In the progressive City of Muntinlupa, security outposts were installed by the City Government in key parts of the city and with police officers stationed there to improve security and order, the Manila Bulletin reported.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
The Muntinlupa City government has started installing security outposts manned by the police 24/7 to step up efforts in security and order.
As of Sept. 27, the security outposts have been put up at the City Alternate Route Entry and Exit (C.A.R.E.S.) guard house in Pleasant Village in Barangay Bayanan, and Soldier’s Hills and Caltex gas station along National Road in Barangay Putatan. Additional outposts will be installed in the coming days.
The decision to place security outposts was made after messages spread in August on social media about the alleged kidnapping incidents in Muntinlupa.
On Messenger, people forwarded the message, “Attention Everyone!!! Mag ingat po ang lahat sa pag uwi, maging aware sa paligid as much as possible mag pasundo sa kanino pag uuwe may mga cases na sa Muntinlupa Area. Soldiers: 3 cases of kidnapping, Katarungan: 2 cases of kidnapping, Bayanan Area : 2 cases of kidnapping.” (Attention Everyone!!! Please be aware when you go home, be aware of your surroundings as much as possible ask someone to fetch you, there are already cases in the Muntinlupa Area. Soldiers: 3 cases of kidnapping, Katarungan: 2 cases of kidnapping, Bayanan Area : 2 cases of kidnapping).”
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon immediately asked the Muntinlupa police to investigate the alleged kidnapping incidents, which turned out to be false.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think the installation of new security outposts was necessary? Were there any cases of kidnapping that took place in your local community?
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
Things are looking bleak economically. Recently the Philippine Peso reached another record low to the United States Dollar on the foreign exchange market. The local stock market lost a lot of points as well. Regardless, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos stated that the economy of the Philippines will not just recover but grow higher than what was achieved before the COVID-19 crisis affected everyone, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA article Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine economy will go beyond its pre-pandemic growth, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday (Manila time), as he confidently talked about progress amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
During his meeting with members of Asia Society at The Carlyle Hotel in New York City, Marcos said his administration has laid out measures that will help reinvigorate the economy.
“We don’t want to just catch up. We want to go beyond that. We have no interest in going back to pre-pandemic levels. What we are interested in is to flourish further and to position the Philippines in such a way that we can take full advantage of the new economies and the new industries that have come to light,” Marcos said in his speech.
Sustained cooperation and collaboration with the private sector and other governments would lead to the realization of his administration’s bid to make the Philippines a new and transformed country, the President said.
He said the Philippines is a “viable and smart” investment destination, given its macroeconomic fundamentals, enabling policies, and human capital.
“They recognize the Philippines, our country, for its business-friendly policies, a very competent workforce, and a network of economic zones,” he said. “These are interesting times and there are many things to accomplish. The far-reaching ill-effects of the pandemic compel us to reinvigorate our economies in a spirit of sustained cooperation and collaboration.”
Marcos noted that the Philippine economy expanded by 5.7 percent in 2021 and 7.8 percent in the first half of 2021 because of government spending, household consumption, and investments reinforced by consumer and business confidence.
He also cited “investor-friendly” laws that seek to “leverage game-changing reforms.”
Marcos told the group about the “young, educated, hardworking, and English-speaking” Philippine workforce that is globally competitive.
He expressed hope to get more investments for his administration’s priority sectors, which include agriculture; nuclear energy; health systems; information technology and business process management; digital connectivity; and manufacturing, including the critical sectors of semiconductors, green metals, and electric vehicles.
“We must use public and private resources effectively to encourage the expansion of trade, investment, technology transfers, all to accelerate our development,” Marcos said.
Despite the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the global economic crisis, Marcos said the Philippines remains on track to “graduate to upper middle-income-country status” by 2023 and become a “high-income country” by 2040.
“With steady investments in infrastructure, agriculture, food security, public health, education, and other social services, we seek to become a high-income country, with zero extreme poverty by the year 2040,” he said.
“Certainly, the world continues to be faced by enormous challenges, but I am confident in the future because I have 110 million reasons for being so. Such is my faith in the Filipino people and the relationship we hold with the United States and our other allies and partners and friends,” Marcos added.
Asia Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to build bridges of understanding between the East and West.
Let me end this by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this latest development? Are you eager to see the socio-economic plans of the Marcos administration to be implemented as soon as possible so that the national economy will be reinvigorated? Do you think that the pandemic may have opened up new opportunities for business innovations and e-commerce to transpire nationwide?
Another hit-and-run tragedy took place recently in Parañaque City which resulted in the death of a 3-year-old girl who got hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV), according to a news report by GMA Network. The victim’s companion got hurt as well. This report was published not so long after the reporting of the tragedy that took place in BF Homes in the same city.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA Network news report. Some parts in boldface…
A three-year-old girl died after being run over by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Paranaque City.
The girl’s companion, another child, sustained wounds, according to a report by Jonathan Andal on the weekend edition of “24 Oras.”
The two kids reportedly went out of their house to look for the brother of the victim and were walking on the road when the SUV made a left turn and hit one of them.
Concerned citizens had to run after the SUV driver to stop him and told him about the incident.
“Sabi ko, ‘boss may nasagasaan kang bata, akin na yung susi mo.’ Eh ayaw ibigay. Hindi ko nakita na may bata, ‘yun ang sabi niya,” John Bert Lopez said.
He continued, “Pero imposible na hindi nya nakita ‘yun, kasi andito pa lang sa humps dapat nakita nya ‘yun.”
The father of the child, Raymond Sampang, regretted going to work in a construction site that day. As he had to be away, he said he asked his older sons, age 11 and 12, to look after their sister.
“Kung alam ko lang na mangyayari yun, hindi na sana ako nagtrabaho ng araw na ‘yun,” he said.
The victim’s mother has just returned home from her work abroad, but could not be with her family yet as she has yet to complete her quarantine.
Sampang said the 68-year-old SUV driver has not offered help to his family.
The driver, who was not allowed to be interviewed by GMA News, said he did not see the two kids on the road.
For more insight, posted below is the news video of the same story. This one contains CCTV footage of the incident which is very disturbing to watch. You have been warned.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Parañaque City resident, what can you say about this latest crime-related news? Do you believe the claim that the driver of the SUV did not even see the two kids on the road?
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
This past weekend, a very tragic event happened inside BF Homes subdivision in Parañaque City when a 63-year-old street sweeper got hit and ran over by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) at the corner of Elizalde street and Aguirre Avenue. The tragedy was captured entirely by CCTV camera and the footage has since turned viral online. Already, the major daily newspapers Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star reported about the tragedy although they differed on the name of the apprehended driver responsible.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Inquirer news report. Some parts in boldface…
A 63-year-old female street sweeper suffered severe injuries as she was hit by a sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Parañaque on Saturday, according to a report from the Parañaque City Police Station.
The woman was sweeping the street when an SUV hit, dragged, and ran over her at the corner of Elizalde Avenue (and) Aguirre Avenue in Barangay BF Homes.
This incident was caught on camera, with CCTV footage showing the driver hitting and running over the street sweeper even though she was on the side of the road.
The woman was immediately brought to the Ospital ng Paranaque and was later transferred to the Philippine General Hospital.
The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Raymond Maraña, was arrested and taken to the Traffic Vehicular Investigation Unit for investigation.
Police are now preparing a complaint of reckless imprudence resulting in serious physical injury against Maraña.
For more insight, posted below is the excerpt from the report of the Philippine Star. Some parts in boldface…
Police arrested a motorist who ran over and abandoned a street sweeper in Parañaque City yesterday, in an incident that was caught on video that has gone viral on social media.
The victim, 63-year-old Doreen Bacus, was collecting trash at the corner of Elizalde and Aguirre avenues in barangay BF Homes when she was hit by a white Mitsubishi Pajero sport utility vehicle (SUV) at around 7:30 a.m., Southern Police District director Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft said in a message on Viber.
Kraft identified the suspect as Raymond Zaparain, 42, a resident of Las Piñas City, who was arrested by policemen after the incident
Surveillance camera footage of the incident shared by a netizen showed Bacus was unaware of the oncoming SUV as she had her back to the vehicle.
Instead of stopping, Zaparain ran over the victim and fled the scene.
Concerned citizens rushed Bacus to the Ospital ng Parañaque. She was later transferred to the Philippine General Hospital in Manila for further treatment.
One of the witnesses, David Gamboa, confronted Zaparain about the incident.
“Ito lang sinabi niya (this was all he said), ‘I wasn’t aware,’” Gamboa said in a post on Facebook.
A street sweeper (CENRO) by the name of Doreen Bacus from Masville (i personally know and observe her at times na nagpapangabot kami sa kalye as masiyahin and super sipag) was a victim of hit and run by a male driver on a mitsubishi AUV. Fortunately there were witnesses that saw the accident, reported and chased the speeding vehicle towards lopez gate. The driver was apprehended by responding police, tanods and security guards and is currently detained at the Parañaque Traffic Management Bureau for investigation. We hope the driver is punished by the full extent of the law as this will set an example to others not to take the roads for granted. We don’t want any similar reckless incidents happening in our peaceful community.
We are very saddened by this incident. Nanay Doreen 63 years old is a regular street sweeper in our Barangay. She’s currently at PGH in critical conditon and being treated for major injuries sustained during the accident.
For those who wish to send their personal help, you may contact her daughter thru this number 09558524279 (Jade Bacus).
Finally, posted below is a Tagalog ABS-CBN news video about the incident. Watch and listen closely to the details.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are living in Parañaque City, what is your reaction to this the tragedy that happened inside BF Homes? Are hit-and-run incidents common in your city?
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
In the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the number of adult patients who received their first booster shots for COVID-19 is slowly approaching 200,000. Specifically, the count is just a little less than 190,000 according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The total number of adults who have received their first booster shot against Covid-19 has increased to more than 188,000.
Data from the Muntinlupa City Health Office (CHO) showed that as of Sept. 20, the first booster shot recipients among the adult population in the city rose to 188,256, an increase of 1,758 people from 186,498 as of Sept. 14.
The total coverage is equivalent to 42.54 percent of the target population of 442,517, or 80 percent of the total Muntinlupa population of 553,146.
In addition, there are 33,977 individuals who have received their second booster shot in Muntinlupa.
Muntinlupa’s total fully vaccinated population stood at 524,527, or 118.53 percent of the target population and 94.48 percent of the total population.
Among the 12 to 17 years old in the city, 43,850 are fully vaccinated, or 77.61 percent of the total population of 56,499 for the age group. First booster dose recipients among them totaled 6,212.
The fully vaccinated among five to 11 years old totaled 20,215, or 29.64 percent of the total population of 68,198.
The Muntinlupa City government has been continuing with the Department of Health’s “Sa Booster Pinaslakas” program.
This aims to increase the coverage of booster shots to 50 percent of the total target population and vaccinate 90 percent of senior citizens nationwide before Oct. 8, which marks the first 100 days of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Let me end this by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what can you say about this newest development? Are there many members of your local community who are still hesitant about getting vaccinated for COVID-19? Did you notice if there were any anti-vaccine fanatics and liars who keep spreading fear and misinformation in your local community? Do you think that the anti-vaccine fanatics here in the Philippines are conspiring with the Communists, socialists, Marxists, SJWs and terrorists?
I will get straight to the point here – Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroesis my most wanted Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) of this current console generation and it is one of the main reasons why I subscribed to Xbox Game Pass (XGP) as soon as I bought my Xbox Series X console late last year. While a release date was not yet announced as of this writing, I am looking forward to this upcoming JRPG on my Xbox Series X sometime in 2023. Check out the official Xbox listing of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes by clicking here.
During the recent Tokyo Game Show (TGS), publisher 505 Games and Rabbit & Bear Studios executives – including studio head Yoshitaka Murayama (the Suikoden series creator) and Junko Kawano (who worked on Suikoden and Suikoden IV) – had their own presentation and made announcements. During the TGS, the newest trailer of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was unveiled and it sure looks really good even though the footage shown was from pre-alpha build. Watch the newest trailer below…
As I mentioned earlier, no release date was announced during the TGS which I found baffling since that event drew a lot of viewers and gamers’ attention worldwide. Could it be possible that Konami’s surprise announcement of Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars coming to multiple platforms (including Xbox) in 2023 might have something to do with the lack of a firm release date for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes? At least in my view, developer Rabbit & Bear is still working on finishing their JRPG.
Perhaps publisher 505 Games is doing a wait-and-see approach about the many video games expected to fill the market in 2023 with anticipated heavy hitters like Starfield, Forza Motorsport (2023) and Redfall to name a few. 505 Games will have to select soon a firm 2023 release date for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes based on market competition and the development status of the game.
Exploration in the game will be a mix of 2D sprites, polygonal environments and some artistic backgrounds.
The battles in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes have that dynamic touch and multiple playable characters can fill your party and engage the enemies.
For the newcomers reading this, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a turn-based fantasy JRPG which has a design and style similar to what was seen in the first two Suikoden video games. As seen in the above trailer, the upcoming JRPG has the combined talents of game creators such as Yoshitaka Murayama, Junko Kawano and Junichi Murakami (Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow) plus musicians Motoi Sakuraba (Star Ocean series, Tales of series) and Michiko Naruke (Wild Arms series).
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has a story set in one corner of Allraan, a tapestry of nations with diverse cultures and values. On Xbox.com, 505 Games released the first set of character profiles introducing: Nowa, Seign, Marisa, Lian and Garr. Their respective descriptions are as follows…
Nowa – When the League of Nations recruits warriors to assist in a joint expedition with the Galdean Empire, our protagonist answers the call and leaves his remote village to test his skills. On the mission, he finds an ancient rune-lens, unaware that the discovery will spark a war between the League and the Empire. After the conflict begins, he joins a unit in the League’s border guard. The protagonist is the “leap before you look” type. He doesn’t always weigh the pros and cons before springing to action, and while his constant need to involve himself in other people’s problems sometimes creates headaches for his companions, they like him for it and know his heart is in the right place. After all, if they ever got into trouble, he’d be the first person there.
Seign – The second-born son to House Kesling, a powerful imperial family. His older brother died on the battlefield. Seign is exceptionally gifted; after achieving outstanding grades at military academy, he was placed in command of a company of his peers and sent on the expedition to find the ancient rune-lens. During the mission, he meets the protagonist. The two warm to each other as they overcome adversity, and they learn of one another’s ambitions. Seign’s strategic mind allows him to analyze things from a broad perspective and make sound decisions. People often confuse his clear mind for a cold heart, but he is guided by strong ideals and a deep passion to fulfill them. After his brother’s death during a border rebellion, Seign began to think long and hard about what it means to fight.
Marisa– A young member of the Guardians, a clan that hallows and protects the forest. Since Marisa was very little her family has instilled their ways and traditions in her. She has a warm, affable smile — except on the battlefield, where she wears the countenance of a warrior.
Although the Guardians live as one with the forest, they have respect for the outside world’s culture and technology, and they are not against integrating the parts of it that make sense to them. Marisa is particularly forward-thinking in this regard and loves new things — especially cute things.
Lian – After the Empire’s forces invade league lands, Lian is infuriated and runs away from home without even the slightest semblance of a plan. She decides the first thing to do is hoof it to the biggest town she can find, and luckily that’s where she meets the protagonist and his companions. Lian was born in a dojo, and her father wasted no time in teaching her. She was doing roundhouse kicks before she even learned to walk properly.
Garr– A veteran beastman warrior. He and his clan make their living as mercenaries, and their vast experience and sheer brutality put them in high demand. War is all Garr has known, and to him life is one battlefield after the other until you die.
To date, Rabbit & Bear Studios already released the side-scrolling spin-off game Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising and has been working hard to complete Hundred Heroes. The shared game design elements between the early Suikoden games and Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes such has having over 100 playable characters, a story of war, in-depth world exploration, heavy use of 2D sprites for the characters along with their acts during battles, and dynamic group battles are not surprising given Murayama’s history of leading the development of the Suikoden JRPG franchise (until the 3rd game) during his time with Konami. Murayama also is a proven fantasy storyteller with the Suikoden games. Personally, I really loved playing Suikoden II which in my opinion is not only the best of the Suikoden game franchise but also one of the very best JRPGs of the 1990s that I have ever played as well as one of the best JRPGs that was not made by Square Enix.
Now this is one very dazzling moment shown during the latest Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes trailer.
Seign and Nowa going head to head with each other in this captured moment from the latest trailer.
Knowing that Murayama, Kawano and other notable Japanese creators are working together in making Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, I have reasons to be confident about it. On my end, my taste on video games has changed a lot over the past fifteen years and that goes the same with my interest in JRPGs. Along the way, I really miss the fun I had with the first two Suikoden games as they had gameplay elements that were not only uniquely fun but also aged well. For me, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes could become the most delightful surprise among JRPGs in this current console generation. It is my most-wanted JRPG of this console generation and I believe it will fit in nicely with the Xbox ecosystem which is already becoming an ideal haven for fantasy RPGs and RPG fans in general.
Watch out for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass in 2023.
To start with, watch this official Xbox launch trailer of Deathloop!
Now watch this latest Deathloop trailer.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official Xbox.com announcement written by Anne Lewis, Sr. Content Manager, Bethesda Softworks Senior Content Manager Anne Lewis. Some parts in boldface…
The award-winning, mind-bending, time-warping sensation critics are calling a “masterpiece” is now available on Xbox Series X|S! Deathloop transports players to the lawless island of Blackreef in an eternal struggle between two extraordinary assassins. Explore stunning environments and meticulously designed levels in an immersive gameplay experience that lets you approach every situation any way you like. Hunt down eight targets all over the island to put an end to the cycle once and for all, and remember, if at first you don’t succeed… die, die again.
Xbox players can now jump into the colorful world and time-warped action of Deathloop, running at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X|S. Deathloop is also available now with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Cloud Gaming (Beta). Experience Arkane Lyon’s unique spin on the first-person shooter and lose yourself on Blackreef.
Everything You Need to Know About Deathloop – New to Deathloop? Get caught up with everything you need to know with this handy roundup.
What the hell is happening on Blackreef? – As Colt, you have one day to eliminate eight targets who are responsible for keeping the timeloop functioning. If you miss even one, the day will reset. But they’re scattered all over the island. How are you supposed to track them all down in just one cycle? To take out all of them before the day starts over, you’ll need to learn to manipulate the world around you, discovering your targets’ routines and schedules as you fight to solve the puzzle of the island. And the best part: You’re free to determine how to go about this.
You can take every mission — main missions and side missions — at your own pace and in any order you choose as you assemble those puzzle pieces. Each day is an opportunity to learn and piece together the mystery. You’ll get stronger, you’ll try new things, you’ll discover new paths, and eventually, you’ll break this f***ing timeloop. Learn more here on Bethesda Blog with The Story of Deathloop and Dig into the Basics.
Meet Colt – It’s no surprise that Colt is a mystery. After all, it’s hard to know much about a guy when he doesn’t know anything about himself. He has no idea who he is; why he’s caught in a timeloop on a frigid, isolated island; why people seem to know him… All he knows is that he’s having a pretty bad day, and he’ll *be* having a pretty bad day until he can do something about the timeloop. Progressing through Deathloop means uncovering not only the island’s secrets, but the secrets of Colt’s past. For better or worse, Colt’s determined to figure out who he really is and why he’s here. Learn more here on Bethesda Blog with Our Hero, Colt.
And Colt’s Hunter – Where Deathloop’s hero Colt is mysterious because he knows nothing about himself, its “villain” Julianna is mysterious because she knows everything about everything, and she keeps all those cards tucked carefully up her stylish sleeves. When you know everything, sometimes the most fun you can have is playing your winning cards while laughing in your opponent’s face. Learn more here on Bethesda Blog with And His Nemesis, Julianna.
Who Are the Targets? – Colt’s job isn’t easy. He’s trapped in a timeloop on Blackreef, surrounded by chaotic partygoers with itchy trigger fingers. At the top of the island’s food chain are either “Visionaries” responsible for keeping the timeloop going. If he can manage to take them all out in a single day, he can break the timeloop and finally escape. Eight targets, all spread out across an entire island, and just one day to kill them all. You better get to know all eight if you plan on getting the job done. Learn more here on Bethesda Blog with Check Out Your Hitlist and How Will You Take Them All Out?
Go Head-to-Head – While Colt’s single-player journey is the focus in Deathloop, if you’re feeling particularly devious you can switch things up and take on the role of Julianna and sneak into another player’s game to cause some chaos. Break the timeloop or protect it? The choice is yours. Learn more here on Bethesda Blog with Face Off Against Your Friends In PvP.
What’s New in the Goldenloop Update – Deathloop’s latest major update comes with cross-platform PvP matchmaking and a host of new goodies for you to enjoy. Get your hands on a new weapon, a new ability, and new trinkets, plus new enemies to go head-to-head with, and much more. Learn more here on Bethesda Blog about the Goldenloop update.
Deathloop’s Xbox debut is notable not only because it helps soften the blow related to the lack of big-budget Xbox-exclusive games this year but also because it was one of the Bethesda games Sony paid to be an exclusive on PlayStation 5 (PS5). With its availability on Xbox Game Pass (XGP), many millions of subscribers will get to play and enjoy the game complete with optimization for their Xbox Series consoles.
Panda Express’ newest branch is located at the corner of the Alabang-Zapote Road and Madrigal Avenue. The said branch is located right beside Jollibee and are part of the Molito Complex. The commercial space occupied by Panda Express Alabang (also referred to as Panda Express Madrigal) was a Chowking branch.
Panda Express in Alabang at the corner of Alabang-Zapote Road and Madrigal Avenue.
For the newcomers reading this, Panda Express started in Glendale, California in the United States in 1983 and expanded worldwide with over two thousand branches. Within South Metro Manila, Panda Express has a branch at Doña Soledad Avenue in Parañaque City and also one at the basement level of SM Southmall in Las Piñas City.
With regards to food, Panda Express’ most notable food is its Orange Chicken (note: chicken nuggets with a unique texture and taste). They also offer Black Pepper Steak, Mongolian Pork, Kung Pao Chicken, Beijing Beef, Broccoli Beef, Eggplant Tofu, Fried Rice, Chow Mein and Mixed Vegetables to name some.
The food for customers’ to choose from inside Panda Express.
If you will be visiting a Panda Express for the first time ever, you will have to adjust yourselves to the restaurant’s use of terms such as entrées and sides when you select the meals you want to eat. Don’t feel intimidated as the restaurant has personnel who will explain things to you and guide you.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this recent development? Are you excited to try out the food served by Panda Express now that they have a branch in Alabang? If you are an Alabang resident, do you think Panda Express has what it takes to compete and survive given the fact that the Alabang commercial areas are filled with lots of restaurants already? If you were able to eat at a Panda Express restaurant before, which particular meal did you enjoy the most from them?
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
While the sudden release of the remastered version of the hit Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) Ni no Kuni on Xbox platforms and Xbox Game Pass (XGP) was indeed surprising, there was another major surprise pulled off by Konami that includes Xbox for a release some time in 2023 – Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars. Watch the official English-language trailer below…
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official press release from Konami’s website. Some parts in boldface…
Announced during Tokyo Games Show 2022, KONAMI confirmed several fundamental improvements and quality-of-life features in the upcoming remaster collection:
Graphical Improvements
Pixel sprites and environment art enhanced with new screen effects including lighting, clouds, and shadow animations Flickering flames, smoldering smoke, the movement of leaves and insects, all add up to a lively in-game atmosphere!
The effects and direction have been redesigned, bringing memorable scenes back to life in more beautiful ways!
New Character Drawings
All character portraits have been updated in HD. Junko Kawano, who designed the characters for the original version of Suikoden released in 1995, has newly re-drawn all the character portraits for Suikoden I HD Remaster Gate Rune War.
Sound Improvements
Field Sound – A large number of environmental sounds not found in the original version, such as the sound of running water in the river, wind, insects, and running footsteps, have been added. You can enjoy an immersive experience like never before!
Battle Sound – All sound effects are now in HD. In addition to the impact of the 3D effects, the realistic sound greatly enhances the dynamism of the battles!
Game System Improvements
Many new features have been added, such as dialogue log, auto-battle, double-speed battles, etc.
Footage of the remastered Suikoden JRPG from Konami’s official trailer.
The 2D sprites look the same but they do look sharper in HD. Even the background elements look sharper.
World exploration in Suikoden is no longer the flat 2D map it used to be.
As I have played Suikoden and Suikoden II on the original PlayStation console in the 1990s, the announcement of Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is big dream come true for me personally. I always wanted to replay Suikoden and Suikoden II without the hassle of having to spend a lot of money to buy a PlayStation or a Nintendo console. In my experience, Suikoden II is the peak of excellence of its own franchise as the creative team listened to the fans and learned from their shortcomings on making the first game which resulted in very rich gameplay, several fun features and compelling story. Suikoden II also remains a great example of using 2D sprites aided with 3D camera movements and some polygonal effects. Read my retro review of Suikoden II at https://carlocarrasco.com/2021/07/15/a-look-back-at-suikoden-ii-1999/
The lighting in this particular part of Suikoden II was enhanced to be dramatic looking.
Battle sequence from Suikoden II as shown in Konami’s trailer.
This touching scene from Suikoden II looks better than ever.
That being said, Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars coming to Xbox (note: Xbox One was officially listed as the Xbox console) is a big bonus not just for Xbox gamers who enjoy JRPGs but also for long-time gamers who loved the early Suikoden games who have not been spending much time with console gaming. As seen in the official press release from Konami as well as in the revealed footage in the official announcement trailer, there were several enhancements to make Suikoden and Suikoden II more presentable in today’s age of high-definition gaming. While the 2D sprites and in-game art works of the two classic JRPGs look the same (note: with some minor adjustments), I noticed the improvements on sound effects, the in-game lighting, some adjustments on textures, the higher resolution resulting in sharper images, and the redrawn character portraits (in the first game specifically).
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars coming to Xbox is looking like a great addition on the Xbox ecosystem’s growing global appeal as the haven for fantasy RPGs gamers and also for gamers who like other types of role-playing games! For Konami, selling the two classic JRPGs on Xbox could mean bigger sales than what they achieved on PlayStation decades ago. Remember that 2023 will see the eventual release of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes and the Xbox-eclusive Starfield. Right now, Konami is still at work on enhancing the remastered Suikodenand Suikoden II and they will have to decide which date in 2023 should mark the release. Personally, I can hardly wait to play Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars on my Xbox Series X console. Watch out for Konami’s announcement of the official 2023 release date. Also, here is hoping Konami will do a good job remastering the two classic JRPGs and that the promises they made in their press release will be fulfilled.
For the newcomers reading this, the Suikoden game franchise’s core concept has been based on the motif of the Chinese classic novel Water Margin and the creative team back then (led by a very young Yoshitaka Murayama who is now leading Rabbit & Bear studios making Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes) created role-playing games that had engaging fantasy stories, feature-rich gameplay and a wide lineup of characters who collectively contribute to the game endings. The first Suikoden RPG of the mid-1990s follows a protagonist whose father is one of the empire’s five generals, as he gathers his 108 Stars of Destiny and friends to fight against the oppressive rule of the Empire in ruin. Suikoden II happens three years after the first game’s story, further evolving the game systems unique to Suikoden, such as Rune magic, the 108 Stars of Destiny, home base management, and Army Battles, which were well received in the previous game. Three childhood friends, including the protagonist, are tossed about by a great whirlpool of destiny.
Historically speaking, the Suikoden video game franchise has been strongly identified with PlayStation platforms. Suikoden and Suikoden II were released on the first PlayStation console while Suikoden III, Suikoden IV and Suikoden V were released on PlayStation 2. There were also some versions of Suikoden games that got released on Sega Saturn, Windows PC and Nintendo platforms. That being said, the inclusion of Xbox One as a platform for the upcoming Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is very notable, even exceptional.
With all the media buzz and attention on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) related to crime (read my previous POGO post by clicking here), the Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed to do a crackdown on the foreign workers of POGOs which are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. The crackdown is supposedly a part of security measures to combat different types of crime.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine National Police (PNP) vowed on Monday, Sept. 19, to intensify the crackdown against hundreds of thousands of foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) as part of the security measures against kidnapping and other criminal activities related to offshore gambling in the country.
Based on the initial estimate of the PNP from the data provided by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), there were at least 800,000 Chinese in the country. most of them easily entered the Philippines when POGO operations in the country were approved.
And based on the PNP data through its Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG), the number of kidnapping cases steeply went up since 2017, most of them are POGO-related.
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. said the sad part of the POGO workers entry in the country in the past years is that they were not properly documented–attributing it to the privilege accorded to them wherein their visa and travel documents are approved after their arrival.
“There were an estimated 800,000 Chinese in the country and we do not know if that 800,000 are still documented. Maybe some of them are already undocumented that is why we are suggesting to the PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) to furnish us the copy o the approved POGOs so that our crackdown would be easier,” said Azurin.
PNP officials earlier met with PAGCOR and BI officials to discuss the issues related to POGO operations in the country.
A few days ago, over 40 Chinese POGO workers were rescued from the clutches of their abductors while a number of Chinese were also arrested for involvement in kidnapping and other criminal activities.
On Saturday, the PNP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered a closure of POGO in Angeles City in Pampanga.
“The reason why we engaged PAGCOR and BI and even DOJ (Department of Justice) is that we really need to put our acts together. We should share information together to monitor the entry of Chinese in the country,” said Azurin.
System of Monitoring
Azurin earlier disclosed that the PNP maintained a hands-off policy on POGO since they were told before not to meddle on POGO-issues unless there would be a crime that would be committed.
With the PNP being bashed on the social media in the past weeks, Azurin started training his eyes on POGO after learning that almost of kidnapping cases, some of them went viral, involved POGO workers.
He said there is a need to strictly monitor the entry and the status of POGO workers in the country as part of the peace and order.
Aside from BI intervention in the documentation process, Azurin said they also want the PAGCOR to regularly update them of the legal POGO operators in the country.
In this way, he explained that they would be able to locate the overstaying POGO workers in the country.
Azurin also recommended that all POGO workers must secure both police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearances before they are allowed to work in the Philippines.
He issued the recommendation after they noticed that the government has no proper system in the documentation of POGIO workers.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this new development? Do you support the PNP’s crackdown on the undocumented and overstaying POGO workers all over the nation? Does your local community have lots of foreigners who are currently employed by POGOs? Do you think that some of the foreign employees of POGOs are fugitives from overseas? Whenever you see Chinese nationals physically present in your local community, do you often think about POGOs immediately?
Author Carlo Carrasco 