Security guard apprehended in Parañaque City over the killing of a man who allegedly tried to steal a motorcycle

Recently there was an incident that happened within Parañaque City which involves shooting, chasing and death. The suspect here is a security guard who shot someone who allegedly attempted to steal a motorcycle, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

A 34-year-old security guard was arrested after he shot and killed an unidentified man who allegedly tried to steal his parked motorcycle in Paranaque City Monday morning, April 4.

Police identified the suspect as Edison Donato, a security guard of VICAN Security Services and resident of Barangay East Rembo, Makati City.

According to the police report, the incident happened around 8:40 a.m. in front of Baima Jiang KTV and Restaurant on Roxas Boulevard in Barangay Tambo.

Investigation showed the suspect was standing in front of the restaurant when he noticed the man allegedly trying to steal his parked motorcycle.

A delivery rider told police that he saw Donato chasing the alleged thief.

The witness said Donato tried to handcuff the unidentified thief but the latter tried to shoot the guard.

Donato in return took his service firearm and shot the man dead.

Members of the Paranaque City Police who were conducting routine patrol in the area arrested Donato.

Police recovered from the scene one .38-caliber revolver with three live ammunition and two spent shells, one improvised handgun, and one Yamaha Mio 125.

The security guard is now detained at the Paranaque police custodial facility pending the filing of appropriate charges against him.

The above report ended stating that the victim was “about 5’5” tall, skinny built, brown complexioned and has a devil skull tattoo on left wrist. He was wearing a white construction helmet, a black and white printed long sleeved shirt, a pair of black shorts and black construction safety shoes.”

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this latest news development? Who do you think was the true suspect and true victim in the recent crime incident?

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 with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Have your driver’s license renewed at the LTO satellite branch inside SM Southmall

If you happen to be within Las Piñas City and you need to have your driver’s license renewed, you should check out the satellite branch of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) which opened inside SM Southmall recently, as featured in the Manila Bulletin. The said satellite branch was designed to be a one-stop processing center for those who need renewed licenses and there is even a clinic (recognized by the LTO) located just beside the place. Aside from license renewals, people can also apply for student permits there.

To put things in perspective, posted below are selected excerpts from the Manila Bulletin article. Some parts in boldface…

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) officially launched their satellite branch at SM Southmall’s Government Services Express (GSE) on March 24 to make drivers’ license renewals easier and more accessible to Southies.

Southies can now renew their licenses and apply for student permits in the mall, all while shopping and doing other errands. They just need to bring their medical certificates and existing licenses (for renewal).

Conveniently, Megacare, an LTO-approved clinic, is also located beside their satellite branch for a complete, one-stop shop experience.

LTO at SM Southmall is open from 8:00AM to 5:00PM excluding holidays and work suspensions declared by the government. The Driver’s License Renewal Center (DLRC) is located at the Government Services Express at the Lower Ground Level.

Everything is made more convenient for SM Southmall’s shoppers. Aside from LTO, Southies can make a day of their errands at the mall because GSE has other government service counters available like SSS, PHLPost, and GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosk.

Moreover, SM Business Centers offer PSA applications for birth, marriage, cenomar, and death certificates.

SM Bills Payment counters located in The SM Store and SM Supermarket accept payments for contributions and/or loans for SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, and more.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Have you seen the LTO satellite branch inside SM Southmall already? If you did, what do you think about its facility? Does the place look clean and comfortable? Were there many people there?

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 with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Hillsong Church raises and distributes over $630,000 in assistance for Ukrainians

This past March, I posted about the launch of Hillsong Church’s special assistance – referred to as the Ukraine Appeal – for the people of Ukraine whose lives got disrupted by Russia’s invasion of their country. If you are eager to donate some of your loose cash online to help the Ukrainians through Hillsong Church, then click right here.

This past Saturday, Hillsong Church posted on its official Facebook page the latest update about their Ukraine Appeal. They have already raised hundreds of thousands of Dollars and their churches in Europe are also involved in the assistance for the people of Ukraine. To those who already donated to Hillsong’s Ukraine Appeal, I urge you to read the details closely.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Hillsong Church FB post. Some parts in boldface…

Since Hillsong launched its Ukraine appeal 4 weeks ago across our churches globally, we have raised and distributed over $630,000 in supporting humanitarian aid within the region.

We have secured several large warehouses in Ukraine and Poland with a steady flow of Humanitarian Aid, which is in the process of being established to ensure they are filled and distributed to those in need.

• As a first step, three tons of food supplies will be shipped to the Ukraine Warehouses this week.

We have sent two thousand mattresses to Ukraine, helping people in bunkers and metropolitan stations.

• Our Hillsong Kyiv Staff and team have assisted those in our church, mostly women and children, who have fled to Warsaw in acquiring accommodation, food, supplies and military protection vests.

Together with Hillsong Kyiv we set up close communication to our other European locations to connect more people fleeing to find a place where they can ‘call home’ and be taken care of through our Church and Churches that we are in relationship with. Due to the overcrowding of cities like Warsaw, this has been crucial and now the Hillsong team in Warsaw can host Women, Children & Seniors nights for fellowship and connection.

• Another praise report was the opportunity to host twenty of the women now in Warsaw for the opening night of Hillsong Colour Conference and spend precious moments worshipping and hearing God’s word together.

• In Hillsong Berlin, after three weeks of hosting families with people from our Church Community, an opportunity emerged through a Church member to utilise a Guest House which is no longer in use. This facility will accommodate forty spaces for the coming months with eight families living there now.

• The Hillsong Berlin community has supported these families with the registration process, basic supplies, process of applying for schooling and funding.

Hillsong Sweden is assisting with a full project on the ground to house and serve refugees.

Thank you to our global Hillsong church for your generosity and giving in supporting these efforts through our Ukraine Appeal.

It is indeed delightful to read the above details. Hillsong Church did not just collect the donations but also coordinated with its churches in Europe to make the varied forms of assistance for the affected Ukrainians really progress and make positive impact.

If you intend to donate to Hillsong’s Ukraine Appeal and become part of the collective effort to help those in need, take a close look at the bible scriptures below…

When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Romans 12:13 (NLT)

Take a constant interest in the needs of God’s beloved people and respond by helping them. And eagerly welcome people as guests into your home.

Romans 12:13 (TPT)

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

Mercy to the needy is a loan to God,

    and God pays back those loans in full.

Proverbs 19:17 (MSG)

I encourage all of you reading this to donate to the Ukraine Appeal, click https://hillsong.com/appeal/

Pray to the Lord for Ukraine and its people so that the suffering will end. Pray also to Him for Russia’s leaders to be enlightened and make the decision to stop their military operations in Ukraine and leave the nation entirely. Always remember that only God can lift up the persecuted and restore them fully. Keep believing in that! Keep on reading the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

For more about Hillsong Church, visit https://hillsong.com/ and their official YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/hillsong

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Note: Hillsong logo is a property of Hillsong Church.

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/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

A Look Back at Sludge #7 (1994)

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 fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Ultraverse of Malibu Comics and examine one of its many stories told through an issue of the Sludge comic book series.

In my previous Sludge retro comic book review, the stakes were raised for Sludge and the city of New York as a new conflict started brewing that brought in two gangs along with the Pump and his own gang, and even mercenaries. Issue #6 was the start of a new multi-part storyline that Steve Gerber crafted and it encouraged re-reading the early issues of the Sludge series to understand the scope of the new conflict.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Sludge #7, published by Malibu Comics in 1994 with a story written by Steve Gerber and drawn by Aaron Lopresti.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with a man and a woman on bed. Their privacy gets interrupted when the Pump suddenly appears in frightening fashion. It turns out, Sludge was in the middle of a nightmare and even sees a frightening vision of Edna. He then makes his way through in the sewer.

One morning at the Eretz Shalom Cemetery, a police investigation is being conducted as the local authorities found several dead bodies as well as scorched ground, bodies fused together and a some odor. Shelley, the very determined reporter of the New York Daily Globe, tries to uncover details at the crime scene only to be interrupted by a detective named Quinn. In response to her question, Quinn admits they are just discovering things and trying to figure things out.

Suddenly a lady wearing a suit and necktie approaches them…

Quality

Avoiding the touch of Sludge is a must!

As far as storytelling goes, this tale is a very solid follow-up to the previous issue. While issue #6 showed the start of a big conflict involving three groups, this one shows the emotional and physical impact on the gang leaders (John Paul Marcello and the Dragon Fang) and the unrelenting pursuit of the Pump and his minions on wrecking down society by means of drug pushing and violence. In a way, this Ultraverse story daringly showed its own portrayal of illegal drugs and gang wars while also showing Sludge suffering more and getting even more desperate with his life. I should also state that there are scenes that added detective story and suspense vibes into the narrative.

It should be noted that at this point in the Sludge series, the titular character does some things here that would maker readers question his moves and his sanity, especially since the Pump (note: the Ultraverse’ very own Satan figure) keeps on tempting and manipulating him. Sludge, who was once a crooked cop when he was still human, clearly is vulnerable deep inside and he also is not resistant to the evil influences around him. Very notably, the story by Steve Gerber is strong enough to make me go on to read the next issue.

Conclusion

Shelley of the city newspaper at the scene of the crime.

Sludge #7 (1994) is the kind of comic book that will make you think deeply about the true nature of the titular character and why should you keep on reading each new comic book of this series when you learn that the said character is far from being heroic. The lines that separate good and evil is very blurred at this stage of the Sludge series. This is one clever and really engaging piece of work done by the Gerber-Lopresti team, and at the same time it is also one of the most intriguing Ultraverse tales ever told. That being said, the comic book’s concept is incidentally not ideal for readers who seek good-versus-evil conflicts that get resolved.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of Sludge #7 (1994) be aware that as of this writing, MileHighComics.com shows that the near-mint copy of the regular edition costs $16.

Overall, Sludge #7 (1994) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Hanoi’s 31-day countdown to the 31st SEA Games to start soon

The wait for the opening of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as 31st SEA Games, Hanoi 2021 and SEA Games 31) in Vietnam is gradually coming to an end and very soon the City of Hanoi will launch its very own countdown of 31 days leading to the 12th day of May, according to a report by VietnamPlus.VN. Take note that their nation is working hard on finalizing the SEA Games preparations and Hanoi itself is working on ensuring medical services for the said games.

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

Hanoi is to launch a 31-day countdown to the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31), heard a meeting chaired by Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung on March 31.

A ceremony to kick-start the countdown is scheduled to take place on April 11, together with the Olympic Run Day for Public Health and the 47th edition of the Ha Noi Moi Newspaper Run at Hoan Kiem Lake at the heart of the capital city.

Dung, who is head of the SEA Games 31 organising board of Hanoi, underlined that the regional sporting event is an important chance to promote the city’s image as a safe, friendly and attractive destination to domestic and foreign tourists.

He ordered relevant sides to bolster communication activities and finish the decoration on Hanoi streets by April 11 to celebrate the upcoming Games.

Already Vietnam has been welcoming visitors from overseas and so far their national and local authorities have been pretty bullish on boosting their economy through tourism. The high number of COVID-19 cases does not seem to dampen their drive. For a quick look at Vietnam and the SEA Games, watch the videos below.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: How excited are you for the 31st SEA Games right now? Do you feel like wanting to visit Vietnam to watch the SEA Games live and enjoy the tourist sites? What do you think about the 31-day countdown of Hanoi leading to the opening of the SEA Games?

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 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/

A Look Back at WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams #11 (1994)

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 fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we continue revisiting Jim Lee’s flagship title under the Image Comics label – WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams!

Last time around, I reviewed the 10th issue of the WildC.A.T.S series which saw the reunited work of Chris Claremont and Jim Lee who previously worked together on making many memorable X-Men comic books during their time with Marvel Comics (note: check out three retro reviews of Claremont-Lee X-Men comics by clicking here, here and here).

Being free from the constraints and hurdles of Marvel, WildC.A.T.S #10 showed what Claremont added to Lee’s superhero team while also unveiling the Huntsman (Claremont’s own creation). Even as the story – which had Zealot as the lead character followed by Voodoo and Huntsman – had lots of build-up and the rest of the WildC.A.T.S only had a minor share of the spotlight, Lee still managed to make the story filled with a good amount of spectacle for readers to enjoy. I really liked WildC.A.T.S #10 a lot and in my view, it has aged well.

With those details laid down, here is a look back WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams #11, published by Image Comics in 1994 with a story written by Chris Claremont and Drawn by Jim Lee. Scott Williams is in-charge with the ink work. This comic book has a variant cover edition with the cover art done by While Portacio.

The cover.
The variant cover edition with art by While Portacio.

Early story

The story begins moments after Jacob Marlowe secretly met with Alabaster Wu. The WildC.A.T.S – composed of Spartan, Warblade, Void, Maul and the possessed Voodoo – find themselves facing with the Troika – composed of Attica, Slag, H.A.R.M. and Providence – who came in by surprise with the intention to overwhelm them. Providence states that Jacob Marlowe’s destiny is sealed with doom.  

Just after Marlowe expressed defiance, the Raksha-controlled Voodoo knocks him out with a hard kick from behind. This surprises Spartan who immediately jumps into action and orders his teammates to form on void for an immediate dust-off. The battle between the Troika and the WildC.A.T.S starts, Attica hits Warblade. Void then discovers that some force is preventing her from teleporting. It turns out, Providence manipulated the quantum field. Using tremendous power, Providence overwhelms Void which puts the WildC.A.T.S into serious trouble.

Meanwhile on the streets of Brooklyn, Zealot, Huntsman and the teenager Miranda are riding fast together. Zealot says that the communication with her team has gone off-line and she only has their current position…

Quality

Even the fearless and disciplined Zealot is scared of the new super villain Tapestry.

I’ll start first with the presentation of characters and related developments. While the WildC.A.T.S themselves appeared a lot more here than in the previous issue, they did not end up as the dominating characters in the narrative. Even Zealot and Huntsman had reduced shares of the spotlight. This is because Claremont’s script introduced a few yet clearly significant characters while remaining focused on building up tension in relation to the growing presence of a new force of evil (note: the ugly and scary looking monsters called Raksha are connected with them) on Earth with two distinct figures as evil leaders – Soma and Tapestry. As the WildC.A.T.S fell short of achieving any heroics, their new statuses as targets and tools of Tapestry ultimately made sense in the plot. This is a rather daring way Claremont used to tell a WildC.A.T.S tale that has the titular team in their most vulnerable state yet.

While Soma does have an intimidating presence, it is obvious that Tapestry (who has an eroticized design and is the self-declared weaver of souls and shaper of fate) is the most visceral supervillain here and I had the impression that she was planned to be a major enemy towards the WildC.A.T.S comparable with Helspont. Even the fearless warrior Zealot fears Tapestry.

In a clear move to expand the lore of the WildC.A.T.S series within the WildStorm universe, this comic book saw the entry of Savant (an important associate of Zealot’s) and Soldier (the WildStorm’s own parallel to DC Comics’ Sgt. Rock) plus the mention of Mr. Majestic. Savant and Soldier are not just mere additional characters thrown into the mix but they each have established places within the WildStorm universe that just have not been seen by readers at the time of publishing. Claremont wrote Savant and Soldier as individuals who both knew Zealot from some time before and, more importantly, he made them believable to read even though this comic book only showed little of them.

When it comes to character portrayals, Claremont’s creativity showed Attica clearly having much more personality just as the Troika returned (late in issue #10). The head of the Troika in this comic book was presented as a business-dealing killer who does not hesitate to tell his client to beware of Zealot and Grifter (note: he was last seen in issue #8) as those two are the most dangerous WildC.A.T.S members. Attica’s companion Slag is more expressive here and while H.A.R.M.’s mechanical perspective is emphasized more which reminds me somewhat of the cinematic Terminator reading commands internally. Indeed, there was inspiration behind Claremont’s writing.

With regards to the plot, this comic book has a simple story structure that just so happens to have lots of exposition, explanations and the introduction of new characters destined to become more important later. Combined with the art of Jim Lee, the story still works on engaging and entertaining me. Re-reading this story is still a lot fun after all these decades.

Conclusion

WildC.A.T.S in bombastic action with the Troika.

Given the way it was crafted and structured by Claremont, WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams #11 (1994) is easily the most unconventional tale of the series at the time of its publication. Unsurprisingly, Jim Lee’s art here is of top-notch quality and he continued to excel in providing readers the adulterated superhero spectacle while also making the more character-focused scenes look interesting (note: there are flashbacks to WildC.A.T.S #1 during Tapestry’s examination of Jacob Marlowe’s memories). As the WildC.A.T.S – without Grifter and Zealot specifically – were at their most vulnerable, this could alienate the die-hard fans who are expecting the usual stuff they love (note: bombastic action against bad guys with character moments in between) to pour in. What I want readers and the die-hard fans to understand is that they should pay close attention to the growing force of evil under Tapestry (who even scares the very brave Zealot) and think about it as a suitable addition into the WildC.A.T.S lore within the WildStorm universe of the time. This comic book also shows that there is more to be explored beyond the conflict of the Kherubim and the Daemonites. That being said, Chris Claremont and Jim Lee’s combined works here are still very solid, a lot of fun and even intriguing to read.

If you are seriously planning to buy an existing hard copy of WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams #11 (1994), 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 copies of newsstand edition and the signed edition cost $90 and $60 respectively. The near mint-copies of variant cover edition (Whilce Portacio art) and the signed variant covered edition cost $30 and $90 respectively.

Overall, WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams #11 (1994) is highly recommended!

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Las Piñas City Government achieves 4th place in the Gawad Taga-Ilog 2.0 Search for the Most Improved Estero (Creek) in Metro Manila

Recently, the City of Las Piñas achieved another citation from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as it achieved a 4th place finish Gawad Taga-Ilog 2.0 Search for the Most Improved Estero (Creek) in Metro Manila, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. To be specific, this is related to the Zapote River within the city’s jurisdiction that passes through a few barangays.

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

The Las Pinas City government was cited by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as 4th placer in the Gawad Taga-Ilog 2.0 Search for the Most Improved Estero (Creek) in Metro Manila.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the awarding was held at the Makiling Hall, Park Inn Radisson, North EDSA, Quezon City on March 22 in celebration of the World Water Day.

Aguilar said the Zapote River passes through Barangays Zapote, Pamplona Uno, Pamplona Dos and Pulanglupa Uno.

She said Zapote River got the 4th place while Estero de San Miguel in Manila was hailed as the champion in the search, followed by Tripa de Galina in Pasay and Makati, Park Creek 23 in Marikina City, and Polo River in Valenzuela City.

The mayor said the award was related to the Supreme Court mandamus and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) guideline for rehabilitation and preservation of Manila Bay.

The above report ended stating that Mayor Aguilar expressed her thanks to the residents of the four mentioned barangays (that shared the Zapote River) for maintaining cleanliness.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction about this latest development? Do you live in close proximity to the Zapote River? How is the quality of the water of the Zapote River 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 with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Looking for a new home or investment opportunities? Watch out for South 2 Residences in Las Piñas City

There is no doubt that the Philippines is socially and economically recovering from the COVID-19 crisis. Business and economic readings of the nation in 2021 showed improvements over 2020. Apart from rising business confidence, there is also growing confidence in real estate and investments. That being said, SM Development Corporation (SMDC) is making a bullish bet at the Southmall complex in Las Piñas City with their project South 2 Residences, according to a business article published by Manila Bulletin. To the potential investors and searchers of new homes reading this post, I urge you to pay close attention.

Artistic image of the project as published through the Manila Bulletin.

To put things in perspective, posted below are selected excerpts from the Manila Bulletin article. Some parts in boldface…

South 2 Residences is a master-planned developments that unlocks so much more than just ease and comfort, having everything within reach, in a strategic location where all key destinations are made accessible. This gated vertical community in Las Pinas city is poised to give investors and future residents wide-ranging rewards that cover it all.

Integrated living keeps destinations close and health risks at bay – Owning a home surrounded by essential establishments has proven itself vital during this time of a global pandemic. There is a massive and even potentially life-saving difference between having to ride in a car to go places, and simply taking a few steps for a grocery run or your bank errands.

Located in the Southmall Complex in Las Pinas City, SMDC’s South 2 Residences is orbited by several key lifestyle, commercial, and office destinations. This includes retail shops, leisure and entertainment stations, and a plethora of dining options at SM Southmall. There are also banking establishments such as BDO and Chinabank, health institutions such as The Medical City Clinic, and office spaces at the SM South Tower.

“It is much more important now to have easy and fast access to essential facilities such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, drug stores, supermarkets, and places of worship,” writes Andrew Frondozo, Head of Project Management at Santos Knight Frank, in the real estate expert’s Global Buyer Survey 2021: The Philippine Edition. “This increased realization is no longer for the middle-aged or the elderly, but younger people even.”

Living in a 15-minute city like South 2 Residences, where important destinations are all within walking distance, also means your car can stay parked, helping you save money as oil prices shoot up.

Artistic view of the South 2 Residences amenities as published through the Manila Bulletin.

Accessibility, well-appointed spaces, and more – SMDC’s South 2 Residences is accessible to all parts of the metro through convenient road networks such as the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Emilio Aguinaldo Hi-way, and the Metro Manila Skyway. It is also close to the Skyway Extension, LRT-1 Cavite extension, and C-5 Southlink.

Upon reaching the property, one can immediately get a sense of grandeur from South 2 Residences’ imposing presence in the neighborhood. The impression only gets stronger as you enter the hotel-like lobby, adorned with impeccable design and décor.

South 2 Residences, likewise, presents a full range of resort-style amenities, including landscaped swimming pools, children’s play areas, pocket gardens, a gym, and high-speed elevators.

If you are eager to learn more details and check out the showroom gallery of South 2 Residences, you should visit https://smdc.com/properties/south-2-residences/

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are  a resident of Las Piñas City, what do you think about South 2 Residences? If you are an investor or if you have the means to buy a unit where you and your family can live in, are the declared amenities and accessibility to SM Southmall ideal to you? Does the idea of living in a new community in close proximity to Alabang-Zapote Road sound like a turn-off to you?

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 with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Las Piñas City Government issues advisory about fake Friendship Route stickers and the scammers selling them

For those of you who heard about the recent developments about the Friendship Route stickers of the City of Las Piñas, be aware that the City Government declared that such stickers are absolutely NOT FOR SALE, as reported by the Manila Bulletin.

That being said, there are scammers who are selling illegal versions of the Friendship Route stickers to motorists who are eager to acquire them so that they can move better around the city. Those who engage in the selling fake Friendship Route stickers can get themselves into trouble according to city regulations. Clearly the only way for motorists to acquire legitimate Friendship Route stickers is through the City Government by means of applying online.

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

The Las Pinas City government advised motorists, who are using public or private roads as alternative routes to ease or decongest traffic along the main thoroughfares in the city, not to deal with unscrupulous persons selling fake friendship route stickers.

The city government issued the advisory after a fake Las Pinas City government account was created, selling fake friendship stickers for P600 to P,1000.

The city government reiterated its call to motorists who wish to avail of a free friendship route sticker to visit the link bit.ly/LPCFriendshipStickerApp.

Persons caught selling fake friendship route stickers will be slapped with a fine of P3,000 to P5,000, according to city officials.

The city government issued on March 17 guidelines on how to apply for the friendship route stickers.

It said the vehicle’s official receipt (OR) and Certificate of Registration (CR) of the owner should be registered with Las Piñas address.

Las Pinas residents can still avail of the stickers even as their vehicle is not registered in the city by just showing driver’s license or any other documents that will prove that the applicant is a city resident.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City who still has yet to acquire a legitimate Friendship Route sticker from the City Government, have you applied already online? If you did, how was the experience of the online application? If you ever spot someone selling fake Friendship Route stickers, would you report them to the local authorities?

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 with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Vietnam finalizing its preparations for the 31st SEA Games

As the month of April approaches, it is an instant reminder that time is moving and that means the opening of the delayed 31st Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as 31st SEA Games, SEA Games 31 and Hanoi 2021) in Hanoi, Vietnam is gradually approaching. That being said, the authorities and event stakeholders over there are working hard on the preparations not just for the games but for the nation as a whole in relation to their recent reopening of borders to foreigners.

Even though Vietnam currently has the highest number of COVID-19 cases as well as the highest daily average of new cases, there is no stopping the SEA Games from formally opening on May 12, 2022. In fact, there are certain sports events of the regional games that will happen even before opening day such as football, chess, handball (beach), kickboxing and rowing.  

From the March 28, 2022 Facebook picture post of The ASEAN Post.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from a report published by VietnamPlus.VN. Some parts in boldface…

Only less than 50 days left, the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) will officially take place. At present, Vietnam is urgently making efforts to complete the final preparations for the safe and successful organisation of the region’s biggest sport event.


Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, SEA Games 31 could not take place as planned in November 2021, and was postponed to May 2022. The organising committee encountered many difficulties in preparations, while athletes did not have opportunities to compete regularly and have training abroad.


The goal of successfully holding the Games is an important task. Thanks to the close direction of the Government, the companionship and coordination between the concerned ministries and sectors, the preparations are on the right track, with the progress ensured. At a recent field trip by Southeast Asian sport delegations, the delegation heads appreciated the host country’s preparations.

“Since Vietnam announced SEA Games 31’s official date in late 2021, the country has exerted tremendous efforts, and preparations are in full swing to meet the deadlines,” said Director (Projects) of the Singapore National Olympic Council Anthony Lee.


He believed that the regional sporting event this year will be smooth-sailing and organised efficiently.

The renovation of My Dinh National Stadium, which is to host football and track and field, has been fundamentally completed while the Water Sports Stadium is also being renovated to meet international standards, ready to host the Games.


For his part, Vice President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia Paduka Nur Azmi Ahmad spoke highly of progress made in the preparations at the My Dinh Stadium and the National Sports Training Centre, despite various challenges facing Vietnam, especially the COVID-19 pandemic.

Underlining the significance of the facilities serving the Games, he added that Vietnamese agencies need to speed up the remaining tasks and make sure that deadlines will be met.

Deputy Secretary General for Administration of the Philippine Olympic Committee Carl Sambrano highly valued Quang Ninh province’s preparations, particularly at the 5,000-seat gymnasium which will host indoor volleyball matches.

He added that the expressway linking Hanoi and Quang Ninh facilitates the travel of participating teams between the two localities.

Chong Fui Kim from the Singapore National Olympic Council said although the COVID-19 pandemic delivered a heavy blow to Vietnam’s preparations for SEA Games 31, most of the competition venues in Quang Ninh stand ready to host the regional event.

He spoke highly of efforts and determination of the organising committee and Vietnamese people in preparing for the Games despite the complex developments of COVID-19, believing that the event will be successful.

With regards to the SEA Games preparations in the city of Hanoi, watch the video below…

Meanwhile, here in the Philippines, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) assured that the SEA Games are on track to finally taking place this May. This assurance was given following the Philippines’ participation in a recent big meeting in Hanoi that also drew the presence of the representatives of the many competing countries. The entire Philippine delegation to the SEA Games will receive funding from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Knowing the latest about Vietnam’s preparations for the SEA Games, how excited are you about the region’s biggest sports event right now? Do you think that the daily number of new COVID-19 cases in Vietnam will fall down significantly by the start of May?

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 with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/