As many of you my readers should know by now, I blogged a lot about tourism in the Philippines, what the Department of Tourism (DOT) has been doing and what the nation has achieved with regards to attracting foreign tourists.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article of September 28, 2023. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine government on Thursday vowed to promote inclusive travel in its bid to position the country as an LGBTQI+-friendly destination in the region.
During the first Tourism Pride Summit in Makati City, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the Philippines plans to implement programs and initiate government interventions to address the unique challenges that the community faces when traveling.
The summit, she said, is one intervention to spark conversation and give members of the LGBTQIA+ a platform where they can share experiences and suggestions on how the government can make travel enjoyable and safe for them.
“Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he seeks a tourism industry that is inclusive, where no destination and no stakeholder is left behind in the development of our country,” Frasco said.
“That is why in our effort to reach our hand of collaboration to the farthest reaches of our country, we reach out our hand of collaboration as well to the many sectors that are involved in tourism, especially and including the LGBTQIA+ community,” she added.
Frasco noted that LGBTQIA+ tourism presents vast opportunities for growing the Philippine tourism industry portfolio.
Citing data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Frasco said there are an estimated 36 million LGBTQIA+ travelers around the world.
“We recognize the strength of capitalizing on LGBTQIA+ tourism considering that it is a USD200 billion industry that’s only slated to grow at half a trillion dollar industry by 2030,” she said.
Obviously the DOT is determined to attract as many LGBTQIA+ foreign tourists as possible as well as their money so that it could help them reach their financial goals and add to the momentum to make the Philippines a major tourist destination by the year 2028.
If ever a huge influx of foreign tourists who identify themselves as homosexuals/transgender/bisexual/transsexual/intersex/non-binary arrive in the Philippines, there is the potential rise of criminal activities involving the acts of the LGBTQIA+ people in the country. Can they behave themselves? Already there is one local LGBT crime that resulted one death. Can you imagine the possibility of more crime happening as more LGBTQIA+ tourists arrived? Can these people really behave themselves?
I am not just talking about sex tourism but also potential violations such as rape, sexual harassment, sexual assault, theft, scams, molestation, kidnapping, murder and other incidents that LGBTQIA+ tourists could commit here in the Philippines as they know they are favored by the DOT. If these specific foreign tourists could add to crime while touring the country, then the “Love the Philippines” slogan of the DOT could end up having a very dirty reputation plus additional embarrassment for the entire nation.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about the DOT’s drive to make the Philippines a more attractive destination for LGBTQIA+ tourists? Do you think the DOT continues to ignore the potential danger that LGBTQIA+ tourists could unleash on Filipinos while they tour the country? Did you encounter a homosexual foreign tourist who committed a crime or victimized a member of your local community? Does the majority of the youth in your local community express themselves as LGBT-friendly or even as LGBT rights activists?
Do you think that the Democrats in America, the Islamo-Leftists and woke activists could be funding LGBTQIA+ people to come to the Philippines for vacationing as well as executing secretive efforts to establish new activists among Filipinos who will blindly fight for LGBT rights in the country?
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore the adaptation of the start of the second season of the X-Men animated series in the form of the X-Men Adventures comic book series.
Before getting to the retro comic book review, I want to address the recent controversy and criticism of the new animated series X-Men ’97, a continuation of the popular 1990s series that turned out to be woke by featuring the so-called non-binary presentation of people. In my view, this is not surprising given the fact that the very woke Disney company has owned Marvel Entertainment for many years now and its wokeness has infected the animated X-Men franchise along with the most recent movies and shows of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Wokeness and Leftist beliefs continue to ruin entertainment and established properties as we know it. It’s the culture of Communist-filled Hollywood (Commiewood).
So how do you reject X-Men wokeness apart from avoiding X-Men ’97? You simply go back to the X-Men animated series of the 1990s as well as the comic books that adapted the stories.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men Adventures Season II #1, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Ralph Macchio and drawn by Andrew Wildman.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with the cosmic being the Watcher carefully examining the flow of events on Earth and what has changed for the X-Men since then. Robert Kelly, who previously had an anti-mutant agenda when he was a U.S. Senator, has since been elected as the President of the United States and openly pushes for a policy of conciliation with mutants. His action sparks social unrest.
Meanwhile inside a small church far away from the nation’s capital, the wedding of Jean Grey and Scott Summers pushes through with several members of the X-Men in attendance. Very notable was the absence of Wolverine who turned out to be inside the Danger Room (deep within Charles Xavier’s estate) fighting a giant-sized version of Cyclops…
Quality
The X-Men are troubled by the anti-mutant wave happening in public.
As the opening issue of the second volume of the X-Men Adventures comic book series, this comic book carefully sets up the tone and the plot of a series of future challenges for the X-Men which is clearly reflected on the front cover with Mister Sinister displayed prominently. The story mainly highlights X-Men’s new struggle with the wave of anti-mutant rage in the public while dealing with the absence of their leader Cyclops (on honeymoon with his new wife Jean) while leaving space for potential sub-plots such as the attraction between Jean and Wolverine, the moves of the anti-mutant radicals and, most notable of all, the secretive return of Morph (thought to have died in issue #2 of the first season).
As expected, build-up is the main approach taken by the creators on telling the story and there were some bouts of superhero spectacle (action) that spiced up the reading experience for me. Considering what has been happening in different parts of the world in recent years, the sub-plot of the rabid anti-mutant activists using tactics to destroy the X-Men’s credibility with violence and misinformation magnified through the news networks is very socially relevant.
What the rabid anti-mutant people committed in this comic book reminds me of the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel organized by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in which violence, destruction and selective images of terror spread through news networks and social media were done. Similarities aside, the wave of evil is clear here and the intent of the anti-mutant believers and Palestinian terrorists obviously expresses intentions of genocide against another particular group of people.
When it comes to weaknesses of this comic book, I cannot help but find Andrew Wildman’s art looking very rushed. There is a lack of precision and detail of his art here when compared directly to his works in the first volume of X-Men Adventures.
Conclusion
The anti-mutant radicals in this comic book have a lot in common with Palestinian terrorists, the pro-Palestine activists, the Black Lives Matter activists and other members of woke mobs. Violence, arrogance, rage and misinformation are their values.
X-Men Adventures Season II #1 (1994) incidentally works well as an adaptation of the animated series, as a standalone comic book as well as being a socially relevant tale in today’s age of social media. While the concept of evil remains in X-Men lore, what was told here shows different layers of it. The X-Men themselves also looked fragile and the return of Morph is a key part of the story clearly designed with future events in mind. Finally, this comic book is a lively reminder of the era when X-Men stories were made for the fans, not the woke mob.
Overall, X-Men Adventures Season II #1 (1994) is recommended.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore a part of the Ultraverse through a tale of Mantra, the male eternal warrior Lukasz who died during battle then returned in the body of a woman named Eden.
It has been a few years since the last time I reviewed a Mantra comic book. For the newcomers reading this, the Ultraverse was a franchise of superhero comic books launched by Malibu Comics in 1993 which produced a lot of fun, intriguing and memorable tales made by a variety of really talented creators. Mantra was one of the pioneering characters of the Ultraverse and the related comic book series lasted more than twenty issues. Along the way, a standalone story of Mantra was published in the form of a 2-part mini-series.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Mantra: Spear of Destiny #1 published in 1995 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Mike W. Barr and drawn by Paul Abrams.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins when Mantra arrives at a museum to start her attempt (in her civilian identity as Eden Blake) to obtain the Spear of Destiny. While wearing a revealing outfit to distract the men, Mantra gets close to the highly prized spear to observe it and see how the security personnel guard it.
At a different spot within the museum, Mantra decides to start obtaining the spear in magical outfit and with a mask. As Mantra arrives at the room where the Spear of Destiny, already there are monsters overwhelming the men guarding the Spear of Destiny…
Quality
Eden Blake/Mantra reporting to work at Aladdin.
Having read most of the stories of the Mantra comic book series, I can say that Mike W. Barr came up with a fresh concept that emphasizes the quest to gain possession of a highly valuable item while also creating a new approach on presenting Mantra…by engaging in espionage (spying and infiltration).
As I am already used to seeing the eternal warrior Lukasz/Mantra using magic in many struggles or missions, the concept of having the protagonist getting disguised and becoming an impostor on a spy mission is a very inspired move by the writer. The preparations taken by Mantra to becoming a certain blonde woman for the mission were nicely structured and detailed enough to make the transformation. As if that was not enough, a certain piece of technology was implemented which made using magic a huge risk for the eternal warrior. That being said, the story smoothly transitioned from magic-filled fantasy into a convincing spy thriller
Along the way, this comic book also emphasizes the darkness of the secret society Aladdin which Mantra (as Eden Blake) works for. Aladdin’s operations were dramatized several times in other Ultraverse comic books but this one has a more explicit portrayal of them.
Conclusion
Mantra got hold of the Spear of Destiny but for how long?
Mantra: Spear of Destiny #1 (1995) is really entertaining and compelling to read. This is easily one of the more creative and more unique tales of the Ultraverse character ever told and I can say that I am eager to find out what would happen next. This is also the one tale in which Mantra became a spy and gets into a dangerous mission in which the use of magic is too risky. The writing by Mike W. Barr is really strong with this one.
Overall, Mantra: Spear of Destiny #1 (1995) is recommended.
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 topics and the related videos I found.
#1Xbox-related announcements at The Game Awards 2023 – The Game Awards 2023 edition took place recently and like many of its previous editions, it was a spectacle of video game awards as well as announcements of upcoming games. Team Xbox, which now has giant publishers Activision-Blizzard-King and Bethesda under its umbrella, came out with very notable video game announcements that not only includes Hideo Kojima’s Xbox project but also a brand new game (the licensed property of a very popular entertainment brand) which I never anticipated coming. I should also state that Square Enix’s announcement of Visions of Mana includes the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S for future release. Watch the videos (including one from a YouTuber) below…
#2 Godzilla Minus One makes impact in America – While its current theatrical distribution in America is not too great, the Japanese-made Godzilla Minus One movie managed to make an impact with moviegoers and critics there. In fact, Toho’s newest Godzilla film even topped the American box office on specific days during the week (click here and here) even though it came with English subtitles (with original Japanese voices throughout) that had to be read by moviegoers. Why is Godzilla Minus One making an impact in America? Watch the videos below…
#3 The evil of the Islamo-Left – It is not surprising at all that Leftist elements continue to take sides with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas while opposing Israel’s war efforts in the Gaza strip (Israel’s response to Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks and abduction of hostages). If you do your research of history, you will realize that the unholy alliance between Islamic terrorists and Leftists actually go a long way back. That alliance is referred to as the Islamo-Left which is composed of Islamists and Leftists who are united by their hatred for Israel and their desire to commit genocide against the Jewish people. The Islamo-Left is the evil force that needs to be rejected and defeated. I also want to state again that the Palestinians are NOT the indigenous people of Israel, the Palestinians have no right to the land of Israel, and the Palestinians are still living under the wickedness of their leaders (Hamas and the Palestinian Authority). Learn more by watching the video below…
#4 Beware of charismatic criminals – In this divided world we live in, there are certain charismatic individuals who wield so much power, they managed to deceive people and commit crimes believing they could simply get away with it all. The charismatic criminals of recent times are specifically Elizabeth Holmes (convicted), Sam Bankman-Fried (convicted) and Charlie Javice. To find out who the charismatic crooks are, what happened to them and why you must never let them deceive you, watch the videos below…
#5 Unite with the Right to push back against the Satanic Left – Shifting to geopolitics, Sky News Australia published two videos that must be seen. The first one is about the political Right gaining significant ground in the Netherlands and Argentina (following the very inspired political shift related to Giorgia Meloni’s rise to power in Italy in 2022). The 2nd video shows why the Satanic Left often leads people to social, political and economic ruin as seen in Argentina. Let these two videos inspire you and members of your community to rise up against the Leftists and be united with the Right in future elections as well as with ongoing developments of the current government. Never let the Satanic Left take even the slightest space away from you. Communists, socialists, Marxists, liberals, diversity fanatics, inclusion fanatics, LGBT activists, the woke nuts, pro-Palestine zealots and all those other wicked Leftist elements are simply too chaotic to be given power.
Welcome back readers, fellow people of faith and supporters of Israel. Last time around, I magnified a GMA Network news report about Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss confirming that Filipinos present in Israel are being taken care of as the Jewish State’s war with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas goes on. The latest news that Filipinos should pay attention to is the Israeli government’s confirmation of extending support to the families if the four Filipinos (identified as Grace Prodigo Cabrera, Loreta Alacre, Angeline Aguirre, and Paul Vincent Castelvi) who lost their lives when Hamas launched its attacks on Israel, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…
The Israeli government will extend long-term support to the families of the four Filipinos who were killed during the attack of militant group Hamas in Israel.
According to Sandra Aguinaldo’s report on Unang Balita on Friday, this was the information received by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) from the Israel Embassy in the Philippines.
“Sila ay treated like an Israeli citizen, so kung ano ‘yung benepisyo na nakukuha ng isang Israeli citizen, gan’un din ang ibibigay sa kanila,” said OWWA administrator Arnell Ignacio.
(They are treated like Israeli citizens, so their benefits are the same as those of an Israeli citizen.)
Aside from assistance in burial and mourning expenses, the families of the four Filipinos will also receive monthly support and yearly cash benefits.
The Israeli Embassy has earlier said it would extend assistance not only to the families of the Filipinos killed in the violence but also to who were injured.
Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss confirmed that Israel will extend assistance to foreign victims of the ongoing violence, including Filipinos.
“We recognize them as victims of terrorism and for that then they will be receiving assistance, either the parents, spouses or children accordingly,” Fluss said in the Unang Balita report.
“Financial assistance, their monthly income. If they need assistance in education, in healthcare, housing… as long as they are in Israel and documented,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ignacio said 58 Filipinos from Israel are set to arrive in the country on Monday, October 30.
In relation to the above news, we Filipinos should thank the Jewish State for the assistance and other forms of support for Filipinos there in Israel who got affected by the continuing attacks by the terrorists. We should also thank the Lord God for the thriving Israel-Philippines ties which for me are truly essential and more Filipinos should value the said ties. Having been to Israel myself (click here, here, here, here, here and here), I witnessed the Holy Bible coming to life at the Holy Land sites our pilgrimage tour group visited and I developed love and support for the Jewish people in accordance to God’s Word. As my faith in the Lord is unbreakable and uncompromising, I will always stand united with Israel.
As Israel and the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) keep on fighting the terrorists not only in Gaza but also in other parts of the country (across borders with nations that somehow accommodated the terrorists), we who believe in the Lord should keep on praying to Him to ensure Israel’s victory, to support the Jewish people, to support the families of the Filipino victims as well as others who became victims of terrorism. Pray also for the innocent and dissenting Palestinians who did not want to be part of the evil activities of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
Be aware that the United Nations (UN), Hamas, Iran, the Democrats, the Palestinian Authority (PA), the woke, Black Lives Matter, the socialists/Communists/Marxists/liberals, the anti-Semitic mob, the climate change extremists, the LGBT mob, the diversity zealots and their inclusion counterparts are all doing the dirty works of Satan. Those are the worldly forces who do not even realize that they have been consumed by evil and they have members who decided to become evil. Along the way, the evil legacies (anti-Israel) of Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and murder Yasser Arafat are still being felt.
That being said, supporting Israel and the Jewish people with God watching us is the right, the moral and holy thing to do. We need to keep on praying to Him for Israel and if God commands you to do something in serving him, do it without hesitation. Ask the Lord how you can support the Jewish State and help contribute to Israel’s next victories while putting out the fire of hatred around the world. For insight about Israel’s place under the Lord and why victory with Him (crushing evil) is inevitable, refer to the holy scriptures below…
Now [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and [a]curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves].
Genesis 12:1-3 (AMPC)
After these events, God tested and proved Abraham and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am.
[God] said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you.
So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and then began the trip to the place of which God had told him.
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
And Abraham said to his servants, Settle down and stay here with the donkey, and I and the young man will go yonder and worship and come again to you.
Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on [the shoulders of] Isaac his son, and he took the fire (the firepot) in his own hand, and a knife; and the two of them went on together.
And Isaac said to Abraham, My father! And he said, Here I am, my son. [Isaac] said, See, here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt sacrifice?
Abraham said, My son, God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering. So the two went on together.
When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there; then he laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar on the wood.
And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took hold of the knife to slay his son.
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham! He answered, Here I am.
And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son.
Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son!
So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.
The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time
And said, I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] or begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son,
In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies,
And in your Seed [Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed and [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.
Genesis 22:1-18 (AMPC)
Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God].
And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock;
The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land.
Genesis 35:10-12 (AMPC)
Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Gaza [a city in Philistia] and for four [for multiplied delinquencies], I will not reverse the punishment of it or revoke My word concerning it, because [as slave traders] they carried away captive the whole [Jewish] population [of defenseless Judean border villages, of which none was spared, none left behind] and delivered them up to Edom [for the slave trade].
So I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza which shall devour its strongholds.
And I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon, and I will turn My hand against Ekron; and the rest of the Philistines [in Gath and the towns dependent on these four Philistine cities] shall perish, says the Lord God.
Amos 1:6-8 (AMPC)
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.
Romans 12:19 (AMPC)
O my God, make them like whirling dust, like stubble or chaff before the wind!
As fire consumes the forest, and as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
So pursue and afflict them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your tornado or hurricane.
Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek, inquire for, and insistently require Your name, O Lord.
Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; yes, let them be put to shame and perish,
That they may know that You, Whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.
Psalm 83:13-18 (AMPC)
If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut. The Lord is faithful and He is capable of winning battles and wars that are too great for us to deal with. Have unwavering faith in Him knowing that victory is His that we can be part of.
Let’s be clear here – the Left is inherently evil. That being said, we should focus on the current state of conflict between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Left as the military announced recently that the Communists have been greatly weakened during the first eight months of this year, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The New People’s Army (NPA) and its allies have been greatly weakened after suffering heavy losses from January to August this year, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Thursday.
In a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), Brawner said the AFP has neutralized 2,658 NPA members and their supporters from Jan. 1 to Aug. 17 this year.
Of this number, 124 were killed during encounters with military forces, while 87 were arrested and 2,447 surrendered to the government, he said.
“As far as the communist terrorist group is concerned, we are again happy to report that we have already neutralized most of the guerrilla fronts operating in the country. We have weakened a lot of them and there are now just a few armed elements operating in the country,” Brawner said.
With these constant losses, he said, they are seeing a “downward trend of the number of communist coddlers” caused by the neutralization of many of their ranking leaders.
“We are very happy because since last year, with the neutralization of their top, their key leaders, we have seen a widespread surrender of fighters, and also with the death of (Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria) ‘Joma’ Sison, now we see that they (are) losing the ideology,” Brawner said.
“And with this decline, many of the surviving NPAs could be just classified as bandits as they are engaged in extortion rackets.”
He noted the possibility of the AFP “neutralizing” the NPA by the end of the year.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Satanic Left here in the Philippines are still a threat to your family and your local community? Are there many Leftists living in your local community right now? Are you aware that mainstream news outlets like CNN, The New York Times and MSNBC all emphasize Leftist concepts in their so-called news reports? Are you aware that Democrats in America are inspiring young Filipinos to become socialists, Marxists, Communists, SJWs, homosexuals and terrorist supporters?
Recently in the City of Manila, local police officers arrested a transgendered woman (note: biological male identifying as female) for the alleged extortion of money from a minor, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The victim’s mother learned about the details of what happened and called the police for assistance. The arrest was the result of an entrapment operation.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A 23-year-old transgender woman was arrested by police in an entrapment operation for allegedly extorting money from a minor with special needs at a mall in Ermita, Manila on Monday morning, Aug. 14.
The MPD-MDACT said the suspect is a student with aliases “Ann Antukin” and “Sunata Hen” residing in Brgy. Balong Bato Quezon City.
The mother of the victim told police investigators that her son (name withheld), a minor with special needs, met the suspect on Facebook two years ago. Their online relationship blossomed and they became lovers.
Through the course of the relationship they exchanged intimate photos of themselves in their online conversations. Her son thought all along that the suspect was a real woman, the mother said.
The problem started when the suspect demanded money from the victim, threatening to expose his sensitive photos to his parents.
Police said that the mother of the victim got wind of her son’s predicament after she found out that he stole money from her. This prompted her to check on her son’s cellular phone where she discovered that the suspect was demanding money from the victim such as a monthly allowance of P10,000 and others.
She further learned that the suspect was asking her son to deliver the money at a mall in Ermita.
The mother sought the assistance of the MPD-MDACT team who promptly planned an entrapment operation against the suspect at the mall.
During his arrest, the suspect yielded two pieces P1,000 marked money, a Vivo V23 5G cellular phone, a vaccination record card and a National ID under his name.
The above report ended stating that the transgender suspect is facing charges for violating Article 317 (swindling of minors), Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act), and Republic Act 11930 (The Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a parent whose children are still minors, does this crime news report make you feel concerned about what kind of people your children communicate with online? Do you think that there could be more transgendered individuals out there looking to victimize children and other people that they believe could easily be fooled?
Welcome back, fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs! If you are into films about faith and Lord Jesus told through an American perspective, then you should check out Jesus Revolution on Blu-ray disc format which has been available in the market since April 25, 2023. It also emerged as a top-selling Blu-ray disc release and you can order it online right now!
Jesus Revolution Blu-ray cover.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the description of Jesus Revolution as well as its official trailer…
In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) is searching for all the right things in all the wrong places: until he meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie-street-preacher. Together with Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), they open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to an unexpected revival of radical and newfound love, leading to what TIME Magazine dubbed a JESUS REVOLUTION.
Posted below are the technical details about Jesus Revolution Blu-ray disc as sourced from the Blu-ray.com page of the movie…
Video
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Audio
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles – English SDH, French, Spanish
Discs – Blu-ray Disc, Two-disc set (1 BD-50, 1 DVD), DVD copy
Digital, Digital HD, Digital copy included
Packaging – Slipcover in original pressing
Playback – 2K Blu-ray: Region A
While I have not seen Jesus Revolution in the local cinemas, I myself am interested in buying the Blu-ray disc soon. I am a person with unbreakable faith in Jesus who is truly the Lord and Savior! More on the what the movie has to offer, its release is timely as America has been so divided as many people moved away from the Lord to embrace evil elements such as critical race theory, homosexuality, LGBTQ culture, transgender concepts, abortion, anti-police movements, anti-Semitism, terrorism, illegal immigration, witchcraft, Communist/socialist/Marxist ideologies, negative elements affecting churches, vandalism of places of worship, Satanic values inserted through entertainment media, and a whole lot more. Watch the related CBN News videos below…
By today’s standards, the social unrest America had during the Vietnam War era looks smaller compared to what has been going on over the past few years. People are getting divided over race, gender, social class and a whole lot more. As such, Jesus Revolution has something that viewers can reflect about.
When it comes to restoring people and societies from the damage caused by evil forces, only the Lord can provide restoration and healing. That being said, you must praise the Lord and have unwavering faith in Him no matter what happens. Being a worldly person means living with unholy elements. A lot of people may not realize it but it is clear they need Jesus in their lives and in their societies! Learn from the holy scriptures below…
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (NASB)
Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.”
John 8:12 (MSG)
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s and explore a part of the Valiant Comics shared universe through the Armorines monthly series.
In my previous retro review, the armored Marines and their US Navy SEALs counterparts encountered mutated sharks as they struggled to accomplish their mission. Along the way, one of the Armorines literally got swallowed by a huge, organic object that went directly to him during the struggle.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Armorines #3, published in 1994 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Jorge Gonzalez and drawn by Jim Calafiore.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins deep under the sea as the Benchley explodes and falls down further as a result of the mission. Gunny finds himself falling down as well as he no longer has his ballast and propulsion unit. Fortunately, an armored teammate of his saves him and pulls him up to the surface.
Several kilometers away from the site of the ill-fated Benchley, a huge organic-looking object enters the large hole on the side of a derelict ship. Strangely enough, the interiors have an alien design and the organic-looking object turns out to be a ship of its own. Two human figures with unnatural physical features come out of it and told their alien-looking troops to enter the refrigeration unit to “bring the ‘meat’” to Chantilla.
Inside the refrigeration unit filled with lots of dead human bodies, the armed aliens approach the Armorines suit only to find it empty. As they did not bother to search around to find answers, the Armorines pilot cleverly concealed himself among the other dead bodies pretending to be dead. He gets up after the aliens leave…
Quality
The first display of the Armorines in action without the aquatic environment.
After a good amount of build-up executed by the creative team in the first two issues, this particular comic book served as a big pay-off as well as a creative build-up of its own with the future events in mind. In fact, the sci-concepts introduced here along with new figures of opposition (specifically the humans with physical aquatic features) really lifted the storytelling to a whole new level of imagination laced with intrigue. Instead of seeing armed terrorists or an opposing force with military hardware to counter the high-tech Armorines, we see people who have a sinister plan, have been organizing violent operations on Earth and are of alien origin. These aliens, who are even studying human characteristics, were involved in conflicts with X-O Manowar and Turok elsewhere within the Valiant Comics shared universe. In fact, the two individuals who arrived early in the story came from their act of destroying X-O Manowar’s armor (read X-O Manowar #28). I should also state that the duo of Gonzalez-Calafiore cleverly emphasized the aliens’ plan to weaken the coordination and security of Earth’s forces so that they can escape undetected. What is even more intriguing within this comic book is the visualization of the aliens’ secret scientific developments and experiments on Earth.
Going back to the Armorines, you will see them in action without the aquatic environment. The way the creative team showed the Armorines in action against their alien counterparts turned out to be entertaining to read.
Conclusion
Given the fact that Democrats in America today love illegal immigrants so much, can you imagine them and their hordes of woke/socialist/Communist/Marxist/liberal/LGBTQ/transgendered voters welcoming aliens from outer space and allowing them to do bad things against humanity here on Earth? Imagine Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton making secret deals with these aliens.
I can say that Armorines #3 (1994) is a well-executed story that successfully paid off what was built in the first two issues and raised the stakes further with sci-fi concepts and a force of opposition that made impact elsewhere in the Valiant Comics shared universe. As I enjoyed this old comic book, I am looking forward to the next issue.
Welcome back, my readers and fellow Christians! In this newest edition of my Christian Music Appreciation (CMA) series, we will focus on Lord Your Goodness, an original worship song of Hillsong Worship with lyrics written by Reuben Morgan.
If you want to discover and learn more about Hillsong Worship, I encourage you to click here (Facebook page), here (Instagram) and here (YouTube).
Before getting into the analysis of the Biblical relevance of Lord Your Goodness, posted below for your reference are the lyrics composed by Reuben Morgan.
I will come to You with an open heart
And bring a sacrifice of praise
I have seen Your power in the holy place
And I have known Your mighty ways
–
I will remember Your mercy
And Lord Your faithfulness
–
Lord Your goodness and Your love will follow me
All the days of my life
I’m surrounded with the favour of the Lord
Always and forever
To begin with, let’s take a close look at the first section of the lyrics above: I will come to You with an open heart, And bring a sacrifice of praise, I have seen Your power in the holy place.
The above lines emphasize that we the faithful children must always come to Him with open hearts and that means being completely transparent and honest with Him as there is simply no hiding of darkness nor sin deep within. To be born again in Christ means having His Spirit – the Holy Spirit – in the heart and always prioritizing the Lord with complete honor and obedience towards Him. Remember when you were still living your old sinful life? You not only had a closed heart hardened by sin, you also had a heart that did not have the Holy Spirit which clearly means it was not a heart of worship. For the lost and unsaved souls thinking about coming to God, always open your heart first before coming to His Jesus for repentance and getting born again. If you are an unsaved or lost soul who still has unholy elements in your heart (note: homosexuality, political correctness, wokeness, idolatry, religion, Marxism, socialism, Communism, atheism, agnosticism, transgender obsession, terrorism, fascism and others), you must get rid of them all and you must reject Satan before you come to the Lord for salvation. Be ready to repent to Him. Once you have a fully opened, worship-oriented heart, praise is inevitable for everyone to do to realize the Lord’s power and holiness. Learn from the scriptures below…
But the moment one turns to the Lord with an open heart, the veil is lifted and they see. Now, the “Lord” I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever he is Lord, there is freedom. We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (TPT)
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)
What joy overwhelms everyone who keeps the ways of God, those who seek him as their heart’s passion!
Psalms 119:2 (TPT)
Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.
Hebrews 13:15 (AMPC)
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and the earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and Yours it is to be exalted as Head over all.
Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hands are power and might; in Your hands it is to make great and to give strength to all.
Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name and those attributes which that name denotes.
1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (AMPC)
Next, take a close look at the following lines of lyrics: I will remember Your mercy, And Lord Your faithfulness.
The mercy and faithfulness of the Lord are undeniably true and real. While there are still lots of religious people who believe the falsehood that the Lord is always very strict and rarely grants mercy, His mercy is actually great and He is compassionate as well. The Lord is faithful (lasting loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships) and His love for His faithful children is connected with faithfulness, mercy and compassion. Lord Jesus proved it all to be true and real. Learn from the holy scriptures below…
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”
Exodus 34:6-7 (NKJV)
It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (AMPC)
The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he.
Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV)
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
John 3:16 (AMPC)
By the time Jesus came ashore, a massive crowd was waiting. At the sight of them, his heart was filled with compassion, because they seemed like wandering sheep who had no shepherd. So he taught them many wonderful things.
Mark 6:34 (TPT)
There failed no part of any good thing which the Lord had promised to the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Joshua 21:45 (AMPC)
This is why he had to be a man and take hold of our humanity in every way. He made us his brothers and sisters and became our merciful and faithful King-Priest before God; as the One who removed our sins to make us one with him. He suffered and endured every test and temptation, so that he can help us every time we pass through the ordeals of life.
Hebrews 2:17-18 (TPT)
For God’s Word is something to sing about! He is true to his promises, his word can be trusted, and everything he does is reliable and right.
Psalms 33:4 (TPT)
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness.
The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].
Psalm 145:8-9 (AMPC)
Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us his extravagant mercy. For his fountain of mercy has given us a new life—we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3 (TPT)
Next, take a close look at the following lines of lyrics:Lord Your goodness and Your love will follow me, All the days of my life, I’m surrounded with the favour of the Lord, Always and forever.
As the faithful children of God, we have His favor, His love, His goodness and much more. To be faithful to Him and living by His Word (and spreading it) are our responsibilities as Christians. Our faith in Him must always be unbreakable and unwavering. We reject idols and reject unholiness because we are meant to be with the Lord and follow His ways in accordance to His Word. Never forget our union with Lord Jesus, the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. Learn from the holy scriptures below…
Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!
In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots of men; You keep them secretly in Your pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Psalm 31:19-20 (AMPC)
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC)
Oh, thank God—he’s so good!
His love never runs out.
All of you set free by God, tell the world!
Tell how he freed you from oppression,
Then rounded you up from all over the place,
from the four winds, from the seven seas.
Psalm 107:1-3 (MSG)
Give thanks to God—he is good
and his love never quits.
Say, “Save us, Savior God,
round us up and get us out of these godless places,
So we can give thanks to your holy Name,
and bask in your life of praise.”
Blessed be God, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Then everybody said, “Yes! Amen!” and “Praise God!”
1 Chronicles 16:34-36 (MSG)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
God, everyone sees your goodness, for your tender love is blended into everything you do.
Psalms 145:9 (TPT)
Jesus explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too.”
John 14:6 (TPT)
No one is holy like the Lord,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2 (NKJV)
Jesus commented, “Even more blessed are those who hear God’s Word and guard it with their lives!”
Luke 11:28 (MSG)
It is confirmed and obvious that Lord Your Goodness is a very holy worship song as the Lord anointed Reuben Morgan on writing the lyrics. The same can be said about others at Hillsong Worship who worked behind the scenes on making Lord Your Goodness. The evidence of holiness is spread all over the lyrics and brought to life even more musically.
As it is holy and captures the biblical messages about the goodness of our Lord, I strongly recommend the use of Lord Your Goodness for your local church’s Sunday worship service as well as in praise-and-worship events that involve the church’s music team. Lord Your Goodness is a lively reminder of not only of His goodness, but also of the love, blessings, care, attention and compassion towards each and every faithful child of His with established personal relationships with Him.
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Sharing this Christian piece means spreading the good news of the Lord to others. It can help you save the unsaved and the lost souls out there. Also please consider making a donation to support my publishing of faith articles and CMAs.
Author Carlo Carrasco 