Tag: geek

Illegal Alien from the Philippines Arrested by ICE for Secretly Filming Undressed People

Illegal Alien from the Philippines Arrested by ICE for Secretly Filming Undressed People

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In a press release by Homeland Security, it was announced that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more of the worst-of-the-worst illegal aliens whose acts were very despicable and disturbing. What caught my attention is the arrest of a Filipino illegal alien over the crime of videotaping undressed persons without consent and already he is in the news.

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

A 21-year-old Filipino national illegally residing in the United States was arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being convicted of two counts of videotaping undressed persons without consent.

In a press release, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Joshua Gabriel Car Hombrebueno was taken into the custody of ICE, following his detention at the William G. Truesdale Alexandria Adult Detention Center in Alexandria, Virginia.

ICE listed Hombrebueno as part of its “Worst of the Worst” list on October 13, alongside four other convicted individuals from El Salvador, Mexico, and Guatemala.

“Yesterday, the brave men and women of ICE arrested pedophiles, sexual predators, domestic assailants, and other public safety threats from our communities,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said.

The department cited Hombrebueno as an “illegal” individual in the US.

A report from the official City of Alexandria, Virginia website states that the 21-year-old’s case goes back to Sept. 20, 2025, when a mother and her three-year-old daughter reported a phone’s camera recording inside the employee bathroom restroom.

“Upon investigation, Alexandria Police Department (APD) detectives recovered a recording depicting multiple victims, including both adults and children, who were unknowingly recorded while using the restroom,” the statement read.

According to the APD, a search of the device pursuant to a search warrant revealed several other victims, including children and adults.

After being identified, the victims expressed their willingness to file charges against Hombrebueno, who was then 20 years old and working at a French bakery.

Following a sex offense investigation involving hidden-camera recordings inside the restaurant’s employee restroom, the APD filed three felony counts and nine misdemeanor counts of unlawful creation of an image of another person.

“Hombrebueno, through legal counsel, turned himself in to Detective Quint earlier today, and the arrest warrant was served without incident,” the statement read.

To see the official press release about the worst-of-the-worst apprehended by ICE, click https://www.dhs.gov/news/2026/10/14/worst-worst-ice-arrests-pedophiles-sexual-predators-and-domestic-assailants

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you support ICE’s efforts on finding and arresting the worst-of-the-worst among the many illegal aliens/immigrants in the United States? Are there many illegal aliens/immigrants living in your local community right now? Do you think Hombrebueno is destined to be deported?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Fewer Korean Visitors Arriving in Vietnam

Fewer Korean Visitors Arriving in Vietnam

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With almost eighteen million foreign tourists counted during the January-September period of this year, Vietnam is on-track to exceed its 2025 record of foreign tourist arrivals. While tourism is indeed booming, there are observations that fewer travelers from South Korea are visiting Vietnam, and there are a lot of factors as to why this has been happening for some time now, according to a news article by VnExpress.

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

Korean arrivals to Vietnam have fallen for two years amid a weaker won, fewer flights and growing competition.

Vietnam welcomed 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months, up almost 15% year-on-year, the General Statistics Office reported. South Korea ranked second, after mainland China, with 3 million arrivals, but was the only top-10 market to record a decline, down about 5%.

Korean arrivals also fell 5% in 2025, when total arrivals hit a record of more than 21 million.

South Koreans made over 19 million overseas trips in the first eight months, up 2%, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

Martin Koerner, commercial director of Anam Group, which manages two resorts in Mui Ne and Cam Ranh, says Korean demand is still growing but shifting elsewhere.

Yanolja Research found that only three of the 12 most-visited destinations for Koreans grew in the first half. Japan rose 18.6% to 5.6 million visits, 40% of Korean outbound travelers. Mainland China rose 16%, while Macau grew 0.7%.

The other nine destinations, mostly in Southeast Asia and the U.S., all declined. Vietnam fell more than 2%, and Thailand dropped the most, at 24%.

Pham Hai Quynh, director of the Asia Tourism Development Institute, attributes the decline partly to growing competition from China and Japan.

Quynh says Japan offers a good exchange rate, easy transport and quality service. China has attractive tour prices, visa-free entry for Koreans since late 2025 and more direct flights.

A weak won is a factor. The currency fell to 1,536 won per U.S. dollar on June 3, its lowest since 2009, and now sits around 1,350.

Korea JoongAng Daily reports that the weak currency is changing how South Koreans travel. They are shopping less, opting for Airbnb-style rentals over luxury hotels.

Hanatour, one of South Korea’s largest travel companies, says Korean travelers used to favor cheap tours with shopping stops. Now they choose pricier packages without shopping to cut down on extra spending.

However, travel spending in Japan continues to rise, as the weak yen makes the destination more affordable. In 2025, South Korean visitors spent a record $5.7 billion in Japan.

Koerner adds that beyond cost, the convenience of the trip also shapes Korean choices. A flight of two to three hours to Japan or China beats a six-hour trip to Southeast Asia.

“In this context, Vietnam’s edge as a low-cost destination no longer creates a big enough gap to hold on to Korean visitors,” Quynh says.

Saturation is another problem. Quynh says a destination’s life cycle lasts three to four years, after which travelers seek something new. Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc have been promoted in Korea since around 2023, and golf and spa packages have grown familiar.

Fewer flights have hurt too. Higher fuel prices from the Middle East conflict led Korean airlines, mainly low-cost carriers, to cut 1,000 flights between April and June.

Yanolja Research also says Vietnam’s image has been linked to Cambodian scam compounds. Negative sentiment toward Vietnam once reached 18%.

To win Koreans back, Quynh says Vietnam should refresh its image, rely less on cheap beach holidays, and develop cultural, ecological and wellness products. He also urges more promotion in Busan, Daegu and Gwangju cities.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the falling number of Korean travelers visiting Vietnam is growing into a serious problem for the Vietnamese tourism industry? What do you think Vietnam and South Korea should do when it comes to flight connectivity and visa matters?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #21 (1995)

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #21 (1995)

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.  

If you have been reading a great majority of the Marvel 2099 comic book series of the 1990s, then you should be aware about a notable turning point that saw Doom 2099 taking over as the President of the United States. The comic book Spider-Man 2099 #34 reflected the impact of that turning point and it had this pretty clever way of having Doom 2099 and Spider-Man 2099 (but in civilian form as Miguel O’Hara) getting reunited for the first time since the Fall of the Hammer crossover storyline. The same thing also happened in the X-Men 2099 series and the encounter between Doom 2099 and a few X-Men members was remembered.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #21, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Cover of X-Men 2099 AD comic book featuring the character Halloween Jack, depicted with green skin, long white hair, and wearing a skull necklace.
The cover.

Early story

The story begins with government propaganda released to the public. It announces the direction that America will go to under the rule of Doom 2099 as US President. It turns out, Doom has been President for days and already a series of changes is happening nationwide. Halloween Jack (who was a fake Loki during the events of the Fall of the Hammer) asks a rhetorical question about Doom. Halloween Jack and Meanstreak meet with Celestia Amberlyn who is the biggest star of the Synge casino and also a close personal friend of Indigo Eshun, the minister of Signal.

Their meeting intensified quickly due to their conflicting agendas. Amberlyn is with the Doom administration while Halloween Jack is defiant towards the new US President. He shows her his new technology called the virtual unreality projector. He tells her that he will overturn the natural laws of physics throughout Las Vegas and replace them with the wildly unpredictable reality of another dimension…  

Quality

A comic book scene featuring a character named Doom, wearing an armored suit and a dramatic cape, standing confidently with arms crossed. The background shows a futuristic setting with a hovering spacecraft and two startled characters observing. Dialogue bubbles express surprise and commentary on Doom's demeanor and armor.
Meanstreak, Krystalin and Halloween Jack witness the arrival of Doom 2099 in Las Vegas.

With Doom’s influence as US President felt a lot in this comic book, I can say that the storytelling and events here really got wild. Halloween Jack’s machine really caused a very unique kind of chaos on Las Vegas and his insanity here reminds me a lot about the Joker of DC Comics. After working a lot on making Halloween Jack’s insane agenda happen, Meanstreak finally realizes his errors and decides to take action before total disaster happens. That said, Meanstreak’s old self is back complete with recalling his rightful place with the X-Men.

As stated earlier, Doom has impact on the story and it is truly an expressive portrayal of what he could achieve with the power of the US Presidency. Doom clearly has plans for America and he has his own vision about establishing order and this comic book clearly dramatizes it. On face value, it looks like Doom’s short appearance in this comic book is just for show but I can assure you that he has an action-packed response to Halloween Jack’s insane operation on Las Vegas.  

Conclusion

A comic book panel featuring a character with brown hair and a blue costume discussing the consequences of altering reality, surrounded by other characters who appear concerned. The scene includes dynamic action effects and colorful visual elements like coins and light bursts.
Finally, Meanstreak realizes the wrong things he committed and has decided to take action before total disaster happens.

X-Men 2099 #21 (1995) is indeed a wild tale that concluded with purpose. Not only does it reunite Meanstreak with a teammate, it also sets that direction towards the inevitable reuniting of the futuristic X-Men. The wild turn of events here is balanced with the good amount of details and character development implemented by the Moore-Lim duo. Doom’s presence here really shook things up and the impact on the city of Las Vegas has to be seen.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #21 (1995) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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/.

Muntinlupa City Earns Special Citation in 2026 Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards

Muntinlupa City Earns Special Citation in 2026 Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards

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Muntinlupa City added another prestigious honor to its record of achievements as it was cited by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in the 2026 Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

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

Muntinlupa City has been recognized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in the 2026 Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards, its second consecutive distinction.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon accepted the recognition after Muntinlupa placed in the top five of the City Level 1A category.

“Proud to share another nakakaproud feat of our City Government, Muntinlupeños!,” Biazon said.

He noted that this year’s honor mirrors the city’s achievement last year.

“Isang malaking tagumpay ito na nagpapakita ng commitment natin sa transparent governance, streamlined services, at pagbuo ng isang thriving environment para sa investors at MSMEs (This is a major achievement that demonstrates our commitment to transparent governance, streamlined services, and creating a thriving environment for investors and MSMEs),” he added.

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, are you delighted that your city was cited again in the Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards? Did you create any new businesses within Muntinlupa over the past twelve months? Do you consider Muntinlupa City ready for big-time foreign investment?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, 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 158

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 158

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Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching.

Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Major League (1990) movie reaction videos – When it comes to American sports, I am not really a fan of baseball. That said, I was not too interested with Major League Baseball (MLB). Strangely enough, the 1989 comedy film Major League – which I saw on home video in 1990 – turned out to be entertaining to watch and it became a hot rental in our local community here in the Philippines. As such, American sports movies about baseball became more interesting to see just as cable TV became more common locally. Some film buffs still consider Major League the most entertaining of them all. To find out how much impact Major League has on YouTubers, watch the selected reaction videos below.

#2 The history of TwinBee – Decades ago, I played TwinBee on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) with my friends. It was a fun-filled, vertical-scrolling 2D shooter that had this cute visual design and it was unexpectedly challenging to complete. What I never played, however, was the original arcade game of TwinBee which Konami released way back in 1985. To find out who were the creators behind TwinBee, how its development happened and how it became a game franchise, watch the video below.

#3 Nostalgic food alley in central Tokyo – If you have ever visited Tokyo before, were you able to eat at specific places that had a lot of history within? There is this nostalgic food alley in the central part of Tokyo. Having seen the Nippon TV video below, the featured food alley is indeed very interesting and the food offered to customers is captivating to see. I wish I had dined there the last time I visited Japan. Watch and learn from the video below.              

#4 The Road to the Temple Mount Revealed – In 2023, I visited Israel with my local church on a pilgrimage tour that lasted twelve days, and it was during the last five days when we stayed in Jerusalem. During our tour of Pool of Siloam (where a man-born-blind got healed and gained sight because he followed Lord Jesus’ instructions) we reached one end of the place which turned out to be the entrance leading to the ancient pilgrimage road leading to the Temple Mount. Back then, it was closed but we all saw what it looked like. In recent times, a lot of progress was made on the restoration of the ancient pilgrimage road (the very road where Jews hiked coming from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount) and CBN News has an in-depth feature of it in their video below. I encourage you all to watch it.     

#5 From Mahane Yehuda Market to Jaffa Gate – During the one and only day-off of our 2023 Israel pilgrimage tour, I marched all the way to the Temple Mount and other holy sites inside the Old City of Jerusalem to spend quality time with the Lord. After visiting the grave of Oskar Schindler, I marched all the way back to the modern part of Jerusalem with the Mahane Yehuda market as the final destination. That said, the video of Jerusalem Walker posted below is nostalgic to me as I had two visits to Mahane Yehuda. The only thing was that I have not yet experienced spending time at Mahane Yehuda on a Friday which is often full of people as the Jews prepared themselves for the night before Shabbat. The video below is a must-see.

#6 You, Me and the Movies reacts to The Fly (1958) – Like most moviegoers, I saw the 1986 version of The Fly without seeing the original 1958 version. Of course, the original The Fly was released long before I was even born and it was still very challenging to see it on home video, UFH TV, cable TV and DVD or Blu-ray. I eventually saw The Fly (1958) on local TV back in the 1990s but it did not engage me enough to complete it. That said, watching reaction videos of it was a more suitable way of seeing it and I can say that I enjoyed You, Me and the Movies’ reaction video of it is entertaining.

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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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Vietnam Tourism Insiders Say Easier Entry, Stronger Connectivity and Better Tourism Services Are Needed

Vietnam Tourism Insiders Say Easier Entry, Stronger Connectivity and Better Tourism Services Are Needed

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Having attracted almost eighteen million foreign tourists in the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam is clearly one of the must-visit places not only in Southeast Asia but in Asia as a whole. For some tourism insiders, however, Vietnam needs easier entry, strong connectivity by air and land and better tourism services to bridge the so-called competitiveness gap with its Southeast Asian neighbors, according to a news article by VnExpress.

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

Vietnam needs easier entry, stronger air and land connectivity, better tourism services, and stricter environmental enforcement to bridge its competitiveness gap with Southeast Asian rivals, tourism insiders have said.

The country climbed seven places to 52nd out of 110 economies in the World Economic Forum’s 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index, its highest ranking since the Covid-19 pandemic.

But it ranked behind major Southeast Asian markets. Singapore was 13th globally, Indonesia was 23rd, Malaysia was 26th, and Thailand was 38th.

The expansion of visa-free policy for more nationalities remains an important feature of Vietnam’s strategy to develop its tourism industry.

Martin Koerner, commercial director of The Anam Group, a chain of Vietnamese luxury resorts, tells VnExpress International: “Vietnam should continue to make entry as frictionless as possible. Visa policies have improved considerably, but we should continue benchmarking ourselves against the easiest destinations in the region.”

Every additional administrative barrier matters when an international traveler can choose between Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other destinations, he says.

Vietnam has made it easier for foreign visitors to enter and stay in the country, including through 90-day e-visas and 45-day visa exemptions for citizens of 24 countries, including several in Europe.

But the country has not yet waived visas for some major tourism markets such as China and India, unlike Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Vietnam also needs stronger air connectivity, with more direct flights from major cities in Europe, Australia, North America, India, and the Middle East as connections influence long-haul travelers’ destination choices, Koerner adds.

Dr Matt Kim, a lecturer in tourism and hospitality management at RMIT Vietnam, says infrastructure and accessibility require further improvement, particularly international air connectivity and transport links between destinations in the country.

Long Thanh International Airport scheduled to begin commercial operation later this year will be transformational, but an airport alone does not create a destination, he says.

Efficient connections between airports and tourism centers, better roads, rail infrastructure, and seamless domestic transportation will be equally important, he says.

He wants the tourism industry to improve service quality and develop skilled professionals.

“To compete more effectively with regional destinations such as Thailand and Singapore, Vietnam needs to improve not only its facilities, but also service standards and professional training.“

Environmental pollution is another concern, with foreign tourists frequently complaining about it despite praising Vietnam’s scenery.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you agree with the opinions of the tourism insiders about what Vietnam needs to do to remain competitive with its regional neighbors? If you have been to Vietnam over the past six months, how do you rate the quality of entry, tourism services, air-land connectivity and the tourism workers? With the way things are going now, do you think Vietnam will be able to attract 30 million foreign tourists in 2027 or 2028?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #20 (1995)

A Look Back at X-Men 2099 #20 (1995)

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.  

The past few issues followed the developments seen through the eyes of separated X-Men members – Meanstreak who assisted Halloween Jack’s move to take Las Vegas away from the Synge family, Krystalin who has been in California to help her brother, and Shakti who recently uncovered something about the legacy of mutants. That said, Bloodhawk’s absence was really noticeable and this was because Marvel Comics had him appear in a few Doom 2099 comic books set in the Savage Land.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #20, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.

Cover of X-Men 2099 comic book featuring Bloodhawk battling a robotic character, with bold, colorful title text.
The cover.

Early story

The story begins in the Arizona desert where Bloodhawk flies over the wasteland. He just returned from the Savage Land and he immediately notices huge tracks left behind by some kind of large machine and they are radiated. He notices a sick and radiated coyote approach. Bloodhawk grabs the coyote, says some words to it and kills it to end its suffering.

Meanwhile at the ACME Pit Stop (a roadside tradition of fuel and food since the year 2047), a conflict between business owner Cyrus and Lou Ann is taking place with lots of bystanders watching. Their conflict gets disrupted as a massive, large robot suddenly arrived causing everyone to panic. The robot grabs a long rig and threw it at the ground causing a huge explosion.

Bloodhawk, who raided one of his weapons cashes to arm himself with grenades, quickly flies in to attack the giant robot…

Quality

A comic book page featuring colorful illustrations of characters engaged in dialogue. One character is working with futuristic technology while two others listen. The setting appears to be a high-tech environment. The conversation includes themes of hardware and technology, with emphasis on weapons and satellite systems.
If you read the details closely, you will realize the extremism of the Free Radicals and why they have so much in common with real-life anarchists and zealots.

To point out the obvious, the main feature here is the focus on Bloodhawk’s return to the American wasteland coming from the Savage Land (chronicled in Doom 2099). By having him encounter a massive robot, it is clear that John Francis Moore and Ron Lim planned this to have a huge storytelling weight and give the X-Men 2099 fans – especially the ones who love Bloodhawk – something to enjoy. Along the way, this comic book has Bloodhawk gaining an unexpected ally which allowed the creators to show some character development on him. As many fans already know, Bloodhawk values nature and despises both technology and modern society as he saw them as devourers of the natural environment. In this comic book, he has a gigantic mechanical problem to deal with and the odds are absolutely against him. That said, Bloodhawk’s tale here is pretty much a big comeback from being absent in the past issues.

Meanwhile, Krystalin finds herself in deeper trouble. After helping the Free Radicals regain their very young but tech-oriented teammate, she finds herself and her brother still trapped by the gang. Continuing from what was symbolized in the previous issues, this comic book sheds light on political symbolism and the radicalized people’s obsession with drastic change in world they believe is controlled by institutions they perceive as oppressive. The Free Radicals have sinister values that make them comparable with real-life evil forces like Black Lives Matter (BLM), Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Antifa, LGBTQ mobs, Islamists and others. The Free Radical’s youngest member clearly believes that anarchy means freedom.

Conclusion

A giant red robot stands menacingly on a rocky landscape, with two frightened humans in the foreground reacting in panic. The robot's systems are malfunctioning, indicated by a message about damage and a return directive. The scene is drawn in a comic book style with bold colors and dynamic expression.
The design of this giant robot is corny to look at.

Crafted with care and symbolism, X-Men 2099 #20 (1995) has two tales that are gripping to follow. The tales of Bloodhawk and Krystalin succeeded with ensuring a gripping read and moving events forward. That said, the stakes of Krystalin’s conflict with the Free Radicals have been raised even more. Those who are very fond of Bloodhawk will have good stuff to enjoy here. This comic book’s only weakness is the rather corny design of the giant robot, and it felt distracting from time to time.

Overall, X-Men 2099 #20 (1995) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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/.

I Love Israel: 2,000-Year-Old Discovery in Israel Reveals Lost Community

I Love Israel: 2,000-Year-Old Discovery in Israel Reveals Lost Community

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While the rest of the world has been busy with political, economic and military developments, something very tremendous happened recently in Israel, and it is about a 2,000-year-old discovery that reveals a lost community and it further proves the Jewish heritage in the Holy Land is real, according to a news article by CBN News. The discovery is also a reminder about John’s baptisms.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the CBN News article. Some parts in boldface.

A 2,000-year-old archaeological marvel has been unearthed in southern Israel, revealing a mysterious community lost to time and the latest proof of the ancient Jewish connection to the Holy Land.

The major discovery took place in Kiryat Gat, near the site of the ancient Philistine city of Gath, where Goliath came from.

The find, a mikveh ritual immersion pool, provides evidence of a Jewish community that remained in the region following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD and persisted until the Bar Kokhba revolt – the final Jewish rebellion against the Roman Empire.

The mikveh was used for spiritual purification or holiness, which the Bible refers to in the book of Leviticus, and its discovery is a reminder of a Second Temple-era tradition that’s linked to the introduction of Christians baptisms.

Israeli tour guide Yoav Rotem tells CBN News, “These are the roots of the baptism of John… John the Baptist… Going from Leviticus through Judaism of the Second Temple time all the way to John the Baptist and Jesus, these are the roots, and they’re still in the ground.”

To preserve the mikveh, the Israel Antiquities Authority dug up the entire ritual bath and removed it from the site.

Rotem argues that this discovery is the latest archaeological proof that the Jewish population wasn’t entirely absent from the region after the Romans tried to wipe them out. While some uninformed anti-Israel activists claim the Jews just popped up and took over the holy land in 1948, Rotem says the Jews have clear ties to the land that are constantly being unearthed.

He also cited historical letters, the Cairo Geniza archive of 400,000 ancient manuscripts in Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic, that provide further proof, in addition to the many substantial, ongoing archaeological discoveries of ancient Jewish presence in the land.

“There’s a huge amount of information from historical information to archaeological to letters between rabbis, of Jewish appearance (or presence)… The Jews are still alive after 70 (AD). Some of them, minorities, staying in the land, a lot of Jews moving to the Galilee,” he explained.

For additional insight, watch the CBN News YouTube video below.

To all my readers, I encourage you to thank the Lord for this tremendous breakthrough in Israel. No matter what the anti-Israel activists say, the ancient Jewish heritage in the land of Israel is absolutely real backed with physical pieces of evidence and ancient diggings achieved. Clearly, Israel is the land of Jews, not the Palestinians.

At the same time, I encourage you all to realize 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.

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!

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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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Vietnam Attracts 522,000 Visitors from the Philippines During First 9 Months of 2026

Vietnam Attracts 522,000 Visitors from the Philippines During First 9 Months of 2026

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The Philippines, which is currently the host of the ASEAN Summit and is also one of the economic weaklings of Southeast Asia, continues to grow tremendously as a tourism market for Vietnam as an estimated 522,000 Filipinos visited the said nation during the first nine months of 2026, according to a news report by VnExpress.

It should be noted that more than 480,000 Filipinos visited Vietnam for the entire year of 2025, and the Philippines is one of the fastest growing tourism markets for the Vietnam tourism industry this year along with Russia.

Historically speaking, the number of Philippine visitors welcomed by Vietnam was 49,266 in 2022, 153,168 in 2023, 265,947 in 2024 and 482,173 in 2025. At 522,000 as of the end of September, the number of Philippine visitors arriving in Vietnam could reach around 700,000 by the end of this year.

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

Vietnam welcomed 17.7 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2026, up 14.5% year-on-year, bucking a decline in arrivals across several Southeast Asian destinations.

Mainland China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, with 3.95 million visitors, accounting for about 22.3% of the total. South Korea ranked second with approximately 3.05 million visitors, or 17.3%.

Russia ranked third with 1.1 million, followed by Taiwan (964,000) and the U.S. (746,000), according to the General Statistics Office.

The rest of the top 10 were Cambodia (688,000), Japan (674,000), India (670,000), the Philippines (522,000) and Australia (485,000).

In September, foreign visitors declined by 11.3% from August but rose by 16.5% year-on-year to 1.77 million.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Considering the strong interest of Filipinos to visit Vietnam, do you think it is possible for Vietnam to attract at least one million visitors from the Philippines next year if not this year? Do you think more Filipinos will realize the great value they could get by visiting Vietnam?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Man Arrested in Parañaque City Over Possession of Unlicensed Firearm and Death Threat

Man Arrested in Parañaque City Over Possession of Unlicensed Firearm and Death Threat

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Recently in the City of Parañaque, a man who threatened to kill someone and carried an unlicensed firearm was arrested by the local police, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

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

A 26-year-old man was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill another man during a heated argument and was found carrying an unlicensed .38-caliber revolver in Parañaque City late Thursday night, Oct. 1.

Police said officers from the Baclaran Police Sub-Station responded to a reported disturbance near the Al-Wasat Mosque along E. Rodriguez Street, Redemptorist Road, Barangay Baclaran at about 11:15 p.m.

Responding policemen saw the suspect, identified as alias “Sari,” causing a disturbance.

An initial investigation showed that Sari and the complainant had engaged in a verbal altercation that escalated when the suspect allegedly threatened, “Papatayin kita.”

Police arrested the suspect and recovered a .38-caliber revolver loaded with two live rounds of ammunition.

The firearm and ammunition were turned over to the Station Investigation and Detective Management Section for examination and documentation.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think violent crime will get worse? Are there many people in your local community who have unlicensed firearms and ammunition?

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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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