blogging – Page 164 – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at Spider-Man 2099 #8 (1993)

February 10, 2023January 15, 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, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the wild 1990s and explore the far future of 2099 within the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the tales of Spider-Man 2099.

In my previous retro review, the futuristic Spider-Man got involved with his era’s version of Vulture (Vulture 2099 to us readers). It turns out, Vulture 2099 is not your typical evil supervillain but the leader of a group of violent radical people who are willing to dominate society with a destructive mindset even though there are other opposing groups around them. And then Spidey 2099 realized something very wrong about the Vulture which leads to a big battle between them.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man 2099 #8, published in 1993 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Peter David and drawn by Rick Leonardi.

Early story

The story begins with Spider-Man 2099 and Vulture 2099 crashing into the interiors of the ancient St. Patrick’s Cathedral located in old New York City (underneath the modern city). Unsurprisingly, the people inside the cathedral got very surprised about the unexpected entry of the two fighters.

Elsewhere, Miguel O’Hara’s brother Gabriel helps Kasey with her head. She tells him that she saw Miguel but Gabriel does not believe her. Suddenly, members of a gang knock on the door and Kasey opens it.

Inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the fight between Spider-Man and Vulture continues. Spider-Man remembers that he has lapsed as a Catholic and he feels very uneasy about the trouble he and his enemy are causing inside the old church structure. Vulture suddenly throws a wooden bench at Spidey but breaks open a glass window and then goes outside. Upon looking outside, Spider-Man notices a group of Vulture’s gang…the Freakers.

Quality

*The battle between Spider-Man 2099 and Vulture 2099 is intense and very compelling to read.*

Here is the good news about this comic book…the story here is a fitting conclusion to what happened in issue #7. The conflict between Spider-Man and Vulture here was carefully crafted and there were several key moments or scenes the provided readers some breathing room to grasp and understand the society of 2099 New York as well as the conflict between the downtown social groups who are deprived of the higher standard of living many miles above them. In some ways, the social divisions portrayed in this comic book is a sad reminder about modern day America and the many radical groups or gangs of people who divide society on race, ethnicity, social class, gender and ideology.

As expected, there is a lot of action executed in the fight between Spider-Man and Vulture of 2099 but there were pauses in between. This is not surprising considering how Peter David crafted the action-packed battles Spidey 2099 had with other enemies in the comic books released before this one. Without spoiling what happened, I can say that the battle between the two was nicely built-up and the conclusion turned out very satisfying to see.

Still on the story, Peter David added some layers of complexity into the conflict that easily made things much more difficult for Spider-Man 2099 on a personal level. I’m talking about his brother Gabriel and Kasey getting involved in the gang war against the Freakers.

Vulture 2099 is once again a standout opposition figure here. Not only is his ability to fly and cause chaos above his obsessed Freakers below is symbolic, his distorted, hardcore beliefs are reflected with his unrelenting use of violence as he fights Spider-Man. Not only that, he turns out to be very philosophical thanks to the rich dialogue Peter David came up with. It is also here that the futuristic Vulture is opposed to God and being the socialist-indoctrinated person he is, he easily blames Alchemax for God’s absence. This should remind you that through Vulture 2099, evil comes with fatal attraction that people could not realize until it is too late. The futuristic Vulture has a lot of common with the evil leaders of Black Lives Matter, Antifa, the Democratic Socialists of America and the long-time regime of Iran. Lastly, I should state that radical socialists are always wrong about God and they often live with distorted perceptions about Him. Vulture 2099 qualifies as a woke figure of 2099 and ultimately wokeness is foolishness.

Speaking of sub-plots, this comic book emphasizes Tyler Stone on how he handles ambitious projects of Alchemax that he believes will benefit people. His interactions with Dana here also sheds light about his very own obsession about the future of humanity.

Conclusion

*Spider-Man in trouble with the Vulture’s gang members.*

With rich writing, notable in-story details and a very well designed conflict between the futuristic Spider-Man and Vulture, Spider-Man 2099 #8 (1993) is both very engaging and entertainting to read from start to finish. It is a great pay-off to what was built-up in issue #7. Very notably, the conflict between Vulture 2099 and the protagonist is great to see and it is clear that Vulture is not a disposable supervillain but one of the most definitive forces of opposition against Spider-Man 2099. Of course, as comic book history turned out, Vulture 2099 made it in the crossover comic book event between classic Spider-Man and Spidey of 2099. Along the way, the creative team succeeded with expanding the lore of 2099 and the social underclass of New York.

Overall, Spider-Man 2099 #8 (1993) is highly recommended.

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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

Police officers seize multiple pieces of firecrackers and penalize open pipe muffler ban violators in Muntinlupa City

January 2, 2023January 1, 2023carlocarrasco

In the progressive city of Muntinlupa, the prohibitions on the use of firecrackers and open pipe mufflers wer put into action as the local police seized thousands of pieces of firecrackers and penalized many open pipe mufflers ban violators, 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…

More firecrackers were seized while 60 persons were penalized for using open pipe mufflers in Muntinlupa on New Year’s Eve.

According to the Muntinlupa City government, as of 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, nearly 4,000 pieces of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices including 52 improvised “boga” were seized by the Muntinlupa police in different operations.

Muntinlupa police chief Col. Angel Garcillano said the confiscated firecrackers will be turned over to the Southern Police District (SPD) headquarters for consolidation and destruction.

Muntinlupa City Ordinance No. 14-092 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.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Were you able to spot the presence of firecrackers in your local community recently? How disturbing to you were the open pipe mufflers?

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

A Look Back at Spider-Man 2099 #26 (1994)

December 29, 2022January 2, 2023carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the will 1990s and explore the far future of 2099 within the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the tales of Spider-Man 2099.

In my retro review of Spider-Man 2099 #25 (1994), I stated that Peter David crafted a story that connects and related well with the events of issue #1. Issue #25 had a really shocking revelation and by the time I reached the end, I was compelled to revisit issue #1. I can say that, literally, the dots between the two comic books really connected strongly.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man 2099 #26, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Peter David and drawn by Joe St. Pierre.

Early story

The story begins inside one of the towers of Alchemax where an armored person lies down on a platform closely examined by the local staff. Tyler Stone arrives and immediately wants a report on Kasey Nash. After getting a reply from one of his personnel, he orders the removal of the armor and get her out of the facility.

Meanwhile. Spider-Man wakes up from his nightmare. He finds himself resting on an elevate tree and land surrounded by skyscrapers. He still has not recovered from learning the shocking truth that Tyler Stone – his very powerful boss at Alchemax – is his biological father. Equally disturbing to him is the fact that he never had Rapture in his system and his attempt to alter himself genetically was truly pointless and unnecessary. Miguel O’Hara then says to himself that his whole life is a lie.

As it begins to rain, Spider-Man then starts moving and swinging away…

Quality

I want to make it clear that this particular story written by Peter David was clearly about developing Miguel O’Hara and exploring new depths within his personality. There is no good-versus-evil conflict here, nor were there any superhero spectacles or action scenes to find here. That being said, this comic book is not a bore at all and anyone who strongly follows Spider-Man 2099 as a serious character will have something to enjoy in terms of characterization mixed with intrigue.

As it is already clear that the tycoon Tyler Stone is the biological father of the protagonist, this particular story shows new dimensions as to where Miguel’s life could go to. In terms of characterization, you will get to see a very in-depth development of Spider-Man’s personality as well as his inner struggle with the way his life turns out. The dialogue is very well written, you will feel Miguel’s pain and you may even sympathize with him.

Considering the lack of superhero spectacle, it is great to see Peter David put strong emphasis on Spider-Man’s personality while also leaving some room for other developing sub-plots. It is intriguing to see Spider-Man having intense visual communication with a certain person whose organization empowered Kasey Nash (a lady the protagonist cares about). Speaking of relationships, you will see threads from Miguel’s past romance with a certain lady.

When it comes to the visuals, Joe St. Pierre delivered a fresh new look while still making the established characters look recognizable. At times, the characters were drawn with a cartoony aesthetic and yet there were times that the images looked dynamic even without superhero spectacle. St. Pierre’s work here is a nice temporary change from the usual stuff of Rick Leonardi as many of his art pieces looked more detailed in comparison.

Conclusion

Spider-Man 2099 #26 (1994) is clearly a worthy follow-up to the very shocking issue #25. You will see a new age of darkness and uncertainty within Mguel O’Hara’s personal life as well as his emotional struggles. The lack of superhero spectacle is not a problem at all as the characterization here is very compelling to read. This coming book even has a short story that explores Spider-Man’s connection with Tyler Stone long before the incident that took place in issue #1.

Overall, Spider-Man 2099 #26 (1994) is recommended.

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A Look Back at What If #10 (1990)

December 15, 2022December 14, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the reimagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series.

For those of you who have gotten very familiar with Marvel Comics’ vast lineup of superheroes, anti-heroes, super villains and supporting characters, the Punisher is one of the most notable characters as he is the most definitive vigilante the publisher ever has in its shared superhero universe. As a comic book protagonist, the Punisher does “good” in fighting crime but he sure is as bad as the bad guys as he commits torture, issued threats of violence, kidnapping, extortion, coercion and even murder towards them. A major factor in the Punisher’s origin (as Frank Castle) was the killing of his family (wife and two kids) committed by a mob as they witnessed acts of killing in Central Park in New York City. The tragic deaths led Castle to become the Punisher who not only relentlessly waged a personal war against criminals but also often wore dark clothes with a large white skull design on the front of his body. The skull symbolized punishment and death to his enemies.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #10, published in 1990 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Doug Murray and drawn by Rik Levins.

Early story

The story begins with the Watcher recalling the time Frank Castle spent with his wife and the two kids at New York City’s Central Park. There, they have fun with their picnic. At this point in time, Frank Castle had previously served his country in the Vietnam War and he carries within him bravery, the experience of violence and vast skills to use weapons.

The weather suddenly worsens as rain starts to fall down causing some inconvenience on the Castle family. Frank’s son struggles as his kite got caught by the large plant nearby. On the other side of the said plant, four armed men and their captive (hanging upside down by the tree) are startled and prepare themselves to shoot anyone who appears.

Frank, who does not realize the mob on the other side of the plant, helps his son get the kite back. The Castle family then decide to go back home not realizing that they came close to discovering and witnessing the illegal activity of the armed men. As the family kept on moving, Frank hears gunfire from a distance…

Quality

To get straight to the point about this comic book, it’s story is really engaging and it has noticeable amounts of darkness and grittiness without going overboard. While exploring what would happen had Frank Castle’s family not been killed, the comic book shows the Punisher getting involved in public safety as a New York patrolman which puts him in a unique position facing crime in radically different ways from what we comic book readers have been used to seeing. The story also explores corruption within the police and the justice system as well.

The way the events and action turned out showed the creative team focused on realism while also establishing the Punisher’s own place within the comic book’s alternate portrayal of the shared superhero universe. More on the subject matter of this comic book, there is a twist that surprised me a lot and it is something that you readers should see for yourselves.

Going back to Frank Castle, it is indeed very captivating to see him portrayed a lot more as a family man who really strives to support his wife and kids no matter how dangerous his occupation really is. The aspect of family in this comic book is very significant as it will make you realize that the definition of family in America in the 21^st century has been distorted as a result of laws or court decisions that reflected wokeness, homosexuality and unrestrained feminism. In short, woke America’s believers reject the concept of the traditional family and the concept of a father leading the family is considered taboo because it goes against LGBT’s so-called values and principles.

Conclusion

When you think about the legacy of the Punisher not only on comics but also in movies and other forms of entertainment media, you will often remember a one-man-army against criminals. What If #10 (1990) has is a really unique take on the Punisher and I can say it has a very captivating script brought to life with really good artwork. Not only does this alternate version of the Punisher shows how he affects criminals, but also how he impacts other parts of the fictional New York society within the shared universe of Marvel Comics (note: characters connected to Spider-Man and Daredevil are here). From start to finish, this Punisher tale by the Murray-Levins team turned out to be very engaging to read.

Overall, What If #10 (1990) is highly recommended!

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A Look Back at X-Men Adventures #9 (1993)

December 13, 2022December 12, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superheo enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the X-Men Adventures monthly series which was the literary adaptation of the popular X-Men animated series of the 1990s.

Within the lore of the X-Men, Juggernaut is a significant supervillain who not only gave the X-Men a lot of trouble but also did the same with other heroes within the Marvel Comics shared universe. In the 2006 movie X-Men: The Last Stand, Juggernaut made his first-ever cinematic appearance. In 2018’s Deadpool 2, a new cinematic version of Juggernaut appeared. In my retro comic book review of What If #13 (1990), a different version of Juggernaut was featured by the creators.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures #9, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.

Early story

The story begins with the X-Men (riding their jet) arriving from Genosha only to see a part of Professor X’s mansion destroyed. After landing, Cyclops, Wolverine and Jean Grey immediately searched through the rubble and found a path into the War Room. Using Cerebro, they uncovered a prepared video message of Professor X who tells them that he is taking a journey whose results may change their lives forever. After apologizing for the cryptic nature of the message, Xavier tells them that he trusts they will continue with their training and look after the School of Gifted Children in his absence.

The X-Men could not determine if their mentor left the mansion before the destruction took place. In response to Gambit’s question related to detection, Wolverine senses big foot prints and there was a familiar smell left behind. Wolverine decides to go out to keep following the scent which causes Cyclops to insist that the situation at hand is not the time for the team members to separate from each other.

After telling Cyclops he has places to go to, Wolverine then leaves his teammates with a motorcycle. Cyclops tells Storm to take Rogue and Jubilee with her to track Wolverine and stay close to him…

Quality

To describe this comic book’s story, I can say it was a fine mix of suspense, mystery and superhero spectacle. As the X-Men struggled to figure out how the damage on the mansion happened and where exactly did Charles Xavier go to, I felt this sense of dread backed with strong mystery. As the plot continued, there were these short-yet-notable character moments among the X-Men such as Gambit getting closer with Jean Grey who believes that she should be helping others on the field as her beloved Cyclops made a decision that kept her with him at the mansion.

The search for who is responsible for the mansion’s big damage creatively took notable paths in the story. One strong figure appeared and became a target of some X-Men members while another one became Wolverine’s target.

As expected, the highlight of this tale is Juggernaut himself and to say that he his huge and powerful is a big understatement. At this point of the X-Men Adventures monthly series, this is the one notable conflict that has multiple X-Men members struggling really hard fighting one single powerful enemy. In some ways, Juggernaut here looks like a much more dangerous foe than Magneto within this series. How the conflict in the story ended in a really intriguing yet sensible way which should resonate with X-Men fans.

Conclusion

*Only Cyclops, Gambit and Jean Grey (who wanted to do more) remained at the mansion.*

X-Men Adventures #9 (1993) is fun and intriguing to read. At the stage of this monthly series, the X-Men are not only more developed but are also challenged deeply as their mentor is no longer around to lead them. This makes the path ahead look more enticing to anticipate.

Overall, X-Men Adventures #9 (1993) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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/.

Police arrest armed suspects in Las Piñas City

November 25, 2022November 23, 2022carlocarrasco

In Las Piñas City, police officers organized a drug buy-bust operation which resulted in the arrest of two armed suspects, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The suspects have been formally charged for illegal possession of drugs and firearms.

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

Two armed drug suspects were arrested during a buy-bust operation conducted by members of the Las Piñas police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

Col. Jaime Santos, city police chief, identified the suspects as Nasser Ismael, alias Jong, 35; and Ismael Ahmad, 26 years old.

Santos said the suspects were arrested around 2 a.m. along Diego Sierra in front of Alpha Mart, Barangay Manuyo Uno.

The city police chief said members of the SDEU confiscated from the suspects four plastic sachets containing shabu with an estimated weight of more or less 5.1 grams and worth ₱34,680.

Santos said that aside from the shabu, a .45 caliber pistol with eight live ammunition and Toyota Vios were also confiscated from the suspects by members of SDEU.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this new development? Do you think the illegal drug trade will continue to happen in the city? Does this recent achievement by the local police make you feel safer?

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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Local authorities arrest Ghanaian national suspected of masterminding ATM hacking ring

November 3, 2022November 1, 2022carlocarrasco

Have you been withdrawing money from certain ATMs (automatic teller machines) lately? Did you notice something wrong with the same accounts you withdrew money from? The Manila Bulletin reported that in recent times, personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) aided by the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) arrested a Ghanaian national on suspicion of masterminding a ring of hackers that targeted ATMs. The same news report showed some interesting details about the suspect.

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

Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives have arrested a (Ghanaian) national posing as a missionary but is suspected to be the mastermind of a West African syndicate hacking automated teller machines (ATMs).

Immigration intelligence chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said 34-year-old Victor Patrick was apprehended in a joint operation with the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) last Oct. 14 in a mall in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Manahan said the ISAFP reported that the alien was the principal suspect in hacking ATM machines installed by banks in Moonwalk, Paranaque City.

Manahan said Patrick arrived in the country last April 20, 2019 as tourist and later applied for a missionary visa using a Cebu-based company which turned out to be non-existing.

Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Patrick will be deported for obtaining an immigration document under false representation.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Did you withdraw money from ATMs in Parañaque that the suspect allegedly hacked? If so, did you notice discrepancies on your account related to the withdrawals you made?

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

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Muntinlupa City Mayor Biazon tells residents to be vigilant as a new weather disturbance approaches

November 1, 2022October 31, 2022carlocarrasco

This past weekend was harsh for many people here in the Philippines due to the intense rain and wind caused by typhoon Paeng. The result was a lot of flooding, fallen trees and unstable power supply to say the least. Yesterday, the Manila Bulletin reported that Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon advised residents (who are still recovering from the last typhoon) to be vigilant as a new weather disturbance has entered the area of responsibility of Philippines.

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

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon advised residents to be vigilant as another weather disturbance entered the Philippines.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced on Oct. 31 that tropical depression “Queenie” has entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

“At 5:00 AM today, the center of the Tropical Depression near Palau entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was named #QueeniePH. Tropical Cyclone Bulletins will be issued beginning at 11:00 AM today,” PAGASA posted on its Facebook page.

The entry of “Queenie” came as tropical storm “Paeng” is still in the Philippine area of responsibility.

“Pumasok na sa Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) si #QueeniePH. Tututukan po natin yan para po sa nararapat na paghahanda (#QueeniePH has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility [PAR]. We will focus on this for the appropriate preparedness),” Biazon said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Is your household ready for a new weather disturbance? How much damage did typhoon Paeng have on your household this past weekend?

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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Mayor Aguilar issues Executive Order regarding Undas 2022 in Las Piñas City

October 27, 2022October 25, 2022carlocarrasco

In the City of Las Piñas, Mayor Imelda Aguilar issued an executive order regulating activities and implementing guidelines related to the observance of “Undas” this year, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. For the newcomers reading this, “Undas” refers to the public tradition of paying respect to the dead by visiting the graves of the departed ones in memorial parks or cemeteries nationwide.

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

Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar has ordered the strict implementation of guidelines for safe observance of “Undas 2022” amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aguilar issued an Executive Order (EO) regulating the activities related to the observance of “Undas” after the Department of Health (DOH) reported that there is a rise in the number of persons afflicted with Covid-19 for the month of October.

The mayor said public and private cemeteries and columbaria must strictly observe the guidelines to avoid the spread of Covid-19 in the city.

From Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, visits to all memorial facilities whether private or public shall be allowed from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. only.

Aguilar said private memorial facilities may however opt for a shorter visitation depending on the policies of their establishments.

She said administrators of open field cemeteries and memorial parks must post signages reminding the public to observe social and physical distancing inside their premises.

The mayor said although wearing of face masks is no longer mandatory, cemeteries and memorial parks must implement the policy inside their premises.

No ambulant vendors shall be allowed inside the cemeteries from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2. The concerned barangay shall ensure that ambulant vendors plying near the vicinity of the memorial parks are orderly situated in a place where they will not impede the entrance and exit, including the flow of traffic near the surrounding areas and streets.

The mayor said that violators of the EO will be penalized and business permits issued to private business establishments shall be immediately revoked with summary closure.

Aguilar said the EO shall be implemented by the local police, barangays officials within their territorial jurisdictions.

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? In this age of COVID-19, do you feel confident to go out and visit the graves of your departed ones in the cemeteries?

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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Reinvigorating tourism in the Philippines

October 20, 2022October 19, 2022carlocarrasco

In what is a clear move to reinvigorate tourism all over the Philippines in line with recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. announced a series of moves to achieve their goals and this includes the new project titled “Philippine Experience”, according to two separate news articles (click here and here) published by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news article about President Marcos’ speech. Some parts in boldface…

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday underscored the need for tourism industry players and stakeholders to come up with “fresh” and “new” ideas to entice more tourists to travel to the Philippines and revive what he described as one of the “key players” in the nation’s progress.

Marcos made this remark as he lauded the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) ongoing efforts to consult with regional tourism offices about ways to support the tourism industry’s recovery dubbed as “listening tours.”

“Following the pandemic, we need fresh and innovative ideas to bring back the imagination and the confidence of our people—from here and abroad—so they will be encouraged to explore the best destinations that the country can offer,” he said in his speech during the Philippine Tourism Industry Convergence Reception (PTICR) at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

He described the DOT’s listening tours as an “imaginative tool” that helps the government see the perspective of those who are on the ground and understand their experiences and situations.

“The avenues you have opened for all regions will be instrumental not only in formulating the best policies, but also in determining better practices and the best projects for the industry,” he added.

Marcos said the government will remain committed to ensuring that the inputs acquired from the DOT’s listening tours will be “optimized” for the benefit of the tourism sector.

“We want one of the key players in our nation’s progress to be buzzing once again with life again—stronger than ever—so that they will be able to keep up with these fast moving times,” he added.

He also praised DOT Secretary Christina Frasco for keeping his administration on their toes by having a clear vision of her plans for the tourism sector.

“She keeps us on our toes. She has always kept a very very clear idea in her mind of what we are trying to achieve. She has brought passion and energy that certainly that we’re going to need. But it is passion and energy that gives us confidence that we will succeed,” Marcos said.

He said Frasco’s strategy of empowering local government units (LGUs) was a no-brainer given her experience as a former mayor of Liloan municipality in Cebu.

As part of efforts to boost the tourism sector, Marcos reiterated the importance of further developing existing travel destinations and developing new ones.

He also underscored the need to ensure that these destinations are accessible through improved tourism infrastructure.

Marcos said the PTICR provides the perfect opportunity to pursue initiatives for greater tourism connectivity and convenience.

“It is my hope that this reception will foster meaningful discourse and yield concrete plans that we can immediately put into action,” he said.

Greatest asset

Meanwhile, Marcos expressed confidence in using the country’s “greatest asset” to revive the tourism sector to what it was prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“…The greatest asset that we have in the PH are the 107 million Filipinos who are a young, well-trained workforce who are as kind of people, who are as hospitable of people, as gracious of people as you will find anywhere in the world,” he said.

He said he believed that Filipinos will be crucial in “reintroducing” the Philippines to the world.

“I am confident because I have said this many many times that there is no warmer, more poignant sight than the smile of a Filipino and that is something that we can introduce to the world,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco emphasized the “Philippine Experience” during the same event President Marcos attended. Posted below is an excerpt with some parts in boldface…

The program called the Philippine Experience would involve the development of caravans featuring culture, heritage, and arts unique to each region.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said it would draw inspiration from Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, a Cebuano initiative that sought to promote Cebu towns and cities’ products and give tourists a chance to discover underrated destinations.

Giving industry stakeholders a glimpse of the program, Tourism directors from the Cordilleras down to Mindanao showcased the colors, festivals and “living traditions” that could be experienced in their regions.

“Our goal is to equalize opportunities across the regions and support the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage and artistic resources,” Frasco said during the Philippine Tourism Industry Convergence Reception at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Monday.

“Through these experiential travel modules, we hope to introduce the very essence of our nation more deeply to our tourists and instill a sense of pride and patriotism among the Filipino people through greater appreciation of our country’s inheritance and legacy,” she added.

The Philippine Experience is part of the list of programs that DOT is implementing in the coming months to help the sector recover from the effects of the pandemic and position the Philippines as a primary tourism destination in Asia.

As seen in the above content from two of PNA’s news articles, the national government just made clear its focus on reinvigorating Philippine tourism which has the potential to create new job opportunities, open up channels between tourism business players and other businesses, and generate the much-needed economic activities around the nation. Having worked and lived in Cebu province myself, I am not surprised that the DOT took inspiration from the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo tourism program which was very active during my Cebu years.

Apart from the collective efforts of the tourism business players, the event organizers, the national government and other local government units, we Filipinos can also take part in promoting the nation as a tourist destination that can be enjoyed. I personally am fond of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as a vacation destination and to those of you planning to go there, make sure you visit Gourmet Garage Subic and Xtremely Xpresso Café for your meals. Subic Bay also has lots of nice hotels to stay in as well as shopping places. If you are looking for a sports event to join in at Subic Bay, then you should register online for the 2023 National Age Group Triathlon event there set for January 2023.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel encouraged to travel around the country and enjoy the tourist destinations?

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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