While a lot of economists stated that the economy of the Philippines is unlikely to achieve 6% growth this year, the New York-based investment firm Cerberus Capital Management is investing an additional P15 billion in the country, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. For the newcomers reading this, Cerberus is the operator behind the Agila Subic Shipyard.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the first PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
New York-based alternative investment firm Cerberus Capital Management is investing an additional PHP15 billion in the Philippines within a year, as it sees progress in its existing operations and government support for foreign investors.
The company, which operates the 300-hectare Agila Subic Shipyard, the former Hanjin Shipyard in Subic Bay that it acquired in 2022, disclosed the plan during a meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Washington, DC earlier this week.
In a press release Friday, the company said the additional investments will be used to update the shipyard and introduce new projects in logistics, energy, and transport infrastructure.
Cerberus managing director Alexander Benard said they are “encouraged by the progress we’ve seen and by the strong support from the Philippine government.”
“We believe the Philippines holds significant long-term potential as a regional hub for industrial and logistics activity. We look forward to building on this momentum and supporting the development of our key strategic assets in the Philippines,” he said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines will experience a breakthrough of additional foreign investments over the next six months?
Greece, a nation with a population of over ten million people, has had enough with the influx of illegal migrants and they took action to control the border to protect both their sovereignty and their citizens. Officially there has been a freeze on asylum processes (for the next three months) and many foreigners who arrived on Greece’s shores were detained.
If you were not able to receive this particular news, then I’m not surprised because Islamo-Leftist mainstream news media outlets (the ones who favored illegal immigrants and open borders) refused to report about it. The more conservative news outlets like Sky News Australia managed to report about it early and I encourage you to watch their news video below.
For some time already, a lot of people from the Middle East and north Africa crossed the seas to reach the shores of Greece to enter Europe. The government of Greece has had enough and they started the changes a few months prior which explains their recent action against illegal migrants. For the newcomers reading this, gangs of violent migrants caused chaos in Spain weeks ago. Clearly Greece does not want such tragedies to happen in their country.
By pushing back against illegal immigrants, Greece itself is facing renewed opposition from those who support illegal immigration and the foreigners’ so-called rights. Watch and learn from the DW News video below.
Here is something intriguing to look at…the so-called refugees in Greece even protested at the gates of their camp demanding to be released to the wealthier parts of Europe like the United Kingdom (UK), Sweden and Germany. Seriously, what were these foreigners who illegally arrived thinking? Watch the Sky News Australia video below.
Lastly, United States President Donald Trump spoke out against illegal immigration (plus renewable energy) in Europe right in front of the President of the European Commission of the corrupted European Union (EU). It is clear that America under Trump secured their border with Mexico and they have been working hard to not only prevent illegal crossings but also go after the illegal immigrants and illegal aliens who are already in the country. Trump has solid results against illegal immigration with him and it would be great if the nations of Europe would be inspired to become tougher to secure their borders and protect the citizens. Watch the Sky News Australia video below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you support Greece’s hard push back against illegal immigrants? Is there are an influx of foreigners who arrived at your country illegally over the past twelve months? Are there huge groups of illegal aliens living in your local community right now? What do you think it will take for Greece to deport all the illegal immigrants they have right now?
While Spain and other nations of Europe are struggling with the high number of illegal migrants and foreign nationals who keep on trespassing into their respective territories, the Philippines deported more than one thousand four hundred foreigners in the first half of 2025 over a series of violations of immigration law, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the first PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The number of foreign nationals who were deported during the first half of the year doubled compared to last year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Friday.
According to Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, data from the bureau’s deportation and implementation unit (DIU) revealed that a total of 1,422 foreign nationals were deported due to immigration violations during the period. The BI recorded 717 deportees during the same period in 2024.
Chinese nationals topped the list with 957, followed by 231 Vietnamese, 41 South Koreans, 41 Malaysians, and 37 Burmese.
Viado said majority of the deportations were foreigners found to be illegally working in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in the country despite the ban.
“Our strengthened deportation protocols follow the directive of the President to act swiftly and remove foreigners who abuse our people’s hospitality. We will continue expediting the deportation of foreign nationals who violate our laws,” the BI chief added in a statement.
The BI earlier reported improvements in deportation protocols, including fast-tracking clearances in partnership with the National Bureau of Investigation, immediate resolution of cases suspected to be filed under the ‘demanda me’ scheme, regular coordination with embassies for swift issuance of travel documents, and opening of a new holding facility for arrested aliens.Meanwhile, Viado also reported the arrest on July 22 of two Sudanese nationals found to be undocumented in San Carlos City, Pangasinan.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the national authorities will be able to apprehend and deport more illegal aliens who are still on the lose all over the Philippines? Do you think the authorities can double the number of deportees by the end of this year?
By pointing to a variety of factors, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently announced that the economy of the Philippines will grow by 5.6% this year, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). The ADB recently released its latest economy report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the first PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines is expected to post the second highest economic growth in Southeast Asia this year despite the downgrade in growth outlook due to external headwinds, a report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) showed.
In its Asian Development Outlook July 2025 report released on Wednesday, the ADB said Philippine economic growth is expected to settle at 5.6 percent this year.
The growth outlook for the Philippines is the second highest in Southeast Asia, next to Vietnam’s 6.3 percent. Indonesia is projected to grow by 5 percent, Malaysia by 4.3 percent, Singapore by 1.6 percent, and Thailand by 1.8 percent.
For 2026, growth is expected to slightly pick up to 5.8 percent.
The ADB’s latest projection, however, was lower than its 6 percent for 2024 and 6.1 percent for 2025 economic growth forecast amid external headwinds. The Philippine economy grew by 5.4 percent in the first quarter of the year.
“Domestic demand grew 6.7 percent, supported by easing inflation and monetary policy. However, net exports dragged on growth as brisk imports outpaced exports,” the ADB said. It added that manufacturing index (PMI) recovered slightly to 50.7 in June from 50.1 in May.
“Consumer sentiment was positive in the near term. Unemployment was low at 3.9 percent in May, and remittance growth of 3.0 percent helped sustain household spending,” it said.
The ADB, however, said that business confidence softened amid heightened global policy uncertainties.
According to the ADB, economic forecasts for most countries in Southeast Asia have been downgraded for 2025 and 2026 due to the continuing global growth slowdown and increased trade uncertainty.
“Weaker external conditions have hurt business and consumer sentiment and threaten to disrupt investment in the subregion,” it said.
“Except for Indonesia, the largest economy in the subregion, all Southeast Asian economies are expected to post weaker growth in the next two years.”
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think it is still possible for the economy of the Philippines reach 6% GDP growth by the end of 2025?
The uncertainty about this year’s economic growth for the Philippines has gotten stronger as the Department of Finance (DOF) admitted that achieving 6% growth is quite difficult, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The DOF pointed to external shocks that are affecting the national economy.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
While the Philippine economy has already been recovering from its deep recession during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, hitting its growth potential of six percent would be challenging given the global uncertainties spilling over domestically, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
“We do think that the potential of the Philippines is at the minimum six-percent growth. But of course, it’s quite difficult, especially knowing some of the challenges that we’re seeing,” DOF Undersecretary and Chief Economist Domini Velasquez told reporters during the Philippine thrift banks’ annual convention on Tuesday, July 15.
Just before the initial three-month pause on reciprocal tariffs ended on July 9, United States (US) President Donald Trump had stretched it to Aug. 1, but hiked the rates for Philippine exports to 20 percent from 17 percent previously, repeatedly citing the “significant and persistent trade deficit” that the trade giant has with its former colony.
Velasquez noted that the tariff hike was among the uncertainties that the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) had considered in downscaling its growth target for the year, through 2028.
Last month, the economic team slashed its 2025 GDP growth target to between 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent from six- to 6.5-percent previously. Cited as factors were heightened external uncertainties, especially the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the imposition of US tariffs.
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto told reporters during an informal press chat on Wednesday, July 16, that he expects the economy to accelerate “significantly” in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter.
“In effect, the target is still six percent for the year,” Recto noted, taking off from the recently revised growth goal. “Realistically, it’s probably around 5.7 percent or 5.8 percent for the year. It depends, because there’s a lot of uncertainty—uncertainty with trade policy.”
“But I think the second quarter will definitely be better than the first,” Recto said, noting that the improvement will be driven by both government and household consumption.
The DBCC had also narrowed the growth target range for 2026 to 2028 to six to seven percent, from the previously more ambitious six to eight percent.
“We did recognize those [tariffs]. When we dialed down on our growth target in 2025, it’s really because of the external factors that we were seeing,” Velasquez said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the national economy is not strong enough to achieve 6% GDP growth by the end of this year? What do you think the national government should do to strengthen economic growth and make the Philippines more attractive to foreign investors? Do you think the Philippines still has a chance to convince America to lower its planned tariff on Philippine-made goods?
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming fans and other gamers!
If you are disappointed with modern console gaming and if you don’t like what the console makers are doing, retro gaming will restore the fun and help you forget about the disappointment.
I recently purchased a copy of Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute for my Xbox Series X because I wanted to play Elevator Action Returns again but in the comfort of home. For the newcomers reading this, Elevator Action Returns (also titled as Elevation Action II in some markets overseas) was first released in Japanese arcades in 1994.
The Japanese arcade flyer of Elevator Action Returns.
In my experience here in the Philippines, I played the original Elevator Action on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) in 1986 and I played its sequel for the first time at the arcade of X-Site Amusement Center inside Festival Mall in Alabang in 1998. Upon playing Elevator Action Returns arcade version, I was instantly hooked as it was pretty playable, exciting and fun to play. To the best of my memory, I replayed Elevator Action Returns a number of times at X-Site Amusement Center until early 2001. Today, the game is no longer available in X-Site’s arcade selection which is a bummer.
In recent times, I’ve been replaying Elevator Action Returns and the original Elevator Action on my Xbox Series X thanks to the Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute digital copy I purchased. What I am writing here is not a game review but more of an observation about the mid-1990s game in general and how it played using the Xbox controller.
Game design and gameplay
Developed by Taito, Elevator Action Returns was built up on the foundation it inherited from its 1980s predecessor. The game has a 2D visual design and with more detailed sprites and artistic elements of the time. The game was designed with a joystick and two action buttons (one for shooting and the other for jumping) arcade control set up in mind.
The first level is a creative remake of what was presented in the original Elevator Action game. Only this time, the action is more intense, faster and more explosive.
Players will have to make their way through the floors in each level (six in total), shooting the enemies (the in-game terrorist group), entering all the red-colored door to retrieve something essential, survive and then making your way to the exit point of the level. As the game has a designated health meter or life bar for the player, this allows players to keep enduring the challenges without worrying about any one-hit deaths.
As players make their way through each level, they can pick up new weapons like machine guns or launchers. Players can also enter doors to pick up not only new weapons but also health boosters or points.
The 2D sprite work and animation are fantastic to look at. The artistic details in the background and foreground added visual dept.
You can pick one of three characters to play as.
When compared to the original Elevator Action, the sequel comes with good variety per level prepared. The first level was traditional in design like the previous game as players have to move down a tall building by floors, accomplish with the red door and conclude the level at the ground floor. The other levels are more horizontal in design and players will definitely be moving more sideward fighting the terrorists while avoiding environmental hazards. There also will be times when players will have to climb up one floor to the next by escalator or by elevator depending on the level designed.
When it comes to the constant opposition, the terrorists are many and players should be aware of them appearing when they are least expected. What it noticeable is that the terrorists become more aggressive and relentless the longer players take to finish a level. I promise you readers, you will do a lot of shooting, jumping, and even melee attacks when fighting the bad guys.
Levels like this one allowed for more sideway movement as well as opportunities to climb up or down a floor in order to accomplish your objective.
With a health meter implemented, you can endure more damage as you fight the bad guys and make your way through. Beware of environmental hazards along the way.
As for the controls, the arcade control set-up of a single joystick and two buttons remains the best way to play it. Elevator Action Returns is playable enough with the Xbox controller. While the left analog stick of the Xbox controller works well in moving the character, I ended up using the directional pad (D-pad) a lot more because it works much better and allows me to make more precise moves. This game can be played in single-player or in 2-player co-op.
A sequel released at the right time
I like the artwork the game developers prepared highlighting your mission accomplishment and survival. A lot of effort was invested on making the artwork displayed here.
Being a mid-1990s game made with more advanced visual elements, better hardware and a modern approach to gameplay, the action in Elevator Action Returnsis unsurprisingly faster, more action-packed and more explosive than its predecessor. Indeed, this is a high-quality sequel and a true evolution of the classic Elevator Action formula. As Islamic terrorism became a major problem in global affairs in the 1990s, the terrorism theme of the game’s story was timely and fitting as the fictional terrorist group is obsessed with causing destruction and death worldwide. As such, the game allows players to pick one of three character of a counter-terrorism unit, and each character has differences with regards to speed, armor, firing speed, health and sub-weapons. The levels are plentiful and the same can be said about the varied action which makes the game worth replaying from start to finish. I should state that the 2D sprite work is great and timeless to look at.
Elevator Action Returns is a classic and it ensures a lot of fun for anyone who loves retro gaming and the Elevator Action series in general. This is one of the best arcade games of the 1990s now available for playing on modern consoles.
Recently in the province of Cavite, elements of the Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) fugitive search unit arrested three Chinese over varied violations and rescued two women who were held against their will, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A Chinese national, who is allegedly linked to illegal drugs activities and human trafficking, has been arrested in Cavite by agents of the Bureau of Immigration Fugitive Search Unit (BIFSU).
BIFSU Chief Rendel Ryan Sy identified the suspect as Jin Tian, 26, who was arrested in his residence in General Trias City last July 15.
During the operation in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine Navy, two women allegedly held against their will were rescued, Sy said.
At the same time, Sy said that two other male Chinese nationals were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Sun Yong, 36, and Liu Zhiwei, 33. Sun was found by PDEA operatives to be in possession of a substance believed to be shabu and drug paraphernalia.
Sy also said that the three Chinese nationals were found to be overstaying aliens for failure to present any valid immigration documentation. Also, Jin was found to have two derogatory records for overstaying.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be more Chinese fugitives as well as overstaying fugitives hiding in your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Superboy star John Newton featured in Minty Comedic Arts’ video – It has been almost forty years since the Superboy TV series first launched with John Newton (formerly John Haymes Newton) as the titular role. It was an entertaining TV show and it easily attracted a lot of Superman fans, DC Comics readers and those who read the Superboy comic books. Recently, John Newton was featured in a special video by Minty Comedic Arts which was the result of information mentioned in Minty’s standalone Superboy trivia video. Newton saw the Superboy video and reached out to Minty Comedic Arts. Minty – who admitted he has a weakness on interviewing/communicating with people – agreed to feature Newton in a documentary style video instead of an online interview. That being said, Newton recorded his minutes-long part and said a lot of intriguing and interesting information about his one-season work as Superboy. That being said, I urge you all to watch Minty’s special video below.
#2 Barack Obama exposed over Russia collusion hoax – It took more than eight years but Tulsi Gabbard did her patriotic duty by declassifying high-level files and messages exposing Barack Obama for treason over his responsibility behind the Russia collusion hoax (designed to undermine Donald Trump who defeated Hillary Clinton for US President in 2016) and he involved America’s intelligence community. What Obama did was not just a corrupted act as US President but a clear violation against the will of the American people who chose Trump over Clinton. This tragedy only showed how corrupted, wicked and arrogant Democrats really are. To understand all the details, what happened behind the scenes back in late-2016 and what the documents showed, watch the selected videos below.
#3 Jeff Daniels and Kamala Harris are the modern Dumb and Dumber – Do you still remember actor Jeff Daniels? He appeared in 1990s films like Arachnophobia, Speed and Dumb and Dumber. In an interview, he expressed his feelings for the defeated and incompetent Commie Democrat Kamala Harris and he still could not get over the results of the 2024 US Presidential Election won by Donald Trump! Daniels foolishly compared Harris to Abraham Lincoln. Watch the video below and observe who is dumb and dumber.
#4 A look at an Osaka diner – It has been almost thirty years since my one and only visit to Osaka in Japan. As I was browsing YouTube videos to watch, I spotted a video about a certain Osaka diner which has great looking visuals, a strong presentation, and the Japanese dialogue translated into English presented in subtitles. More importantly, the video will give viewers an in-depth look as to how diner is operated and how the food gets prepared before opening. It could be helpful for those inspiring to open a new restaurant. Watch it now!
#5 Reaction videos of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) – Have you been watching any 1950s movies as of late? If you did, was there any particular film from that decade that scared you or made you feel stressed while watching? The 1956 film Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one such film and people who discovered it and saw it recently often state they found it suspenseful and even scary. I found three reaction videos about the film on YouTube and they are entertaining to watch.
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the newest evacuation facility located in Barangay Talon Uno was formally inaugurated with the presence of Mayor April Aguilar, Vice Mayor Imelda Aguilar and other local officials, the City Government announced via social media.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas City Government inaugurated a newly constructed two-storey evacuation facility in Golden Acres Subdivision, Talon Uno on Thursday, July 17, as part of its continuing efforts to strengthen local disaster preparedness and public safety.
Mayor April Aguilar and Vice Mayor Imelda Aguilar led the inauguration ceremony, which included the blessing of the facility. Funded through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), the project is located along Marcos Alvarez Avenue, near the Las Piñas High School Annex.
With a total floor area of 73.343 square meters, the facility features basic amenities to accommodate residents during emergencies. The ground floor includes male and PWD-friendly comfort rooms with shower areas, a kitchen, a vacant space, and a stage. The second floor houses female comfort rooms with shower areas and a wash area.
City officials said the evacuation center will serve as a safe and accessible refuge for families in times of calamity.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think there is a possibility that another evacuation center will be built by the City Government in your local community.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the vaccination drive held at SM Center Las Piñas saw almost seven hundred fifty senior citizens getting free vaccinations for pneumonia, the City Government announced via social media. Mayor April Aguilar personally attended the vaccination drive and met with the locals.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…
A total of 743 senior citizens received free pneumonia vaccines during the health drive organized by the City Health Office on Wednesday, July 16, at SM Center Las Piñas. The event, led by Mayor April Aguilar, is part of the city’s continuing effort to protect the elderly from respiratory illnesses.
Mayor Aguilar visited the venue and personally engaged with residents, expressing her gratitude for their participation and reiterating the city’s commitment to ensuring accessible and preventive healthcare for all. Also present was Dr. Juliana Gonzalez, head of the City Health Office, who addressed the attendees and highlighted the importance of pneumonia vaccination in preventing complications among older adults, especially those with pre-existing health conditions.
To ensure a smooth and safe process, participants were asked to bring their Senior Citizens ID, Vaccination Card (if previously vaccinated for pneumonia), and a Screening Form from their respective health centers. The City Health Office also reminded residents to be in good health on the day of vaccination, to maintain a five-year interval from their last pneumonia shot, and to eat beforehand and bring drinking water to help prevent post-vaccination reactions.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you wish the City Government will soon organize a vaccination drive in your barangay?
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 engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Author Carlo Carrasco 