The Cebu-based Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) medalists Andrew Kim Remolino and Raven Fatih Alcoseba outclassed their rivals to win the Sprint Elite titles during the Subic Bay Freeport Zone leg of the 2024 National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) series which was held at the Boardwalk area.
Remolino, who won a silver medal during the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games, won the 750 meter swim – 20 kilometer bike – 5 kilometer run contest in 56 minutes and 56 seconds followed by fellow Cebuano Matthew Justine Hermosa, (56:57) and Joshua Ramos of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (57:31).
“I had a good preparation for this tournament, so I am happy with my performance,” said the 23-year-old Remolino, who placed third behind Fil-Spanish Fernando Casares and Hermosa last year.
Despite his runner-up finish again, Hermosa managed to improve his 57:34 performance last year.
“I’m glad that I was able to set a personal best time. It’s a very close race and I know that Kim is my biggest challenge,” said the 5-foot-11 Hermosa, who together with Kira Ellis, Erika Nicole Burgos and Iñaki Lorbes, won the relay gold medal in aquathlon (500m swim and 2.5km run) at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.
Hermosa, Dayshaun Ramos, Sam Corpuz and Kira Ellis also attended a 26-day training camp at the Rio Maior Sports Center in Portugal last year.
Alcoseba, a 2022 SEA Games medalist, clocked 1:03:55 to secure her third straight women’s title in the tournament organized by Triathlon Philippines headed by Ramon Marchan in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
Erika Nicole Burgos submitted 1:05:39 to capture the silver medal while Kira Ellis took the bronze medal in 1:06:16.
”I tried to keep a positive attitude throughout the race. I’m happy to win again,” said the 21-year-old Alcoseba, a 3rd year civil engineering student at the De La Salle University.
Meanwhile, Dayshaun Ramos clocked 58 minutes and 44 seconds to pocket the gold medal in the men’s junior elite category. Darell Johnson Bada got the silver medal in 1:00:11 and Juan Miguel Tayag secured the bronze medal in 1:01:14.
Singaporean Janelle Susatra (1:07:17) won the women’s title over Erin Denise Burgos (1:16:33) and Adrian Ungos (1:19:53).
The winners in the standard distance age group were as follows: (Men’s 18-24) – George Vincent Alcido of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (2:16:30), Mark Joshua Perez of Gas Coaching (2:17:35) and Derek Jacob Villa of CM Riptide (2:32:52); (Men’s 25-29) – Edward Macalalad of Royal MNL/UPLB Tranrados (2:05:39), Jigo Libiran of The Usuals (2:33:37) and Carlos Daniel Dungao of Triclark Volvo Triathlon Team (2:36:43); (Men’s 30-34) – Reynante Briones of TRISNDBARRACUDA (2:33:55), Juan Gabriel Peña of Subic Bay Multisports (2:34:26) and Tristan Santos (2:34:59); (Men’s 35-39) – Benjamin Ramirez (2:27:40), Arnold Hoyo-A of Tri Vatan/BRC (2:35:21) and Iggy Hizon of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (2:47:41);
(Men’s 40-44) – Stanley Ng of Baguio Benguet Triathlon (2:28:56), Jason Santos of Team Megawide (2:36:25) and Stephen Corpus of Century Trihard (2:49:49); (Men’s 45-49) – Robert Jonah Rivera (2:49:41), Greg Bravo of Tri Busko (2:53:25) and Mickael Bouffaut of Sante Barley Tri Team (2:57:18); (Men’s 50-54) – Rene Ricardo Tayag of Tri Clark Triathlon Team (2:19:23), Hiroshi Takei of Team Honu (2:25:34) and Alexander Isip of Team Megawide (2:34:00); (Men’s 55-59) – Emmanuel Mondero of Team Megawide (2:37:25), Ronald Allan Ginez of Paynet-Amigo Tri (2:48:11) and Jonathan Tansengco (2:56:37); and (Men’s 60 and over) – Ed Francisco of Polo Tri (2:59:50) and Josef Gueta (3:21:53).
The podium finishers in the women’s division were as follows: (18-34) – Shamira Habie of Tri-Generals (3:04:49) and Daryl Mooney of Team Mooney (3:28:45); (35-49) – Maryfel Aumentado of Cheryauto PH Tri Team (2:48:42) and Kristine Mae Tan of The Next Step Tri (3:10:00); and (50 and over) – Ivy Mendoza of Poveda Tri Team (3:19:55) and Ratna Dimaporo of Tri SND Barracuda (3:25:10).
The NAGT, organized by Triathlon Philippines headed by Ramon Marchan in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Asian Center for Insulation, Standard Insurance and Gatorade, the official drink.
This past Saturday, triathletes Euan Arrow Ramos and Christy Ann Perez won the Super Sprint category of the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) tournament which was held at the Boardwalk in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
Ramos from Baguio Benguet Triathlon Team finished the 500 meter swim – 10 kilometer bike – 2 kilometer run race in 33 minutes and 24 seconds in the boys’ 13-15 years old division. Peter Sancho Del Rosario (Getcoach’d Academy) finished 2nd place in 35:19 followed by teammate Diego Jose Dimayuga (35:37).
Christy Ann Perez, a member of Go For Gold TLTG Cebu, registered the best time of 38:06 in the girls division, while teammate Yvaine Osias checked in third (39:00). Maria Zabelle Eugenio (Baguio Benguet Triathlon Team) ranked second (38:43).
Meanwhile, Hans Nathan Samputon (Ormoc Aquatic Edge) bagged the gold medal in the Super Kids boys 11-12 years old (400m swim, 8km bike and 2km run) category with a time of 34:28. Earl Pearson Jr. (Go For Gold TLTG Cebu) took the silver medal in 35.05 while Bricen Lukas Platz (Get Coach’D Academy clocked 38:26 to settle for the bronze medal.
In the girls division, the Top 3 finishers were Lauren Lee Tan of Ormoc Aquatic Edge (34:27), Henia Ethana Go of Gold TLTG Cebu (35:51) and Ava Victoria Banal of Baguio Benget Triathlon (38:48).
The Top 3 finishers in the boys division of the 9-10 years old (200m swim, 6km bike and 1km run) category, were Chris Donovan Lacuna (25:40), Matteo Carino (27:17) and Jon David Julian (27:19), while Pia Gito (28:13) got the gold and Juriel Brooke Julian (31:24) the silver in the girls division.
In the 7-8 years old (100m swim, 2km bike and 800m run), the winners in Ray Vincent Marchan (17:41) and Zavier Prequenza (21:35) in the boys division and Stacey Ailia Aisha (29:13) in the girls division.
Suchen Mooney (13:21) pocketed the gold and Dylan Shyam Bayarong (21:00) secured the silver medal in the boys 6 and under (50m swim, 1km bike and 400m run) category.
The NAGT, organized by Triathlon Philippines headed by Ramon Marchan in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Asian Centre for Insulation, Standard Insurance and Gatorade, the official drink.
To those of you who are doing business in Las Piñas City, be reminded that the extended deadline is on January 31, 2024, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas City government has extended the deadline for business permit renewal to Jan. 31.
Las Piñas City Mayo Imelda Aguilar said the City Council, headed by Vice-Mayor April Aguilar, passed and approved a resolution on Jan. 20 extending the period for the payment of business permits, licenses, taxes and such other similar commercial and industrial fees and charges from Jan. 20 to 31without surcharges and penalties.
Aguilar said the chief of Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO), Jesus Wilfredo Gaerlan, requested for the extension of the deadline.
She said this will not only encourage the settlement of such business, commercial and industrial fees and charges and accelerate the collection but also enable the delinquent individuals and firms to legalize their business operation.
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? If you are managing a business in the city, have you been able to renew your business permit? If you did, was the processing at the Las Piñas BPLO efficient?
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
Recently the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) posted an update on their official page about their coin deposit machine (CoDM) project revealing that almost P400 million worth of coins got deposited by customers as of January 15, 2024.
Based on the latest statistics, a total of P399,081,734.54 in coins got deposited into BSP machines on 110,910 transactions from customers. In terms of physical quantity, 117,120,209 coins were deposited. All these numbers are accurate as of January 15, 2024.
Doing the math on the latest statistics, customers averaged P3,598.25 per transaction (depositing of coins) at the machines. As for the grand total Peso amount divided by the number of coins deposited, the average is P3.40745 per coin deposited.
In my personal experience, it’s gotten more challenging to deposit my coins into the BSP machine located inside Festival Mall in Filinvest City, Alabang. Locally, a lot more people became aware of the machine which resulted in longer lines as well as families or business managers/owners bringing huge volumes of their coins contained in bottles or bags. There were also times when the BSP machine inside the mall got filled to its limit during the day and it could not function until the BSP’s own collectors gather all the coins.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you able to deposit your excess coins into a BSP coin deposit machine in your locality in recent times? Do you think the BSP should put up more coin deposit machines to keep up with consumer demand? How long normally is the line at the BSP coin deposit machine in your locality each time you visit?
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
UPDATE – The bikes-for-rent business in the blog post below is no longer occupying the space along Spectrum Midway near Filinvest City Central Park.
Here in Muntinlupa City, the Alabang area continues to be a dynamic place for leisure, shopping, fitness, dining and exploration. One of the more vibrant places to be in is the Filinvest City Central Park which is accessible via Spectrum Midway, East Asia Drive and Promenade roads within Filinvest City (formerly known as Filinvest Corporate City). Notably, the commercial places located in close proximity to Filinvest City Central Park are Commercenter (along East Asia Drive) and at a slightly farther distance Festival Mall.
Filinvest City Central Park has a nice wide portion of grassy land (facing East Asia Drive) where visits can relax at during the afternoons (when the sun is not too intense) and there is also a small playground where kids can play at. There is also another wide portion of grassy land on the other side (facing Festival Mall).
Filinvest City Central Park also has connecting roads plus a few cemented paths where people can travel on without the hassle of incoming motorized vehicles. The roads are ideal for those who love to hike, run and bike around.
Bicycles-for-rent – Along Spectrum Midway road, just steps away from Filinvest City Central Park, is a local service where visitors can rent bicycles for a fee (depending on what bicycle you want) for an hour’s use. Check out the video and images posted below.
Lots of bicycles lined up for visitors to choose and rent.
The bicycles displayed from the side.
At the bike rental service are two large signs displaying details about the bike rental rates per hour and the bike rental guidelines. Those who plan to rent bikes can avail of the Double Seater Sidecar for P250, the Big Sidecar for P200, the Small Sidecar for 150, the Mountain Bike for P200, the Big BMX for P150, the Small BMX for P100, the Lady’s Bike for P150, the Go Cart for P200 and the Kiddie Bike for P100. All fees, which are to be paid first, are non-refundable.
As per the bike rental guidelines, visitors who wish to rent a bike must provide or show a valid ID card. If children are to ride, they must be accompanied by parents or guardians at all times. Biking around is limited within the designated areas and warning signs must be followed without question. Bike racing and exhibition are prohibited.
For your reference.
The covered area is where visitors can approach for transactions on renting bicycles. This is along Spectrum Midway.
If you seek fun biking around Filinvest City Central Park, you can enjoy the convenience that comes with renting bikes there. Visit the bike rental service soon.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
To those of you who own or manage business in Muntinlupa City, be reminded that the new deadline for renewing your business permits is on January 31, 2024, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Renewal of permits can be done online or on-site at the Muntinlupa Sports Center in Barangay Tunasan.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Muntinlupa City government is offering an online business permit processing for the convenience of taxpayers.
The Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) encouraged people, especially those who are unable to visit the Business Permit Renewal Hub at the Muntinlupa Sports Center in Barangay Tunasan, to avail of the Business E-Payment System (BESt) as a more convenient alternative to the renewal process.
In addition, the Muntinlupa City Council passed a resolution granting the request of BPLO officer-in-charge Engr. Allan Cachuela to extend the business permit renewal deadline to Jan. 31 to give business owners the chance to comply and avoid penalties.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon welcomed these developments and urged Muntinlupeños to beat the deadline by taking these opportunities that support grassroots businesses–a key component of his economic agenda.
Entrepreneurs who wish to renew their permit may visit the Muntinlupa City government website (https://muntinlupacity.gov.ph/). They must first send their business account details and active company email address to bplo.muntinlupa@yahoo.com or through a personal message to the BPLO Muntinlupa Facebook page. For security, entrepreneurs must send their details via message and not put them in the Facebook comments.
An official notification will be sent to the provided email address. Afterwards, the applicant must create a BESt account and undergo verification through email. Once verified, entrepreneurs must sign into the BESt portal, choose the business permit renewal option, and provide the necessary details and business information. Payment fees can then be settled via Development Bank of the Philippines or Landbank.
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 consider the deadline extension essential for the city’s economy? If you manage a business within the city, have you been able to renew your business permit?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from watching the film and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back, movie buffs, science fiction fans and geeks! When it comes to making remakes or reimagined versions of established movies from previous decades, the 1980s was indeed a special time to watch them. In 1986, The Fly (directed by David Cronenberg) was released and it made a tremendous impact on moviegoers in ways that the original 1958 movie did not.
Remember when The Blob was first released in 1958? That classic film (read my retro review by clicking here) went on to have a forgettable sequel released in the 1970s but got remade big time with a new version in 1988 simply titled The Blob.
The story begins in the town of Arborville where many locals attend an exciting football game. High school player Paul (Donovan Leitch, Jr.) asks cheerleader Meg (Shawnee Smith) to a date. Elsewhere, the troubled guy Briann Flagg (Kevin Dillon) fails with his attempted stunt as a result of his flawed motorcycle which was witnessed by an elderly vagabond. Flagg goes back to town and encounters the local sheriff (Jeffrey DeMunn) who warns him about trouble.
That evening at the outskirts of town, a meteorite crashes within the forest which the elderly vagabond pursues. With strong curiosity in his mind, the old man uses a stick on a sizable body of slime mold substance (the blob itself) that came out of the crashed meteor. Suddenly, the substance moves and sticks to the elderly vagabond’s hand causing him great pain.
A short time later in the forest, Brian Flagg got surprised by the sudden appearance of the vagabond who desperately tries cutting off his own hand. The blob, which Brian saw for the first time ever, attaches itself even more on the old man causing him to run away until he gets hit by a car (with Meg and Paul inside)…
Quality
The blob in this movie looks more menacing as it has a tumor look and the special effect work remains excellent to look at. You should also see the blob move and what it sounds like.
This late-1980s remake of The Blob is not only more engaging and more entertaining than its 1958 predecessor…it is easily on of the best sci-fi horror movies of the 1980s thanks to a very talented creative team led by Chuck Russell.
To begin with, Russell and Darabont (this is the same great director behind The Shawshank Redemption), crafted a very solid screenplay that used key story elements from the 1958 classic while successfully updating everything else with 1980s America (or Ronald Reagan’s America) in mind. For this version, the three leading teenagers played by Shawnee Smith, Kevin Dillon and Donovan Leitch, Jr. were relatable and clearly worth following.
(From left to right) Shawnee Smith, Kevin Dillon and Candy Clark in an early encounter with the blob.
While the 1958 movie emphasized American teenagers being disadvantaged as local adults don’t take them seriously (even though the youth knew the problem and intend to solve it), this remake moved away from the generational gap as it strongly focused more on the crisis of a fast-growing blob that simply won’t stop killing people and destroying things. In other words, this is a crisis-focused monster story that is more violent, more horrific, more action-packed and more graphic than its predecessor.
I should also state that Russell and his team established a solid structure for storytelling and the narrative flowed on a medium-to-fast pace. As this movie has more spectacle in terms of action, monster moments and the like, the creative team carefully balanced the fun stuff with the dramatic and exposition scenes smoothly.
If you see people wearing protective suits arriving in your community and implementing a lockdown, you know a crisis is in effect.
The cast here is solid! Shawnee Smith’s Meg is the sweet, young good-natured high school girl who is willing to not only survive but also take part in solving the crisis situation not for herself but for her family and the entire Arborville community. Meg has some common elements with that of the character Sarah Connor from The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. I also love the fact that there is NO WOKENESS and NO RABID FEMINIST VALUES in Meg. Kevin Dillon’s Brian – the troubled youth – is clearly the 2nd lead and he does a good job dramatizing how his character changes from a guy of uncertainty into an actual doer whose efforts proved to be valuable. There definitely is a non-romantic chemistry between Meg and Brian as the crisis situation really brought out solid transformations from them respectively.
The supporting cast is really good too. Candy Clark’s Fran is the relatable community diner owner/manager who contributed nicely to the plot as well as the early showdown of the blob. Jeffrey DeMunn’s sheriff is the local law enforcer who has to deal with the local situations while tackling the challenges of his leadership post. Paul McCrane here plays a local cop who is tough but not necessarily abusive, and this is the same guy who played a very vicious bad guy in 1987’s RoboCop! Joe Seneca is the government scientist who has charisma and deception carefully blended together which added to the plot. You will even see Erika Eleniak in a very small and yet notable appearance that happens to involve the blob. This film has a really interesting cast and I encourage you to research the names mentioned here.
This remake is loaded with action scenes, stunts and incredible visual effects!
On the technical side of things, I really like the cinematography done by Mark Irwin as the visuals captured looked really detailed and clear even during the dark or night-time scenes. The music by Michael Hoenig was pretty good too and his tunes ranged nicely from creepy to sentimental and energetic which reflected the scenes. As for the design of the blob, Lyle Conway deserves the credit for making it very monstrous. As for the physical environment of the movie, the state of Louisiana turned out to be a great location and the real-life Louisiana town Abbeville added strongly to the small town concept of the story.
As mentioned earlier, this version has a lot more spectacle to enjoy. For one thing, there is a good amount of hard action, gunfire and stunts which really added to the excitement (on top of the suspense and horror scenes already implemented). Rest assured, you will not get bored at all when watching this.
Shawnee Smith is the protagonist in this movie and her performance is very memorable.
The highlight of the spectacle is the very blob itself which looks so much like a tumor (instead of the jello form in the 1958 version) and the credit goes to the visual effects, sound effects and the animation team behind it all. Compared to its counterpart in the 1958 film, the blob here is very monstrous and horrifying to watch and the way it got animated is excellent. Apart from being unrelenting, this blob is deadlier and even intelligent. Not only does the blob devour the living which adds to its tremendous growth of size and mass, it also has the ability to extend tentacles which added more to the danger. Thanks to the sound effects, the blob is believably animalistic.
Through the blob’s on-screen presence, you can see the hard work implemented by the special effects crew when showing the monster entirely move and devour people, when showing its flexibility on adjusting its size (or its parts) when entering new places through tight spots, and most notably, how the blob alters the flesh of the victims it touches which resulted in very horrifying visuals. The special effects team really excelled with the use of practical effects (read: no computer-generated images) on presenting the titular monster. This is indeed a special effects extravaganza that a lot of people are missing out on.
Conclusion
The Blob (1988) looks and sounds better than ever in 4K Blu-ray format. I highly recommend this version as it is so much better than streaming.
There is no doubt in my mind that The Blob (1988) is a great sci-fi horror film that has a more menacing monster complete with sufficient action, great visual effects and a pretty solid cast! This is indeed a great example of a how a remake of an established film from the past should be done and this also includes raising the stakes within the story, modernizing past cinematic elements and ensuring high entertainment value. What director Russell, his team and the cast collectively achieved is indeed a creative success and this is the kind of film that Commie-filled Hollywood (Commiewood) today does not want to make.
As a companion piece to The Blob (1958), this remake has the good stuff that people who love horror, science fiction, action and monsters will enjoy.
Of all the many movies I have seen, The Blob (1988) stands out as one of the best remakes ever made as well as one of the best mixed-genre movies of its decade as well as of all time. That being said, today is a great time to watch this movie with better-than-ever visuals and sounds through its 4K Blu-ray release (pictured above) which is now available (you can order it online now). There is also a lot of features and extra stuff with the 4K Blu-ray. Make no mistake, The Blob (1988) is great to watch and its replay value is pretty high.
Recently a local businessman who has extensive experience of doing business inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone took office as the new head of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and made clear his plan to make the zone more attractive to investors, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. His predecessor served for last than one year.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Businessman Eduardo Aliño officially assumed post on Monday as chairman and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
During his first press conference as SBMA head, Aliño noted the vast potential of Subic which should be given priority for development.
“We have so many potentials here in Subic and we may be putting more hotels, more infra projects to attract more investors,” he said, adding that together with his management team, they will study everything to determine what is lacking.
Citing his experience as a locator himself, he also expressed his desire to give investors who are experiencing difficulties in paying their financial obligations to SBMA, a chance or consideration to recover.
He said these businessmen had invested so much money and it would be so painful to lose the business they dreamed of in Subic, so giving them a chance to recover would be like giving them a new lease on life.
Earlier on Monday, Aliño attended the flag ceremony in front of the SBMA Administration Office with his family, and was welcomed by senior officers, members of the board, and employees of the agency.
In his message, he revealed having some apprehensions when President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. offered him the position.
He said he consulted his family and thought about it for a while before saying “yes” to the President.
“How can I say no to your President?” he said. “Because if you always refuse to help our leaders, who else would? So, I said yes.”
Aliño said his acceptance of the post was also driven by his desire to repay for all the help that SBMA people had given him and his business over the past 20 years.
“It is because of you, other than us, that made our terminal into what it is right now. Hindi po namin magagawa ang lahat ng ito kung wala ang tulong ninyo (We won’t be able to accomplish all of these without your help)”, he said.
Aliño is the former president and chairman of the S.T.A.R. Group of Companies and former chairman of the Subic Bay Yacht Club. The S.T.A.R. Group of Companies is engaged in integrated supply chain services and port operations.
He is also the former president and chairman of the Subic Bay Freeport Grain Terminal Services Inc. and Mega Equipment International Corp. which is now being managed by one of his sons.
Addressing the employees of SBMA, the new administrator and chairman assured fairness and honesty in serving the people, while asking for their support.
“I promise you that I will be fair. I promise you to be honest,” he said, adding that he has no agenda other than to help and to serve SBMA as a gesture of love for the country, God and the President.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the new SBMA head Aliño and his team will succeed in revitalizing business in the Subic Bay Freeport over the next six months?
During the Developer_Direct video presentation, the Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game (RPG) Avowed was highlighted with updates from developer Obsidian Entertainment followed by the announcement that the game will be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP) in late-2024 (most likely October to December). The final release date will be announced some time later.
For the newcomers reading this, I blogged about Avowed previously and you can read them by clicking here, here, and here. First unveiled in the Xbox games showcase of 2020, Avowed is Obsidian’s latest attempt on the fantasy RPG genre with notable similarities to Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) that include the first-person view, melee combat, magic, and the exploration of a vast fantasy setting. Avowed is set within Obsidian’s established Pillars of Eternity fantasy universe with Eora as the world.
Avowed is set in the established world of Eora. The game developers promised a flexible approach on combat covering melee, magic and shooting forms of attacks during battle.
Of course, there are notable gameplay and technical differences that set Avowed apart from Bethesda’s mega blockbuster fantasy RPG. To get to know the game better, watch Obsidian’s segment of the 2024 Developer_Direct event as well as the extended gameplay breakdown below…
For more information, posted below is the excerpt from the Xbox.com article regarding Obsidian’s fantasy RPG. Some parts in boldface…
Avowed Game Director Carrie Patel gave us a first deep-dive into the gameplay in Obsidian’s upcoming fantasy action RPG, from its dynamic combat, to its thoughtful reactivity, to its “colorful, vibrant, strange” world set in the Living Lands. Avowed continues Obsidian’s signature style of creating games with deep themes and player choice at the forefront.
Here is an example of a decision-making moment in Avowed. Before making a decision, you must pay attention to the details on what the other characters said.
Not only will you make narrative decisions that can impact changes in the game down the line, but Avowed is also looking to offer choice in combat. Gameplay Director Gabe Paramo discussed not only how varied your weaponry will be – with melee weapons, ranged guns and bows, and magic-based wands (even dual-wielded wands!) to name a few – but how flexible combat can be, allowing you to quickly change loadouts for enemy encounters. Swappable loadouts mean you can approach combat however feels right to you.
Art Director Matt Hansen then explained how the Living Lands is a mysterious island made up of wildly varied regions offering visually diverse backdrops and intriguing settings to explore. With secrets hidden throughout the regions, you’ll take in barren deserts, verdant forests, blighted wastes, volcanic biomes, and more.
A special attack performed.
Ever since it was first unveiled in 2020, I have been anticipating Avowed for a long time as I myself enjoyed the fantasy RPGs of Bethesda (specifically The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Skyrim) as well as Obsidian’s work in The Outer Worlds (2019) and Falllout: New Vegas (2010). I should also state that the first-person view makes exploration and combat in RPGs truly immersive and this alone makes Avowed very appealing to me. In relation to the first-person view, I am eager to find out how playable combat will be specifically on the part of the player and what interactive options will be made available. In a recent Xbox.com article, the developers confirmed there will be a variety of ways for players to tackle combat.
I am also excited to see how Obsidian will implement their clever and creative writing skills into the narrative and branching options within their upcoming fantasy RPG. Anyone who has played The Outer Worlds will know how the decisions you made in the game – even during side quests – affected the ending as well as the respective outcomes of your party members. That is something I hope to see again in Avowed, even though it is likely that Obsidian could adjust their methods on establishing the new game’s narrative as well as the outcomes.
When exploring the many fantasy environments, always pay attention to details as you might find useful items, weapons, money or even details about quests.
Even though there are still uncertainties ahead, the national authorities here in the Philippines forecast economic growth of 6.5% to 7.5% this year, 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…
The government is sticking to its gross domestic product (GDP) target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for 2024 despite many organizations forecasting the economic expansion this year will miss the administration’s goal.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon on Wednesday said the government has remained optimistic about achieving its target GDP growth for 2024.
“Of course, it’s a target. So, theirs is a forecast, meaning they are looking at what has been the trajectory before. But in our case, we have drivers for growth that we are pushing for,” Edillon told reporters on the sidelines of a joint economic briefing of foreign chambers in Makati City.
Among these sectors that would support economic expansion are international tourism, the Build Better More program of the administration, and the mass housing projects under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino or the 4PH Program.
“Then that will be a big factor actually in accelerating the growth,” she said.
Most of the forecasts of multilateral organizations and banks on Philippine GDP this year were below the government’s target.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that the economy of the Philippines has enough momentum to grow at least 6.5% this year? What do you think will become the biggest obstacle for the Philippine economy with regards to external or overseas developments?
Author Carlo Carrasco 