Carlo Carrasco – Page 294 – Author Carlo Carrasco

COVID-19 Crisis: EastWest Bank employees and partners receive protection through FilVax COVID-19 vaccination program

August 25, 2021August 24, 2021carlocarrasco

Are you looking for something inspiring or interesting during this pandemic? Check this out…EastWest, a major bank here in the Philippines, had its employees and the personnel of its partners vaccinated for COVID-19 recently.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from EastWest’s announcement sent to me via email. Some parts in boldface…

We’re glad to announce that we’ve now made an important step in fighting COVID-19 by vaccinating our employees and partners across the Philippines!

Last August 3, EastWest and its parent company Filinvest Development Corporation had launched FilVax, a conglomerate-wide vaccination program. Our EastWest employees, janitorial services, drivers, messengers, security guards, and other partners had begun receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine at its supersite in Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, with more sites to be launched across the country soon after. This is part of the 100,000-dose order of the Filinvest Group, and is open to all of EastWest’s employees and partners nationwide, beginning with the bank’s frontliners. We are aiming for full vaccination of our employees by this October.

The vaccination program is the latest initiative in our efforts to protect our customers and employees from COVID-19, which include regular sanitization and disinfection of stores, a remote working setup for employees, and private shuttles for employees reporting for work in our stores. With these efforts, your safety and our uninterrupted service for all your banking needs continue to be our top priority.

It’s nice to see that EastWest made moves to protect its workforce plus other personnel from the dreaded effects of COVID-19. This means it is safe to visit their bank branches and do over-the-counter transactions. Moves like this one is key to help the nation’s economy recover. EastWest and its FilVax program deserve admiration. Getting vaccinated is truly essential!

Meanwhile residents of Muntinlupa City who remain unregistered and unvaccinated should make a move to get registered by learning the ways to do it. Those who are prepared (with personal information available) and willing to go through online registration for the free vaccines in Muntinlupa are encouraged to click https://vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac/

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about EastWest Bank employees and partners getting vaccinated for COVID-19? Do you bank regularly at EastWest? How many EastWest banks are there in your local area right now?

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 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. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

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

COVID-19 Crisis: Limitations on outdoor exercise within Metro Manila during MECQ imposed

August 25, 2021August 23, 2021carlocarrasco

Are you a Metro Manila resident who is having trouble exercising outdoors recently during the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) period? Previously, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) imposed a ban on outdoor exercise all over Metro Manila during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in reaction to the Delta variant’s spread. Now that the ECQ has ended, outdoor exercise for Metro Manila residents was allowed but with limits.

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

In a statement on Friday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and concurrent MMC Chair Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. said the resolution prohibiting outdoor exercise will lapse by the end of the current enhanced community quarantine but will be allowed only from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

“Outdoor exercises in NCR will be allowed for the period of MECQ starting tomorrow, August 21,” Abalos said.

While restrictions on outdoor exercise have relaxed, he said the current 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew will remain across the National Capital Region (NCR).

Think about what MMDA chief Abalos announced. Three hours for outdoor exercise in the morning during this current MECQ period? A three-hour window for exercise outside people’s homes will mean that those who work out will have to rush with whatever physical activity they do. Those who bike will have to rush. The same with those who jog or do urban hiking. A 3-hour period is not good enough for those who need to shed weight, build-up stamina and enhance the immune system which itself is essential in this time of COVID-19 crisis.

Unsurprisingly, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the National Capital Region (NCR) coordinated with the local government units (LGUs) to implement outdoor exercise protocols. The current MECQ will last until August 31, 2021.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Do you believe that MMDA chief Abalos and the Metro Manila mayors really care about the fitness and health of their constituents during this time of pandemic? Do you believe that Abalos and the mayors consulted with doctors and fitness experts at all? Did MMDA personnel or police officers disrupt your outdoor exercise recently?

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 Secret of the Stars (SNES)

August 24, 2021August 22, 2021carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from playing Secret of the Stars 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, video game enthusiasts, fans of Japanese role-playing games (RPGs), 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, fellow geeks and video game collectors!

If you were already a gamer who enjoyed playing games at home with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES or Super NES) back in 1995, chances are you heard about the buzz about the hot RPGs that were released for the console at the time. Square released Chrono Trigger (which is now a classic) and Secret of Evermore while Capcom released Breath of Fire II.

That same year, Tecmo (the company best known for Dead or Alive video games) tried to score well with RPG enthusiasts and other SNES-owning gamers of North America by releasing Secret of the Stars which itself turned out to be the English-language version of the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) Aqutallion.

This RPG caught my attention when I read about it in gaming magazines. After completing Final Fantasy II (actual title Final Fantasy IV) and Final Fantasy III (AKA Final Fantasy VI) on the SNES in 1994, there was a period several months when I was not able to play another RPG and had to settle with other types of games (note: I had a lot of fun with Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi). In the 4^th quarter of 1995, I finally obtained a copy of the Tecmo-published RPG.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Secret of the Stars (or Tecmo Secret of the Stars as presented on the game cover).

Early story

The story begins with a young lad named Ray who gets oriented with some people at the house of Mrs. Sonya. By merely asking a question, she reminds him about his personal search for a crest which once belonged to his father. Sonya also revealed that their island has been hit by several earthquakes which caused many wild animals to arrive.

Ray travels to the nearby town talking with the locals who gradually update him about what has been happening. Someone reveals to him that a journeyman arrived and talks about something called Kustera and Aquatallion.

Ray meets with the journeyman named David who is a native of Kustera. After reminding Ray that his father was the great Aqutallion, he emphasized that an evil being called Homncruse is a major threat to everyone and must be stopped. He tells Ray that he must seek out the crest of the stars to become an Aqutallion warrior and be able to defeat Homncruse.

Ray gets urged to go to the mountain to find the crest…

Quality

*Imagine yourself arriving in this town for the first time. Which place should you visit?*

To put things straight, Secret of the Stars has the basic elements of turn-based role-playing that involves the heavy use of menus for item management, fighting, defense, item use and others. The most unique game design feature here is the ability to switch between parties as the game goes on but what is clear is that the party involving Ray is the default party.

On the creative side of things, the concept about Ray being the chosen one to protect his people, lead a group composed of individuals to not only fight evil beings or monsters and achieve goals on quests (read: this includes going through personal trials at different sites in order to receive additional powers) and take on Homncruse and his evil agents has always been generic and the overall game design reflects that as well. Being the protagonist, Ray is clearly the most developed character but the same cannot be said about Tina, Cody, Leona and Dan who are all uninteresting.

The production values of this game are clearly sub-par and the weak Japanese-to-English translation is only the tip of the iceberg. With the exception of the monster and enemy designs, Secret of the Stars looks like an 8-bit game and really stood out among 16-bit RPGs of its time when it comes to field of inferiority and primitiveness. The level designs lack creativity and the location background art lacked variety. When it comes to the story, its concept was interesting at first but there really is not much depth to it nor are the characters worth caring about.

What really defined this game is its slow-pacing in terms of interactivity. Adding even more to the sluggishness of the game are the slow movements of your character (representing your party) on-screen and the rather high rate of random battles. There is also a lot of grinding (defeat enemies in lots of repetitive battles to gain experience points to level up) required and the sad thing is the level-up is not very rewarding especially when you take into consideration the many enemies or monsters who are often strong with high hit points each.

The sluggishness and tedium are so bad, Secret of the Stars really turned out to be more of a chore than an actual fun game to play. It is so bad, the game’s unique feature of allowing players to control the 2^nd party (Kusterans) became even more tedious and pointless to do. It is so bad, you will care less about the story of Ray, and you will prefer to ignore the other characters even more. It’s so bad, you won’t care anymore about Ray’s quest and the danger Homncruse has on the people.

Conclusion

*Do you know someone named or codenamed Badbad?*

Secret of the Stars was a bad RPG for its time and clearly it was a waste of money. On my experience, I ended up being very disappointed not only because of the game’s quality but also because of an absence of fun and the fact that my time playing it became a big waste. For me personally, this JRPG was definitely the worse SNES experience of 1995. It seems like the game developers made this game to literally torture gamers.

Overall, Tecmo’s Secret of the Stars should be avoided!

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Former Las Piñas City Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar (1947-2021)

August 24, 2021August 23, 2021carlocarrasco

Last week, August 20, 2021 became a sorrowful day as former Las Piñas City Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar passed away which the City Government of Las Piñas confirmed. He was 74-years-old and left a legacy of public service having served as the head of the local government unit (LGU) for a grand total of eighteen years (1995-2004 and 2007-2016). His wife Imelda is the incumbent Mayor and their daughter April Aguilar-Nery is the incumbent Vice Mayor.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the official statement issued by Mayor Imelda Aguilar which the City Government released on August 20…

It is with profound sorrow that our family announces the passing of my husband and our patriarch, former Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar.

At the age of 74, Nene joined our beloved Creator today, August 20, 2021, at 4:12 am, succumbing to a heart ailment after being confined at St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City.

Nene, it pains all of us that you are no longer with us, but we know that you have accomplished your mission in this world, not only to your family and loved ones, but to the hundreds of families you have served and supported throughout your years in service.

As the current Mayor of Las Piñas, the legacy and selfless public service you have rendered as mayor for 18 years to the people of Las Piñas will serve as my inspiration. Your years as the local chief executive have led to the unprecedented growth of our city. We will miss you very much.

We invite our loved ones, friends, and all of the people of Las Piñas to remember him and celebrate his life and the love and joy he has imparted to all of us.

For the newcomers reading this, former Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar led the LGU for almost twenty years. According to local history, he first became mayor at a time when Las Piñas was still a municipality. Las Piñas formally became a city on March 26, 1997 and that was within Aguilar’s first term. Under his leadership, socio-economic development followed and the new city got recognized. There is no denying that Las Piñas became progressive and continues to progress and has emerged as one of the most notable cities of South Metro Manila.

*A look back at a few of the many achievements of the city under Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar.*

In an article published by Philippine News Agency (PNA), Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar paid tribute to former Mayor Aguilar and expressed his sorrow. Posted below is an excerpt…

In a press statement, Andanar said it pains him to lose Aguilar who had been a father figure to him.

“It’s with great sorrow, sadness, and pain that I grieve the loss of a father figure like former Las Piñas Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar who passed away today, August 20, 2021, due to a heart ailment,” said Andanar.

Aguilar’s passing was announced by his wife, incumbent Mayor Imelda Aguilar, through a statement posted on the official Facebook page of City of Las Piñas.

Aguilar, 74, passed away on Friday morning at St. Luke’s Medical Center at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

Andanar remembered Aguilar, whom he fondly called “Papa Nene,” for the latter’s “unselfish public service, commitment, and dedication to lead and generate great changes” in Las Piñas City.

He also hailed Aguilar for giving “unparalleled” progress to Las Piñas City and its people.

“You have touched the lives of so many people, but your silent demeanor was a gushing river of wisdom and affection that brought happiness and, most of all, love to our small family,” Andanar said. “Papa Nene, you may have left us in this world and have joined our Creator, but the memories and teachings you have shared with us all will be remembered perpetually.”

He left behind four daughters — Las Piñas Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery, Dr. Aivee Aguilar-Teo, Alelee Aguilar-Andanar, and Anne Aguilar.

He was also Senator Cynthia Villar’s brother.

He was a property developer before entering public service in 1992. He then served as mayor of Las Piñas City for six terms, first from 1995 to 2004, and from 2007 to 2016.

His father Dr. Filemon Aguilar, was also a former Las Piñas mayor.

During his term, Las Piñas was recognized as one of the best-managed cities in the country, according to the city’s official website.

National and international awards, including the United Nations Award for Environmental Protection, were handed out to the city under his term.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a long-time Las Piñas City resident who lived when former Mayor Vergel “Nene” Aguilar led the City Government, what is the best thing you remember about him with regards to public service?

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 #130 (1980)

August 23, 2021August 21, 2021carlocarrasco

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, X-Men fans, superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today, we look back at the year 1980 specifically the time when the Uncanny X-Men monthly series was spearheaded by legendary creators Chris Claremont and John Byrne. In fact, we will examine here the comic book debut of Dazzler, a mutant with the ability to convert the vibrations of sound into light and energy beams. Dazzler is quite unique among all superheroes as she has been portrayed as a singer, an actress, a model and got associated with other Marvel superheroes. Marvel Comics went on to actually publish a regular comic book series about Dazzler which lasted over forty issues.

To say the least, the creation of Dazzler is quite intriguing as it involved a commission by an American record label for a special project with a disco queen character as the core concept and that Marvel Comics itself would develop the superhero (in the form of a singer) and that an actual singer will be produced by the said record label. Then Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter wrote a treatment for the project which turned from an animated special into a live-action film. As creative process for Dazzler went on at Marvel, Tom DeFalco (who later succeeded Shooter as editor-in-chief) wrote her creation while John Romita, Jr. did the character design. The name Dazzler was the result of a suggestion by Roger Stern. There also was some Bo Derek influence on the creation of Dazzler.

While the special project did not happen due to the financial problems of the record label, Marvel went on to formally introduce Dazzler in the pages of an Uncanny X-Men comic book handled by Claremont-Byrne team.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #130, published by Marvel Comics in 1980 with a story co-written by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Byrne drew the art.

Early story

The story begins on Delano Street in Lower Manhattan. Scott Summers/Cyclops, Jean Grey and Nightcrawler had just arrived on a mission to locate a mutant (detected by Cerebro) not knowing that they themselves are bring monitored by a hidden sinister force. With Nightcrawler left in-charge of guarding their Rolls Royce, Scott and Jean enter a deteriorating building only to find a club on an upper level full of lights, loud music, dancing and a lot of people. They begin to start searching for the detected mutant.

Outside, a truck parks on the other side of the same street where the X-Men’s Rolls Royce was parked at. Inside the truck one of the operators communicates to a certain Mr. Shaw who states that the Hellfire Club is proud. Over at the Hellfire Club’s headquarters, Sebastian Shaw and Jason Wyngarde talk about the X-Men members searching the disco. Wyngarde moves on with his plan to subvert Jean Grey and gather her into their fold…

Quality

The storytelling is great which is not surprising as this was done by Claremont and Byrne. It is clear that there was a good amount of preparation done which explains this comic book’s excellent ways on emphasizing the following story points: the build-up of the Hellfire Club as a potent force of evil that await the X-Men, Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat’s growing involvement, the vulnerability of Jean Grey, the build-up of the Phoenix, and the debut of Dazzler. Along the way, the creative team also ensure that the dialogue was rich (the same thing also with the thought balloons Claremont came up with), the emphasis of super powers made sense, the action scenes were satisfying and there was a good amount of suspense here.

I love the way Dazzler’s first-ever appearance was handled as it happened just after an intriguing scene about Jean Grey’s vulnerability took place. Her debut also occurred at a point when Jean and Scott seemed to be failing to find her. Of course, the 1970s disco vibe was very strong with Dazzler.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, Uncanny X-Men #130 (1980) is a classic X-Men tale by the Claremont-Byrne team who succeeded in not only introducing Dazzler into Marvel’s comic book universe but also with strongly emphasizing the Hellfire Club as a powerful opposition which went on to have a key part in the legendary Dark Phoenix storyline that followed. Dazzler meanwhile became a very popular superhero of Marvel’s going into the 1980s. For the modern-day comic book reader, this comic book can be quite challenging to read as it is very wordy (typical of Claremont).

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Uncanny X-Men #130 (1980), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the very fine copy of the regular edition costs $1,407 while the fine copy of the newsstand edition costs $1,013.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #130 (1980) is highly recommended!

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COVID-19 Crisis: Over 400,000 vaccines administered in Muntinlupa City

August 23, 2021August 22, 2021carlocarrasco

As the City Government continues with its vaccine rollout, the Muntinlupa City COVID-19 Vaccination Program (MunCoVac) has recorded more than 400,000 vaccines administered to eligible individuals, inoculating over 70% of the target population.

MunCoVac announced that the City Government has administered at least 422,430 vaccines as of August 18. At least 275,046 individuals have received their first dose which translates to 71.3% of the target population. Of the total first dose vaccine takers, 7,160 were inoculated in vaccination sites of Muntinlupa private companies. While there are already 151,743 fully vaccinated individuals, or those who received their required doses, translating to 39.3% of the target.

The target population to be vaccinated in Muntinlupa is 385,725 individuals or 70% of 551,036 Muntinlupa’s estimated population for 2020. Meanwhile, MunCoVac advised city residents to make time for their vaccination schedule.

“Vaccination appointments are sent everyday. Please attend your schedule and don’t miss your chance to protect yourselves and your loved ones,” MunCoVac posted on its Facebook page.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi continues to encourage city residents to get vaccinated and underscores the importance of vaccine as protection against the severe effects of the virus. Fresnedi noted that vaccination is an urgent measure to fight COVID-19 and prevent further severe and death cases among city residents.

In a recent report by MunCoVac, the City Government recorded that 72.54% of the 2,028 active COVID-19 cases in the city as of August 18 are unvaccinated individuals. Of the total active cases, only 10.65% are partially vaccinated and 16.81% are fully vaccinated. Partially and fully vaccinated individuals are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms.

“Ang pagpapabakuna ay isa sa pinakamabisang panlaban natin kontra COVID-19. Kaya kahit mahawa man ng virus ang isang taong may bakuna na, mas protektado pa rin sila kumpara sa mga unvaccinated individuals. Hinihikayat ang bawat isa na magpabakuna para sa ating proteksyon laban sa COVID-19,” MunCoVac said.

Recently, the City Government placed a residential building in Brgy. Alabang and five streets in a subdivision in Brgy. Poblacion under a hard lockdown due to alarming COVID-19 attack rates and narrow doubling time of cases.

Building 17 in Filinvest Socialized Housing, Brgy. Alabang and Angelo St., Horrileno St., Endencia St., Paredes St., and Barrera St. in Katarungan Village, Brgy. Poblacion have been placed under a 14-day Extreme Localized Community Quarantine (ELCQ) from August 19 to September 2.

A vaccination site has been installed at JRF Covered Court Phase 2, Katarungan Village 1 to accommodate the residents of the subdivision from August 20-21 due to the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases in the area.

Residents of Katarungan Village 1 are advised to wait for further notice and text from the barangay for their vaccination schedule. Walk-ins will not be accommodated and only those who received a notification will be inoculated.

Other areas under the ELCQ include: Purok 3, Molera Compound in Barangay Sucat and Purok 7, Beatriz Compound, De Mesa L & B Street in Barangay Alabang from August 6 to August 27, Block 8, Hills View and Mangga St., Lakeview Homes in Barangay Putatan from August 12 to August 26 and Chico St., Laguerta in Barangay Tunasan under ELCQ from August 10 to August 25.

Muntinlupa City has 17,617 confirmed cases with 14,933 recoveries, 2,270 active cases, 414 reported deaths, 23 suspect cases, and 2,481 probable cases as of August 20.

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The above information was sourced from the official press release of the Muntinlupa PIO. Some parts were changed for this website.

COVID-19 Crisis: MECQ in effect in Metro Manila until August 31, 2021

August 21, 2021August 20, 2021carlocarrasco

Finally, the surprise enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for Metro Manila has ended as the national government announced late Thursday night that the new level of restriction for the metropolis is the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) which is now in effect and will last until August 31, 2021. For the newcomers reading this, MECQ is supposed to be lighter than ECQ when it comes to restrictions.

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

The quarantine classification in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Laguna and Bataan has been downgraded from enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to modified ECQ (MECQ), Malacañang announced Thursday.

This, after President Rodrigo Duterte, upon the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EUD), approved the latest quarantine status in Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“These latest classifications are without prejudice to the strict implementation of granular lockdowns,” said Roque, also acting as IATF-EID spokesperson, in a press statement.

Roque said Metro Manila will be placed under MECQ from Aug. 21 to 31.

Bataan, on the other hand, will be under MECQ from Aug. 23 to 31, he added.

Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan were initially placed under ECQ, the strictest form of community quarantine, due to the spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections.

Roque stressed that despite the deescalation of quarantine level, religious gatherings should remain “virtual” in Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan.

He added that indoor and al-fresco dine-in services, as well as personal care services such as beauty salons, beauty parlors, barbershops and nail spas should remain prohibited.

Roque said local government units in Metro Manila, Laguna, and Bataan are likewise directed to improve the vaccination rates within their localities, as well as intensify the “Prevent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate (PDITR) strategies to control the spread of Covid-19.

And here is a related news video to watch…

In an article by the Manila Bulletin, curfew hours in Metro Manila still remain and quarantine passes (QPs) are not required. MECQ also means no cash aid (ayuda) will be released by the national government. There are also other MECQ-related guidelines to follow in another article by the Manila Bulletin. As for the unpopular ban on outdoor exercise approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), that one has ended and therefore the freedom to exercise outside our homes has been restored but to a certain extent.

As seen in the details regarding MECQ, there is no real ease nor positive change for several businesses and churches. Restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores that have tables and chairs are still prohibited from having customers dining inside and on the immediate space outside their joints. In a business sense, this is bad because take-out and delivery services are not good enough for food/beverage sellers to make their ends meet. People of faith, meanwhile, are still literally blocked from worshiping the Lord physically at the venues of their faith communities or ministries. As such, the online form of worship in Metro Manila is still the way but I can tell you from my experience that onsite, physical presence worship of the Lord is the better and more preferable way to worship Him. Online worship has its limits and it lacks the immersion that on-site, physical worship has.

That being said, I encourage you all reading this to pray to God to enlighten all the public officials (from the barangay up to the national level) to look up to Him and come back to Him for His guidance which they really need when it comes to managing the people and their communities as everyone still struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic. The public officials need prayers for the Lord to guide them, strengthen them and prevent them from getting lost.

It should be noted that just days ago, the Metro Manila Council left the decision on community control to national government. Just think about that! Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Benhur Abalos and the mayors met and that was all they could come up with – letting someone else decide for the many millions of people living and struggling in the National Capital Region (NCR).

As such, praying to the Lord to help the public officials is very much needed. It is a fact that each local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila is struggling not only with their respective COVID-19 vaccine operations but also with all other functions.

Also pray to the Lord that the national government will be more accommodating to the businesses and churches that got negatively affected by these community quarantine levels. Pray to the Lord that the employees, the business owners, the people of faith, the pastors and ministries will be assisted and accommodated better.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about the shift to MECQ for Metro Manila? If you are a manager or owner of a restaurant or coffee shop, how did the recent ECQ affect you and your employees?

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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Better than Streaming: Unbreakable 4K Blu-ray coming out on September 21, 2021

August 20, 2021August 19, 2021carlocarrasco

If you are a die-hard fan of Bruce Willis (no pun intended) or Samuel L. Jackson, or if are really fond of the early cinematic works of director M. Knight Shyamalan that you want added to your 4K Blu-ray collection, then you should watch out for Unbreakable: Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray which is set for a September 21, 2021 release! Already it has been confirmed to have native 4K visuals and you can order it online right now!

Posted below are key details of Unbreakable 4K Blu-ray from its Blu-ray.com page

Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)

HDR: HDR10

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1

Audio

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)

French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)

Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)

Subtitles –English SDH, French, Spanish

Discs

4K Ultra HD

Blu-ray Disc

Two-disc set (1 BD-66, 1 BD-50)

Digital

Digital 4K

Movies Anywhere

Packaging– Slipcover in original pressing

Playback

4K Blu-ray: Region free

2K Blu-ray: Region A

While it is stated on the cover as “Ultimate Collector’s Edition”, there are no details as to what extra stuff and special features Unbreakable 4K Blu-ray will come with. Regardless, here is hoping that Disney will do a much better job on the extra stuff than what they did in the Unbreakable Blu-ray release of 2008. As such, I recommend you readers and movie buffs to return to Blu-ray.com and the product’s Amazon.com page for updates for Unbreakable 4K Blu-ray.

I first saw Unbreakable in the cinema back in late-2000. While it was slow-paced, Schyamalan managed to deliver a solid payoff which justified all the build-up and waiting. I also remember the movie having several references to superhero culture and comic book culture. Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson were indeed solid as opposite (as opposed to opposition) figures David Dunn and Mr. Glass. If you are tired of seeing Samuel L. Jackson playing Nick Fury, his role as Mr. Glass will be refreshing to see.

The movie grossed almost $250 million in movie tickets worldwide. Back then, nobody anticipated Unbreakable would someday spawn a sequel or grow into an entertainment franchise. I myself saw it as a conclusive standalone movie back in 2000. As such, I got really surprised learning about Split (2016) and Glass (2019) being sequels to it.

In ending this, posted below is Unbreakable’s trailer from 2000.

For more entries of my Better than Streaming series of articles, check out my pieces on The Beastmaster 4K Blu-ray, The Transformers: The Movie 4K Blu-ray, Mortal Kombat 2021 4K Blu-ray, Space Jam 4K Blu-ray, V: The Original Miniseries Blu-ray (read my retro review), V: The Final Battle Blu-ray, Highlander 4K Blu-ray, The Suicide Squad and Super Dimension Century Orguss.

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If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

COVID-19 Crisis: 65% of active COVID-19 cases in Muntinlupa are those of unvaccinated patients

August 20, 2021August 18, 2021carlocarrasco

Recently the Manila Bulletin reported that a majority of the active COVID-19 cases in the City of Muntinlupa are those who are unvaccinated. Specifically, unvaccinated patients count for 65% of the city’s active cases as of August 16, 2021.

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

The Muntinlupa City government reported that 65 percent of active coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the city are unvaccinated individuals.

As of Aug. 16, there are 1,756 active COVID-19 cases in Muntinlupa and of the total, 1,140 (65 percent) are unvaccinated, 160 (9 percent) are partially vaccinated, 333 (19 percent) are fully vaccinated and 123 (7 percent) are minors, who are not yet eligible to be inoculated.

All the 1,756 active COVID-19 are either asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. No case has moderate to severe symptoms.

Among the 1,140 unvaccinated positive cases, 934 (82 percent) are asymptomatic while 206 (18 percent) have mild symptoms of COVID-19.

Of the positive 160 partially vaccinated individuals, 123 (77 percent) are asymptomatic and 37 (23 percent) have mild symptoms.

Among the positive 333 fully vaccinated, 258 (77 percent) are asymptomatic and 75 (23 percent) mild symptoms. All the 123 minors who are positive for COVID-19 are asymptomatic.

By barangay, Putatan has the highest number of active COVID-19 cases with 458, or 26 percent of the 1,756 total active cases in Muntinlupa followed by Poblacion with 350 (20 percent), Tunasan with 288 (16.4 percent), Alabang with 203 (11.56 percent), Cupang with 140 (7.9 percent), Sucat with 132 (7.5 percent), Bayanan with 94 (5.35 percent), Ayala Alabang with 74 (4.2 percent) and Buli with 17 (0.96 percent).

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi urged the people to register and get vaccinated to protect them against COVID-19.

As of Aug. 13, Muntinlupa has deployed 393,769 vaccines. A total of 248,579 individuals received the first dose, including 7,160 who were vaccinated at sites in private companies, or 64.4 percent of the target population of 385,725.

The above report ended mentioning that almost 150,000 individuals in Muntinlupa have been fully vaccinated. While it is a fact that being fully vaccinated does not guarantee 100% immunity from COVID-19, it definitely still more protective than being unvaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are essentially helpful.

Residents of Muntinlupa City who remain unregistered and unvaccinated should make a move to get registered by learning the ways to do it. Those who are prepared (with personal information available) and willing to go through online registration for the free vaccines in Muntinlupa are encouraged to click https://vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac/

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Being aware of the current COVID-19 situation, did you do your part encouraging others to get vaccinated? If you are an unvaccinated individual who still has not yet registered for the free COVID-19 vaccines, what would it take to convince you to register yourself and join the line for the vaccine?

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 X-Men 2099 #4 (1993)

August 19, 2021August 17, 2021carlocarrasco

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, fans of the 2099 universe of Marvel Comics, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the X-Men 2099 comic book series by focusing on the 4^th issue. Following the single storyline told in the first three issues (including the unexpected death of a certain member in issue #3) which ultimately made clear why the X-Men of 2099 exist and what their place is within an America that is totally different from what it used to be during the time of Charles Xavier and his X-Men. As such, the stage was set for more exploration and new creative directions with Xi’an and his band of nomadic mutants.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #4, published by Marvel Comics in 1993 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Early story

The story begins with Bloodhawk exploring a deserted, radioactive facility in the middle of New Mexico. Having a reptilian skin protects him from radiation which only adds to his personal obsession of waging a war against developers and corporate entities that he accuses of defiling the natural environment.

Suddenly, a tough female with white hair and white skin grabs Bloodhawk by the neck and by touching his head with her left hand, she triggers a bolt of agony on him. Bloodhawk then loses consciousness.

Meanwhile in Nevada, Xi’an and his X-Men salvaged whatever equipment they found at the Nueva Sol Arcology which was their haven before Synge’s enforcers invaded and ruined it. In response to Shakti’s comment that it would take months to restore the facility, Xi’an says that the time for gatherings has passed as he believes that their path lies on the road emphasizing travel to new places.

While his teammates are outside, Henri uses a computer inside the facility retrieving messages. He receives a video message from his old friend Jordan Boone who informs him about a major project called Valhalla and he was going to do something outrageous…

Quality

*Neuro-tech, the captured X-Men, Luna and the Theater of Pain.*

When it comes to narrative, I should point out that this comic book serves as a prelude to The Fall of the Hammer 2099 crossover storyline and it does a good job setting key members of the X-Men to get involved.

As an X-Men 2099 story, John Francis Moore further developed the personalities of most of the members (with Timothy Fitzgerald being the center as he slowly becomes Skullfire) and showed more of the culture within the team under Xi’an’s leadership and strict points.

Other than the focus on the mutants, a notable feature of the story is the introduction of the Theater of Pain which includes a radically intriguing masked villain who runs an operation that involves abducting people, using machines to feed on their minds and access the most painful personal memories which in turn is digitally channeled to an existing linked live audience feeding their minds. In essence, mental torture and intrusion of the mind are introduced. I should also state that the Theater of Pain here plays a major part in the story of X-Men 2099 #25. This issue also introduces Luna who eventually gets linked with Skullfire and becomes part of the X-Men.

More on the Theater of Pain concept, I found the painful flashback sequences a clever method used by the writer to emphasize selected moments from the past of Bloodhawk and Skullfire which added to the character development of this comic book.

Conclusion

*One step showing Timothy slowly becoming Skullfire.*

X-Men 2099 #4 (1993) is well-written and it is a significant part of the 35-issue monthly series. For one thing, it shows the start of the transformation of Skullfire’s personality, the direction Xi’an and his mutants are taking, and the start of a build-up that led to the significant events of X-Men 2099 #25. There is a lot here for X-Men 2099 fans to enjoy from start to finish.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of X-Men 2099 #4 (1993), be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $30 while the near-mint copy of the newsstand edition costs $90.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #4 (1993) is highly recommended!

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