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Malacañang declares May 12 (Election Day) a holiday

May 7, 2025May 6, 2025carlocarrasco

To allow voters nationwide to be participate in the 2025 National and Local Elections, Malacañang declared May 12 a holiday, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

Malacañang declared Monday, May 12, as a special non-working holiday throughout the country for the 2025 national and local elections.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, on the authority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., signed Proclamation 878 on Tuesday declaring a nationwide holiday to “enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote.”

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) recently urged Marcos to declare May 12 as a holiday to allow registered voters to cast their ballots.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Is there a great majority of your local community members who will actually go out and vote on May 12?

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

Mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar unveils flood control plan for Las Piñas City

May 6, 2025May 3, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar unveiled a plan to deal with the problem of flooding and it involves repairs, expansion and the modernizing of the drainage system, 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…

Las Piñas mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar presented a comprehensive plan to address the perennial problem of flooding in the city, a concern identified as the most urgent issue by residents.

Aguilar said that flooding is closely linked to waste management practices and pointed to improper waste disposal as a key factor contributing to the frequent inundation of streets and neighborhoods in the city.

He laid out a multi-pronged strategy that includes repairing, expanding, and modernizing Las Piñas’ existing drainage system to mitigate flooding across the city.

The mayoral candidate added that the dry summer months should be the perfect time to implement regular cleanup operations of rivers, creeks, and waterways to ensure unimpeded water flow.

“Unclogging our drainage is one part of the solution. But we also need to improve how we manage waste and ensure that our communities are involved in keeping our city clean and flood-free,” Aguilar pointed out.

A major feature of his proposal is the establishment of a more efficient and organized garbage collection system.

Aguilar said that under his watch, the city would strengthen its fleet of garbage trucks which are owned and operated by the local government, rather than relying on costly private contractors. He added that this will help reduce expenses and improve service delivery.

Public education is also integral to Aguilar’s waste management strategy. He plans to launch a sustained campaign to promote proper waste disposal among residents.

“Behavioral change is a vital aspect of waste disposal,” Aguilar emphasized. “Without changing how people handle their trash, we cannot create an effective waste management system.”

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 Carlo Aguilar’s plan on solving the problem of local flooding makes sense? How much taxpayers’ money do you think Carlo Aguilar’s flood control plan will cost?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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

Chinese national caught with high-tech eavesdropping equipment charged by NBI

May 6, 2025May 1, 2025carlocarrasco

The Chinese national who was arrested near the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) building in Manila with high-tech equipment with him has been formally charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), according to a news story by the Philippine New Agency (PNA). GMA Network had its own reporter on location when the arrest happened.

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

The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed criminal charges against a Chinese national arrested for possession of electronic eavesdropping equipment near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) building in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday.

Tak Hail Lao, 47, was charged by the NBI before the Department of Justice (DOJ) with misuse of device and illegal interception and system interference under Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and espionage under Commonwealth Act No. 616 or the Espionage Act of 1941.

Speaking to reporters, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said while the charges are bailable, “it will be up to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to decide whether temporary liberty should be granted while the case is pending since the suspect is a foreign national.”

Records from the BI showed that Tak Hail Lao, who uses a passport issued by the Chinese special administrative region of Macau, arrived last April 2 and had no derogatory record.

He was caught in possession of an international mobile subscriber identity device, or IMSI catcher, which can be used to intercept mobile communications, including text messages.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be a lot more Chinese nationals using high-tech equipment in the Philippines doing secret acts of espionage? Do you consider Chinese spies a threat to national security?

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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Bada, Okuma rule Junior Elite contests in 2025 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) – NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup

May 5, 2025May 4, 2025carlocarrasco

Filipino Darell Johnson Bada dominated the Sprint Junior Elite Men during the 2025 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) – NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup held yesterday at the Subic Freeport Zone.

Bada won the gold with a time of 1 hour, 1 minute and 46 seconds (1:01:46). Japan’s Main Takata (1:02:10) and Filipino John Michael Lalimos (1:02:26) were second and third, respectively.

“I really want to win so I did my best,” said Bada, who finished third last year with a time of 1:03:22.

“The swim was very hard, the bike was challenging, I broke away early in the running stage,” he added.

Euan Arrow Ramos, the U15 super sprint champion last year, settled for eighth place with a time of 1:07:38. He dropped one of his shoes after the swim phase but still registered the fastest time of 33:08 in the bike phase. However, he ran out of energy in the running stage.

In the Junior Elite Women contest, Yukiho Okuma of Japan clocked 1:08:13 to prevail over Filipinos Anisha Eunice Caluya (1:11:18) and Aira Danara Gregorio (1:12:17).

National athlete Kira Ellis, who has a shin injury, did not finish the race. She clocked 10:16 in swimming and 34:36 in cycling but skipped the running phase as advised by her coaches and physical therapist.

Meanwhile, Dustine Dan Eslay of 2600 Baguio topped the men’s 16-19 category in 1:07:24. in the sprint age group category of the tournament supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Century Tuna, Sante Barley, Milo and Gatorade as the official hydration partner.

Winners in the men’s standard age group were Andie Jimeno (18-24), Rafael Sawali (25-29), Tristan Rene Santos (30-34), Mike Kramer (35-39), Craig Douglas (40-44), Marvin Baldemor (45-49), Junrox Roque (50-54), JT Gonzales (55-59), Cristobal Olivas (60-over).

In the sprint para category, the gold medalists were Edison Badillo (men PTS2); Raul Angoluan (men PTS3); Alex Silverio (men PTS4); Jerome Nelmida and Shyrnel Amiladjid (men PTVI); and Steven and Audrey Coleman (special category).

For local triathlon updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil.

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Note: The above news releases was from Triathlon Philippines sent by email. Some parts were edited for this website.

Proposed measure to increase tax on capital gains withdrawn by DOF

May 5, 2025April 30, 2025carlocarrasco

In recent times, the Department of Finance (DOF) has withdrawn the proposed measure on increasing taxes on capital gains pointing to certain economic factors according to a GMA Network news report.

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

The proposed measure increasing taxes on capital gains, donor’s, and estate to 10% from 6% has been withdrawn as the Department of Finance (DOF) determined that there would be “no need” for additional revenue measures, citing the government’s robust fiscal position.

In a statement, Albay 2nd District Representative and House Ways and Means chairman Joey Sarte Salceda disclosed that the DOF pulled out the Government Revenues Optimization through the Wealth Tax Harmonization (GROWTH) Bill, which proposed a hike in tax rate for capital gains, donor taxes, and estate taxes.

The bill is the Marcos administration’s tweaked version of the Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act (PIFITA), proposed by the Duterte administration as Package 4 of its Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP).

Citing a letter from the DOF, dated April 29, Salceda said the Finance Department is withdrawing the proposed measure, citing “stronger-than-expected revenue collections, a double-digit growth rate in tax collections, and steady progress toward the government’s fiscal consolidation goals.”

In a separate statement, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said that “given our current strong fiscal performance, these are not needed at this time.”

“The government is properly managing its finances, ensuring that public needs are met without burdening the citizenry with new taxes,” he added.

‘More than sufficient’ – In particular, the Finance chief cited the 13.55% growth in total tax collections to P931.5 billion in the first quarter of 2025.

Broken down, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) posted P690.4 billion in collections, up 16.67% year-on-year; while the Bureau of Customs saw a 5.72% growth in collection to P231.4 billion during the same period.

“At this point, current revenues are more than sufficient to support our expenditure requirements. We are meeting our obligations, funding key programs, and growing the economy without having to impose new taxes on our kababayan,” Recto said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think it was just right for the DOF to withdraw the measure? Do you thinking hiking capital gains tax, donor taxes and estate taxes are needed to ensure economic growth for the Philippines?

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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Japanese win Elite titles of 2025 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) – NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup

May 4, 2025May 3, 2025carlocarrasco

Triathletes from Japan lived up to their billing as the best in Asia as Takuto Oshima and Manami Hayashi emerged as the Elite Male and Elite Female champion, respectively, in the 2025 Subic Bay International Triathlon (SUBIT) – NTT AST Subic Bay Asia Cup yesterday at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Oshima, No. 25 in the continental ranking and 151st in the world, and teammate top seed Maeda Ryousuke paced together the grind with Kazakh Daryn Konysbayev closing on them in the run stage.

Oshima, whose most recent podium finish was 2nd place in the 2025 Asia Triathlon Cup Chennai, clocked in 1 hour 50 minutes and 25 seconds with Konysbayev snatching the runner-up honors, 27 seconds behind. Maeda settled for third in 1:51:16.

The Elite Women contest ran true to form as odds-on favorite Hayashi turn the 31st staging of what is more popularly known as SUBIT her own show from start to finish she covered in 2:04:58.

Two Koreans joined Hayashi—Gaycon Park and Hyo Rim Jeong—at the podium of the one of the premier Asian triathlons with the former placing second (2:05:21) and the latter third (2:06:25).

Dayshaun Ramos was the top Filipino finisher at 14th position with a time of 1:54:53 and Raven Alcoseba as the # 1 Filipina, just off the top 10, checking in 2:14:16, in the event where the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority was the venue partner; with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Century Tuna, Sante Barley, Milo and Gatorade as major sponsors and Western Guaranty Assurance Corp., Subic Bay Travelers-Hotel and Fitbar as supporters.

Diego Dimayuga pounced on the tentativeness of his teammate at Coach D Academy in T2 (10 seconds longer) as he retained his title in the Boys 13-15 while Japanese Miharu Oka prevailed in Girls 13-15.

The last time the Japanese dominated the SUBIT was 2002.

For Elite Men results, click https://triathlon.org/events/2025-asia-triathlon-cup-subic-bay/results/674154

For Elite Women results, click https://triathlon.org/events/2025-asia-triathlon-cup-subic-bay/results/674156

For award ceremony pictures, click here.

For local triathlon updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil.

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Note: The above news releases was from Triathlon Philippines sent by email. Some parts were edited for this website.

DICT tackling election troll armies and fake news online

May 3, 2025April 27, 2025carlocarrasco

In relation with the 2025 National and Local Elections scheduled for May 12, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) recently launched a campaign versus troll armies and fake news online with protecting election integrity in mind, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has started a crackdown against fake news and organized ‘troll armies’ on social media to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

In a news release on Wednesday, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda announced the agency’s collaboration with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on several key initiatives to enhance the technological infrastructure of the elections.

“These initiatives include the establishment of Configuration Hubs, where DICT personnel will assist in managing the hubs during the election process, as well as the development of online services such as the Precinct Results Finder, Registration Status Verifier, and Election Results Website, all aimed at ensuring transparency and providing real-time access to election data,” Aguda said.

The DICT’s Cybersecurity Bureau is also rolling out critical initiatives such as vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) to identify and mitigate security risks, and ensure the security for digital infrastructures throughout the election process.

“A key technological advancement in securing the election is the deployment of (Philippine National) Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) digital certificates, which will be used by teachers serving as electoral board members. These certificates will ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and authentication of election data,” he said.

Aguda also recognized the growing the influence of social media platforms in the elections and welcomed the stance of technology giants — Tiktok, Google, and Meta — who pledged to ban paid political ads on their platforms.

“We must be proactive, not reactive. The threats are evolving. From fake news to deepfakes and organized troll armies –our election system must be ready to face them head-on,” he said.

Google, in particular, has implemented the ban on election advertisements since the start of the official campaign period.

“[It is] a move that supports the shared goal of a clean, fair, and credible election,” he said.

On Tuesday, Aguda convened the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) in Taguig City as part of its mission to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the 2025 polls.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DICT will succeed in its campaign versus fake news and online trolls?

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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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 74

May 2, 2025May 2, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Top Secret! and The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear – Being a jolly person, YouTuber Ashleigh Burton can be entertaining to watch during her movie reaction videos. This is more evident when she reacts to a comedy film and she has made reaction videos of comedies that involved Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker (ZAZ) in varying ways. I enjoyed watching her reaction videos of Top Secret! (directed by ZAZ) and The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (directed by David Zucker of ZAZ). Before watching those videos, I encourage you to watch first the two mentioned movies if you still have not seen them. If you have seen them and want to revisit them through Ashleigh Burton, watch the videos below.

#2 You, Me and the Movies reacts to David Lynch’s Dune – Way back in 1984, the sci-fi movie Dune was released but it never became the big hit the producers hoped it would be. Even though it had a mostly lavish production, director David Lynch’s creative approach on telling the story was found by many as weird or hard to understand. That being said, take a close look at the video below and see how David Lynch’s Dune draws reactions from You, Me and the Movies.

#3 Ranting for Vengeance explains Alan Moore’s Marxism and why the author is not a genius at all – Have you ever read Watchmen, V for Vendetta or The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen? All those were authored by Alan Moore and months ago he was interviewed and he revealed his political thoughts. The interview gave YouTuber Ranting for Vengeance an opportunity to analyze what Moore said, explain the Communism and Marxism of the author, and why he perceives Moore as a writer who sucks. Find out now by watching the video below.

#4 Slope’s Game Room examines BurgerTime games – Recently Slope’s Game Room posted its in-depth video examining the history of the classic game BurgerTime and the many it games it spawned through the decades. Produced by Data East, BurgerTime was first released in arcades in 1982 and it became a big hit with players eventually getting ported to multiple platforms to keep up with demand. I should also state that BurgerTime is one of those games that constantly reminded players about food. Watch the video below.

#5 Minty Comedic Arts presents trivia about Die Hard with a Vengeance – Almost thirty years ago, Die Hard with a Vengeance was released in cinemas around the world and it was even titled as “Die Hard 3” here in the Philippines. The film had Bruce Willis as John McClane and John McTiernan returned as director. This time around, the setting was much more open and massive with New York City and surrounding areas as locations. If you love the movie and you want to know a lot more details about its production, watch the trivia video by Minty Comedic Arts below.

#6 Represent This’ in-depth examination of The Empire Strikes Back – Having seen all the Star Wars movies – including the trash from woke Disney – I can say that the best of them all is still The Empire Strikes Back which itself was not even directed by creator George Lucas. The Star Wars sequel from 1980 stood the test of time and when it came to creative or technical revisions through the decades, it is the one that had the least number of revisions. That being said, if you want to know lots of intricate details about The Empire Strikes Back, I recommend watching the two analytical and explanatory videos by Represent This.

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ANZ Research says Philippine economic growth for 2025 could slow down to 5%

May 2, 2025April 28, 2025carlocarrasco

By pointing to the trade policies of the United States and weak private spending, ANZ Research says that the economic growth of the Philippines for 2025 could slow down to 5%, according to a BusinessWorld news report. ANZ also downgraded its growth forecasts for many other Asian economies.

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

PHILIPPINE economic growth is expected to slow to 5% this year due to the fallout from the Trump administration’s trade policy and weak private spending, ANZ Research said.

In its latest Asia Insight report, ANZ cut its gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for the Philippines to 5% this year from 5.7% previously. It also lowered its 2026 GDP projection to 5.5% from 6% previously.

Both forecasts would fall short of the 6-8% growth target set by the Development Budget Coordination Committee from this year to the next.

“Our new forecasts incorporate our expectations of direct and indirect impact of tariffs, bilateral trade agreements between the US and individual economies, revised growth estimates for mainland China and the US and potential policy response,” ANZ Chief Economist for Southeast Asia and India Sanjay Mathur said.

The downward revisions constitute a “durable shock to regional growth as US tariffs imply a long-term reduction in global trade,” he added.

President Donald J. Trump slapped reciprocal tariffs on most of its trading partners earlier this month but suspended these higher tariffs for 90 days. Only the baseline 10% tariff remains in effect.

The Philippines was hit with a 17% reciprocal tariff, though this was the second lowest in Southeast Asia, just after Singapore.

“It is likely that some Asian economies will negotiate down or even do away with the April 2 reciprocal tariffs owing to the potential damage to US growth,” Mr. Mathur said. “Even so, the uncertainty around US trade policies will constrain business activity, including hiring and investment.”

ANZ slashed its growth projection for Asia, excluding China and India, to 2.9% this year from 3.4% previously. It also trimmed its 2026 forecast to 3.3% from 3.5% previously.

ANZ also downgraded its GDP projections for all countries it covers, namely India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to negotiate with the United States on tariff and trade matters soon?

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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Wanted man apprehended in Muntinlupa over two counts of rape

May 1, 2025April 26, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, police officers arrested a man who has been wanted for rape, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The police arrested a 41-year-old man tagged as most wanted person for rape in Muntinlupa on April 23.

Personnel from the District Mobile Force Battalion of the Southern Police District (SPD) arrested the accused, identified as alias Goryo, at about 6:40 p.m. in Carzo Compound, San Roque in Barangay Alabang.

Goryo, a driver, was nabbed based on a non-bailable warrant of arrest for two counts of rape issued by Presiding Judge Wehrly Gutierrez-Mendez of the Muntinlupa City Family Court Branch 8 on April 22.

He is detained at the Muntinlupa police’s custodial facility pending the return of the warrant to the court.

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 concerned that there could be wanted criminals living within your local community? Do you consider rape a serious problem within the city?

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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