In the city of Las Piñas, controversy regarding the raid of June 26 continues to grow as it was revealed by the local authorities that there were foreign fugitives among the thousands that supposedly got rescued, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
Police found two Taiwanese fugitives among the rescued workers from the raid in a Las Piñas City establishment recently, the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) said Monday.
Aside from them, the PNP earlier reported that four Chinese fugitives were also discovered from the thousands of workers rescued from the raid.
“During the June 26, 2023 police operation, where thousands of individuals were rescued, four Chinese and two Taiwanese fugitives were discovered,” the ACG said in a statement.
The ACG said the six fugitives have been identified through the help of concerned foreign embassies in the documentation of their respective citizens and cross-matching of their records.
Authorities implemented a search warrant in a compound in Las Piñas over an alleged human trafficking situation.
The police reported that 1,534 Filipinos and 1,190 foreigners were rescued from the raid. According to PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, there were 17 foreign nationalities involved.
While over a thousand Filipino workers were safely released and allowed to return to their homes, the foreign nationals have not been released yet as the documentation of the remaining workers is still ongoing, according to Fajardo.
“Law enforcement authorities have gathered personal information for the remaining one thousand-plus foreign nationals, who will be turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for proper disposition and repatriation process,” the ACG said.
On June 30, five Chinese suspects were subjected to inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice in Manila for violation of the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 and Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
Meanwhile, the company that was raided, Xinchuang Network Technology, has denied that it is involved in human trafficking.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think the police raid of June 26 has been justified?
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
It has been more than three years since a national emergency was declared in response to COVID-19 and in a recent ambush interview, new Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa said he would recommend the lifting of the nation’s emergency, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said Monday that he would recommend lifting the country’s COVID-19 state of public health emergency.
In an ambush interview, Herbosa stressed that COVID-19 no longer posed an emergency and could be treated as any other disease that the Department of Health (DOH) monitors, like influenza, cough, and cold.
“Actually, wala nang emergency eh, ‘di ba? (there is no longer an emergency). I think I would actually ask the lifting of the public health emergency in the country,” he said.
Then-President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of public health emergency during the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.
Under Proclamation 922, the state of public health emergency would remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by the President.
In May, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 no longer represented a global health emergency.
Herbosa, however, said that the alert level system would remain.
“The alert level system will stay because that’s a system like the typhoon signal that stays. But actually hindi na siya (that’s no longer a) public health emergency. Wala nang (there’s no) public health emergency,” he added.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you believe that COVID-19 itself is no longer the tremendous health problem it used to be?
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
As the issuance of bivalent vaccines for COVID-19 is going on nationwide, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa announced that the said vaccines are effective against the newest Omicron subvariant FE.1, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines remain to be an effective tool to protect people against the recently detected Omicron subvariant FE.1, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said Wednesday.
During the rollout of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines, the newly appointed chief of the Department of Health (DOH) was asked if the bivalent jabs are also effective against the FE.1, which is a sublineage of the Omicron XBB subvariant.
“Yes. Generally, because this is still Omicron and nilagay na ‘yung Omicron doon sa bivalent vaccine, meron nang cross immunity ‘yan kasi ‘yung mga antigens pareho lang even if it’s a different subvariant. Hindi mahihinto ‘yan,” Herbosa said.
(Yes. Generally, because this FE.1 is still Omicron, and the Omicron has been put in the bivalent vaccine. There is already cross immunity because the antigens are the same even if it’s a different subvariant. It won’t stop.)
The first case of FE.1 or XBB.1.18.1.1 was found in the genome sequencing conducted on May 29 to June 12, 2023, based on DOH’s latest COVID-19 biosurveillance report.
The DOH said FE.1 was added to the list of variants under monitoring by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on June 1, 2023, and was initially flagged “for its increasing global prevalence,” being detected in 35 countries so far.
The agency, however, stressed that currently available evidence for the subvariant does not suggest any differences in disease severity and/or clinical manifestations compared to the original Omicron variant.
While admitting that he is yet to familiarize with the characteristics of the FE.1, Herbosa said it may also exhibit the same symptoms as those with other Omicron subvariants.
“If you have upper respiratory symptoms [like] sipon, sore throat, ubo, ‘yan ang most common. Occasionally, kagaya sa Arcturus, meron sore eyes. Itong FE.1 I don’t know if ‘yun o pareho lang. Ma-identify dapat ng genetic studies,” he added.
(If you have upper respiratory symptoms like cold, sore throat, and cough, those are the most common symptoms. Occasionally, like Arcturus, there could be sore eyes. I don’t know if it’s the same with FE.1. It should be identified by genetic studies.)
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did anyone from your local community avail of the bivalent vaccine? Does your local government have bivalent vaccines already?
There is no denying the fact that abortion is definitely wicked as it is the murder of the unborn child. Very shockingly, a secretive abortion clinic in Parañaque City was uncovered and raided by elements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) resulting in seven suspects – almost all were Chinese nationals – arrested for their involvement, according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Inquirer news report. Some parts in boldface…
Six Chinese nationals and one Filipino were arrested by police for allegedly conducting abortion procedures and selling abortion drugs in Parañaque City, said the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday.
According to the NCRPO’s police report, the seven were arrested in Tambo, Parañaque City, after weeks of surveillance.
NCRPO said the arrest stemmed from an informant alerting the police of the sale of medications used in abortion and their purported performance of abortion procedures.
Arresting officers seized one package of 25 milligrams (mg) of mifepristone tablets, one box of 100 mg cefixime dispersible tablets, and one pack of Golden Throat Lozenge and metronidazole tablets.
The suspects are now in the custody of NCRPO to undergo investigation. They will be charged with the illegal practice of medicine contained in the Republic Act (RA) 2382 or the Medical Act of 1959 and violation of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act also known as RA 3720.
Meanwhile, GMA Network released their own news video about the same raid which you can watch below…
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be even more secretive abortion clinics operating elsewhere within Parañaque City? Did you notice the presence of abortion-related drugs circulating within your local community? Who do you think is the mastermind behind the raided abortion clinic?
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
Two house helpers tearfully admitted to the National of Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that they are responsible for the slaying of an elderly woman in Parañaque City and even used her ATM card to withdraw her funds, according to a Manila Standard news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Standard news report. Some parts in boldface…
Two domestic helpers have admitted to killing an 86-year-old woman in Paranaque City — the sister of a public relations practitioner — last May 4 and taking her ATM card to get her money, then framing another house helper for the crime.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation filed charges of robbery with homicide against the two suspects, named “Ken” and “Juliet”, after they owned up to the killing of Noemi Dacuycuy.
A month after leaving their employer bloodied and lifeless at her home, the two were caught on CCTV video withdrawing money from a bank using the victim’s ATM card. They later pointed to their fellow helper, a man, as the suspect to the Paranaque police.
But invited for questioning by the NBI after the video was discovered, the suspects admitted tearfully to the slaying, then agreed to reenact the crime for investigators.
Authorities also learned that the two suspects had stolen jewelry and other items from the suspect before, but had forgiven them for it.
The Dacuycuy family also asked the police to free the framed house helper, which the NBI said they would coordinate with the local authorities.
Meanwhile, GMA Network mentioned BF Homes Parañaque as the residence of the victim in their news video which you can watch below…
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Does this tragedy and crime news make you worried about domestic helpers in your home turning against you?
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
If you are qualified to receive a 3rd COVID-19 booster shot but you were unable to avail of it due to a lack of supply, then you might be happy to know that the new Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa declared he will acquire additional bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Thursday vowed to acquire more bivalent COVID-19 vaccines as he admits that the country currently does not have enough supply.
In an ambush interview, the new chief of the Department of Health (DOH) said that the more than 390,000 doses of bivalent vaccines donated by Lithuania have already been rolled out, mostly in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“May programa tayo ngayon to acquire as many of the bivalent vaccines… Kulang ‘yung 390,000, we need to get more,” Herbosa said.
(We have a program now to acquire as many of the bivalent vaccines… The 390,000 doses are not enough, we need to get more.)
He, however, acknowledged that there are “technical difficulties” in obtaining the jabs that give protection against the original COVID-19 strain, SARS-CoV-2, and Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
“Syempre mahirap, may mga technical difficulties to acquiring the bivalents pero nandiyan tayo. We’re trying to get it and I will push for getting more of these, especially sa mga vulnerable, sa healthcare workers, kasi nagwe-wane na ‘yung dati nilang bakuna so kailangang mabigyan na sila ng bivalent. We’ll try to acquire that, promise ko ‘yan,” Herbosa added.
(Of course it is difficult as there are technical difficulties to acquiring the bivalent jabs, but we are there. We’re trying to get it and I will push for getting more of these, especially for the vulnerable, for the healthcare workers, because their previous vaccine is waning, so they need to receive the bivalent. We’ll try to acquire that, I promise that.)
Currently, only adults belonging to A1 (healthcare workers) and A2 (senior citizens) categories are allowed to receive the Pfizer bivalent vaccine as third booster dose. They need to wait at least four months after receiving their second booster shot before they take the next one.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you have already received four COVID-19 shots – including the two booster shots – do you really need an additional booster shot now? How long has it been since your 2nd booster shot was injected into your body?
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
Philippine Team athletes who won medals in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (AKA SEA Games or Cambodia 2023) will be receiving over P12 million in bonuses from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), according to a GMA Network news report. Take note that the POC SEA Games bonuses are different from the incentives of Republic Act Number 10699 (RA10699) or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is set to hand out P12.4 million in bonuses to athletes who copped medals at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last month.
These bonuses will be distributed to the 58 gold medalists, 85 silver winners, and 117 athletes who took home bronze medals. Of the total bonus, P7.2 million is from the Manuel V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF), while P5.2 million is from POC funds.
“The athletes, particularly the medalists, deserve the reward, and the POC will always be diligent on that,” said POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino in a statement.
“The amount is from the generosity of MVPSF, Manny V. Pangilinan, through the efforts of [president] Al Panlilio.”
Under the POC’s incentive program, P100,000 will go to an individual gold medalist, P50,000 to doubles and relay teams, and P30,000 to a team; P50,000 to a silver medalist, P30,000 for doubles, and P20,000 for relay; and P30,000 to an individual silver medalist and P10,000 for doubles and relay.
The POC bonuses are separate from the government incentives given through the Philippine Sports Commission under Republic Act 10699 or the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act.
For individual events, a gold in the SEA Games is worth P300,000, a silver P150,000, and a bronze P60,000, according to the law.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you happy with all the medals the Philippine athletes won in the 2023 SEA Games hosted by Cambodia?
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
In line with the ambition to establish the Philippines as a tourism powerhouse in Asia in the years to come, the National Tourism Development Plan covering the year 2023 until 2028 has been approved by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., according to a GMA Network news report. Take note that as of May 12, 2023, the Philippines has already counted over two million foreign tourist arrivals.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news article. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has approved the National Tourism Development Plan for 2023-2028 which will serve as the blueprint of the Philippines’ tourism industry.
This was announced by Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco at a Palace press briefing following a sectoral meeting with the President on Tuesday morning.
“This NTDP is the result of consultation among the tourism coordinating council as well as our various tourism stakeholders from our regions all over the Philippines. The NTDP shall serve as the blueprint and the development framework for the tourism industry for the duration of the Marcos administration,” she said.
Frasco said this plan focuses on giving the country a chance to become a “tourism powerhouse.”
“These objectives involve not simply the promotion of the Philippines which we will continue domestically and internationally but also, more importantly, addressing the essential issues of tourism development, including the development of infrastructure, connectivity, as well as digitalization, the equalization of tourism, development, and promotion, the enhancement of overall tourism experience as well as the strengthening of tourism governance,” she explained.
Frasco said the plan would also serve as a guide for regions across the Philippines “to spread countrywide development through tourism,” adding that this will also provide jobs to Filipinos.
“Mabibigyan po ng pagkakataon ‘yung ating mga kababayan na magkaroon ng tourism employment sa pamamagitan ng pag-develop natin ng tourism circuits and to continue to push for tourism across our regions and provinces,” she said.
DICT support
Meanwhile, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy promised that the agency would extend support to DOT on this tourism plan, specifically on connection issues.
He said most tourists are also vloggers who are making content about their experience in tourist spots.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines is on its way to becoming an Asian tourism powerhouse in the years ahead? If you own a business that specifically caters to tourists, were able to make significant gains this year?
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 in the city of Las Piñas, a group of vloggers organized a public prank in the form of a criminal act on the street only to realize that there was an actual police officer (in civilian clothes) who was armed. The police officer confronted them causing one of the vloggers to explain that what just happened was all a hoax as their group had been doing public pranks and shared videos of them online. They have since been charged for causing a disturbance in public. All of these and more were reported by GMA News.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…
Several vloggers are facing complaints for their April 6 prank in which they pretend to be kidnappers, causing a police officer to draw his weapon and respond to the fake crime.
According to Jun Veneracion’s “24 Oras” report on Friday, the bonnet-wearing pranksters alighted from a car along a Las Piñas City street and pretended to kidnap someone.
While panicked locals fled from the scene, Police Staff Sergeant Ronnie Conmigo of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, who lived nearby, showed up with a gun.
One of the vloggers tried to calm Conmigo down and explained it was all a prank.
“Hanggang sa nagsabi na lang na, ‘Sir prank ito! Prank ito!’ Gumaganoon sa akin. Medyo nahimasmasan ako. Sabi ko, madidisgrasya ko pa ang mga ito,” Conmigo said.
(Until he said, “Sir, it’s a prank! It’s a prank!” It calmed me down. Thankfully, I did not hurt anyone.)
Conmigo, who has been in the service for 26 years, was angry as he almost harmed the vloggers because of their prank.
“Kung iba po yun sakaling trigger happy yung pulis o may iba pang hindi pulis nabaril sila,” he said.
(If it was someone else, a trigger-happy police officer or an armed civilian, they could have been shot.)
Conmigo filed complaints against the five vloggers for alarm and scandal over their prank.
“Para hindi na po maulit yung ginagawa nila sir kasi maraming gumagaya pangit din sa mata ng bata yun tsaka napaka delikado sir,” he added.
(To prevent copycats. It sets a bad example. And it’s dangerous.)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned that such pranks could lead to criminal cases.
“Binabalaan po natin yung mga vloggers at yung mga pranksters na wag po nating gawing biro ang mga vlogs and pranks about sa paggawa ng krimen sapagkat yan ay may kaukulang parusa sa revised penal code article 153, ito po ay nagkakaroon ng kulong, may kulong po ang penalty dito na anim na taon,” Police Colonel Redrico Maranan, PNP Chief PIO, said.
(We are warning vloggers and pranksters that we should not turn crimes into laughing matters because there are penalties. In the revised penal code article 153, they might end up in prison. There is a penalty of six years in prison.)
The kidnapping prank video has 990,000 views on Facebook and almost 549,597 views on YouTube.
GMA Integrated News is still seeking the side of the vloggers.
The vloggers have been uploading prank videos on their social media platforms for some time. They said the videos were only for “good vibes.”
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think that vloggers who organize and record pranks in public for the sake of attracting viewers are causing more trouble than good? Do you consider a prank in the form of a crime a serious disturbance of the peace?
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 movie 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, readers! For only the 2nd time since the COVID-19 pandemic affected the world, I managed to watch a movie inside the local cinema at SM Southmall in Las Piñas City. What is intriguing is that the movie I saw is actually a carefully edited compilation of footage sourced from an upcoming live-action series that is an ambitious Philippine adaptation of a certain giant robot anime from Japan. The movie I saw was Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience. Behind it all, the movie is part of GMA Network’s strategy of building up awareness for the Voltes V: Legacy TV series set to launch on May 8, 2023.
For the newcomers reading this, the original Voltes V anime series (Japanese title: Chôdenji mashin Borutesu Faibu) was launched in Japan in 1977. Shortly after, it made its English language debut here in the Philippines (note: Japanese characters’ names were Westernized) and ultimately it became very popular and it made an impact on millions of Filipinos who saw it and replayed it in the many years that followed. I noticed that many Filipinos of my generation think of Voltes V first when anime comes to mind. While I myself never became a fan, I saw lots of Voltes V anime episodes on TV at a time when Internet access, video streaming and social media were not yet realized here in the Philippines. I even saw GMA’s edited Voltes V anime movie (containing footage of the final five episodes of the anime series) in the cinema in 1999.
In recent years, GMA Network and its local talents joined forces with Toei Company of Japan to create a live-action TV series adaptation of the anime and there will be eighty episodes (double the anime TV series’ episode count) for broadcasting nationwide. This is Voltes V: Legacy and already the local production team went through lots of hard work making the episodes, the sets, the props, the costumes and the computer-generated images (CGI) to bring the classic series into life in coordination with Toei which reviewed and supervised the production. A lot of money has been spent into Voltes V: Legacy which was felt in GMA’s increased production costs.
As for Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience, the so-called movie contains varied footage allegedly from the first three weeks’ worth of TV episodes and it was exclusively screened in SM Cinema sites around the country for a limited time.
The story begins in the planet of Boazan where people with horns live in prosperity and privilege while those without horns have no choice but to live a hard, lower life. A gifted young Boazanian man named Hrothgar – who was born into royalty without horns and lived with his personal secret long enough into adulthood – was exposed by Zambojil’s group to be hornless and unworthy of Boazan’s throne. Sometime later, Hrothgar leads several fellow slaves and prisoners in an uprising against Emperor Zambojil’s authority. Before getting overwhelmed by the imperial forces, Hrothgar escapes into space with an Boazanian spacecraft and crashes into the sea on Earth.
He is discovered by Mary Ann and he gets introduced to Dr. Smith and Commander Robinson. Hrothgar informs them of his Boazanian origin and he expressed to them that Earth’s defenses are too weak to protect its people from alien invaders. As he adjusts with Earth life, Hrothgar changes his name into Ned Armstrong, marries Mary Ann and have children together. After several years on Earth, Ned Armstrong worked closely with Dr. Smith to prepare the people for future invasions…
Quality
The iconic Voltes V looks bulkier and more mechanical in CGI form and the good news is that the overall quality is great and there is a lot of fun seeing the giant robot in action. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
To begin with, the creative team of GMA managed to establish a cohesive narrative for the cinematic experience which is not an easy thing to do considering all the content from many selected episodes that had to be edited and arranged properly. This involves the presentation of the story details, the live-action elements, the CGI-heavy shots and the human performances to create a narrative that was easy enough to follow and absorb in my experience. I noticed that the so-called movie moved at a medium-to-fast pace which is not surprising because the goal of GMA was to entertain moviegoers and convince them to anticipate the live action TV series. Considering the speed of the pacing, there were some moments when I felt that some scenes were missing which only reminded me that the slower and more dramatic moments were being saved for the TV series.
When it comes to adapting the classic anime’s elements into live action, the creative team did a pretty good job most of the time. The costumes of the five pilots were made with a more practical physical design (note: they are not body tight) while retaining the classic colors and the V logo. The interior set of the Camp Big Falcon operations room looked more futuristic complete with having many people simultaneously operating. The interior set showing Prince Zardoz and his trusted companions closely resembles that of the anime. There was one particular physical set that did not look convincing – the outdoor street market in Boazan early in the movie had that indoor feel which not even the lighting could hide and the CGI shot showing the rest of the outdoor area and the far distance did not match with the place.
More on the artistic side of the presentation, I enjoyed the way the production people emulated the classic anime designs of not only the characters but also the key structures (places) and the giant robots (Voltes V and the two beast fighters) into live action. The cinematic Prince Zardoz looks so much like his anime counterpart and the same can be said about Dr. Smith and Mrs. Armstrong. The two beast fighters here were rendered to look much like their anime versions but were animated in a way to emphasize mass and scale.
The strategic posing in this notable shot is a fun and honorable throwback to a key moment in the very first episode of the original Voltes V anime TV series. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
There were some notable artistic discrepancies and flaws however. The cinematic Princess Zandra, Draco and Commander Robinson clearly did not quite match their anime counterparts. For some reason, Princess Zandra appeared with a very different costume displaying subtle sexiness instead of royalty. Could it be possible the creative team took inspiration from the Fatima Blush character (played by Barbara Carrera) in the 1983 James Bond movie Never Say Never Again while modernizing Princess Zandra? As for Draco, he does not look as intimidating as his anime version and he even looks more like a cosplayer! Commander Robinson here does not display the maturity of the anime version due to the questionable quality of the costume provided and the actor’s appearance. In my experience watching the anime series, Commander Robinson looked and felt like a military man in his early fifties which the live action version never captured.
Now I want to talk about Voltes V itself. The highlight of the CGI combined with really good art direction is the iconic giant robot, including the five vehicles that compose it. To begin with, the use of CGI emphasizing multiple moving mechanical parts to emphasize Voltes V is a very smart move done by special effects team. While each vehicle has a new visual aesthetic to match the live action approach, they still remained recognizable to me. The biggest visual highlight in the movie is the volt-in sequence when each vehicle combined to form Voltes V in robotic form. As each vehicle connected to each other, the classic sequence from the anime was replicated excellently. Given the artistic direction and the CGI’s emphasis of multiple moving parts, the volt-in sequence here is much more detailed than the anime version! I should state that it is very likely that the visual effects team worked overtime to achieve the high-level of detail, the vibrant colors and the impressive animation on Voltes V.
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With the approach on multiple moving parts, Voltes V itself looks bulkier in a mechanical fashion which I really admire. It should be stated that showcasing the iconic giant robot in action – complete with CGI presentation of the many Voltes weapons – is a visual feast complete with very vibrant colors! Each time Voltes V hits a beast fighter by punching or using a weapon, there is strong impact felt with each blow! The sound effects team really did good work adding weight and power to the action.
The work done by the special effects crew in this external shot of Jamie Robinson’s cockpit is very impressive and detailed! Ysabel Ortega acted convincingly to what happened. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
Considering the high detail and strong animation on Voltes V, the two beast fighters shown in this movie had very similar visual qualities. There was no major discrepancy on visual quality between the iconic robot and the enemy during battles.
More on the CGI, I can declare that the locally produced visual effects (by GMA Video and Riot, Inc.) looked very good for the most part! Apart from the battles between the giant figures, the sequences of animating the Voltes V vehicles, the Boazanian flying saucers (with fast moving sharp edges that make them resemble motorized wood-cutting blades), the fighter planes and physical damage of places were nice to see. There were, however, several explosions that were badly rendered (note: even looking flat and out of place) in key scenes and there were moments when military vehicles looked more like they belong in video games from a few console generations ago. The formation of the blade of Voltes V’s laser sword clearly needs more work as it looks unpolished. In the post-credits scene, CGI for Octo 1 was badly done!
Apart from action scenes, the giant robots and their weapons, CGI was also used on established places or structures. Camp Big Falcon really looks magnificent while the floating mechanical Boazanian skull appeared very creepy. In shots showing the far distance, Camp Big Falcon in the background still looks good even though the visual quality falls short of capturing true photo-realism.
Considering the way GMA edited the footage and selected visual effects shots for this so-called movie, the overall quality of the CGI literally landed some notches short of photo-realistic levels. That’s not criticism at all but a confirmation that Filipino-produced CGI showcased here is the best I have seen yet! All in all, an impressive ton of work by the special effects teams using computers.
As for the human performances, I can say that the cast collectively did a good job bringing the characters to life and this includes paying special attention to details from anime while adding certain elements that reflect modernization. Zardoz was portrayed to be sadistic and obsessed on conquering planet Earth which reflects his imperial task and the pressure that comes with it. Sometimes, Zardoz looked and acted even psychotic. Mary Ann Armstrong is the definitive mother figure here and the producers emphasized her more with scenes showing her as a very focused authority during crisis as well as a tender and loving woman during her time with the family. In some ways, Mary Ann Armstrong is almost like the protagonist of this so-called movie and the live action version looks deeper than the anime version. While the live action Commander Robinson needs a lot of improving, Dr. Smith here really looks and feels like he was instantly ripped off the anime resulting in a very straightforward version fans will recognize. The live action Ned Armstrong here has some elements that deviate from what was portrayed in the anime (note: a very skilled fighter whose moves were so obviously choreographed during an action scene) while retaining key elements that still made him recognizable.
The actors who played the five pilots of Voltes V performed nicely. Even with all the layered Tagalog expressions (including gestures that we Filipinos are familiar with), Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie are all very recognizable not in terms of looks but through the dialogue, character details and acting. The production team really worked hard to not only balance their respective shares of the spotlight, but also get good enough performances from the actors. Take note that apart from the on-set dramatization, the actors of the Voltes V team had to perform accordingly in their respective cockpit scenes (note: the special effects teams painstakingly provided all the CGI to specifically reflect what had been happening with the pilots and with their machines) and this includes internal communications between the members. What we have right now are the best actors available portraying Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie and making them recognizable in terms of characterization.
With regards to the music, I can say that this one clearly needs improvement. There is orchestrated music in this cinematic experience that played new tunes while also redoing/recycling classic tunes from the anime TV series. When the anime tunes were played by the orchestra with a modern approach, they were recognizable to my ears but the power and essence of the original tunes were not replicated successfully. Sometimes, I just wished that the anime tunes were played more while the orchestra focused more on providing new music.
As for the famous Voltes V theme song, the new version performed by Julie Anne San Jose is a letdown! I’m not saying San Jose is a bad singer but her version – which even used the Japanese lyrics – lacked impact compared to the original version. While the volt-in sequence proved to be a grand visual feast for the fans and viewers who love great looking CGI sequences, its cinematic impact was brought down a bit by San Jose’s version of the theme song. How I wish that the movie producers just used the classic song from the 1970s anime series!
This original theme song should have been used in Voltes V: Legacy instead of the new version.
Conclusion
As expected, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience has a mix of strong points and flaws. The good news is that the good outweighed the bad and I pretty much enjoyed this cinematic version of the live action adaptation done by GMA, its strategic partners and the local talents. As this so-called movie was a mix of content from several episodes edited to form a suitable narrative, it succeeded in entertaining and engaging me. Yes, there were flaws and there were some parts showing weaknesses but those things did not damage the viewing experience too much. There is a good amount of fun with this so-called movie.
Obviously this cinematic version is part of GMA Network’s strategy to build up anticipation for the upcoming TV series (which has a declared 80 episodes for broadcasting). While some people will perceive Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience as a blatant form of marketing or even as corporate gimmick, I personally see it as a worthy showcase in the local cinema (note: cinemas here in the Philippines are still recovering from the massive damage of COVID-19) and it just might not be repeated. Let me remind you readers that this newest Voltes V adaptation highlights the peak of Filipino-produced CGI visuals and the Filipinos’ collective efforts to really make a worthy live action adaptation of a foreign entertainment property. This so-called movie is clearly not perfect (note: it is not deserving of perfect 10/10 scores that others gave it) but it is pretty good to watch in the cinema.
Voltes V looks better than ever and made a big entertaining impact in the cinema. How will Voltes V: Legacy turn out on TV given the fact that there are so many episodes set for broadcasting?(photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
As mentioned earlier, I’m not a fan of the Voltes V anime and I’m not exactly anticipating the Voltes V: Legacy TV series. I do confirm that the long-lasting legacy Voltes V is clearly thriving here in the Philippines and the new TV series could potentially make a deep impact on Filipinos who love entertainment and possibly replicate what happened in the 1970s and 1980s when the classic anime TV aired on TV nationwide. How the new TV series will turn out is clearly GMA’s own problem.
Overall, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience is recommended.
Author Carlo Carrasco 