food – Page 11 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Flavors of NCR set for April 19-20, 2024 at Filinvest City Central Park in Muntinlupa

March 28, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced via social media that prestigious Flavors of NCR will be hosted locally on April 19 and 20, 2024 at Filinvest City Central Park (the venue). There will be a wide variety of culinary delights from cooks representing the many cities of the National Capital Region (NCR) and there will also be some amusement for attendees to enjoy.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…

Savor the diverse culinary delights of the metro at Flavors of NCR! This exciting event, brought to you by the Association of Tourism Officers – NCR since 2022, invites you to join us on April 19-20, 2024, at the picturesque Filinvest City Central Park in Alabang, Muntinlupa. Get ready for a culinary extravaganza where you can explore and indulge in the best of local cuisines from across the National Capital Region.

*The visual announcement of Flavors of NCR for 2024. (photo source – City Government of Muntinlupa Facebook page)*

As you feast on delectable dishes, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere with captivating performances by cultural groups and brass bands representing various LGUs. It’s more than just a food festival; it’s a celebration of our rich culinary heritage and cultural diversity.

Mark your calendars for this unforgettable weekend filled with flavors, music, and fun!

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you intend to attend the Flavors of NCR at Filinvest City Central Park this month? When was the last time you attended a major food festival? Have you been to the Filinvest City Central Park lately?

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, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. 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

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 5

March 22, 2024March 3, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will examine print ads from the 1980s and the 1990s that caught my attention and I will explain why they are worth look back at.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Star Wars: Rebel Assault print ad

*This print ad was strong enough to capture Star Wars fans’ attention and make them interested with the Sega CD.*

If there is anything notable about the Sega CD (Mega CD in other parts of the world) platform, it is the fact that the machine was an add-on to be connected with the Sega Genesis (Sega Mega Drive elsewhere) console. That being said, LucasArts included the Sega CD as one of several platforms for the multiplatform release of their 1993 game Star Wars: Rebel Assault. The above print ad caught my attention with its use of 9 screenshots (emphasizing a wide look at the game’s Star Wars concept) and text description (emphasizing multi-media features connected with gameplay), and for a time it made me interested in the Sega CD. Looking back at the game’s marketing, Star Wars: Rebel Assault was designed to not only give gamers sessions of play to enjoy but also opportunities to immerse themselves deeper into the realm of Star Wars. The game even had selected video clips from the original Star Wars trilogy movies.

2. Cloak & Dagger print ad

*This print ad could have used at least two screenshots from the arcade game…*

In 1984, there was a movie titled Cloak & Dagger (read my retro movie review by clicking here) which was not only the 4th cinematic adaptation of the short story “The Boy Cried Murder” (written by Cornell Woolrich) but also had the real-life electronic game Cloak & Dagger as a crucial plot element. To make things clear, there was a Cloak & Dagger game released in the arcades (as emphasized in the above print ad) from Atari. Behind the scenes, the filmmakers and Atari worked together which explains the video game tie-in with the movie. While the above arcade conversion kit print ad does not show screenshots of gameplay, the four images of the playable protagonist Agent X shown were from the game’s short transition sequences (moving from one level to another) which were also displayed in the 1984 movie. Those images were enough to remind me about the movie I enjoyed.

More on the Atari connection, the movie had a cleverly presented short scene showing the young protagonist Davey (played by Henry Thomas) playing Cloak & Dagger on his Atari 5200 console with spliced gameplay footage of the arcade version shown within cuts. In real life, however, Atari never released a version of Cloak & Dagger for any console nor computer in the 1980s. Today, you can play the game on the Atari 50 collection on consoles.

3. BurgerTime print ad

*This BurgerTime print ad was entertaining to look at and easily reminded viewers about food and the popular game coming home.*

Back in 1982, BurgerTime (Japanese title: Hamburger) was released in the video arcades and turned out to be a big hit in both Japan and America. Seeking to capitalize on the game’s success, Mattel Electronics acquired the rights of the game from Data East and went on to release versions of it for the Intellivision, Atari 2600, Apple II and the IBM personal computer. Mattel went on to market the game for consoles and computers by coming up with a print ad (the one above) that had comic book-style hand drawn art of the playable protagonist chef Peter Pepper running away from walking versions (anthropomorphic figures) a hotdog, an egg, and a pickle. The ad showed a single screenshot which was sufficient enough to show readers the concept of the game clearly. In my experience, I never got to play BurgerTime in the arcades but I first learned about its existence thanks to the eye-catching print ad above which appeared in comic books I read. In addition, the print ad also does an effective job to remind readers about food.

4. SOS print ad

*This print ad made me interested in the game as I was already aware of the historical sinking of the Titanic, and I already saw the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure.*

Moving back to the 1990s, I saw the above print ad of the video game SOS for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) while reading a comic book. The nice artwork caught my attention as it easily reminded me of the disaster movie The Poseidon Adventure (1972) as well as the real-life tragedy of the Titanic. Then I saw the screenshots on the print ad and they made me interested on the game which I later played on a rent-by-the-hour game joint. Looking back at the text description of the print ad, it did not describe what the technical and graphical features of SOS were. That being said, I was surprised to experience the game’s use of the SNES Mode 7 effects which enabled the scaling and rotating of the in-game environment which affected gameplay in many ways. Read my retro review of SOS by clicking here.

5. Star Trek: The Next Generation – Future’s Past print ad

This 2-page print ad was strong enough to invite readers to literally join the Star Trek: TNG crew and go where no man has gone before. By the way, when was the last time you saw Marina Sirtis or Gates McFadden on a video game ad?

Long before wokeness ruined Star Trek in this modern age, the sci-fi franchise reached a tremendous high in popularity and projects in the 1990s as that decade had Star Trek: The Next Generation (most of its TV seasons and three movies were released within the decade), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager that kept fans entertained.

Considering its high popularity, it was not surprising that a video game adaptation of Star Trek: TNG was released in 1994 titled Star Trek: The Next Generation – Future’s Past (the version for Super Nintendo Entertainment System) and I saw the above print ad while reading a gaming magazine. Using a slightly altered version of the TNG group photo, the print ad emphasized its concept that the player will be able to lead the crew of the Starship Enterprise and take part in a series of missions in different parts of space with the likes of Captain Picard, Commander Riker, Data, Worf, Dr. Crusher, Deanna Troi and La Forge. While I was never a Star Trek fan, the above print ad caught my attention with its concept, the group photo and the screenshots gave me an idea of what the game has to offer. It should be noted that Star Trek: The Next Generation – Future’s Past was released between the end of Star Trek: TNG’s final season and the theatrical release of Star Trek: Generations.

6. Super Castlevania IV print ad

*This was one of the most eye-catching print ads I’ve seen about a Konami video game.*

The jump in technology from one console generation to the next can be beneficial for gamers if game developers harnessed the advantages of new technologies to make new games that turned out to be more engaging and more enjoyable. Such was the case with Super Castlevania IV for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1991. The above print showed Konami highlighting the positive feedback their game received from different gaming media outlets and used screenshots to give gamers and long-time Castlevania fans exciting stuff to see. I got to play the game on the mini SNES console and I can say that in terms of visuals, controls and gameplay, Super Castlevania IV truly lived up to its title and it remains fun to play to this day.

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New Life Community Care Foundation International, Inc. (NLCOM) feeds hundreds of victims in Brgy. Pilar Village, Las Piñas City

March 5, 2024February 25, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, a fire broke out in Maligaya Compound within Barangay Pilar Village which destroyed about thirty homes and left many residents homeless.

In response, New Life Community Care Foundation International, Inc. (NLCOM) – the compassion arm of New Life Philippines located inside Alabang Hills Village in Muntinlupa City – sent a team to the location and prepared hot meals for hundreds of victims.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the February 24, 2024 social media post of NLCOM. Some parts in boldface…

Today, NLCOM reached out and served hot meals the whole day – Pancit Canton and Chicken Adobo to the 399 individuals who were affected in the fire that started in Maligaya Compound in Barangay Pilar, Las Piñãs City on February 22.

The Bureau of Fire Protection reported the blaze starting at 8:25 a.m. Firefighters battled for nearly four hours to extinguish the flames that rapidly swept through the densely populated compound reducing about 30 homes into ashes.

They are still in need of assistance, and here are some ways you can help:

Donations – Provide essentials like clothing, food, and hygiene products.

Shelter – Offer temporary shelter for displaced families.

Volunteer- Assist in relief operations or support services.

For the newcomers reading this, I previously blogged about NLCOM back in 2020 which you can read by clicking here and my most recent blog can viewed by clicking here. As mentioned earlier, NLCOM has a history of providing relief to disaster victims and helping them rebuild their lives and communities as they recover.

As their website states, the organization is committed to organizing activities from disaster preparedness trainings, relief goods distribution, mobile kitchen feeding operations, Psychological First Aid to kids and adults traumatized by a disaster, and rebuilding of damaged houses. To get to know NLCOM better, I recommend you watch their official YouTube video below…

If you have decided to help potential disaster victims through NLCOM, be aware that New Life’s compassion arm is accepting donations. You may send your monetary donations to:

NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CARE FOUNDATION INT’L. INC.

PESO CHECKING ACCOUNT:

Unionbank (Richville Branch)

00-133000543-3

US DOLLAR ACCOUNT:

Unionbank (Richville Branch)

13-133000530-7

Swift Code: ubpphphmm

Via PAYPAL:

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/nlcomPH

For more information about NLCOM, visit https://nlcom.org.ph/ or visit their office at 2 Don Manolo Boulevard, Alabang Hills Village, Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Contact them at landline 88091542 extension 426.

In ending post, let me share with you a few holy scriptures that should remind you that God is our source, our provider and the blessedness of giving is absolutely true. May these inspire you to be a blessing to others.

And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].

Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (AMPC)

Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.

Proverbs 11:25 (TPT)

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him.

Proverbs 19:17 (AMPC)

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Have you tried the food at Firehouse Pizza in Alabang?

February 16, 2024February 7, 2024carlocarrasco

If you are looking for a good place to enjoy pizza, pasta and salad with the family in Alabang, you should consider Firehouse Pizza.

Located at the ground floor of the Entrata Urban Complex along Civic Drive in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Firehouse Pizza is the “place where friends and family can gather over great food in a place that promises a warm welcome and a whole lot of delicious fun.” As published on their website, the restaurant intends to “introduce a new way of enjoying pizza” because they are “more than just a pizza joint.”

On my part, I had dined with the family at Firehouse Pizza twice and the most recent visit was for dinner. Posted below are pictures and descriptions of what we had the last time…

This is the Burrata Salad, easily the most unique thing from Firehouse Pizza’s menu. It is composed of cherry tomatoes, mesclun leaves, Burrata cheese (meant to be opened and spread over the ingredients), Balsamic reduction and olive oil. As of this writing, it was priced at P750.

*This is the Antipasti Platter composed of assorted cheese, assorted cold cuts, artichoke, mushroom, olives and vegetable confit. For sharing, this one costs P740.*

*This is the solo-sized Lasagna Bolognese which costs P360. Composed of minced beef, mozzarella and parmesan, it was cooked well and each bite was tasty and smooth.*

Like the first time my family dined there, all the food served to us by Firehouse Pizza were well prepared with regards to the cooking of the pizza and pasta, and also the way they ensured the freshness of the ingredients on making the Burrata Salad. There definitely is special attention paid on the quality, taste and presentation. On my part, each bite was tasty. If there was anything lacking, it was their hot plate special of Grilled Tenderloin with Potato Wedges which was out of stock during our last visit. With regards to getting served, the restaurant’s personnel were really attentive and helpful to us as well as the other diners. That being said, I encourage you to visit Firehouse Pizza when you have the chance and the means to do so.

*This is what Firehouse Pizza looks like from the outside during night time. It is a corner unit and just walking distance away from Crimson Hotel.*

For the newcomers reading this, if you will be traveling to Alabang to have a meal at Firehouse Pizza, be aware that the restaurant is just a short walk away from Crimson Hotel which is also part of the Entrata Urban Complex. You can park your car at the Festival Mall parking lot just outside of Shopwise, or at the multilevel parking facility nearby (bordering Civic Drive).

For more about Firehouse Pizza, visit https://firehousepizzaalabang.com/ and follow them on social media by clicking here and here.

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Philippines attracts 5.45 million international visitors and generates P482.54 billion in revenue in 2023

January 5, 2024January 2, 2024carlocarrasco

The success of the Philippines attracting visitors from overseas and generating the related revenue in 2023 has finally been confirmed by the newly released numbers from the Department of Tourism (DOT): 5,450,557 international visitors and P482.54 billion (US$8.7 billion according to the foreign exchange rate of January 2, 2024) in tourism revenue, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

For the newcomers reading this, the final 2023 statistics exceeded the declared targets of 4.8 million international tourists and US$5.8 billion revenue. For further comparison, the Philippines attracted 2.65 million international arrivals and over P200 billion in revenue for the year 2022. To say the least, 2023 is undeniably a successful year for Philippine tourism and it seems that the controversial blunder behind the “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign did not lead to a massive failure (which the enemies and haters of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., have been dreaming of).

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

The Philippines welcomed a total of 5,450,557 international visitors in 2023, well above the 4.8 million target arrivals the Department of Tourism (DOT) earlier set for the entire year.

Of this number, 91.80 percent or 5,003,475 are foreigners while the remaining are 447,082 overseas Filipinos.

From January to Dec. 31, 2023, the country also generated an estimated PHP482.54 billion in international tourism revenue, more than double the receipts it recorded in 2022.

“My deepest appreciation goes to every tourism stakeholder, collaborative partner, and passionate contributor who propelled our shared aspirations forward. Under President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s guiding vision and leadership, tourism has become a pivotal force driving our nation’s economic resurgence,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in a statement Tuesday.

“These numbers speak very well of the performance of the tourism industry under the Marcos Administration,” she added.

She said the DOT will continue its work to “realize the vision of this administration to make tourism a catalyst for economic growth and resurgence.”

More than a quarter or 1,439,336 of the arrivals came from South Korea, retaining its spot as the country’s main source of international visitors.

This was followed by the United States with 903,299 tourists (16.57 percent) visiting the country; Japan with 305,580 (5.61 percent); Australia with 266,551 (4.89 percent); and China with 263,836 (4.84 percent). Ranking sixth was Canada followed by Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Frasco said the 2023 visitor receipts also show that the tourism industry is “recovering faster than expected.”

The country’s 2023 international tourism receipts grew by 124.87 percent compared with the PHP214.58 billion estimated visitor receipts from 2022.

Before the pandemic in 2019, the DOT recorded PHP482.15 billion in international tourism receipts.

In 2023, the DOT’s marketing arm the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) generated PHP6.317 billion in total sales leads both from international and local business-to-business and promotional events.

While reintroducing Filipino destinations before the global tourism arena, the Philippines represented by Frasco last year was also elected Vice President of the 25th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a prestigious global position last held by the country more than two decades ago.

She was also elected as chair of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific, allowing the country to host the Joint Regional Meetings of the Committee for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia in Cebu in 2024.

The Philippines in 2023 bagged at least 15 travel and tourism honors from prestigious award-giving bodies in diving, beach, cruise, culinary, retirement, and Muslim-friendly tourism, “a testament that the Philippines is indeed an emerging tourism powerhouse.”

“The extraordinary journey of Philippine tourism in 2023 saw the world express its love for the Philippines with our country’s rise to global prominence as the World’s Leading Beach and Dive Destination, and Asia’s Best Cruise Destination, among many other accolades,” Frasco said.

“The indomitable spirit of the Filipino has been globally acclaimed with the Philippines receiving the Global Tourism Resilience Award with our country seen as a benchmark for innovation amidst trials and challenges,” she added.

By 2024, the DOT targets 7.7 million international visitors, around 500,000 lower than the country’s pre-pandemic arrivals of 8.2 million.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to meet its declared 2024 target of 7.7 million international visitors and possibly generate between P600 billion to P700 billion in tourism revenue? Did anyone from the haters/critics of President Marcos and Secretary Frasco bother you to make you believe that Philippine tourism will fail because of the “Love the Philippines” campaign blunder that was so widely reported in the mainstream news media?

Going back to tourism, do you think the Philippines should have more international-level fashion shows, film festivals, worship conferences, food festivals, sports events and trade shows to make the nation more attractive to visitors from overseas?

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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Where to deposit your excess Peso coins while you are in Alabang

November 29, 2023November 27, 2023carlocarrasco

If you are constantly present here in Alabang in Muntinlupa City, and if you have an excess number of Peso coins that you want to have deposited for safekeeping or for personal use, then you should visit the coin deposit machine (CoDM) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) located inside Festival Mall in Filinvest City.

To be more specific, the BSP CoDM inside the said shopping mall is located on ground floor very near the escalators which itself is in close proximity to the following ground floor businesses: SM Savemore grocery, Saibachi Japanese Restaurant and Café BLK & BRWN (this one is just steps away from the machine).

*This is the BSP coin deposit machine inside Festival Mall in Alabang.*

Before you join the line for depositing your coins at the BSP’s coin deposit machine, you must have a valid GCash account (to receive the value of the coins successfully deposited). If you don’t have a GCash account, you can still have the value of the deposited coins converted into SM shopping vouchers (accepted by The SM Store). There is also a Maya option available.

Still before joining the line, you must make sure that your Peso coins are not dented/damaged, and each coin is loose (meaning not taped together as a bundle). Obviously, foreign coins, tokens and demonetized Peso coins (Peso coins that are outdated) will be rejected. These tips are to ensure that the coins will be counted by the machine once deposited. To learn more, watch the video below and pay close attention to the details…

Once you join the line, you will need to be patient not simply because there could be several customers ahead of you but also because there will most likely be other customers ahead of you who brought at least one large container of coins with them for depositing which can take some minutes to be deposited into the CoDM (note: there is always a BSP assistant who will help and occasionally troubleshoot the machine whenever it malfunctions).

Do not be surprised to see other customers ahead of you who brought multiple plastic containers of coins to be deposited. Based on my personal experience depositing coins at the machine inside Festival Mall, I noticed that more families and local businesses are having their idle coins put into the CoDM. There was a time when one customer ahead of me deposited coins from four large containers and it took several minutes for the machine to count them all and this includes moments when the machine malfunctioned and the BSP assistant had to do some fixing on the spot.

Once you start your turn to deposit at the CoDM, let the BSP assistant guide you. There will be buttons on the machine for you to press before you start putting your coins into the receiving mechanism. From time to time as coins get counted, there will be a few coins that the machine will reject and will instead fall into the lower part where you can reach into and collect. You can try depositing the uncounted coins until it gets counted. As mentioned earlier, foreign coins, tokens and demonetized Peso coins will be rejected.

Once your deposit is successful, you can decide whether to have the counted value transferred into your active GCash account or into an SM shopping voucher. Receipts will be issued from the machine which you must always keep to yourself. Do not throw away the receipts.

*Another look at the BSO CoDM inside Festival Mall located near the escalators at the ground floor..*

I hope this post will be helpful to you and your effort to deposit excess Peso coins into the BSP DoCM inside Festival Mall. In my experience, the lines range from very short (1 or 2 customers ahead of me) to long (8 customers ahead of me). There will be customers who will be depositing a small amount and there are others who brought so much coins as the BSP coin deposit project has attracted a lot of attention locally. You will need to be patient and manage your time when you join the line for the CoDM. To learn more about the coin deposit project, click https://www.bsp.gov.ph/Pages/CoinsAndNotes/CDM.aspx

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, have you deposited your idle Peso coins into the BSP CoDM inside Festival Mall? If you were able successfully deposit your coins, how long did you wait before your turn happened?

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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Las Piñas City Government recognized for nutrition program implementation

November 8, 2023November 5, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, it was revealed that the City Government gained recognition for sheer improvements with its implementation of its nutrition program, according to a Manila Bulltin news report.

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

The Las Piñas city government was awarded by the National Nutrition Council-National Capital Region (NNS-NCR) as the “Most Improved LGU Performance” in tems of nutrition program management.

Las Piñas Mayor Imelda Aguilar thanked the NNS-NCR for the recognition as she vowed that the City Nutrition Committee (CNC) will continue to work hard on the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action (PPAN) for Nutrition to better serve the city residents.

Aguilar said the CNC, through their perseverance and collective efforts, gained ground in their bid to improve the planning, implementation and management of their local PPAN.

She added the CNC is conducting regular meeting to discuss the status of nutrition program implementation and agree on ways to improve the way they do things to reach their targets.

The mayor noted that the local nutrition committees at the city and barangay levels implemented strengthened and revitalized innovative strategies in conducting the PPAN nutrition programs.

One of the innovations of the city government born during the pandemic is the Community Auxiliary Feeding Program using the Kusina ng Las Pinas Mobile Food Truck which Aguilar spearheaded together with Vice Mayor April Aguilar.

The auxiliary feeding program is in collaboration with the City Nutrition Office, which aims to provide hot meals to children, pregnant and lactating women, and other nutritionally vulnerable population groups to alleviate hunger.

The mobile food truck visits barangays where around 600 individuals, preferably children, are given hot meals and bottled water being managed by the Nutritionist-Dietitians and Barangay Nutrition Scholars to ensure that the meals served are nutritious and safe.

Aguilar also added that CNO also partnered with the City Tourism/ Media Office and City Environment Natural Resources Office (CENRO) for the food tourism campaign dubbed as “Flavors of Las Pinas” to promote culinary food tourism.

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? Are you happy with the newest recognition that the City Government gained for its local nutrition program implementation?

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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Noel Bazaar set to happen at Filinvest Tent in Alabang from December 8 to 10, 2023

October 30, 2023October 26, 2023carlocarrasco

If you are plan to do Christmas shopping within Muntinlupa City, be aware that the popular Noel Bazaar will return to Alabang specifically at the Filinvest Tent in Filinvest City starting December 8 until December 10, 2023, according to an event announcement published by GMA Network. For the newcomers reading this, the 2022 edition of the Noel Bazaar also took place at the Filinvest Tent.

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 are selected excerpts from the GMA Network article. Some parts in boldface…

Sprinkling the holiday season with an extensive selection of unique gifts, mouthwatering treats, captivating entertainment, and opportunities for charitable giving, Noel Bazaar 2023 boasts of a 48-day run on the following dates and venues: November 10 to December 17 at Okada Manila; November 24 to 30 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, and December 8 to 10 at the Filinvest Tent Alabang.

Shop ‘Til You Drop – From handcrafted jewelry to bespoke fashion, home décor, accessories, and more, shoppers can find the perfect gifts for their loved ones while supporting hundreds of local artisans and entrepreneurs who are joining the bazaar. A sweet and delectable shopping experience await all visitors of the metro’s ultimate Christmas shopping destination!

Endless Holiday Festivities – Immerse yourself in a festive atmosphere of Christmas cheer when you visit Noel Bazaar across all its selected venues this year! Delight in Okada Manila’s simultaneous Home of Wonder, featuring their Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Christmas Light Show, Christmas Village, and the Fountain Show. Indulge in seven days of merriment at the World Trade Center featuring magical performances, children’s fashion shows, sweet serenades, delightful workshops and demos, and imported selections from the International Pavilion. Savour what the south has to offer when Noel Bazaar swings by the Filinvest Tent Alabang, bringing an assortment of Christmas gifts and goodies as well as an outdoor food market with live music every evening! With an exciting line-up of activities and surprises at each location, you definitely don’t want to miss Noel Bazaar’s 5-week long comeback this 2023!

Again, for the newcomers reading this, Filinvest Tent not only hosted last year’s edition of the Noel Bazaar, it was also the same venue used for New Life Conference 2023.

For those who will be attending Noel Bazaar 2023 at Filinvest Tent, be aware that there are lots of stores, food/beverage vendors and restaurants that are within walking distance. Commercenter Mall is a short walk away from the Filinvest Tent and inside are restaurants such as Akrotiri, Sigekiya Ramen and The Black Pig to name a few. Even closer to the Filinvest Tent are branches of McDonald’s and Jollibee, as well as the area of South Supermarket which has some restaurants, local business joints and a paid parking area on the ground floor. While Filinvest Tent itself has a paid parking area, its parking slots are limited. You could park your cars at the paid parking areas of the nearby joints.

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, was your experience within Alabang? Do you think the Filinvest Tent is still a suitable venue for Christmas season shopping?

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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Muntinlupa City Mayor visits local market and personally inspects prices of goods

October 12, 2023October 9, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive city of Muntinlupa, Mayor Ruffy Biazon personally visited a market in Barangay Poblacion and examined the prices of goods, 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…

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon visited a market on Oct. 9 to check the prices of basic commodities.

Biazon went to a market in Barangay Poblacion to know the prevailing prices of rice, meat, vegetables and other commodities.

He said a common feedback of stall owners inside the market is the competition from sellers outside the market, which has a negative impact on their income.

“Ang common feedback ng mga nagtitinda ay ang kompetensya mula sa mga nagtitinda sa labas—yung mga nasa bangketa at nasa iba pang private properties. Hindi na kasi sila napapasok ng mga mamimili; may advantage kasi yung mga nasa labas (The common feedback from sellers is the competition from sellers outside–those who are located on the sidewalk and private properties. Consumers no longer go inside (the market); those who sell outside have the advantage),” said Biazon during his Facebook live video of his market visit.

The mayor also noted that there are vacant stalls in the market, which could be due to sellers losing out to competitors outside the establishment. Biazon said he will look into the matter of illegal vendors around the market.

“Nagkakaroon kasi ng negative impact sa market mismo. Titingnan natin ang mga umiiral na batas natin kung may magagamit tayo para tugisin ang mga illegal vendor at wala sa tamang pwesto (It has a negative impact to the market directly. We will study the existing laws if we have something to use to go after illegal vendors and those who are not in the proper places),” said Biazon.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, were you able to visit any local market lately? If you did, were the prices of good higher than they were six months ago? Do you wish that more your city government officials would personally visit other local markets? Do you believe that local market vendors are being harmed by vendors outside of the markets?

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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DTI says cash aid and price monitoring related to rice to continue

October 9, 2023October 5, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., lifted the mandatory price caps on rice (regular milled and well-milled specifically). Even though this has happened, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) confirmed that cash aid and price monitoring will still continue, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

Financial aid distribution to rice retailers and monitoring of rice prices will continue despite President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s announcement Wednesday about the lifting of the price cap on regular and well-milled rice.

Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, in a press conference in Makati City Wednesday, said the government will still release the financial aid to small retailers selling the said rice varieties who have not received the PHP15,000 cash assistance.

As of Sept. 29, the government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has released a total of PHP217.2 million under the Sustainable Livelihood Program-Economic Relief Subsidy to 14,480 out of the 19,685 targeted rice retailers nationwide.

DTI has helped the DSWD in identifying, profiling, and validating the beneficiaries of the cash aid.

Since Executive Order 39, which set price ceilings of PHP41 per kilo for regular-milled rice and PHP45 a kilo for well-milled rice, took effect last September 5, the Trade Chief said the compliance rate of retailers nationwide was high at 81.46 percent as of Sept.28.

“There’s (a) good number of sellers selling within those price(s),” Pascual said, adding that prices of these rice varieties in Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley) and 3 (Central Luzon), the country’s rice granary, are even lower at around PHP38 per kilo.

He noted that since rice is being produced in these regions, logistics costs are much lower.

Fair Trade and Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) Director Fhillip Sawali, during the same briefing, also assured that DTI will continue monitoring rice prices, in coordination with the Department of Agriculture, despite the lifting of the price cap on rice.

“We will see the full force of the market because the PHP41 and PHP45 (price caps) are no longer mandated,” he said.

“There is a continuing role for the DTI to play post-EO 39” since there is a need to “see if they (rice traders) continue to follow or nearing their prices at PHP41 and PHP45,” he added.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there will be drastic changes happening with the prices of rice grain sold in markets here in the Philippines? How much did you spend on rice grain in recent times?

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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