said.

“We are trying to win their side in the engagement process. The more that you can ask them to do voluntary compliance, the better rather than to fight with them,” he said.

BIR defines social media influencers as people whose digital posts are being monetized, classifying them as self-employed individuals or persons engaged in trade or business as sole proprietors.

The BIR earlier said it was looking into some 250 top earning social media influencers to see if they have been paying their obligations.

Based on BIR’s circular, influencers are required to pay income tax and percentage tax or value-added tax, if applicable, as mandated by the Tax Code.

According to the BIR, influencers derive their income from YouTube, sponsored social and blog posts, display advertising and affiliate marketing, among others.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you agree with the BIR’s plan to tax social media influencers? Is your favorite vlogger or YouTuber based in the Philippines who might have made some revenue online based on his or her output?

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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National economic managers expect government collections to exceed 2023 revenue target

November 7, 2023November 4, 2023carlocarrasco

Even though it looks like that economic growth for the Philippines this year will end up short of 7%, the economic managers of the Marcos administration expect revenue collections to exceed the target for 2023, according to a GMA Network news report.

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

The economic managers of the Marcos administration are expecting the government revenue collections this year to exceed target amid measures to improve tax administration and collection efficiency.

In a statement following a special coordination committee meeting on Friday, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) said the “emerging total revenue collection for 2023 is estimated to be P3.84 trillion to P3.90 trillion.”

The projected revenue collection for the entire year is above the P3.73-trillion target set earlier by the DBCC.

In April, the economic managers set the revenue goal at P3.73 trillion this year, P4.184 trillion in 2024, P4.692 trillion in 2025, P5.255 trillion in 2026, P5.895 trillion in 2027, and P6.621 trillion in 2028.

The DBCC, chaired by the Budget chief, is composed of the secretaries of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Finance (DOF), as well as the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The DBCC, likewise, is expecting tax revenues to clock in at P3.50 trillion to P3.55 trillion, surpassing the target by about 15%.

The above-target revenue project resulted from the higher actual collections in the first nine months of 2023, which reached P2.84 trillion, up 6.8% year-on-year and exceeding the target for the period by 3%.

This, as both tax and non-tax revenues registered positive growth at 6.4% and 10.5%, respectively, “owing to the higher collections from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and non-tax revenues of P152.57 billion.”

The DBCC said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the BOC are implementing several reforms to strengthen tax administration and enhance revenue collection, which include digitalization programs intended to eliminate corruption, increase transparency, and improve the ease of paying taxes.

Tax reform measures – Moreover, the economic managers said they will work closely with Congress for the passage of the previous administration’s remaining tax reforms on passive income and financial intermediaries taxation and real property valuation and assessment, as well as new tax measures.

“These include the excise tax on single-use plastics (SUPs), rationalization of the mining fiscal regime, motor-vehicle road users’ tax, excise tax on sweetened beverages and junk foods, tax on pre-mixed alcohol, value-added tax (VAT) on digital service providers, carbon taxation, capital market development bill, and the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension reform bill,” the DBCC said.

Meanwhile, the national government’s disbursement accelerated significantly from 93.4% of the program as of June 2023 to 98.9% as of September.

“This was mainly driven by the robust disbursement in the third quarter, reaching P3.82 trillion as of the end of September,” the economic managers said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that government collections will exceed the 2023 revenue target?

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 Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982)

November 6, 2023November 3, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1982 to take a close look at one of the many tales of the Marvel Comics shared universe told through the monthly series of Uncanny X-Men.

In my previous retro review, the X-Men got involved in a high-stakes mission to find and rescue the kidnapped Shi’ar empress Lilandra. Things are not easy on the X-Men’s side as Cyclops is still uneasy over the truth he learned about his father Corsair while the leader Charles Xavier had to deal with the Shi’ar officials who have their agenda that could cause trouble on Earth. What the X-Men faced was a few of the Brood and Deathbird.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #156 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Dave Cockrum.

Early story

The story begins in New York City. The X-Men just fought with the Brood and Deathbird, and Charles Xavier has gone missing. Wolverine, Storm, Corsair, Cyclops and the Avengers member Tigra attend to a mortally wounded Colossus who was hit with acid.

Just as the local police arrived, Tigra tries her best to talk with them. Suddenly a gigantic space ship arrived floating above New York shocking everyone. The ship unleashes a beam of light down to pick up Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Corsair and the ailing Colossus. The giant ship then flies away leaving a lot of people stunned.

It turns out the ship belongs to the Starjammers, a group of space pirates that Corsair leads. Colossus then gets treated with alien technology…

Quality

*The spectacle and the new encounter with the Brood were nicely done.*

Similar to issue #155, the story here is very in-depth and has so much details and plot-related connections, it will require a great amount of attention from you in order to understand what is going and what is happening within. In this issue, you will get to see the Starjammers gang that Corsair spent a long time with, further development between Corsair and son Cyclops, the reunion between Charles Xavier and Empress Lilandra, and more of the Brood.

To put things clearly, Chris Claremont invested a lot of details when it comes to dramatizing the characters, insert revelations from the past, emphasized the many reactions of the X-Men members and carefully implemented stronger science fiction elements that really added depth to the plot. In many ways, this story is a huge pay-off to the build-up of the previous comic book and there is a lot more to the connection between Deathbird (a very capable villainess) and the Brood.

Having read lots of Claremont-authored X-Men stories, I found this 1982 story enjoyable and compelling to read. The big difference is that there is a stronger element of spectacle in this story which is related to the stronger sci-fi elements as well as Claremont’s strategic handling of the X-Men. At this point, it is clear that something new was being built up with the Brood, space travel and new frontiers. This is a strong sci-fi X-Men tale.

Conclusion

*Professor X with his beloved Lilandra.*

Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982) is indeed an enjoyable read provided that you pay close attention to the details, the characters and you have read the previous issue. This is the X-Men literally going deeper with science fiction and the Brood here was just about to rise further as a major force of opposition that would impact Marvel’s mutants. I should also state that Professor X and Empress Lilandra being together is a pretty compelling scene to read. As of this writing, I am convinced to keep on exploring further tales from this era of the X-Men.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #156 (1982) is highly recommended!

+++++

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