food – Page 7 – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 62

March 14, 2025March 10, 2025carlocarrasco

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 topics and the related videos I found.

#1 VKunia reacts to The Terminator – The first time I ever saw The Terminator was on home video way back in the mid-1980s. I could not forget how the film blended elements of action, detective story, film noir, horror and science fiction together smoothly. Recently I viewed VKunia’s own reaction video about the 1984 movie and it was entertaining to watch as she felt its impact. I encourage you to watch her reaction video.

#2 Oblivion tested across multiple Xbox game consoles – Recently, I started replaying the 2006 fantasy role-playing game (RPG) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion on my Xbox Series X console via Xbox Game Pass (XGP). But before doing that, I saw YouTuber Ramnexus’ video of Oblivion which he tested on Xbox 360 up to the more modern Xbox consoles. His video is loaded in-depth technical analysis and explanations which I really enjoyed watching.

#3 You, Me and the Movies react to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga – If there was anything odd about Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, it was the fact that it was actually made and released so long after Mad Max: Fury Road’s impact faded away. Directed by George Miller, the 2024 movie starring Anya Taylor-Joy was actually entertaining given its status as a spin-off and prequel, but I never felt any urge to replay it. If you want to discover what the movie is about without having to spend too much of your precious time, I encourage you to watch the reaction video by You, Me and the Movies below.

#4 The struggle of ramen restaurants in Japan – If you have been traveling overseas over the past five years, where you able to visit Japan and eat inside a ramen restaurant? Ramen restaurants there have been struggling with unfavorable economic factors and there is a growing number of them closing down. Watch and learn from the video below.

#5 Oliver Harper examines The Terminator video games – Believe it or not, there were several video games based on The Terminator that got released in the early 1990s. I myself never got to play any of them but thanks to the Internet and YouTubers who had the resources, several videos about the Terminator games have been uploaded on YouTube in the forms of longplays, retro reviews, reactions and more. Oliver Harper’s own video conveniently examines all the Terminator games and it is a fascinating retro gaming viewing experience.

#6 Basic Instinct trivia by Minty Comedic Arts – Remember how controversial Basic Instinct was when it was first released in cinemas in 1992? It was controversial for its intense approach on violence and sexuality under the direction of Paul Verhoeven, and also for the notorious short scene of Sharon Stone crossing her legs. Not only that, mobs of homosexuals protested the film and some of them even harassed people who bought tickets to see it. Recently, Minty Comedic Arts posted a trivia video about Basic Instinct which you should see.

#7 Avalanche examined by GoodBadFlicks – In the history of cinema, the 1970s was the decade that saw a slew of disaster movies from Hollywood studios. It was typical for a Hollywood disaster flick to have a large cast of actors playing different characters who are struggling with the disaster. In 1978, Avalanche was released and it was produced by low budget movie king Roger Corman. As the film was not successful, it became forgotten until GoodBadFlicks made a video about it. It’s a must-see for anyone who loves disaster films and the 1970s.

#8 Ashleigh Burton reacts to X-Men: First Class – Back in 2011, I saw X-Men: First Class inside one of the old and original cinemas of Festival Mall here in the Philippines. The film was entertaining and cleverly done but back then, I did not find the new actors who played Charles Xavier, Magneto and Mystique convincing (note: they proved themselves worthy of their roles in X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014). At the same time, the movie was a soft reboot and a prequel together. Some people really enjoyed while others not so much. Regardless, I encourage you to watch Ashleigh Burton’s X-Men: First Class reaction video below.

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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 athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines February 2025 inflation settles at 2.1%

March 14, 2025March 5, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced that the inflation rate of February 2025 settled at 2.1% primarily due to the easing of rate of price increases on non-alcoholic beverages and food, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

Inflation in February this year slowed down to 2.1 percent from 2.9 percent in January mainly due to the easing of rate of price increase of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.

In a press briefing Wednesday, PSA Assistant Secretary Divina Gracia del Prado said the declaration of food security emergency by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to bring down cost of rice has been effective in taming the inflation last month.

Inflation of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which contributed 58.8 percent to the overall inflation last month, declined to 2.6 percent from 3.8 percent in January.

Cereal and cereal products, which include rice, had a deflation of 3 percent in February from a deflation of 1.1 percent in January.

“For me, I think, we are seeing the effect of food security emergency in our inflation… Because of this food security emergency, we have released the rice buffer from NFA (National Food Authority) to LGUs (local government units), and of course in Kadiwa Rice for All program,” del Prado said.

Rice alone had a sharper deflation of 4.9 percent, with prices decreasing since July 2024 due to easing international prices and tariff reduction. Vegetable inflation plunged to 7.1 percent in February from a 21.1 percent inflation in January.

Aside from food and non-alcoholic beverages, main contributors to the deceleration of inflation in February were housing, water, gas, and other fuels, which inflation eased to 1.6 percent from 2.2 percent in January, and transport, which recorded a deflation of 0.2 percent from 1.1 percent inflation rate

Meanwhile, major contributors to inflation in February were food and non-alcoholic beverages, mainly due to higher prices of pork, with inflation increasing to 12.1 percent in February from 8.4 percent in January; restaurants, café and the like; poultry meat; rentals; and higher cost of passenger transport by sea.

In a separate statement, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the government stands ready to combat high inflation through its policies and programs.

“The government will sustain its efforts to keep inflation low and manageable to protect the purchasing power of Filipinos. As we expect six to 13 typhoons to develop from March to August 2025, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will implement the La Niña action plan to restore agricultural productive capacity in areas likely to be affected by continuous rainfall, flooding, and landslides,” Balisacan said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the inflation rate will fall below 2% by the end of March 2025? If you have been shopping for food lately, did you notice significant movements on prices?

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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Commercenter announces March 15, 2025 closure of its cinemas, promises something new coming

March 7, 2025March 7, 2025carlocarrasco

Commercenter, the nice sprawling shopping mall located in Filinvest City in Alabang, Muntinlupa, recently announced via social media that its 4-screen cinemas will be closing on March 15, 2025 and still they promised something new is coming.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire social media post announcement by Commercenter. Some parts in boldface…

To our amazing moviegoers, thank you for every laugh, tear, and unforgettable moment we’ve shared at Commercenter Cinema over the years. ❤️🎬 Your presence and memories will always be part of our story, and we’re beyond grateful for the journey.

While our curtains will officially close on March 15, this isn’t the end. Something exciting is on the way to Commercenter and we can’t wait to share it with you. Stay tuned! 😉✨

For transparency, posted below is the screenshot of one of the images that came with the social media post of Commercenter.

For the newcomers reading this, the cinemas of Commercenter opened in the late part of 2014 and its cinemas each had nice and comfortable seats with a good sound system and screen. Each cinema has over a hundred seats to accommodate moviegoers.

I myself saw lots of movies at Commercenter from 2014 to 2023 (note: I have not seen movies inside any cinema for 2024). While I cannot recall all the films I saw inside the cinemas of the sprawling mall, I saw the following there: Sound of Freedom (read my movie review by clicking here), Wonder Woman (my review here), The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Write About Love (my review here), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Deadpool, Deadpool 2, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, X-Men: Apocalypse, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Aquaman, Terminator: Dark Fate, The Batman, Jurassic World, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (my review here) to name some.

*The last movie I saw at Commercenter was Sound of Freedom.*

In my experience, watching movies inside Commercenter was fun and comfortable. The mall is a short drive away from home and there are nice restaurants and stores inside. After watching a movie, I could enjoy a meal at Sigekiya Ramen or at The Black Pig or at Akrotiri, have coffee at The Coffee Syndicate or at The Bingsu. Or buy a snack at ASSI Fresh Plaza.

As such, it is really saddening to learn that Commercenter’s cinemas will be closing down soon. I can only speculate that not enough moviegoers in this post-pandemic age could support the cinemas of the mall and not enough private groups booked the cinemas for their events or gatherings. It seems to me that streaming – which became the new standard of watching movies since the COVID-19 pandemic – is a factor as well. Lastly, Commercenter charged P400 per ticket for foreign movies which is quite expensive for local moviegoers.

By adding Commercenter’s closing cinemas to the already closed old original cinemas of nearby Festival Mall, that would combine to a total of fourteen closed screens/cinemas. Festival Mall still has its 4-screen modern cinemas while Alabang Town Center’s cinemas are still operating. Without Commercenter as a movie venue, people living within Filinvest City and in the nearby communities will have to visit ATC and Festival Mall for the movie theater experience within Alabang.

*The cinemas area at the 2nd floor of Commercenter.*

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 who frequently saw movies at Commercenter, how do you feel about the March 15 closure of the cinemas? If you could still remember, how many movies were able to watch at Commercenter in all? What was the most memorable cinematic moment you had inside Commercenter’s cinemas? What could be the new thing Commercenter promised?

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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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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 58

February 24, 2025February 16, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

#1 Ashleigh Burton and VKunia’s reaction videos featuring Captain America: The First Avenger – Way back in 2011, I saw Captain America: The First Avenger in the local cinema and it was an enjoyable viewing experience. Among all the Marvel Cinema Universe (MCU) movies released to date, it remained the most unique superhero movie as it had a strong World War II aesthetic and really brought much of Captain America’s literary concepts to life. I recently saw the respective reaction videos of YouTubers Ashleigh Burton and VKunia and they were enjoyable to watch. If you have not seen the movie, watch it first. Otherwise, enjoy the videos below.

#2 The wickedness of Qatar and its agenda against Israel and the West explained – When it comes to waging war against Israel and Western civilization as we know it, Qatar is much more subtle when executing its sinister agenda. While terrorist state Iran openly expresses its hatred towards Israel and the West, and arms many Middle East terrorists groups, Qatar uses the terrorist news network Al Jazeera, lies through the diplomatic arena and clearly sided with the Palestinian terrorists. Watch this explanatory and analytical video.

#3 Trump Gaza plan makes sense – Since it was first announced, the ambitious plan of US President Donald Trump for America to take over the Gaza Strip has been making a lot of waves internationally. Of course, the political activists who hate Israel and support Palestinian terrorists just won’t relent with their distorted views and they preferred more people to become misled to support their so-called pro-Palestine movement. That being said, if you want to truly understand the truth and the details carefully, watch the videos below.

#4 The significance of Capernaum – It has been two years since I visited Israel on a Holy Land pilgrimage tour with my local church. Capernaum is the ancient site that Lord Jesus Himself chose to base His ministry after leaving Nazareth. In addition to being Jesus’ chosen city, Capernaum is also where many significant events happened as recorded in the Holy Bible. Having visited Capernaum myself, it is indeed a very holy site and you can learn more about it by watching the videos below from Hananya Naftali and HolyLandSite. I pray that these videos will inspire you to visit Israel to deepen your faith in Lord Jesus. Grab the Bible as well.

#5 There was a superhero-themed restaurant by Marvel – Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) rocked the world with many blockbuster movies, Marvel Entertainment Group (in partnership with Planet Hollywood and Universal Studios Hollywood) actually launched a superhero-themed restaurant that eventually failed. Launched in the late 1990s, the restaurant Marvel Mania was located near Universal Hollywood Studios. The failed business has long been forgotten. Fortunately, someone managed to record videos inside Marvel Mania long ago and uploaded footage on YouTube. The video below by Panels to Pixel is a must-see!

#6 PatmanQC examines classic game Xevious – During the golden age of arcades, the 2D sci-fi shooter Xevious was released and became very successful both commercially and critically. The only version of Xevious I played was on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) and it turned out many other local gamers played it in their respective homes. There is a lot more to the history and conception of Xevious and you can find out more from PatmanQC’s videos below.

#7 Rob Liefeld’s Captain America artwork explained – Going back to Captain America, it’s time to take a closer look at a certain artwork of the icon done by Rob Liefeld (Youngblood, X-Force, The New Mutants) a long time ago. A lot of people hated it and called it exaggerated and totally unbelievable. There is an explanation for Liefeld’s Captain America artwork and you can watch and learn from the video of YouTuber Panels to Pixels below. Trust me, it is worth your time.

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I Love Israel: Israel-DAR strategic partnership on agricultural development discussed

February 6, 2025January 28, 2025carlocarrasco

As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine radicals, nobody from the political correctness extremists, and nobody from evil societies would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.

Now, on with the news…

A few weeks ago, Israel and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) started a strategic partnership that will benefit the Philippines by means of agricultural development, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For the newcomers reading this, the Jewish state is one of the world’s leaders in agriculture and the Philippines can really use Israeli expertise to make tremendous improvements.

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

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has entered into a strategic partnership with Israel to advance agricultural development and innovation in the Philippines.

In a news release on Thursday, DAR said Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Israel Ambassador Ilan Fluss have discussed the possibility of a strong collaboration on cutting-edge farming technologies, rural development, and sustainable agricultural practices.

During their meeting, Estrella recognized the longstanding relationship between the Philippines and Israel and highlighted the successful implementation of the Philippines’ agrarian reform program under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

He also noted the positive impact of DAR programs on the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries while emphasizing the need for further growth in rural areas.

Fluss, meanwhile, acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by Israel due to the ongoing war in the Middle East and shared the resilience of their agricultural sector. He also noted the importance of international partnerships from allies such as the United States in securing food and medical aid for its citizens.

Meanwhile, a key focus of the meeting between Estella and Fluss was the adoption of Israeli agricultural technologies, particularly in irrigation methods and Precision Agriculture (PA).

Israel’s expertise in water-efficient irrigation systems, particularly suited for arid regions, was identified as a critical solution for Filipino farmers facing water crisis concerns.

Both officials expressed enthusiasm about the potential of PA, which uses data and technology to optimize crop yields, water use, and resource management, while Fluss affirmed Israel’s willingness to share expertise in this area.

As part of knowledge exchange initiatives, Fluss also invited DAR officials to visit Israel for training by experts on farming, rural development, and climate change adaptation.

This newest development shows the continuing growth of Israel-Philippines ties through agriculture as well as the opportunities for Filipinos to innovate on agriculture, improve farming methods and ensuring food security for the entire nation. Watch and learn from the videos below…

To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray to Him so that Israel-Philippines ties and cooperation will keep growing stronger in the many years ahead.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Always stand in support of Israel and its ties with the Philippines!

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Ownership of Festival Mall transferring to Filinvest REIT Corporation (FILRT) for over P6 billion

February 4, 2025January 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Have you been to Festival Mall in Alabang lately? Some things might change in the near future as the ownership of the shopping and lifestyle mall (first opened in May 1998 as Festival Supermall) is being transferred by the Gotianun Group to Filinvest REIT Corporation (FILRT) in a deal worth more than P6 billion, according to a Manila Bulletin business news report.

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

The Gotianun Group is transferring ownership of its flagship Festival Mall-Main Mall in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City to Filinvest REIT Corporation (FILRT) in a P6.26 billion deal that marks the real estate investment trust’s entry into the retail leasing business.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) said it is selling the 26-year-old Festival Mall to FILRT in exchange for 1.63 billion FILRT shares at an issue price of P3.85 per share under a tax-free property-for-share swap transaction.

“The transaction fulfills FLI’s commitment as the sponsor of FILRT to continually support the growth and expansion of its REIT portfolio through the infusion of high-quality income-generating real estate assets,” FLI said.

It added that, upon the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of the transaction, FLI and FILRT shall execute a lease agreement for the building.

In a separate disclosure, FILRT said the issue price represents a 30 percent premium over the 30-day volume weighted average price of P2.94 per FILRT share, and falls within the fair value price range provided by FTI Consulting’s Fairness Opinion and LeeChiu Property Consultants, Inc.’s Valuation Report.

The property was appraised by Leechiu Property Consultants, and a fairness opinion was provided by FTI Consulting. A discounted cash flow (DCF) approach was used as the primary method to determine the value of the property.

Under the DCF approach, the future cash flows of the property were discounted using a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) based on a capital asset pricing model. A direct capitalization approach was also used as a secondary reference for the valuation of the property.

For the valuation of the shares, FTI Consulting used various methodologies such as the DCF approach, a dividend discount model, and a comparable public companies’ method, to arrive at a range of values for the fair value of FILRT shares.

The primary common shares to be issued by FILRT to FLI will come from the unissued common shares of FILRT. This will be subject to the approval by FILRT’s shareholders and regulatory approvals.

Upon the SEC’s approval of the transaction, FLI and FILRT shall execute a lease agreement for the property.

“Pursuant to the approval of the transaction, the Board approved the conduct of a special stockholders’ meeting (SSM) to be held on March 4, at 10:00 AM. The record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice and right to vote at the SSM is February 10, 2025,” the firm said.

FILRT’s diversification into mall leasing comes after its expansion into the hospitality space with the acquisition of 2.9 hectares of land owned by Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) in Boracay Island for P1.05 billion in cash.

The land is being leased by Boracay Seascapes, Inc. (BSI), the building owner of Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay and a subsidiary of FDC.

FILRT President and CEO Maricel Brion-Lirio said this is the company’s first asset infusion since its initial public offering and “not only increases the distributable income to our shareholders in the immediate term but also supports our goal of delivering stable dividends and increasing the potential for capital appreciation in the longer term.”

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 who happens to be a frequent visitor or shopper of Festival Mall, do you think the incoming, new owners will be able to make improvements on the mall somehow? Do you hope that the original cinemas of Festival Mall will get renovated and reopened with the latest cinema technologies in the future?

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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I had a nice burger meal at Meat Plus Café in Subic Bay

January 31, 2025January 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Have you visited the Subic Bay Freeport Zone lately? I did. After completing an assignment there, I decided to have a meal at Meat Plus Café before driving all the way back to Alabang. It was an opportunity for me to eat there for the first time since 2018. Not only that, I was curious to try a burger meal there.

For the newcomers reading this, the Subic Bay branch of Meat Plus Café has been in business for a long time and it continues to attract a steady stream of customers (including the loyal ones who love to consume more from them) to this day. The restaurant is very popular for its meat servings like steaks, Beef Salpicao, burgers, oven-roasted beef belly, BBQ pork ribs, hamburger steaks and more. They also have notable alternatives such as the Seaburger, fried chicken and salmon. Salad, soup and side dishes are also offered.

Meat Plus Café is located at 65 Sampson Road inside the freeport, just footsteps away from the SBMA Fire Station. There is also a huge parking area in front of the restaurant which is so easy to find. For its precise Google Maps location, click https://maps.app.goo.gl/6CD6VwZPsGzBanG26

*These are the meat platters being offered to customers and families.*

Eventually on a Friday afternoon, I parked my car and entered the restaurant. Even at past 3PM, there were still several people eating inside with some chairs and tables left vacant. I went to the counter and looked at the menu carefully searching for their burgers. Early on, I chose the Meat Plus Burger and when I asked the lady (behind the counter) if it came with French Fries, she pointed to the combo meal which includes the said burger with fries and a drink. Since it was the complete package, I ordered the Meat Plus Burger combo meal and added a standalone serving of coleslaw (to add more vegetables). I paid a total of P435.

After about ten minutes waiting and sitting comfortably, the waiter served me my meal. Take a look at the images below.

*The combo meal I ordered has the Meat Plus Burger, fries, a slice of tomato, a slice of cucumber, condiments and a small serving of coleslaw. This combo meal costs P355.*

On my plate was the Meat Plus Burger, fries, condiments, cucumber slice, thin tomato slice and a small serving of coleslaw. Good thing I ordered a standalone coleslaw (not pictured) because I really wanted more veggies in my meal.

*A closer look at the Meat Plus Burger. It has two Angus beef patties, cheese and onions. The bread was smooth.*

After consuming the fries first, I grabbed the Meat Plus Burger, carefully inserted the tomato slice and cucumber slice, and then took my first bite of it. The burger was pretty delicious and the flavor of the meat is very unique as the two patties were actually Angus beef patties. With each bite of the burger – with the Angus beef flavor combining with the cheese, cucumber and tomato slices – came more enjoyment on my part. Alternately, I consumed the coleslaw and my drink (diet soda). The burger was so tasty, I did not use the condiments at all.

*This is the remaining Meat Plus Burger I had. The tomato slice and cucumber slice were added already.*

I am very glad I had Meat Plus Café’s combo meal with their signature burger during my last visit in Subic Bay. In fact, my meal there was a late lunch for me and I was really starving when I got inside. I would love to return to Meat Plus Café – Subic Bay once I return.

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Israel restaurant updates and news for foodies (January 2025)

January 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Israel Foodie News January 2025

If you are traveling to Israel very soon and if you love unique, tasty and high-quality meals, I encourage you to read this blog post by Debbest Israel. I would love to visit some of the restaurants (listed in the blog post) upon returning to Israel in the near future.

Having been to Israel myself, I can say that you will find a lot of great or dynamic places to eat in. There is always something for the food enthusiast or tourist with different tastes or preferences.

Philippines attracts less than 6 million foreign tourists in 2024, points to tourism revenue for success

January 16, 2025January 7, 2025carlocarrasco

When it comes to the state of tourism in 2024, the Philippines achieved a mixed record by failing to reach its declared target of 7.7 million international visitors while still managing to achieve a new, all-time record with P760.5 billion in tourism revenue, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

Philippine tourism earned an all-time high revenue of PHP760.5 billion in 2024, translating to a 126.75 percent recovery rate from the 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

Revenues from inbound tourism expenditures — representing the total amount spent by non-resident visitors — were 9.04 percent higher compared to the PHP697.46 billion in 2023.

Department of Tourism (DOT) data showed earnings surpassed the estimated PHP600.01 billion in 2019 by an impressive 26.75 percent.

“With these figures, it is clear that the Philippine tourism industry is not only bouncing back but also evolving and expanding, contributing significantly to the nation’s economic stability and growth. In the past year, we have witnessed remarkable growth in tourism revenue, which has surpassed previous records,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said Monday.

“This achievement is not just a statistic. It translates to thousands of jobs created for Filipinos, fostering economic resilience and enabling families to thrive,” she added.

She attributed this growth to the pro-tourism policies of the Marcos administration that prioritized the sustainable development of Philippine tourism resources.

“These policies focus on enhancing infrastructure, promoting heritage conservation and investing in skills development programs for our workforce, among others. We believe that the growth of tourism should be inclusive and equitable, empowering local entrepreneurs and communities,” she said.

Based on the World Travel and Tourism Council data, international tourists spend at least USD2,073 per capita.

From an average of nine nights in 2019, tourists are now staying an average of over 11 nights in the country, while 70 percent are repeat visitors.

Continued collaboration with stakeholders from the private sector also garnered about 63.18 percent repeat visitors in 2023, the DOT said.

Tourist arrivals – While falling short of its original target of 7.7 million, the DOT said the country still recorded growth in the number of foreign visitors last year at 5,949,350, up by 9.15 percent from the 5.45 million foreign guests recorded in 2023.

South Korea maintained its position as the top source of foreign tourists, with arrivals increasing to 1,574,152 from 1,455,977 in 2023, garnering more than 26.46 percent of the total market share.

Frasco cited the country’s “effective strategic marketing initiatives, enhanced air connectivity and strengthened cultural exchanges” for the sustained number of Korean tourists to the Philippines.

“Furthermore, the Philippines’ growing reputation as a prime destination for incentive travel has played a key role in this positive trend, attracting an increasing number of Korean companies hosting their reward trips for their employees in the Philippines’ world-class tourist destinations,” she said.

The United States ranked second, with 1,076,663 visitors in 2024, increasing from 1,041,305 in 2023. Enhanced connectivity, including nonstop flights from San Francisco to Manila by United Airlines and from Seattle to Manila by Philippine Airlines contributed to the growth of the market.

Japan, meanwhile, emerged as a standout market with a 22.84 percent growth in arrivals, reaching 444,528 visitors from its previous year’s 361,862.

The surge was attributed to aggressive tourism campaigns and strategic partnerships with Japanese travel agencies that paved further awareness and interest in the Philippines as a travel destination.

Though significantly lower than the pre-pandemic figures, China showed signs of recovery with 313,856 arrivals compared to 264,922 in the previous year.

This can be attributed, the DOT said, to the increased number of flights from 2023, both commercial and chartered, including the first half of 2024, connecting China directly to Cebu, Bohol, and Davao.

Cruise ships also started to arrive during the second half of 2024, with the new visa waiver program becoming an important factor for the improved numbers.

Other consistent contributors included Australia (299,286) and Canada (269,300). Emerging markets like Taiwan and Singapore demonstrated strong growth momentum, with arrivals reaching 213,833 and 198,471, respectively.

The introduction of direct flights to Kalibo in Aklan and Puerto Princesa in Palawan, as well as the growth of niche markets such as English as Second Language (ESL) learning and diving, contributed greatly to the visits of guests from Taiwan.

The United Kingdom likewise sustained its position among the top contributors with 178,656 visitors, driven by a keen interest in heritage tourism and adventure activities. Meanwhile, Malaysia emerged 10th with 99,881 registered arrivals in 2024.

The DOT said the Middle Eastern market similarly showed promising signs of recovery in 2024.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) posted a remarkable 668.34 percent recovery rate from its 2019 figures, reflecting increased air connectivity and a surge in interest in the Philippines as a leisure destination. Qatar followed closely, with an impressive 832.87 percent recovery rate, and Saudi Arabia with 66.54 percent growth.

Likewise, Oman and Bahrain registered more than 200 percent recovery rates from the 2019 number of arrivals, the DOT said.

Those in the top 25 source markets which have fully recovered as compared with 2019 data included Australia (102.63 percent), Canada (109.26 percent), Hong Kong (106.79 percent), UAE (668.34 percent), Italy (143.02 percent), Spain (111.08 percent), Guam (200.19 percent), New Zealand (100.50 percent) and Switzerland (102.01 percent).

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think it is safe to call 2024 a successful year of tourism for the Philippines with regards to the record-high tourism revenue achieved? Do you think the Philippines will be able to attract at least 6 million foreign tourists this year?

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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Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) to make first investment this quarter

January 15, 2025January 7, 2025carlocarrasco

The Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) – the entity responsible for making investments on behalf of the Philippines – will be making its first investment within the first quarter of 2025, according to a BusinessWorld news report. Take note that it has been over eighteen months since the Maharlika Investment Fund was formally signed into law. The IRR (implementing rules and regulations) has already been finalized.

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

THE MAHARLIKA Investment Corp. (MIC) is expected to make its first investment this quarter, most likely in the energy sector, its top official said.

“Definitely the first quarter. I think we had a year to set up. We had a year to basically put our governance in place. We obtained our formal approval to begin hiring last end of July,” MIC President and Chief Executive Officer Rafael D. Consing, Jr. said in an interview with BusinessWorld on Jan. 2.

The MIC has yet to make any investments since President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed the law creating the country’s first wealth fund in July 2023. The Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) had initially committed to make its first investments before the end of 2024.

Mr. Consing said sovereign wealth fund is “ready” and backed with funding and the needed workforce, but will not invest “without the benefit of due diligence.”

MIC earned P2.3 billion in interest income in 2024, Mr. Consing said.

Under the law, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines were mandated to contribute P25 billion and P50 billion, respectively, as the initial seed capital for the MIF. The two state lenders have remitted the funds to the Bureau of the Treasury in September 2023.

Mr. Consing said the MIC’s strategic plan will be up for board approval on Jan. 9. This after it made some changes after meeting with the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GCG) before the holidays, he added.

The MIC is looking into investing in energy, food security, healthcare, and resource development, particularly mining.

“In the first quarter, that would be the energy sector. Healthcare, if it turns out okay, if our due diligence results turn out okay, first half. I would say early second quarter for the latter two,” Mr. Consing said.

Mr. Consing said he believes that investments in the energy sector, particularly transmission lines, would be “most impactful.”

“That’s why ideally, we’d like to be able to buy into the national grid, if we’re able to. Or number two, we have also separately signed MOUs (memoranda of understanding) with the likes of Mindoro and Palawan, which fall under the SPUGS [small power utilities group] category,” he said.

In 2024, the MIC signed an agreement with Occidental and Oriental Mindoro to support investments in critical energy infrastructure.

“There are about 34 SPUGS in the country. The two biggest are Mindoro and Palawan. And we believe that given the contribution of Palawan when it comes to tourism, and also the population that lives in there, and the potential contribution of Mindoro in respect to the entire electricity sector in the Philippines, we felt that these are two priority areas where we can help, in fact, build transmission lines,” he said.

However, Mr. Consing declined to comment on the MIC’s plan to invest in the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

He said the National Power Corp. is currently doing an inventory of all its assets in Mindoro and MIC “will have to sit down and determine which part of those assets it would need as part of the expansion of these lines.”

“Where we are now is we’re procuring the services of the technical consultant and the team that will be putting together the whole feasibility study. Because all of these will require regulatory approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission,” he added.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that the MIC will be able to make smart decisions with regards to making the investments? Do you think the Maharlika Investment Fund will make positive impact on the market and encourage others to invest?

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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