Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, a local lady reached her 100th birthday and received a gift from the City Government in the form of a P100,000 check, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Under Republic Act Number 10868 and City Ordinance 2018-147, all Muntinlupa residents who reach the age of 100 years will receive a cash gift of P100,000.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
A mother who turned 100 received a P100,000 birthday cash gift from the Muntinlupa City government.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon visited Maxima “Ximang” Entila to celebrate her 100th birthday and give her the P100,000 check.
All Muntinlupa residents who reach 100 years old will receive the P100,000 cash gift incentive under City Ordinance 2018-147 and Republic Act 10868 (Centenarians Act of 2016).
“Nakakabilib si Nanay Maxima “Ximang” Entila—100 years old na, pero ang kwento, energy, at sense of humor niya, parang hindi tumatanda! (Mother Maxima “Ximang” Entila is amazing—she is 100 years old, but her stories, energy, and sense of humor never seem to age!),” the mayor posted on Facebook.
According to Biazon, Entila’s life experience included selling vegetables in Divisoria and establishing her own school.
“Ang dami niyang napagdaanan sa buhay, at bawat isa, may kasamang tawa at aral. Mula sa pagtitinda ng gulay sa Divisoria hanggang sa pagtatayo ng sarili niyang paaralan—hindi siya nagpadaig sa hirap. Pinagtapos niya ang lima niyang anak gamit ang kita mula sa eskwelahang itinayo niya (She has been through so much in her life, and each one has its share of laughter and lessons. From selling vegetables in Divisoria to building her own school—she never gave up on hardship. She sent her five children to college using the income from the school she built).”
When Biazon asked her about her secret to long life, she said it was being happy.
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, would you know if there are elderly members of your local community who might be qualified for the P100,000 cash gift for local centenarians? How many centenarians and incoming centenarians are living in your local community right now?
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
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, role-playing game (RPG) enthusiasts and other gamers!
It is official! Following this year’s Xbox Games Showcase, Team Xbox announced that the sci-fi role-playing game (sci-fi RPG) The Outer Worlds 2 will be released on October 29, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Battle.net, Steam, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5 and also on the Xbox Game Pass (XGP) service (Ultimate level).
Watch the in-depth presentation of The Outer Worlds 2 by Xbox studio Obsidian Entertainment in the video below. Also check out the game’s official trailer.
To find out what to expect when playing The Outer Worlds 2, posted below are selected excerpt from the Xbox.com post. Some parts in boldface…
From branching chaos to faction-fueled futures, everything unfolds across Arcadia: a lawless new frontier where your choices cut deeper, the stakes hit harder, and the corporations somehow got even worse. Bigger choices, weirder science, stranger weapons, and even worse decisions. Just the way we like it.
Cut off from Earth, Arcadia is a colony cracking under pressure, torn apart by space-time rifts, shifting alliances, and three power-hungry factions locked in a war for control. It’s louder, riskier, and more unpredictable than anything the Halcyon system ever threw at you.
You’ve been sent in as an Earth Directorate agent, but how you handle the mission – who you help, hinder, or exploit – is entirely your call. Build your character with expanded traits, flaws, and backgrounds that shape every decision and unlock new ways to fight, sneak, talk, or blow things up.
Players can play the game in 3rd-person view.
At the heart of The Outer Worlds 2 are three factions with fundamentally opposing visions of what humanity should be:
The Protectorate: A military regime powered by endless resources that believes people are happiest when they don’t have to think for themselves. Order is peace. Obedience is comfort. Truly loved by all loyal citizens – just ask them.
Auntie’s Choice: The loud, smiling merger of Auntie Cleo’s and Spacer’s Choice. They promise freedom, fulfillment, and a future where your only real choice is which Auntie’s product you’ll need next.
The Order of the Ascendant: Rogue scientists turned faith-based futurists, determined to perfect humanity by solving the Universal Equation. They worship patterns, predict the future through math, and perform rituals in labs with terrifying precision all in service of a better tomorrow.
Each faction has its own areas, followers, audio design, and propaganda. You’ll see the war in real-time as towns change hands, radio stations shift tone, and the world responds to your choices.
And thanks to Arcadia’s ever-present radio system, you won’t just hear the news – you’ll be the news. Your decisions are retold with spin, bias, and cheery jingles tailored to each faction’s agenda. One station might call you a folk hero. Another might name you public enemy number one. All of them think you should try their new line of health tonics.
RPG systems have been reimagined for this sequel to give players more freedom and more flavor. For example, Traits and flaws dynamically evolve based on how you play. Steal enough and you’ll be offered Kleptomaniac, which boosts loot sales but risks auto-theft when you so much as glance at an item.
Science weapons and armor return in full force. The Shrink Ray is back – only now, you can crush enemies underfoot once they’re bite-sized. And yes, there’s a suit of armor made from something that used to be alive. His name is Gary.
First-person view is available for those who want it. Lots of new weapons and unique shooting experiences await gamers.
Movement and combat also feel better across the board. Dash, leap, and parkour your way through Arcadia, or switch to third person and marvel at how cool you look while doing it.
You’ll travel with six companions, each with personal stakes in the colony’s future – and their own opinions on what you’re doing.
One might beg you to spare a faction leader. Another might ask you to murder an entire town. Sacrificing a companion could help you survive a key moment, but lock you out of their questline – and you’ll hear about it. On the radio. From the faction you just betrayed.
This is one of the companions players will encounter in the game.
These aren’t just followers. They’re allies, wild cards, and occasional liabilities who breathe fire (literally). And each one brings something different to the table:
Niles: Another Earth Directorate recruit torn between duty and defection.
Inez: A former experiment from Auntie’s Choice with a grafted combat edge and a moral core.
Aza: A chaos-loving Rift worshipper with a taste for violence and room to grow – maybe.
Marisol: A stoic killer from the Order of the Ascendant with calculations to settle.
Tristen: A walking tank and judge from the Protectorate, looking to dispense justice – or redefine it.
Valerie: A floating, chirping support unit with unexpected upgrades and untapped potential.
The Outer Worlds 2 will be available in two editions: Standard Edition for $79.99 USD and a Premium Edition for $99.99 USD. The Premium Edition includes up to five days early access, DLC Pass for two future expansions, Corporate Appreciation Premium Pack (Golden Moon Man armor and helmet, signature melee and long-range weapons, a loyal Golden Sprat pet), plus a digital artbook and soundtrack.
If you purchase the Standard Edition or are playing with Xbox Game Pass and decide you want the Premium Edition, you can upgrade at any time for $29.99 USD. Upgrade before launch to play up to five days early and get the pre-order bonus Commander Zane Battle Pack, in addition to all the digital extra content.
Having seen Obsidian’s video presentation and the detailed information released on Xbox.com, it looks like The Outer Worlds 2 will be a loaded and feature-rich game. The developers added new features here and there, ensured the conversation sequences have enough depth, made some adjustments on gameplay features inherited from the 2019 game, and they came up with an all-new sci-fi setting (a new colony with environments that are large and ideal for exploring personally) as well as a new cast of characters.
Instead of the “blank slate” protagonist seen in The Outer Worlds, the sequel has Earth Directorate agent as the playable protagonist and there will be ways on how gamers can play the game as they want to (within the limits set within).
Quite predictably, the upcoming game still has that anti-capitalism theme like the first game, only this time they added themes of dictatorship, propaganda, and war.
While Obsidian Entertainment’s video presentation of The Outer Worlds 2 is clearly comprehensive, they failed to emphasize the aspect of space travel in the sequel. Considering the limited budget of The Outer Worlds, it was understandable that the game’s space travel was simplistic and really limited in terms of scope and freedom of travel.
I was hoping The Outer Worlds 2 would have better space travel and more interactivity such as being able to pilot the space ship and be able to blast enemy ships similar to what Bethesda pulled off in Starfield. Perhaps Team Xbox and the developers will come up with another trailer of The Outer Worlds 2 showing space travel.
To put things in perspective, I am a fan of The Outer Worlds (2019) and I replayed it a lot – including finishing the two DLC releases – on Xbox One and on Xbox Series X over the past few years. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, The Outer Worlds was technically Fallout with space travel and some Wild West-inspired elements. The 2019 sci-fi RPG clearly does not have the high production values and epic design of Starfield, and yet it has certain elements and features that made it more enjoyable than Bethesda’s 2023 game.
Are you ready to explore new worlds and take part in combat and intriguing tales? Obsidian Entertainment really looked like they gave it their all in The Outer Worlds 2.
The way I look at it right now, The Outer Worlds 2 looks very promising and it could deliver the great stuff and high enjoyment that Avowed lacked. If the upcoming game really turns out great to play on October 29, 2025, I might be convinced to go back to subscribing to Xbox Game Pass again to play it. Right now, The Outer Worlds 2’s retail prices are simply too high for me and I am certain there are other Xbox fans and other gamers who feel the same way. Do you have $79.99 for the standard edition of The Outer Worlds 2? Are you satisfied with what Team Xbox prepared for the $99.99 premium edition?
Recently the incoming Parañaque District 2 Representative Brian Yamsuan confirmed that he is banking on twin livelihood and employment programs to improve the financial literacy of his constituents, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Parañaque City 2nd district representative-elect Brian Raymund Yamsuan is eyeing a “culture of financial literacy” for his constituents through his twin livelihood and employment programs.
Yamsuan, who served as Bicol Saro Party-list representative in the 19th Congress, said he will make financial literacy a key component of the training received by livelihood program beneficiaries in a bid to them make informed and responsible decisions about the funds they have received from the government.
These include recipients of Yamsuan’s “Bigay Negosyo” and “Dagdag Puhunan Para sa Kabuhayan” programs, which he has been implementing in his home district in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), respectively.
“Ang layunin natin ay maging ‘wais’ ang bawat Parañaqueño sa paghawak ng kanilang pera, simula dito sa distrito dos (Our goal is to make every Parañaqueno handle their money wisely, starting here in district two),” he said.
“Many people think that financial literacy is a daunting, complex idea. We will partner with private sector groups to simplify and explain financial concepts so that they would be easy to understand and put into practice,” Yamsuan noted.
“Kasama na sa financial literacy program ang pagtuturo sa kanila kung paano mag-budget, mag-ipon, mag-invest, humiram ng karagdagang pondo at magkaroon ng kaalaman tungkol sa mga financial products and services na maari nilang gamitin para mapalago ang kanilang maliit na negosyo,” explained the former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary.
(Included in the financial literacy program is teaching them how to budget, save, invest and borrow additional funds and other knowledge about financial products and services that they can use to expand their small businesses.)
“Developing a culture of financial literacy should be our first step towards financial inclusion where every Filipino, regardless of his economic status, has easy and affordable access to financial services,” he added.
Yamsuan said he is also planning to include “ayuda” or cash aid beneficiaries in his financial literacy program.
“The government allocates billions of pesos each year under the national budget to fund livelihood programs and provide ‘ayuda’ to our low-income countrymen. Financial literacy will not only help recipients of these support programs make rational decisions about the money they receive, but will also mean less ‘ayuda’ and other forms of social protection going to waste due to poor financial decisions,” he said.
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 Congressman-elect Yamsuan’s twin programs will succeed in making his constituents more knowledgeable about financial literacy? Do you think a more financial literate population is the key to cutting down people’s dependence on ayuda or assistance from the government? How many members of your local community became dependent on ayuda since the COVID-19 pandemic?
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
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, incumbent Vice Mayor and Mayor-elect April Aguilar was the guest of honor during the General Membership Assembly of the Senior Citizens Association of Talon Singko Chapter in Barangay Talon Singko, the City Government announced via social media.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media announcement of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…
Over a thousand senior citizens from Cluster 3 of Talon Singko gathered on Thursday, June 5, at the Talon Singko Covered Court for their General Membership Assembly, organized by the Senior Citizens Association of Talon Singko Chapter.
Mayor-elect April Aguilar was warmly welcomed as the guest of honor and delivered a heartfelt message to the attendees. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of caring for the elderly and acknowledged their essential role in shaping the city’s future. She highlighted the city government’s continuing efforts to support the needs of senior citizens through programs such as the Green Card health program, free medical missions, financial assistance, and livelihood training designed to support their well-being.
Incumbent Las Piñas Vice Mayor and incoming Mayor April Aguilar greeted the members during the general assembly in Barangay Talon Singko. (photo source – Las Piñas City PIO)
Mayor-elect April Aguilar also assured the attendees that her administration will continue to promote policies that protect and uplift the elderly sector, ensuring that they remain active, supported, and involved in the life of the community.
Among those present at the event were Dr. Esther H. Oliveros, Head of the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) Las Piñas, Ms. Teresita Sanchez, President of the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of Las Piñas (FSCALP), and Bro. Demetrio F. Ablir, President of the SCA-Talon 5 Chapter.
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? What do you hope the incoming Mayor will do for the members of your local community once she takes office? What kind of service do you want to see from the City Government over the next three years?
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
While a lot of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) have closed down as a result of the nationwide ban on them, there still over nine thousand illegal aliens – who used to be POGO employees – on the loose nationwide, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. It was also revealed that some of the illegal aliens are carrying infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
At least 9,000 undocumented foreign nationals who previously worked for Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs)–including those with infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis–remain on the loose.
This was according to Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) Executive Director Gilbert Cruz, who reported during the House quad-committee (quad-comm) hearing on Monday, June 9, that the agency was facing detention and deportation challenges regarding individuals linked to POGOs.
Cruz said that about 600 foreign nationals were already crammed within the PAOCC detention in Pasay City. What’s worse is that they cannot be deported because they have lost their passports.
“[We have] a monthly expenditure of millions for food and healthcare. Medical needs are [also] rising with detainees diagnosed with illness such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, respiratory infection, and even cases of HIV,” he said.
“Actually sir dito po kami nanlulumo, three weeks ago nagpa-cremate po tayo ng isang HIV [patient] (Actually, we were saddened by the fact that we had to cremate three weeks ago an HIV patient),” he added.
The agency official said PAOCC’s detention facility was already overcrowded, as such “enforcement actions against an estimated 9,000 illegal foreign workers have been temporarily suspended”.
PAOCC said those on the loose pose risk to the society.
“‘Yung mga POGO workers, noong pumunta dito hindi naman healthy lahat yan. ‘Yung iba dyan may sakit na (Those POGO workers, when they went here, they weren’t really healthy. Some of them were already sick), that’s why we have cases of tuberculosis, HIV,” Cruz told lawmakers.
“Kapag pakalat kalat ‘yan sir, hindi natin alam kung sino pa ang kinontak o nagkaroon pa ng physical contact ‘yan (If they’re on the loose, we don’t know with whom they are having physical contact with),” he added.
Quezon 2nd district Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez also raised concern about illegal aliens who remain at large. He said they have become engaged in criminal activities, such as kidnapping and torture.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be former POGO employees among the foreigners living in your local community? Are you concerned that the sick illegal aliens on the loose could be spreading disease all over the Philippines?
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, retro gaming enthusiasts and other gamers!
I finally did it! I finally played the arcade version of the classic game Smash T.V. as I recently purchased Midway Arcade Origins (Xbox 360) on the Xbox store. Thanks to backward compatibility, Midway Arcade Origins operated smoothly on my Xbox Series X and it comes with more than thirty arcade games owned or published by Midway Games from the early 1980s to the early 1990s.
My history of playing Smash T.V. is awkward. The very first time I played the game was not in the arcade but with the Smash T.V. port released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).
The classic game debuted in arcades in 1990 and during that precise point of time, I rarely visited arcades here in the Philippines. I started visiting arcades more starting in 1992 as the fighting game craze started luring new gamers driven by the popularity of Street Fighter II. To the best of my memory, I saw very few arcade machines of Smash T.V. and never got to play the game. In fact, there were very few arcade machines that had the dual joystick control set-up which was exactly required to play Smash T.V.
The 2D sprite activity and action can get pretty wild and intense on-screen during battle. Expect lots of waves of enemies coming in before you proceed to the next room.
To make things clear, arcade games were already popular here in the Philippines and there were lots of local arcades particularly in shopping malls. As for playing Smash T.V. on the SNES, it was fun but the SNES control pad was not ideal for the immense in-game shooting.
Going back to Midway Arcade Origins, I played Defender first and had some bouts of fun with it. After that, I went back to the main selection and scrolled through the many other games offered until I saw Smash T.V. and selected it. As soon as I started playing, I was immediately engaged as the fun kept growing as I played.
Apart from dealing with dangerous enemies, you will also encounter in-game hazards such as this room releasing snakes a lot.
Firstly, the game made fine use of the two analog sticks of the Xbox controller which was the closest thing to matching the dual joysticks set-up of the original arcade game. The left analog stick was for movement while the right analog stick allowed me to shoot in different directions. The severe limitations on shooting on the controller of the SNES were completely gone, and as I played the game more on Xbox, I found myself moving around enemies and obstacles while being able to fire at directions where shooting was needed.
Secondly, Smash T.V. on Midway Arcade Origins is the genuine arcade experience from the controls to the functionality, gameplay, the visual design and 2D sprites that dominated the screen. For those who don’t have the original arcade machine, this is the closest thing to enjoying the arcade fun of Smash T.V. in the comfort of home. I can also say that the game ran smoothly on my Xbox Series X and not a single case of slowdown nor any cases of visual distortions ever happened!
To really defeat an end-of-level boss like this one, you need to use whatever special weapons or power-ups that appeared during battle. Be mindful of the enemy’s powerful defense and attacks.
This face particular end-of-level boss deteriorates further as I kept on attacking him with special weapons.
More on the gameplay, it is undeniably challenging as many enemies enter and their different abilities to attack you ensures lots of intense moments of action and struggle to survive. The on-screen action is often intense and still the gameplay did not grow tiresome to me. More on the combat, there are always huge and powerful enemies (end-of-level boss) at the conclusion of each level and defeating them will push you to use special weapons as soon as they pop up.
Lastly, there is also the prize aspect of the game (which has a dystopian TV concept inspired by the 1987 film The Running Man starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) which allows you to collect prizes (in cash or prize items) while playing. The prizes can add a lot to your score and even your potential entry into the online leaderboards (see below).
There is nothing like collecting prizes in the game! It is as thrilling as the action.
Between the levels are the bonus segments in which the value of the prizes you collected will be added to your overall score (technically in-game money earned).
Thirdly, I really like the online leaderboards and score attack mode that came with Midway Arcade Origins. For Smash T.V., the score attack challenge is to score as many points as you could using only one turn (which comes with the initial six in-game lives). Score attack does not allow any continues (that is for free play mode) and this was enough to make me focus on my skills, moves and timing when it comes to fighting waves of several enemies that entered the in-game arenas.
I was able to make my presence felt online as the servers for the leaderboards are still functioning and recording in-real time the scores achieved.
Every time you encounter new enemies, you have to observe how they move, attack and behave.
Smash T.V. is a classic not only because of its immense fun gameplay, entertainment impact and timeless game design, but also because it was a creative wonder from significant game creators such as Eugene Jarvis (Defender, Robotron 2084), John Tobias (Mortal Kombat) and Mark Turmell to name a few. The game borrowed elements from The Running Man and the creators made their own concept that mixed well with the game design they came up with. The result is a highly playable, challenging and ultimately enjoyable video game. To learn more about the creation and history of Smash T.V., watch the in-depth videos of PatmanQC and Slope’s Game Room below.
“Big money! Big prizes! I love it!”
Smash T.V. is a lot of fun and its gameplay never gets old. It is currently my favorite of all the games in Midway Arcade Origins and it is an excellent addition to my retro gaming experience on my Xbox Series X.
Recently in the City of Parañaque, ten men were arrested by the police after they were caught cutting the underground cables of a telecommunications firm in Barangay Don Bosco, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Recovered from the suspects were 600 pairs of cut underground copper cable (around 106 meters each), a claw bar, an improvised hook and a closed van to name some.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Authorities from the Paranaque City Police arrested 10 men who were caught in the act of cutting underground cables of a telecommunications provider in violation of Republic Act No. 10515 or the Anti-Cable Theft Law.
The suspects were identified as “Jayson,” 33; “Cris,” 32; “Roger,” 32; “John,” 29; “Calixto,” 26; “Mark,” 23; “John,” 22; “Marlo,” 21; “Jiric,” 21; and “Rogelio,” 19, all residents of Tondo, Manila. Two other suspects evaded arrest.
The police said the suspects were arrested at around 3:30 a.m. in front of the TCL Authorized Service Center located along France St., Barangay Don Bosco, Paranaque City, by members of the Paranaque City Police Don Bosco Substation.
Operatives from Paranaque City Police Don Bosco Substation were reportedly conducting routine patrol when they noticed a suspicious closed van and, upon their approach, the group of men cutting cable wires tried to flee but were prevented with the assistance of Barangay Don Bosco officials.
The police said coordination with the telecommunications providers showed that there was no authorized repair or maintenance work in the area, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
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 crime will only get worse over the next three years? Do you think there will still be people out there who will organize illegal operations that look like maintenance work?
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
Once again, inflation in the Philippines went down as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recently confirmed that the headline inflation landed at 1.3% for the month of May 2025, according to a news article by Philippine News Agency (PNA). The said inflation result is the lowest since November of 2019.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of PNA. Some parts in boldface…
Headline inflation further slowed to 1.3 percent in May this year from 1.4 percent in April, the lowest recorded since the 1.2 percent in November 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday.
In a briefing, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said this brought the year-to-date average inflation to 1.9 percent which is at the lower end of the government’s 2 to 4 percent target range.
Mapa said the downtrend was primarily brought about by the slower increase in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 2.3 percent from 2.9 percent in April. Restaurant and accommodation services also recorded a slower inflation of 2 percent from 2.3 percent in April.
Mapa said the faster annual decline was likewise recorded in the transport index, at 2.4 percent in May from 2.1 percent in the previous month. Food inflation meanwhile remained at 0.7 percent. Mapa, however, said rice inflation was at -12.8 percent from -10.9 percent in April.
According to Mapa, the rollout of the PHP20 per kilogram rice program in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” helped lower rice prices.
In May, the average price of regular milled rice declined to PHP43.19 per kg from PHP51.11 in May 2024. The average price of well-milled rice likewise fell to PHP49.45 per kg from PHP56.06 per kg while special rice also declined to PHP59.80 from last year’s PHP64.41 per kg.
The bottom 30 percent income households experienced zero percent inflation in May 2025, a sharp decline from 5.3 percent in the same month last year.
The National Capital Region also posted a slower inflation rate of 1.7 percent in May, down from 2.4 percent the previous month while other regions maintained a low average inflation rate of 1.2 percent.
More stable cost of living – In a separate statement, the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said the continued decline in the country’s headline inflation shows progress toward easing price pressures and achieving a more stable cost of living for Filipinos.
“We are encouraged by this development. It reflects the success of our sustained efforts to protect the purchasing power of Filipinos and ensure a more affordable cost of living,” said DEPDev officer in charge and Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie Edillon.
To sustain this downward trend, DEPDev said the Marcos administration is committed to implementing targeted policies aimed at mitigating inflationary pressures and safeguarding the purchasing power of Filipino families.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are strengthening their collaboration to ensure the availability of safe and effective animal vaccines amid ongoing African Swine Fever (ASF) and Avian influenza outbreaks.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think it is possible for Philippines inflation to fall below 1% by the end of the year?
Recently in the City of Parañaque, a successful buy-bust operation by the police resulted in the apprehension of three drug suspects in Barangay Tambo, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Three drug suspects who were tagged by the police as street-level individuals (SLI), were arrested during the conduct of a buy-bust operation by the Paranaque City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU) on June 4.
The Southern Police District (SPD) identified the suspects as Jhelne, 28; Jeffrey, 42; and Jayson, 39. They were arrested at around 12:10 a.m. at the Puyat Compound, Barangay Tambo, Paranaque City.
The SPD said the SDEU conducted an anti-illegal drugs operation targeting a certain Jhelyn who was reported to be hooked on drugs.
The SDEU was able to confiscate from the suspects about 25 grams of shabu worth P170,000, the P500 marked money used in the buy-bust operation, and a black cellular phone.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, have illegal drugs been smuggled into your local community over the past six months?
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
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 Streaming wars cost Hollywood a lot – Just years ago, Hollywood companies made heavy bets on streaming believing it would be the new gold standard of business as well as a new gold mine waiting to release immense profits. Today, Hollywood ended up collectively losing a lot of money and their streaming moves added a lot of complexity and new problems to their business. Along the way, millions of customers stopped subscribing to the streaming services of Hollywood. What happened behind the scenes and who were the only business winners in the middle of the streaming wars? Find out in Midnight’s Edge in-depth analytical video below.
#2 Retrospective look at Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann – As a young boy, I saw the sci-fi Western adventure movie Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann and I ended up getting intrigued about its story and the ending. Even by today’s standards, this film’s core concept remains very weird or totally unique as it had lots of motorcycle thrills, cowboys with their guns, and a very unusual approach on time-travel and its consequences. To find out more about the 1982 movie, watch the selected videos below.
#3 You, Me and the Movies react to The Punisher (1989) – Remember when Dolph Lundgren played The Punisher in a low budget movie released in 1989? Even though a lot of people rejected it, the film remains important as it helped the Marvel Comics assassin start entering mainstream entertainment. Two more Punisher movies were released in the 2000s and then a TV series about The Punisher was established. To find out how Dolph Lundgren performed as The Punisher, watch the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies below.
#4 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Lethal Weapon 3 – When Lethal Weapon 3 was released in cinemas here in the Philippines in 1992, it unsurprisingly became big hit with local moviegoers and Mel Gibson was already popular among Filipinos. I missed out on the film’s cinematic run but managed to watch it on home video. If you want an enjoyable look back at Lethal Weapon 3 but you don’t have time to watch it entirely, watch Ashleigh Burton’s fun reaction video.
#5 PatmanQC examines Hook – Were you able to watch the Steven Spielberg film Hook when it was first released in cinemas in 1991? I missed out on its theatrical run (note: it opened in February 1992 here in the Philippines) but managed to watch it on home video and later played the video game adaptation on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). That’s right! Hook had video games back then and if you want to discover more about them, watch the in-depth retro gaming video of PatmanQC below.
#6 Hamas misinformation debunked! – Let me remind you all the truth about Palestinian terrorist group Hamas…they are terrorists funded and supported by Iran and Qatar, they committed genocide against Israel and foreigners on October 7, 2023, and they are pure evil, greedy and barbaric. Hamas is also responsible for the suffering of the Palestinians (who did not join their terrorism activities) living in the Gaza strip. As America and Israel joined forces to provide humanitarian aid directly to the Gaza residents, Hamas became desperate with their tactics, lied about what happened, and they have the Islamo-Leftist mainstream news media outlets to propagate the deception worldwide. Fortunately, the misinformation of Hamas has been debunked. Watch the CBN video below.
Author Carlo Carrasco 