The Metro Manila Council (MMC) – a special governing body composed of incumbent mayors of cities of Metropolitan Manila – now has a new leader and as the Christmas holidays are nearing, they will soon release official guidelines regarding the use of firecrackers, the Manila Bulletin reported.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) President Francis Zamora said the MMC is set to release guidelines on the firecracker ban to be implemented in the National Capital Region (NCR) as part of its efforts to minimize the number of injuries caused by the misuse of firecrackers during the new year revelry.
During the joint session of the MMC and the Regional Development Council (RDC) which he co-chairs, Zamora said that the Metro Manila mayors will convene to discuss the guidelines they will implement regarding the firecracker ban which was first imposed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.
Executive Order no. 28, “Providing For The Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers And Other Pyrotechnic Devices,” bans individuals from using firecrackers or setting up their own fireworks displays, a cultural tradition Filipinos are accustomed to during “events of personal, religious, cultural and national importance,” especially during New Year’s Eve or even the Chinese New Year.
“Magkakaroon ng designated firecracker areas. Ngunit depende din yan sa pagkakasunduan ng mayors kasi each city will have its own designated fireworks area para iwas syempre sa aksidente ngayong bagong taon (There will be designated firecracker areas, but these will depend on what the mayors of each city will agree upon because each city will have its own designated fireworks area to avoid accidents this new year),” Zamora said.
The EO sets forth the criteria that must be complied with before a display of fireworks can qualify such as: it must be conducted on the occasion or as part of a celebration, competition, or similar event held in a venue other than the residence; it is conducted under the supervision of Philippine National Police (PNP) – licensed and trained personnel; and, it has a municipal/city permit that states the date, time and area where the display will be conducted.
In December last year, the PNP released the names and brands of allowed and prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnics.
In my experience, I often see sellers of firecrackers during the days leading to the New Year whenever I passed by BF Homes in Parañaque and along Tropical Avenue in BF International, Las Piñas. I wonder if they will make a comeback this year as the entire nation continues to recover socially and economically from COVID-19.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you in favor of the use of firecrackers? Do you think the authorities are doing the right thing when it comes regulating or banning firecracker use? Do you think that the use of firecrackers pollutes the air too much during New Year’s Eve celebrations? If your household often buys firecrackers during the late stage of the year, how much money is spent each time?
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
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the AHVA’s official announcement with the guidelines in PDF file (which contains images of the rotundas) for your downloading. Some parts in boldface…
Please find below a flyer detailing our Rotunda Driving Regulations. These regulations go into effect immediately. Between now and November 30, violators will be apprehended but not fined. We will begin imposing fines on December 1. The applicable fines, as contained in our Vehicle Sticker Application Form, are as follows:
1). Traffic violations: disregarding traffic signs, speeding, reckless driving, unauthorized parking, driving without license or with expired license, unregistered vehicle:
First Offense P500.00
Second Offense P1,000.00
Third Offense: P2,000.00
2). Disobedience / arrogance / refusal to follow village regulations & traffic policies:
First Offense P500.00
Second Offense P700.00
Third Offense P1000.00 & banned from AHVA
We will continue to post Security Guards at the rotundas every day but only up to November 30. Beginning December 1, when the penalties will go into effect, we will switch from ‘on-the-spot in-person apprehension’ to using our CCTV cameras located at every rotunda. We will notify violators caught on CCTV to show cause why they should not be penalized. We will send “show cause” notices via email as well as via hard copies delivered to their homes in the case of residents.
Residents can also report violations straight to the guards or to the Security Office, citing the date, time, and location of the violation, and if possible, the license plate number, make, and color of the vehicle in case CCTV footage may be unclear.
From time to time, Security Guards will be positioned at the rotundas to reinforce compliance.
This announcement by the AVHA is very timely as more vehicles have been entering and/or passing through their village in relation to the ongoing classes at a big school inside, going to churches for on-site worship, having to reach other communities outside of Alabang Hills Village, and so on. Also, Alabang Hills will be hosting the Nutcracker Christmas Bazaar which is scheduled to take place in three consecutive full weekends! The said bazaar is expecting to attract a lot of visitors looking for items to buy as Christmas gifts, and there are also fun-related activities included which should encourage people to spend more time on-site. Lastly, there will be more Christmas parties expected to happen in households this December. All of these mean that in-village vehicular traffic will grow and you should not forget the new rules whenever you are about to drive by the rotundas.
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
By the time you are reading this, you must have noticed the sudden number of bazaars and local community events that happened around since October. The Megarahe Sale inside Alabang Hills Village was successful while the Noel Bazaar this past weekend at Filinvest Tent attracted customers. The local communities, the enterprises, the consumers and the nation are indeed rising from the economic downturn of the COVID-19.
As Christmas is nearing, the Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) officially announced that they will be hosting Christmas shopping bazaars set to happen over three consecutive weekends this December. The event is officially called the Nutcracker Christmas Bazaar and the exciting news is that people are invited to attend it as there will be vendors selling lots of products and food, plus some notable fun events.
The Nutcracker Christmas Bazaar banner. (source – AHVA website)
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the AHVA’s official announcement. Some parts in boldface…
We are delighted to announce that we will again be holding a Christmas bazaar this December! Dubbed “Nutcracker Christmas Bazaar”, the festive event will draw on the theme of Tchaikovsky’s world-famous Christmas ballet, “The Nutcracker”.
The bazaar will open on Friday, the 2nd of December and will run for three consecutive weekends: December 2-4, 9-11, and 16-18. Bazaar hours will be from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day of the 9-day bazaar. Venue will be the entire AHV Phase 2 Park.
Come to the Nutcracker Christmas Bazaar and enjoy
• CHRISTMAS TREE & BAZAAR LIGHTING CEREMONY on December 2, 6:00 PM,
• UNCLE DROSSELMEYER’S ENCHANTED MARKET (the bazaar),
• THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS & SAVORIES (the food pavilion), and
• HARLEQUIN THEATRE (the stage and performance area)
The bazaar’s fun highlights will include Bingo & Raffle Afternoons, Dance, Food, Magic, Music, and more!
Entrance to the bazaar is free! Invite your friends and relatives and let’s together make this a fun and memorable community Christmas celebration! A portion of the proceeds from the bazaar will go to the beneficiary of the AHV Christmas Outreach Program.
Indeed, the Christmas season is already here and if you are looking for things to buy for Christmas gift-giving or buy something you need, then Alabang Hills’ Nutcracker Christmas Bazaar is something you should consider. With three consecutive full weekends set, there will be opportunities for you and your friends to attend and have fun. The Nutcracker Christmas Bazaar is the first Christmas bazaar to be held inside Alabang Hills Village in the last few years. Truly, the AHVA and its strategic partners and bazaar organizers are going big-time this December with the 3-weekend bazaar.
UPDATE: Here is the video I took during the opening day of the Nutcracker Christmas Bazaar on December 2, 2022.
Before you engage in Christmas shopping and having fun, always remember that Christmas is always all about Lord Jesus and it is to be rejoiced with Him. Thank the Lord for the continued revival of the Philippines from the downturn of COVID-19. Thank the Lord that more people have gotten vaccinated/boosted for COVID-19, that the local businesses and customers are more confident to interact with each other face-to-face, and that the Philippines is moving beyond the pandemic. Thank the Lord for the Nutcracker Christmas Bazaar and the many fun activities scheduled!
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
As the nation continues to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, pre-Christmas shopping in the Alabang area of Muntinlupa City will become much more livelier this year as the famous Noel Bazaar will return on November 18 to 20 and December 16 to 18 at the Filinvest Tent in Filinvest City, according to an Inquirer.net article.
For the newcomers reading this, the Noel Bazaar has an established history as a long-running and popular holiday bazaar and also “features the best of entrepreneurs carrying the latest crafts and merchandise from clothing, Christmas and home decors, fashion accessories, novelty and gift items to food and drinks.”
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Inquirer.net article. Some parts in boldface…
With a wide array of merchants selling specially curated items and unique gift finds, every shopper will find what they need at Noel Bazaar: from novelty items, stylish apparel, Christmas decors and home furnishings, body and beauty products, to fashion accessories, shoes, and bags. The best part? Shoppers get to see, touch, feel, smell, and even taste all the products in person! Indulge in a variety of sumptuous and festive food choices that await visitors of Noel Bazaar so you don’t have to go shopping on an empty stomach.
Get your hands on your favorite gifts while giving back and enjoying the festivities with ease. Have a merry and extra meaningful Christmas as a portion of the bazaar’s proceeds will go to the GMA Kapuso Foundation and Inquirer Foundation. Health protocols will be strictly implemented throughout the duration of the event ensuring that merchants and shoppers can look forward to a better and safer Noel Bazaar comeback this 2022.
The Noel Bazaar 2022 series is in partnership with GMA Network, Inquirer Group of Companies, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.Net, Pop!, Inquirer Mobile, UnionBank, and Okada Manila. Other media partners include WhenInManila.com, DiscoverMNL, Village Pipol, Buzzsetter, Our Awesome Planet, Travelokaloka, Your Tita Ja, Chinese Commercial News, and Digiboards, Inc.
If you are interested to attend the Noel Bazaar in Alabang soon, visit the Filinvest Tent along Spectrum Midway in Filinvest City. The commercial or business joints located close to the Filinvest Tent are South Supermarket Alabang, Acacia Hotel Manila, Commercenter Mall, BDO Filinvest Spectrum Midway Branch and 7-Eleven along Spectrum Midway. Considering the popularity of Noel Bazaar, do not be surprised to find a huge amount of people present as well as lines of cars at the nearest parking areas. If you want covered parking, Commercenter Mall and South Supermarket Alabang have it. Better start planning where to park and how to make it to Filinvest Tent.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Are you excited about the return of Noel Bazaar in Alabang? If you shopped at a Noel Bazaar before, when and where was the last time you did? What are you looking for at Noel Bazaar this time around?
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
Life in the Philippines continues to move back to normal even though new COVID-19 cases are being recorded in the thousands daily in recent times. Still, it is notable that many millions of Filipinos have gotten fully vaccinated or boosted for COVID-19 (note: around 3.5 million received their 1st booster shots recently) and even though the past summer saw lots of election campaign events that had many, many political supporters gathered in high numbers, no new outbreak of COVID-19 happened. There is also the growing confidence about organizing events that attract customers, sports participants and spectators and more.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand R. Marcos on Sunday enjoined Filipinos to get back to their normal lives before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, stressing that it is crucial to show the world that the Philippines is slowly getting back on its feet.
“It is a good thing to remind people that the pandemic may have been difficult, the pandemic really put us through the wringer. But we are back,” Marcos said in a speech in Bacolod City during a luncheon just before he graced the culminating activity of the 43rd MassKara Festival.
“The pandemic is fading away. We are learning to manage it and now it is time for us to all go back to work, to all go back to our normal lives, to remind ourselves of all the opportunities that were before us before the pandemic…It is time for us to go back to all of those endeavors that we were undertaking before Covid hit,” he added.
Marcos said the MassKara Festival signaled not just the opening of Bacolod City to tourists, but also the entire country.
“It is time for us to go back and exercise once again, show once again the Filipino resilience, the Filipino resourcefulness, the Filipino industry, the Filipino talent, ipakita naman natin sa buong mundo dahil nagbubukas ang mundo, dahil nagbubukas ang Pilipinas, ito ngayon ang MassKara Festival ay isang pagdiriwang hindi lamang sa pagbubukas ng Bacolod kung hindi sa buong Pilipinas (let us show the world because the Philippines is now open, this is the MassKara festival which is a celebration of the opening of Bacolod but of the entire Philippines),” he said.
Despite the festival being borne out of “a very sad period in the history of Bacolod”, the President said it also symbolizes Filipinos’ “reemergence from a crisis.”
“..That is what we celebrate today and that is what we see that people are feeling and that is the feeling that we want to continue to encourage within our people because that is what’s going to lead us to success,” he said.
Marcos also congratulated Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez and event organizers for a successful holding of the festival.
Founded in October 1980 by the late Bacolod City Mayor Jose “Digoy” Montalvo Jr., the MassKara Festival was first held following two major tragedies that befell Negrenses– the collapse of sugar prices in the international market and the sinking of the Negros Navigation ship M/V Don Juan.
During the sugar crisis, artists thought of promoting mask-making as an alternative source of income for the locals.
Montalvo likewise suggested holding a mask festival to lift the spirits of the locals after the maritime accident that killed his wife, two daughters, and hundreds of Bacolod residents.
MassKara is derived from the words “mass” meaning “many” and “kara” meaning “faces,” thus calling it the Festival of Many Faces.
This year’s festival will be the first face-to-face event after two years of being suspended due to the pandemic.
The MassKara festival’s revival is significant not only with the people of Bacolod City and the province of Negros Occidental but for the nation as well. Here in the Alabang area of Muntinlupa City, the Megarahe Sale and the COPIX both attracted lots of people who searched and bought items. Still in Alabang, it was recently announced by Zonta Club of Alabang that they will be reviving their popular Christmas Carnivale Bazaar on November 25, 2022 at the Filinvest Tent. I myself attended that bazaar back in 2017 and 2018 at the said venue and it is really encouraging that it will be revived next month. These are just a few of the many signs that the Philippines is recovering from the pandemic and can move forward and progress more. Pre-pandemic economic strength will be regained eventually.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel encouraged by the statement of President Marcos that the pandemic is fading away and that the country can more forward more?
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
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 culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s and explore a key chapter in the post-Crisis era of DC Comics through a Superman comic book.
Previously, I reviewed Adventures of Superman #498 (1993) and Superman: The Man of Steel #20 (1993) which were chapters of the Funeral for a Friend storyline. In Superman: MOS #20, a large funeral took place which involved several special guests as well as other DC superheroes who paid tribute to Superman. The entire city of Metropolis is struggling to move forward as the sudden of Superman really impacted all the people, especially on Lois Lane.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #76, published in 1993 by DC Comics with a story written and illustrated by Dan Jurgens. This comic book marked the fourth chapter of the Funeral for a Friend storyline.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Shazam (AKA Captain Marvel) arriving at the rooftop of the Daily Planet where the Flash, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Maxima and others are present. The whole city is experiencing a very somber Christmas season as the death and burial of Superman remains very strong on the people.
On the streets of Metropolis, a long-haired guy named Mitch walks down in the rain feeling troubled not only because Superman died but also due to the fact that their home got smashed during the encounter with the unstoppable Doomsday. Mitch then arrives at a gathering of people outside of a building’s front door. There are several reporters covering a lady speaking to them with a microphone. She tells them that she is Mrs. Superman…
Quality
Wonder Woman reads a letter.
Being the 4th chapter of the Funeral for a Friend storyline, Dan Jurgens crafted a story that not only dramatized the post-disaster situation of Metropolis but also had notable twists and developments that proved to be worth reading.
For one thing, this comic book has Lois Lane reunited at last with Clark Kent’s earthly parents Jonathan and Martha which was not only really dramatic but also had very rich dialogue written. By this point in this particular storyline, Lois Lane has gone through waves of deep emotions and pain, while getting stressed with journalistic work. As such, there is this dramatic pay-off that happened during the reunion with the elderly Kent couple.
What is most notable here is the scene in which Superman’s super-powered allies visit a local post office that literally got flooded with lots of mail from around the world addressed to the Man of Steel. On face value, such a scenario looked silly but the way Dan Jurgens crafted the dialogue and the images, the post office scene became believable and sensible to read. This shows that superheroes like Aquaman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and others do have hearts to be caring and sensible to the people.
The scene of the ordinary guy Mitch is significant as well. Clearly the character symbolizes the poor and struggling American who remembers how a complete stranger like Superman came along, stood up to fight for Mitch’s family and died in the process (while Mitch’s father was absent).
This comic book is also a Christmas tale. How Christmas was dramatized here has to be seen and you readers should get a copy of this comic book to find out why. It should be noted that there are themes of reconciliation and the nuclear family that made the Christmas tale meaningful.
Conclusion
Lana Lang, Lois Lane and the elderly Kent couple.
Even without the presence of the Man of Steel and no good-versus-evil conflict, Superman #76 (1993) is a great read as it pushed forward the Funeral for a Friend storyline while successfully telling a meaningful Christmas tale of its own complete with a very unique portrayal of the Justice League and Superman’s allies. How people deal with emotions and stress over Superman’s death was portrayed as highly believable and Dan Jurgen’s writing here was done with really high quality.
Overall, Superman #76 (1993) is highly recommended.
This past weekend, the annual Megarahe Sale of Alabang Hills Village resumed – fully titled as “Megarahe Sale & Kids Bazaar, Ukay-Okay!” – with the local community center as the venue. I visited the Megarahe Sale twice last weekend and I can confirm that it was a lively event as it attracted a lot of sellers who displayed a wide variety of items, and several buyers arrived and searched. There were also some really nice bargains on display. Take note that this is the first Megarahe Sale to be held in the last few years as the COVID-19 pandemic set everyone back.
A lot of sellers, customers and products during the Megarahe Sale in Alabang Hills this past weekend.
Some products on display.
For the newcomers reading this, the Megarahe Sale is Alabang Hills’ special community event held annually giving the local residents opportunities to sell goods to customers (including visitors who are able to enter the village with valid car stickers issued by the Alabang Hills Village Association) with a single, wide, and comfortable venue that can accommodate a lot of people.
As the name Megarahe shows, it is in concept a collective garage sale with the community in mind. More on the garage sale aspect, AHVA’s annual event spares local residents from having to go through all the trouble of organizing garage sales in their respective homes.
As I mentioned before, the return of Megarahe Sale is a very welcome development in line with the gradual normalization of life. Slowly but surely, people, communities, churches and businesses are recovering from the tremendous setback of COVID-19. At the same time, people nowadays are more educated about COVID-19, they got vaccinated or boosted for improved protection from COVID-19, and the national government already declared the optional use of face masks outdoors. Of course, lots of people have gotten sick and tired of spending so much time at home since the first COVID-19 lockdown started more than two years ago and this in turn fueled their desire to move out, go around and do their activities freely. In my opinion, the Megarahe Sale’s return is a blessing and the AHVA should be commended.
Customers checking out the items for sale.
Missing out on community events like this means missing out on bargains.
Megarahe Sale this year could inspire other residential communities and commercial joints in South Metro Manila to host or organize more community events as the Christmas season gets closer. I have fond memories attending in 2019 the BF HomeSarap food fair in BF Homes (specifically BF NorthWest), the Village Food Fair 2 at Madison Galeries, and Mardi Gras Bazaar 3 also at Madison Galeries. Also a few years ago, I attended a pre-Christmas bazaar inside Alabang Hills Village before the pandemic happened, and I wonder if the AHVA will be organizing a new one this year.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you were able to visit the Megarahe Sale in Alabang Hills this past weekend, what do you think about the event? Were you able to find and buy something? Did you take advantage of the bargains? Do you hope to see the Alabang Hills Village Association organize a pre-Christmas bazaar this November or December for your Christmas shopping needs?
For inquiries about Alabang Hills Village, visit https://alabanghillsvillage.com/ or call their association at 88508254. You can visit their office at 1 Don Jesus Boulevard inside Alabang Hills Village from Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM. Always remember to follow their rules and speed limits whenever you are in the village. Be aware also of the recent in-village traffic adjustments.
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
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA report. Some parts in boldface…
The slight increase in Metro Manila’s Covid-19 positivity rate, average daily attack rate (ADAR), and reproduction rate was due to the holiday frenzy and not necessarily because of the Omicron variant, OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David said on Monday.
David said it is premature to say that the newest coronavirus variant had something to do with the spike in numbers.
Based on two-week growth rates (TWGR), David reported that the current reproduction number is at 0.85 percent while the ADAR in the National Capital Region (NCR) is at 0.82 percent.
The positivity rate slightly increased to 1.4 percent.
“So, hindi natin masasabi ngayon na Omicron-driven ito dahil nakita rin naman natin ito last year. Siguro doon sa pagtitipun-tipon ng mga kababayan natin kaya kailangan doble pag-iingat lang naman din ang kinakailangan natin (So we can’t really say that it is Omicron-driven because we have seen this last year. The gatherings might have caused this, so we just really need to be extra careful),” he said in a media briefing.
As of Monday, the country has 9,579 active Covid-19 cases, the 10th straight day that the tally was below 10,000.
Four cases of the Omicron variant have been confirmed so far.
Just like last year, David noted that the Covid-19 testing slowed down as laboratories took a break and the recent onslaught of Typhoon Odette affected the operations of some testing centers.
He said a “clear picture” as to how the Covid-19 cases suddenly increased might be available until the first week of January next year.
“Ang nangyari naman noong January this year lang, noong January of 2021, iyong uptick ay bumalik na siya sa normal level. So bumaba ulit siya. Iyon iyong sanang gusto nating makita ngayon na after January, kapag na-resolve na iyong testing, iyong kakulangan natin sa testing at iyong mga closed laboratories ay bababa ulit sa normal levels ang bilang ng kaso. Iyan iyong gusto nating mangyari (So, in January this year, the uptick went back to its normal level. So it went down again. So, that’s what we want to see after January [next year], if we resolved our backlogs in testing and in our laboratories, then the cases will go back to normal levels. That’s what we want to happen),” David said.
David sees no need yet to increase restrictions or push for premature interventions.
“It could just be a holiday uptick, which means na after the holidays, possibly bababa din iyong number of cases and iyong positivity rate (it is possible that the number of cases and the positivity rate will go down),” he added.
As I personally observed, a lot of people and families have been moving around not only because of the Alert Level 2 status of Metro Manila but also because of Christmas-related activities like shopping, touring and dining inside restaurants. I myself saw lots of people moving inside and around Festival Mall and the Alabang Town Center here in Muntinlupa City in the days leading to Christmas. Also there were families who had Christmas parties or small gatherings with relatives. Not even the news about the Omicron variant being present here in the Philippines impacted them. Fortunately for Filipinos, Omicron cases in the country are very few and all of those were detected from passengers who arrived from overseas. As of this writing, the Omicron variant has not been detected in the local population.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What can you say about this latest development? Do you believe OCTA Research’s analysis about the holiday frenzy being the factor behind the slight rise of COVID-19 positivity? Do you personally know people who still remained unvaccinated to this day? Are you aware about Sputnik vaccines being more effective against the Omicron variant (read a related article by clicking here) and that Pfizer’s vaccines are less effective?
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 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/
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
Merry Christmas to all of you readers and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! It is Christmas time once again and that only means that we must keep honoring, thanking, remembering and praising Jesus for He is our Lord and Savior sent by the Heavenly Father.
Previously I blogged that Christmas has always been about Lord Jesus and this new faith piece I am writing is a follow-up to that. In this very divided and screwed-up world we live in, it is simply too easy for people to celebrate Christmas without prioritizing Lord Jesus at all. There are some, knowingly or unknowingly, who celebrate while forgetting or even disregarding Lord Jesus. And there are some who celebrate Christmas in a rather covetous manner, making material gains the top priority of the season instead of prioritizing the Lord. There are also others who celebrate Christmas without Lord Jesus as they were influenced by the works of entertainers who organized or published these so-called Christmas specials with unholy influences. In many cultures around the world, the fictional Santa Claus became the figure of the season instead of the Lord Himself. Christmas is to be celebrated with Lord Jesus first and foremost! To rejoice with Lord Jesus every Christmas season is the definitive way of celebrating the very season!
To understand the truth that Lord Jesus is the definitive reason of Christmas, let’s go to the Holy Bible with the following holy scriptures below…
Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him;
All nations shall serve Him.
Psalm 72:11 (NKJV)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)
Listen! A virgin will be pregnant, she will give birth to a Son, and he will be known as “Emmanuel,” which means in Hebrew, “God became one of us.”
Matthew 1:23 (TPT)
During the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent from God’s presence to an unmarried girl named Mary, living in Nazareth, a village in Galilee. She was engaged to a man named Joseph, a true descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Rejoice, beloved young woman, for the Lord is with you and you are anointed with great favor.”
Mary was deeply troubled over the words of the angel and bewildered over what this may mean for her. But the angel reassured her, saying, “Do not yield to your fear, Mary, for the Lord has found delight in you and has chosen to surprise you with a wonderful gift. You will become pregnant with a baby boy, and you are to name him Jesus. He will be supreme and will be known as the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God will enthrone him as King on the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign as King of Israel forever, and his reign will have no limit.”
Mary said, “But how could this happen? I am still a virgin!”
Gabriel answered, “The Spirit of Holiness will fall upon you and almighty God will spread his shadow of power over you in a cloud of glory! This is why the child born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your aged aunt, Elizabeth, has also become pregnant with a son. The ‘barren one’ is now in her sixth month. Not one promise from God is empty of power. Nothing is impossible with God!”
Then Mary responded, saying, “Yes! I will be a mother for the Lord! As his servant, I accept whatever he has for me. May everything you have told me come to pass.” And the angel left her.
Luke 1:26-38 (TPT)
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7 (ESV)
As seen above, the prophecy of the birth of Lord Jesus was recorded in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. Psalm 72:11 and Isaiah 9:6 are just a few of many references to His birth. God our creator and Heavenly Father already made a plan to save all souls and bring to them peace, wisdom, love and salvation. The prophecy of Jesus’ birth continued in the New Testament and Matthew 1:23 is just one recorded reference.
As recorded in Luke 1:26-38, an angel from God came to Mary and told her she was anointed her with great favor and that she will be pregnant with none other than the Heavenly Father’s own son Jesus. Out of faith, Mary overcame the initial uncertainty (her being a virgin) and accepted her destiny to be God’s instrument on taking care of Jesus whose birth was nearing. Think about that very carefully! Imagine yourselves being approached by God and knowing how faithful you are to Him, He would approach you and trust you to follow His command and that His plans for you are always good. That being said, doubts and fear should easily be set aside to follow God’s command and be a part of His plan manifesting here on Earth. Faith in the Lord truly makes tremendous, positive changes happen! To serve the Lord with deep faith in Him is always an honor!
As recorded in Luke 2:7, Mary, who was accompanied by her husband Joseph, gave birth to the infant Jesus even without the privacy and comfort of an inn. People back then also had to live under the shadow of uncertainty and death in connection to the rules of the time. No matter how difficult their situation was, the birth of our Lord happened! There was no luck nor coincidence involved at all! The birth of Lord Jesus happened according to God’s plan! It was destiny realized with God’s favor!
More on the birth of Lord Jesus and His being the reason of Christmas, pay close attention to the following holy scriptures below…
Jesus was born in Bethlehem near Jerusalem during the reign of King Herod. After Jesus’ birth a group of spiritual priests from the East came to Jerusalem and inquired of the people, “Where is the child who is born king of the Jewish people? We observed his star rising in the sky and we’ve come to bow before him in worship.”
King Herod was shaken to the core when he heard this, and not only he, but all of Jerusalem was disturbed when they heard this news. So he called a meeting of the Jewish ruling priests and religious scholars, demanding that they tell him where the promised Messiah was prophesied to be born.
“He will be born in Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,” they told him. “Because the prophecy states:
And you, little Bethlehem,
are not insignificant among the clans of Judah,
for out of you will emerge
the Shepherd-King of my people Israel!”
Then Herod secretly summoned the spiritual priests from the East to ascertain the exact time the star first appeared. 8 And he told them, “Now go to Bethlehem and carefully look there for the child, and when you’ve found him, report to me so that I can go and bow down and worship him too.”
And on their way to Bethlehem, the same star they had seen in the East suddenly reappeared! Amazed, they watched as it went ahead of them and stopped directly over the place where the child was. And when they saw the star, they were so ecstatic that they shouted and celebrated with unrestrained joy. When they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, they fell to the ground at his feet and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests full of gifts and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Afterward they returned to their own country by another route because God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.
Matthew 2:1-12 (TPT)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NLT)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (ESV)
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NASB)
For here is the way God loved the world—he gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.
John 3:16 (TPT)
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
1 Timothy 2:5 (NKJV)
With this in mind, we constantly pray that our God will empower you to live worthy of all that he has invited you to experience. And we pray that by his power all the pleasures of goodness and all works inspired by faith would fill you completely. By doing this the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you will be glorified in him, by the marvelous grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (TPT)
As Christians and children of God, we must always remember and live with the truth that our Lord and Savior Jesus is truly the reason for Christmas. No matter how savage or uncertain this world is right now, we must never lose faith in the Lord and it is only the Lord who can lift us up when we fall down. It is only He who can restore us, bless us and pave the way for us. The birth of Jesus has always been a key part of God’s plan for us all! The Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit love us all and we simply have to do our parts and responsibilities as members of the Body of Christ and the spiritual family (God’s family). That being said, celebrating Christmas with our Lord Jesus is the true way of celebrating the season.
From this point on, I would like to reach out to all the lost and the unsaved people reading this. Are you frustrated with religion? Have you been living in bondage for too long? Did the atheists, the humanists and the secularists fool and abused you? Were you victimized by a religious zealot? Have you been persecuting Israel while supporting the terrorist-sponsored Palestinians and the wicked BDS movement? Have you been living as a homosexual or as a transgendered person? Are you still prioritizing addictions to sex, drugs and other inappropriate elements over the Lord ? Have you been causing trouble as a social justice warrior (SJW)? Did you spend an entire life worshiping statues, statuettes, images, people and relics? Have you been condemning churches and people of faith for a long time now? Are you a toxic person or one of those modern-day Leftist activists (Black Lives Matter, Democratic Socialists of America, the abortionists and others) who got fed up fighting for worthless causes? Have been a Planned Parenthood supporter or activist? Did you kill someone and have been living so long with the guilt? Have been practicing sorcery and witchcraft? All of that darkness can finally end and you can decide to do it! How? You can save yourselves by submitting yourselves to the Lord Jesus willingly and realize He is the Light! Glorify only the Lord!
There is no force and no coercion here. You have time and freedom to decide to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. For those who have decided to get born again now and gain salvation, please read the instructions and follow the prayer that I learned from my first pastor.
Are you ready? Firstly, open your heart to the Lord and pray this simple prayer in sincerity from your heart:
Father God,
I thank You. I believe Jesus is Your Son. I believe that He died for me and redeemed me from all of my sins. He took my sins and, Father, thank You for loving me and You demonstrated Your love for me through Your Son Jesus Christ. Forgive me for all of my sins. Jesus, I open my heart to You. I welcome You to enter into my heart. I confess today that You are now my Lord and Savior. Thank You for forgiveness. I receive forgiveness. Thank You for Your blood that cleansed me from all of my sins. I will follow You, Jesus. Thank You for Your plan. I receive the Holy Spirit. And Holy Spirit, help me to follow the will of God in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Congratulations! You are now a child of God! You have received Holy Spirit in your heart! This is easily your greatest decision ever made and also the greatest miracle of your life. Always praise, thank and honor the Lord. No more darkness in your life caused by politics, radicalism, toxicity, rebellion, religion, unbelief, evil, idolatry, traditions and rituals! Leave behind the darkness of your life and don’t look back to it. Remember that idolatry is evil, Purgatory is a lie, penance is a deception and Satan always used religion and unbelief to prevent people from being saved by the Lord.
With Lord Jesus, you are already moving forward and the best is yet to come! You also have a personal relationship with God, a relationship that is strictly off-limits to others (even to your household members or biological family members).
With your new life realized, make an effort to get yourself copy of the Holy Bible (start with New King James Version), study it and apply its lessons into your life no matter what situation you are in right now. I also recommend you to join a local Christian church that God has chosen for you (note: ask Him for a local church!) and find your place in the spiritual family (God’s family!). Be planted when the Lord shows you the way! Worship the Lord together with them and always remember that faith, not religion, is essential in your personal relationship with God. When you are at home, be in your room with the door shut and have fellowship with our Heavenly Father. On a personal level, practice Christian Habits in reference to what I published here and here. Remember the truth that God rewards the faithful abundantly and continue to be people of the Word. Declare your love for Him as well!
The Holy Bible is the ultimate authority and nothing else comes close to it for it is the Word of God. Remember always that Lord Jesus did not die on the cross to start religion at all. He died to redeem us all and showed that we must be led by faith in Him, faith in the Holy Spirit and faith in God the Heavenly Father. He rose from the dead and made His earthly presence felt once more to those who believed in Him. Lord Jesus ascended to Heaven and He promised to return in the future. His return is what we must always remember and keep living with holiness under the watch of God. We can do our part in building up God’s kingdom here on Earth by preaching His Word, blessing the Jewish people and saving the countless lost and unsaved souls around us by leading them to Lord Jesus. Living as a Christian is always about the personal relationship with the Lord, and it is certainly not about religion. Never let the idolaters, the idol makers and other sinister forces fool you into becoming unholy.
Thank you for reading. If you find this Christian article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Sharing the love of Christ can make a tremendously positive difference with 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 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/
In time for Christmas, the City Government of Las Piñas distributed one hundred and fifty thousand Noche Buena packages to specific constituents, according to Manila Bulletin news report. It should be recalled that months ago, Mayor Imelda Aguilar stated that her administration wants Christmas in the city to be joyful (in relation to getting vaccinated for COVID-19) and this latest move by the City Government is an extension of that.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Pinas City government distributed 150,000 Noche Buena packages to senior citizens, persons with disability (PWds), and indigent families in the city.
Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the tickets for “Pamaskong Handog” of the local government were already allocated to the 20 barangays in the city since Dec. 18.
Aguilar said the city government aims to finish the distribution of “Pamaskong Hadog” tickets on Wednesday, Dec. 22, so that the beneficiaries will have something to prepare and eat on Christmas eve.
She said it’s been the city’s annual tradition to distribute “Pamaskong Handog” to senior citizens, PWDs and indigent families.
Vice Mayor April Aguilar-Nery speaking to the recipients just before the formal release of the Noche Buena packages at one of the distribution sites. (photo sourced from the City Government’s Facebook page)
“I want all Las Piñeros to have something on their table in celebration of Christmas. In our own little way, the city government can make them happy and celebrate a joyful Christmas,” Aguilar said.
Vice-Mayor April Aguilar has been visiting barangays in the city to ensure the orderly and timely distribution of the Noche Buena packages.
The above report ended stating that each Noche Buena package comes with spaghetti noodles and sauce, condensed milk, fruit cocktail, and three kilograms of rice grain.
A batch of the Noche Buena packages prepared for distribution. (photo sourced from the City Government’s Facebook page)
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this recent development? Are you confident that Christmas in your city will be more joyful this year? If you have not been vaccinated, do you plan to get vaccinated during the holidays?
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 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/
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