Tag: Inclusion

Vietnam Declared Asia’s Leading Destination of 2026

Vietnam Declared Asia’s Leading Destination of 2026

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With its booming tourism industry and the economic gains it has achieved so far, Vietnam was named as Asia’s leading destination during the 2026 World Travel Awards beating the likes of regional rivals Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, according to a VnExpress news report. In fact, this is not the first time Vietnam achieved this particular honor and there were other awards won as well.

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

Vietnam has been named Asia’s leading destination at this year’s World Travel Awards, adding another tourism accolade to the country’s growing reputation.

It beat regional tourism hubs including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to retain the title for a sixth consecutive year.

A series of popular tourism hubs in Vietnam were also honored at different categories, the World Travel Awards Asia & Oceania organizers announced at a gala ceremony on Sunday.

Vietnam’s southern metropolis overtook Singapore, China’s Shanghai and Hong Kong to become “Asia’s leading business travel destination.”

Hanoi was named “Asia’s leading city break destination” while Tam Chuc Complex in the northern province of Ha Nam, around one hour and (30-minute) drive from the capital, was voted “Asia’s leading cultural tourist attraction.”

Ta Xua, one of the highest mountain peaks in Vietnam at over 2,800 m above sea level, was voted “Asia’s leading emerging tourism destination” for the first time. It has a cool climate all year round and is known as a cloud hunting destination from October to April.

Northern highlands town Moc Chau was named “Asia’s leading regional nature destination.” Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in central Vietnam was voted “Asia’s leading national park.”

The 900-square-kilometer national park, which UNESCO recognized as a global heritage site in 2003, is home to over 300 caves and grottoes that date back some 400 million years, including the world’s largest Son Doong.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Vietnam and its tourist sites deserved the tourism awards it received this year? Have you toured Vietnam extensively this year? What is the most astonishing tourism destination you have visited there in Vietnam? Do you think Vietnam still has a long way to go to solve its tourism labor shortage?

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

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Higher Residency Fees for Foreign Nationals in Japan in Effect

Higher Residency Fees for Foreign Nationals in Japan in Effect

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What Japan promised as a part of immigration reform has finally been executed yesterday. The fees for foreign nationals seeking a change or a renewal of their residency status in Japan has been hiked dramatically to 200,000 Yen (US$1,280), according to a news report by Kyodo News. In relation with this development, there were long lines of foreign nationals who applied at regional immigration service centers hoping to beat the scheduled hike of residency fees.

To learn about the events that preceded the new residency fees, click here, here and here.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Kyodo News report. Some parts in boldface…

Japan on Thursday hiked fees for foreign nationals seeking to change or renew their residency status, with the cost of permanent residency jumping twentyfold to 200,000 yen ($1,280).

The increase triggered a last-minute rush to apply under the old rates earlier this week, with long lines forming at immigration offices and heavy traffic making it difficult for some people to use the government’s online application system.

At the Osaka Regional Immigration Services Bureau on Tuesday, about 350 people were waiting when the office opened at 9 a.m., with the line stretching outside the building.

Before the hikes, the fees for non-permanent residency applications were 6,000 yen to change residency status or extending the period of stay. The fee for permanent residency was 10,000 yen.

From Thursday, the fee varies according to the period of stay granted, starting at 10,000 yen for three months or less and rising to 75,000 yen for five years or more.

The change comes following a revision to Japan’s immigration and refugee law enacted in May, with the government citing rising costs for visa screening.

For some foreign residents trying to continue working and living in Japan, including asylum seekers who fled hardship at home, the higher fees are adding to their financial burden.

A man in his 30s from East Africa, who came to Japan in 2023, said he is seeking refugee status for political reasons. He is currently unemployed after his seasonal job ended, adding that finding work has been difficult as many Japanese companies are reluctant to hire asylum seekers.

He currently holds a six-month “designated activities” residency status, meaning his renewal fee will rise to 18,000 yen under the new system.

“I like Japan,” he said, adding that he intends to pay the fees required to remain in the country. But he said policymakers should listen more closely to people directly affected by immigration rules.

An Indonesian man, 35, who went to the Osaka immigration office to apply for permanent residency before the increase took effect, said the twentyfold rise had come as a shock.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Now that higher residency fees are already in effect, do you anticipate a huge back backlash by foreign residents and their respective national governments against Japan? Do you think the woke mob and open borders zealots around the world will criticize Japan and pressure them to reverse all the immigration reforms they executed? Do you think the hiked fees will somehow compel illegal aliens and illegal immigrants to surrender to the local authorities and leave Japan?

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

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Armed Pedicab Driver Arrested in Parañaque City

Armed Pedicab Driver Arrested in Parañaque City

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Recently in the City of Parañaque, a pedicab driver armed with an illegal firearm was arrested by police officers who were armed with a search warrant, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

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

A 36-year-old pedicab driver was arrested after police allegedly found an unlicensed .38-caliber revolver and four rounds of ammunition during the implementation of a search warrant in Parañaque City Friday night, Sept. 25.

The suspect, identified as alias “Sadam,” a resident of Barangay San Dionisio, was arrested at about 10:10 p.m. along Bonifacio Street, Barangay San (Dionisio).

Personnel of the San Dionisio Police Sub-Station and the Special Weapons and Tactics/Tactical Motorcycle Rider Unit (SWAT/TMRU) of the Parañaque City Police Station conducted the operation under the Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operations (SACLEO).

Police implemented the search warrant issued by the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court. The search yielded a .38-caliber revolver and four rounds of .38-caliber ammunition allegedly found in the suspect’s possession.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there are lots of loose firearms within the city? Do you think violent crime in the city will get worse during the 4th quarter?

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

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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

Indonesian Tourism Industry Earns $8.43 Billion in First Half of 2026

Indonesian Tourism Industry Earns $8.43 Billion in First Half of 2026

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Indonesia, which attracted over fifteen million foreign tourists in 2025, saw its tourism industry earn $8.43 billion in the first half of 2026, according to a news article by VnExpress. The nation attracted 7.45 million foreign tourists in the same time period.

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

Indonesia’s tourism sector generated US$8.43 billion in foreign-exchange revenue in the first half of 2026, up 3% year-on-year, underscoring its growing contribution to the economy.

Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa said tourism remained an important driver of economic growth and a major source of foreign exchange for the country, Antara News Agency reported.

Last year, Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, earned $18.27 billion in tourism-related foreign exchange.

The country received 7.45 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, up 5.71% from a year earlier and the highest January-June total since the Covid pandemic, Jakarta Globe reported.

It is targeting 16-17 million international tourist arrivals this year.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Indonesia will be able to attract 16-17 million foreign tourists by the end of this year? Have you ever thought about visiting Indonesia and its many tourist sites?

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

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 156

What To Watch On YouTube Right Now – Part 156

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

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

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Virtua Fighter anime revisited – Remember back in the 1990s when Sega struck gold with the groundbreaking success of the first Virtua Fighter game? Virtua Fighter was their first 3D polygonal fighting game and it easily attracted attention as well as tons of money from arcade gamers and later console gamers. Virtua Fighter also sparked strong sales for the Sega Saturn console in Japan. Along the way, Sega itself got involved in anime productions with their ownership of TMS Entertainment and by the year 1995, the Virtua Fighter anime TV series was launched. To be clear, the Virtua Fighter anime series was not a simple production as the creators behind it made something cohesive as well as the characters worth following. To learn more about the said anime, watch the GTV Japan video below.

#2 A look at the legacy of Reggie Lewis – When the late Reggie Lewis first entered the NBA as a rookie, the Celtics were still the best in the Eastern Conference and their famous starting five of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge were aging. During his second season, Lewis improved heavily as he replaced the injured Larry Bird, and he went on to become a very productive Celtic over the next several years. Tragedy struck in 1993 when Lewis died at age 27 and the details behind his heart condition and death are complicated to say the least. What most people did not know was that Lewis entered the NBA to lift his family (note: his mother was a drug addict) up from poverty. The legacy of Reggie Lewis is explained in detail in the video below and I encourage you all to watch it.

#3 The Creepiest Episodes of Unsolved Mysteries – Recently, YouTuber Minty Comedic Arts posted a video about the ten creepiest episodes of Unsolved Mysteries (hosted by the late Robert Stack). In that video, I saw most of the creepy episodes featured and there were a few ones that I saw for the first time. Indeed, almost all the episodes of Unsolved Mysteries can be viewed for free on YouTube and there are some that were missing due to legal reasons. Now is the time to watch Minty’s video below. Tell me if you find them creepy.

#4 American cheese in Japan – With the intensifying demand for cheese around the world, there is now a so-called battle for market share. In Japan, most cheese offered are imported and their prices have gone up significantly affecting the restaurants and local consumers. Along the way, cheese produced in the United States have entered Japan in growing numbers and it is being offered to local businesses and consumers for their consumption and cooking needs. America has key advantages with regards to production of milk and cheese and there is a renewed focus on exporting products aggressively. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#5 The Unreleased Marvel 2099 Video Game of the 1990s – Thirty years ago, I read a video game magazine and got excited over the news about an official video game based on the Marvel 2099 comics franchise. I already read lots of issues of Spider-Man 2099, X-Men 2099, Ravage 2099, Punisher 2099, Doom 2099, and the 2099 Unlimited quarterly series. That said, I was delightfully surprised that the Marvel 2099 game was set for release on PlayStation. Then as time passed by, nothing happened and the unreleased game was forgotten. To find out exactly what happened, go watch the in-depth video below.

#6 Chopping Mall reaction videos – How many times have you seen a horror movie or a cinematic misadventure that happened inside a shopping mall? In 1986, the low-budget techno-horror movie Chopping Mall (original title: Killbots) was released and it had a lot of scenes filmed inside the Sherman Oaks Galleria (which was also a location for Commando and Fast Times at Ridgemont High) in California. What makes Chopping Mall unique is its concept of security robots going rogue and harming people which brings back vibes of The Terminator. In today’s age of rampant artificial intelligence (AI) development, Chopping Mall has gotten more socially relevant and it has been featured in many movie reaction and retro review videos on YouTube. I found for you guys and gals the more engaging videos of the said movie.

#7 Adults Who Went to the Extreme for Disney and Buried Themselves with Debt – What is the worst thing you can do with your time and money with regards to entertainment from the woke Disney company? A few years ago, a survey found that 24% of all Disney-goers accrued debt during their trips along with 45% of parents with children (aged below 18). To be very clear, visiting a Disney theme park with the family is very costly and the very expensive rates on the food, transportation, accommodations, souvenirs and services related with Disney won’t fade away. Even with those painful prices, there still are certain adults who put themselves at huge financial risks because they could not restrain themselves from enjoying anything Disney. The Disney adults are real, and they lack discipline on spending. In the long run, these people are morally and spiritually lost. You better not follow their bad examples, and you can find out why by watch the informative video below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Trump Administration Trashes Biden-era Title IX Rules, Sex Officially Defined by Biology

Trump Administration Trashes Biden-era Title IX Rules, Sex Officially Defined by Biology

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Remember all the craziness that used to infect the United States during the term of the failed US President Joe Biden and his woke administration? Common sense in America continues to get restored as the Trump Administration will proceed with formally removing the Biden-era Title IX regulations and this includes restoring rules that were in place during the first term of President Donald J. Trump, according to a Breitbart news report.

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

The Department of Education said Monday it will formally remove the Biden administration’s Title IX regulations and restore rules issued during President Donald Trump’s first term.

The change takes effect Tuesday. Under the final rule issued Monday, the Education Department’s anti-discrimination policy will recognize sex as male or female at birth. It formally removes Biden-era regulations that extended protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity to students and employees at federally funded schools.

The 2024 rules also forced schools to use transgender students’ pronouns and changed how schools handle harassment complaints. A federal court struck down the rules in January 2025.

The Education Department then told schools it would enforce the 2020 rules. Monday’s action puts that change into the published federal regulations; schools have already been operating under the earlier rules.

The department said the last lawsuits over the Biden rules were dismissed in August, clearing the way for it to formally remove them. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the move would make the written regulations match the court rulings and the rules her department has been enforcing since Trump returned to office:

Today’s rulemaking clears the Biden Administration’s illegal rewrite of Title IX from the Code of Federal Regulations and restores the commonsense language promulgated in the first Trump Administration, which we have been enforcing since the first days of the Administration. Thanks to today’s action, the published Title IX regulations faithfully reflects court orders and Congressional intent—reducing confusion for parents, students, and educational institutions. We will continue to relentlessly champion equal opportunity for all Americans and hold accountable any school or college that violates the rights, privacy, or athletic opportunities of our women and girls.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you feeling glad that the Biden-era Title IX rules are no more? Does this development make you feel safer and more confident about your children or relatives in schools? Do you feel that this development ensures protection for women and girls in sports activities or events? What do you think the mob of SJWs, feminists, transgendered and LGBTQ will do in response to this breakthrough?

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

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Drug Peddler Arrested in Las Piñas City, Shabu Worth Over P783,000 Seized

Drug Peddler Arrested in Las Piñas City, Shabu Worth Over P783,000 Seized

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Recently in the City of Las Piñas, local police officers successfully pulled off a buy-bust operation that resulted in the arrest of a drug peddler and the seizure of over P783,000 worth of shabu, 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…

Police seized P783,000 worth of shabu and arrested a 43-year-old man in a buy-bust operation in Las Piñas City early Thursday, Sept. 24.

Las Piñas Police chief Col. Fermin Armendarez identified the suspect as “Pat,” an unemployed resident of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. He was nabbed at around 2:55 a.m. in Barangay Manuyo Dos.

Members of the Station Drug Enforcement Unit conducted the operation, with an officer acting as poseur-buyer.

Police said the officer bought one sachet of suspected shabu from Pat, leading to his arrest. Six more sachets were allegedly recovered from the suspect during the search.

The drugs, including the sachet sold to the officer, weighed a total of 115.17 grams and had an estimated Standard Drug Price of P783,156. Also recovered were a black sling bag and the P500 buy-bust money.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, are you thankful to the local police for apprehending the drug suspect? Are illegal drugs being distributed within your local community?

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

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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

Indonesia Imposes 10-Year Ban on Australian Tourist for Committing Public Sex Act in Bali

Indonesia Imposes 10-Year Ban on Australian Tourist for Committing Public Sex Act in Bali

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Authorities in Indonesia imposed a 10-year-ban on an Australian tourist who was recently deported for a public sex act committed in Bali, according to a news article by VnExpress. The said sex act was caught on CCTV.

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

An Australian tourist arrested over a public indecency incident on Bali Island has been barred from entering Indonesia for 10 years.

The 28-year-old was deported last week on a Batik Air flight from Denpasar to Brisbane, about two weeks after his arrest at Ngurah Rai International Airport where he was due to board a flight to Brisbane, The Jakarta Post reported.

The deportation came as Indonesian immigration authorities stepped up efforts to maintain public order and security among foreign nationals living in or visiting Bali.

Indonesia’s Immigration Directorate General also imposed a 10-year entry ban on the tourist.

Police said he had engaged in sexual intercourse with an unidentified foreign woman in the yard of a Balinese house in Tibubeneng village, North Kuta district, Badung regency, on Aug. 22. The homeowner caught the pair in the act, Antara News Agency reported.

CCTV cameras at the house also recorded the incident.

The footage later went viral after the homeowner uploaded it to social media as a warning against behavior considered to bring negative energy, in accordance with Balinese Hindu beliefs.

The man could have faced imprisonment for the offense. However, police dropped the case after the homeowner forgave him and asked authorities to halt the legal proceedings.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? If you have been to Indonesia, did you witness unruly behavior committed by foreign tourists during your stay there? Do you think this development could cause a drop in the number of Australians visiting Indonesia?

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

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Several Las Piñas Residents Join Government Service Caravan

Several Las Piñas Residents Join Government Service Caravan

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Recently in the City of Las Piñas City, almost two thousand local residents availed of the free services and assistance offered by the Handog ng Pangulo caravan held at the Aguilar Sports Complex, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Mayor April Aguilar and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Don Artes were present.

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

About 2,000 residents flocked to the Aguilar Sports Complex in Las Piñas City on Monday, Sept. 14, to avail of free government services and assistance offered during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s birthday celebration.

One of the crowd-drawing activities was the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) eco-TINGIndahan by Lola Daisy, where residents exchanged garbage and recyclable materials for grocery items.

The MMDA also deployed its Mobile Materials Recovery Facility to support the waste-for-groceries exchange.

MMDA Chairman Don Artes, representing Marcos at the event, encouraged residents to learn more about government programs that could help improve their families’ livelihood and future.

Mayor April Aguilar expressed her appreciation to the MMDA and other government agencies for bringing their programs and services to Las Piñas residents.

The service caravan, dubbed “Handog ng Pangulo, Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat,” featured assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, and Department of Migrant Workers and Department of Justice, in coordination with the Philippine National Police.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, do you know anyone who attended the caravan?

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

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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

I Love Israel: Israeli Researchers Develop Aerogel Capable of Capturing and Breaking Down Oil Spills

I Love Israel: Israeli Researchers Develop Aerogel Capable of Capturing and Breaking Down Oil Spills

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A major breakthrough happened in Israel where researchers of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) developed aerogel that is capable of capturing and breaking down oil spills, according to a feature article by The Jerusalem Post. This breakthrough could improve Israel’s way of protecting the natural environment and solving problems caused by oil spills.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the article of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface.

Oil spills occur regularly around the world, but large, catastrophic disasters are much less common than small, everyday leaks.

Thousands of minor spills happen every year during routine tasks like refueling ships, pipeline leaks, or equipment failures on land. In the 1970s, there were between 70 and 100 large tanker spills annually. Fortunately, major marine spills from tanker accidents have dropped by more than 90% since the 1970s, with fewer than 10% per year.

Spills actually occur more frequently on land near storage tanks, industrial sites, and pipelines, but these get more attention because they spread fast and harm fragile ocean and coastal habitats.

Nature is also responsible – the single largest source of oil entering the oceans isn’t human error at all; it is natural seepage from rocks on the seafloor, accounting for about 40% to 50% of all oceanic oil.

Israelis probably remember February 2021, when its most severe and prominent modern disaster – a massive undisclosed spill (estimated at dozens to hundreds of tons of crude oil) sent heavy black tar washing ashore. It contaminated roughly 160 kilometers of Israel’s 195-km. coastline, from Rosh Hanikra to Ashkelon, severely harming marine wildlife like sea turtles and birds. They recall seeing masses of seabirds covered in tar and dying as a result of the environmental catastrophe.

But now, researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Beersheba are the first to develop a technology that captures and biologically breaks down oil pollution, treating crude oil and fuel pollution in marine and aquatic environments – a promising approach to both immediate containment and long-term environmental recovery.

The BGU technology is aimed at both the immediate capture of hydrocarbons and their longer-term degradation. Lab experiments showed that the material can adsorb approximately 80 to 100 times its own mass in crude oil, fuel, tar, and other hydrocarbons.

It was developed in the university’s Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, led by Prof. Ariel Kushmaro and Dr. Danit Lisa Karsagi Biron of BGU’s Faculty of Engineering.

They created a porous aerogel made from cellulose fibers – that could be created from used egg cartons, old newspapers, and other paper materials – enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients support oil-degrading bacteria, making it possible for the material not only to capture pollutants but also to speed their subsequent biological breakdown.

The research team said they developed the aerogel using nutrient enrichment, freeze-drying, and pyrolysis (the thermal decomposition of organic materials at high temperatures – typically 300°C to 900°C) in the absence of oxygen, which prevents combustion.

Kushmaro told The Jerusalem Post in an interview that the aerogel provides a surface on which the bacteria can attach, bringing them into close contact with both the adsorbed hydrocarbons and the nutrients they require. In this way, the system creates conditions that support the microbial breakdown of the captured pollutants.

The process can even minimize the need to remove and dispose of contaminated adsorption material after treatment. The technology is currently undergoing patent recognition through BGN Technologies, BGU’s technology commercialization company.

To all my readers, I encourage you to thank the Lord for this scientific breakthrough achieved by Israeli researchers. Even though it has been attacked militarily and through misinformation campaigns by its enemies, Israel continues to be a world leader on technology and economics. Indeed, God has a plan for Israel to be the guiding light for the world. The aerogel developed by Israel’s researchers will pave the way to protecting the natural environment better and help affected communities recover faster from oil spills. Soon enough, other nations will want to have Israel’s breakthrough for the same reasons. It is just a matter of time.

At the same time, I encourage you all to realize the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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