Inclusion – Page 74 – Author Carlo Carrasco

A Look Back at The Night Man #8 (1994)

June 14, 2022June 6, 2022carlocarrasco

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 which was a pretty wild time for comic collectors. To be more specific, this newest retro comic book review revisits the Ultraverse through The Night Man monthly series.

In my previous retro review, Night Man encountered a new, murderous villain who could change into a werewolf. The mentioned villain named Nik Apocaloff is a lot more than being able to become a monster…he has a notable family background, is highly education and is connected with powerful figures like J.D. Hunt. That makes him a formidable antagonist versus Night Man and his civilian identity as Johnny Domino. Apocaloff proved to be such a powerful villain, he became the center of attention of Night Man during one of his radio broadcasts.

With those details laid down, here is a look back The Night Man #8, published in 1994 by Malibu Comics with a story written by Steve Englehart and drawn by Kyle Hotz.

Early story

The story begins somewhere inside one of the many rooms of city hall. An intense meeting goes on with the mayor present and what happened recently involving both the Night Man and the werewolf made an impact on the matters of discussion.

In an apartment somewhere in the city, Apocaloff is in his monster form and he just murdered a lady and consumed a lot of her flesh. Suddenly the door is knocked by someone who knew the victim. This causes Apocaloff to leave through the window and climb the steps to the rooftop. There, he changes back into his human form.

Elsewhere, Lt. Carleton Briggs arrives back in his office where Sergeant Dade is waiting. After a s short chat, they hug and kiss each other. The Night Man suddenly enters through the window…

Quality

Wow! This is one very compelling tale of the Night Man. To get straight to the point, the highlight of this comic book is the rematch between the title character and Apocaloff. To be clear, the rematch was not handled with brainless action in mind but rather with a lot of strategy combined with a medium-paced approach on progression which brought back a lot of vibes from Night Man’s encounters with the members of TNTNT a few issues back. Storywise, the stakes behind the rematch are much higher as the Night Man makes a solid pitch to the local police in the fight against crime (which made me think about the key elements of Batman comic books) while the tycoon J.D. Hunt (whom Apocaloff interacted with previously) just gave his approval for the Teknight project.

When it comes to character development, Apocaloff’s strong adherence to the past (Russian legacy, old world sensibilities, connections with California’s history) are emphasized some more. For his part, Night Man’s intelligence and approach to vigilantism got developed even more.

Conclusion

*Night Man comes to the police with evidence about Apocaloff.*

The Night Man #8 (1994) is another solid comic book of the Ultraverse. The story was told with an overall medium pace and the payoffs for each build-up were indeed satisfying. Considering the presence of the police in the story, this particular Night Man issue has the strongest similarities with DC Comics’ Batman. More importantly, this issue succeeded in developing both the titular hero and his most elaborate villain. It seems to me that Night Man and Apocaloff were made to clash with each other beyond this issue and the previous one.

Overall, The Night Man #8 (1994) is recommended.

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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. 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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Better than Streaming: Heat Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray coming out on August 9, 2022

June 14, 2022June 9, 2022carlocarrasco

Welcome back, fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs! If you are a fan of Hollywood legends Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer and director Michael Mann, then you should be delighted to know that the 1995 epic movie Heat will be released on 4K Blu-ray format (with special features and extra stuff, plus a steelbook edition is available) on August 9, 2022! Already, you can order it online right now!

*The cover of Heat Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray.*

According to the Blu-ray.com page of the movie, Heat Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray will be released with native 4K visuals. Posted below are the technical specs for your reference…

Video

Codec: HEVC / H.265

Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)

HDR: HDR10

Aspect ratio: 2.40:1

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 – 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Disc, Three-disc set (1 BD-66, 2 BD-50)

Digital

Movies Anywhere

Packaging – Slipcover in original pressing

Playback – 4K Blu-ray: Region free, 2K Blu-ray: Region A

As for the special features and technical specs, posted below are the details sourced from Blu-ray.com…

PREVIOUSLY REMASTERED IN 4K
HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO 5.1 TRACK
Academy Panel reuniting Mann, Pacino and De Niro and moderated by Christopher Nolan
Toronto International Film Festival Q&A with Mann
Audio Commentary by Michael Mann
The Making of Heat
- True Crime
- Crime Stories
- Into the Fire
Pacino and De Niro: The Conversation
Return to the Scene of the Crime
Additional Footage – Deleted Scenes
- Scene 5 – Season’s starting early
- Scene 42 – Nicest guy on the block
- Scene 55 – Albert and Hanna (Alternate Take)
- Scene 62 – Shakedown
- Scene 76 – Murder in C-Block
- Scene 96A – Let’s Dance
- Scene 125 – Late arrival
- Scene 148/147 – Where’s Anna?
- Scene 177B – Double the worst trouble
- Scene 191 – Nate delivers
- Scene 204A – No response
Theatrical Trailers
- Surprise of a Lifetime
- Two Actors Collide
- Closing In
Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles for the main feature

For the newcomers reading this, Heat was released in late-1995 and it told a very compelling story about crime and law enforcement with De Niro leading a gang of proficient thugs and Pacino leading a team of law enforcers. On both sides, obsession is a major factor as seen in the respective performances of the two Hollywood legends. Apart from the story, the film also has very notable actors supporting the two top actors such as Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd and Dennis Haysbert to name some. Each member of the cast performed well on-screen.

When it comes to action, the city bank heist and street shootout scenes are still great to watch even by today’s standards. If you had seen Heat and you played either Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto V, you will realize that the games’ respective bank heist scenes obviously took a lot of inspiration from the movie. Heat is also the subject of countless video reviews, film analysis videos and trivia-type videos on YouTube.

Watch out for Heat Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Blu-ray on August 9, 2022.

In closing this Better than Streaming piece, posted below are Heat-related videos for your viewing pleasure.

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

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A Look Back at Superman III comic book adaptation (1983)

June 13, 2022July 10, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1983 which saw the theatrical release of Superman III that featured the late Christopher Reeve as the cinematic Man of Steel.

The 1980s was a very different time with regards to Hollywood’s handling of superhero movies. The concept of a shared cinematic universe was decades away from realization. Warner Bros. back then relied on the Salkind family to produce Superman movies and the first flick in 1978 proved to be a major hit for both viewers and critics while also establishing Christopher Reeve as the definitive live-action Superman for countless people. Unsurprisingly, a sequel was released in the early 1980s which continued box office success for the stakeholders and only led to the approval of another sequel.

Along the way, the late Richard Pryor (a major comedian already) appeared on TV and talked about Superman II which eventually led to him getting hired for Superman III. The movie was released in 1983 making a little over $80 million worldwide while also getting a noticeably weaker reception from critics. More notably, Richard Pryor had a huge chunk of the film’s spotlight as Gus Gorman while the overshadowed Christopher Reeve managed to stretch his cinematic art on playing Clark Kent and Superman (note: there is also the memorable Clark versus Superman battle). Superman III very clearly had a lot more comedy in its presentation. As part of the movie’s marketing, an official comic book adaptation by DC Comics was published.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at the Superman III comic book adaptation, published by DC Comics in 1983 with a story written by Cary Bates and art made by the late Curt Swan and Sal Amendola.

Early story

The story begins inside the unemployment bureau of Metropolis. There, August “Gus” Gorman was told after 36 weeks of chronic unemployment, he is no longer eligible for financial assistance (read: welfare) from the city. As he was about to light his cigarette, he noticed computer job ad on the match. Gorman proceeds to the Archibald Data Processing School where he gets enrolled with several others. In front of others, Gorman does something on a computer which impressed the instructor a lot.

Over at the Daily Planet, Clark Kent/Superman, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen meet with Perry White at his office. Kent will be returning home to Smallville and make a news story out of it. White gives Kent his approval and then tells Lois she deserves a vacation.

Hours later, Kent and Jimmy Olsen ride the bus together going to Smallville but their ride stops as a result of a huge fire damaging a large chemical plant. A police officer reveals to Olsen that the scientists inside are worried about the plant and its stuff getting destroyed by the fire.

Kent carefully leaves the bus and discreetly changes into Superman to help solve the problem. Olsen, meanwhile, sneaks past the authorities to get to the burning chemical plant.

Over at Webcoe Industries, company head Ross Webster and his sister Vera learn that more than $85,000 worth of company funds was stolen by someone within. Just outside the office, Gus Gorman enters his fancy looking sports car which Webster, Vera and Lorelei notice. Webster asked how could one of their computer technicians afford such a vehicle worth $75,000…

Quality

*This is a creative way the comic book team used to dramatize Gus Gorman scene revealing and acting the bad news to his boss Ross Webster whose plans were thwarted by Superman.*

While it is understandable that not all scenes and not all character moments from the movie made it on print media, this comic book still managed to capture the film’s essence for the most part. The creative team pulled off their own interpretations of the events and made something entertaining and engaging even though they had to deal with the major challenge of summarizing the movie’s plot and establishing a workable comic book narrative.

I should state that the comic team creatively avoided making in-depth references about liquor and smoking which were obvious in the movie. You will not see Superman drinking liquor at a bar nor will you see Gus Gorman referring to tar listed on a cigarette pack. I suppose this was done to ensure the comic book would be released widely and be acceptable to very young readers and the parents watching them.

*The battle between evil Superman and Clark Kent is best viewed in the movie. This one is a shorter and less detailed version of it.*

When it comes to establishing the clear lead among all the characters featured, Superman fans should be delighted to know that the Man of Steel is indeed more prominent than Gus Gorman. Take note that in the movie, Richard Pryor’s Gus Gorman overshadowed Christopher Reeve’s Superman/Clark.

*Remember the frightening sequence of Vera getting captured and turned into a cybernetic figure by the Super Computer? This is what it looks like in comic book format.*

The art done by Curt Swan and Sal Amendola is decent and it seems to me that their time on visualizing Cary Bates’ script was indeed limited. That being said, it was not surprising to me that, with the exception of Ross Webster in one specific image, none of the characters resembled their cinematic counterparts. Clark Kent/Superman never resembled Christopher Reeve, and Gus Gorman looks nothing like Richard Pryor. Clearly, the artists’ focus was visualizing the narrative which they succeeded.

Conclusion

*Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White in the Daily Planet.*

*Superman saving Lana Lang’s son from certain death.*

Having seen the Christopher Reeve/Richard Pryor movie in the cinema and on cable TV since 1983, I can say that Superman III (1983) is a decent adaptation. It’s not 100% faithful but it is still a worthy read as it will give you the movie’s concept and entertainment values in literary form. If you really want to full essence of film along with the cinematic moments (note: the Superman-Clark battle is the cinematic highlight) all intact, then your obvious choice is to watch the movie. If you are turned off by the movie’s wacky comedy, then the comic book adaptation will deliver to you the more serious approach on telling Superman III’s story. Let me repeat that Superman is more prominent than Gus Gorman in this comic book.

Overall, Superman III (1983) is satisfactory.

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I Love Israel: Israel and the Philippines sign business agreement

June 13, 2022June 8, 2022carlocarrasco

The relationship between Israel and the Philippines moved forward some more as they recently signed a major agreement related to investments and economic cooperation, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.

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

Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman and Filipino Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez signed an agreement on Tuesday that encourages and protects investments between Israel and the Philippines.

The trade deal

The deal aims to create an investment environment that encourages economic activity by providing a basket of commitments to investors from both Israel and the Philippines. It is expected to provide security and stability to foreign investors and encourage capital movements between the two countries. It covers regulatory issues, prevention of expropriation of assets, free flow of capital and advanced protection mechanisms for the rights of foreign investors in the host country.

“The investment protection agreement signed will help develop economic ties between the countries,” Liberman said. “The commitment between the countries to encourage mutual investment and provide optimal conditions for investors will strengthen existing economic activity and enable new opportunities for the private sector in both countries.”

The Philippines’ economy has grown significantly in the last decade, averaging about 6.4% annually from 2010-2019, according to the World Bank.

Following the coronavirus pandemic, the Philippines managed to bounce back from a 35% decline in global investment flow in 2020, increasing its incoming investment almost 30% this year.

“The high growth in the Philippines over the last decade and the increase in investment flows to it, together with the agreement signed, will strengthen economic cooperation and increase investment between the countries,” said Shira Greenberg, the Finance Ministry’s chief economist.

“The Philippines is a major partner in significant Asia-Pacific regional trade agreements, and in conjunction with the investment agreement signed today, it will open up new opportunities for Israeli companies and investors operating in these markets,” she said.

In recent times, the initial batch of Filipino hotel workers were sent to Israel to help its hospitality/tourism industry. Already the State of Israel is looking forward to stronger bilateral ties with the Philippines under the incoming administration of new President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos. Marcos, who had met Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss, will formally take office on June 30, 2022.

As for this most recent development between the Republic of the Philippines and the State of Israel, the agreement can lead to a new wave of investments and even business innovation between them. Both nations have their own populations of not just trained workers but also entrepreneurs and investors (both individuals and organizations) who can visit the other nation for fresh opportunities to progress and prosper. Israel itself has an enduring record of being a hot spot for business innovation and startups. As such, the protection of investments between Israel and the Philippines is indeed crucial. This newest development is something we can all be thankful to the Lord for.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful (not religious), you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel, love the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 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! Always stand in support of Israel!

In ending this I Love Israel piece, posted below are Israel-related videos plus Philippine news videos for your viewing pleasure and enlightenment.

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Drug suspect killed in Parañaque City, the other suspect on the loose

June 10, 2022June 8, 2022carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, a male drug suspect got killed during an encounter with law enforcers in Barangay Don Galo where a buy-bust operation was held, according to an article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). In relation to this, the estimated value of illegal drugs is worth over P60 million.

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

An alleged drug dealer was killed in a buy-bust operation that yielded 9 kg. of suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP61 million, in Parañaque City on Tuesday night.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Officer in Charge, Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., said the operation resulted in the death of Joe Marie Ordiales, alias “Roger”, one of the two suspects targeted by the operation that was conducted at about 9:30 p.m. in Barangay (Don Galo).

The other suspect, identified as Arturo Santos Jr., alias “Pugo”, eluded arrest.

“Actually, itong case na ito ay result ng follow-up operation. Kung maalala niyo yung operation doon sa may Mindanao Avenue sa Quezon City last March 2022 wherein in coordination with the QCPD (Quezon City Police District), our PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) was able to confiscate and apprehend more or less 57 kilos (Actually, this case is the result of a follow-up operation. If you remember the operation along Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City last March 2022 where, in coordination with the QCPD, our PDEG were able to confiscate more or less 57 kg.),” Danao said in an interview with reporters live-streamed on Facebook.

Meanwhile, PDEG Director, Brig. Gen. Randy Peralta, said they carried out the buy-bust operation after one of their men was able to negotiate for the purchase of a large quantity of shabu from the suspects.

“The suspects are well-known distributors of illegal drugs and connected to the MIK siblings and GIB group. Their modus is discreetly concealing illegal drugs on humidifiers, air fryers, and other appliances,” Peralta said.

The suspects traded shots with the PDEG operatives when the buy-bust was announced.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this latest news development? Do you believe Parañaque will remain a hot spot for illegal drugs no matter what the barangay and city government officials declare? Do you believe there is still a lot of work to do before Parañaque could truly become a drug-free 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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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

COVID-19 Crisis: Muntinlupa City’s 2nd booster shot recipients exceed 8,000

June 10, 2022June 9, 2022carlocarrasco

As part of the national effort to have people immunized for COVID-19 by means of non-stop vaccination and booster shots, the progressive City of Muntinlupa saw its 2^nd booster shot recipients surpass the mark of 8,000, according to a Manila Bulletin news report which also had an update about the city’s active cases.

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

Muntinlupa recorded 11 total active Covid-19 cases while its total recipients of second booster shots rose to more than 8,000 amid the detection of Omicron subvariant cases in the country.

Data from the City Health Office showed that as of June 8, seven new Covid-19 were tallied, coming from Barangays Ayala Alabang, Putatan, and Cupang, compared to one new case on June 7.

Of the 11 active cases, six are listed in Ayala Alabang, two each in Putatan and Cupang, and one in Poblacion. Barangays that are Covid-19 free are Tunasan, Bayanan, Alabang, Buli, and Sucat.

Since 2020, Muntinlupa has recorded 40,076 confirmed cases, 39,449 recoveries and 616 deaths.

Last June 7, the Department of Health announced the detection of three new BA.5 Omicron subvariant cases and seven new BA.2.12.1 subvariant cases in the country.

Meanwhile, the Muntinlupa City government continued its vaccination program including the administration of second booster shots.

To date, a total of 8,052 individuals composed of immunocompromised, frontline health workers, and senior citizens have received their second booster shot.

Of the total, 1,514 came from Barangay Putatan followed by 907 from Ayala Alabang, 826 from Alabang, 809 from Tunasan, 805 from Cupang, 765 from Poblacion, 586 from Sucat, 296 from Bayanan, and 123 from Buli. 1,421 recipients were unclassified.

There are 139,099 individuals who received their first booster shot, or 31.48 percent of the target population of 442,517.

Anyone based in Muntinlupa who needs to get vaccinated or boosted for COVID-19 should contact MunCoVac as soon as possible.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this recent development? Did you notice if members of your local community who got boosted previously are eager to get their 2^nd booster shot? Did anyone from the anti-vaccine fanatics community harass you and bombard you with their creative propaganda?

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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Two foreign nationals arrested in Parañaque City for committing robbery

June 9, 2022June 7, 2022carlocarrasco

Thanks to the police, their research and some external assistance, two foreigners were apprehended in Barangay Marcelo, Parañaque City for robbing another foreigner, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Two Indian nationals who robbed a fellow Indian were arrested during a police operation on Tuesday, June 7.

Southern Police District (SPD) Director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg identified the suspects as Manpreet Singh, 22, alias Ricky; and Mandeep Singh, 33, alias Jimmy.

Macaraeg said the suspects were arrested at around 2:00 a.m. along Alliage Drive, SAVVY 25, Barangay Marcelo, Parañaque City.

The SPD director said the victim, identified as Sukchain Singh, 32, was robbed by the suspects of more than P20,000 on June 5.

Macaraeg said the victim reportedly resisted and was shot by one of the suspects, hitting him at the lower back of his body.

The victim told the police that after the incident, the suspects immediately fled on board a motorcycle going.

During a follow-up investigation by the Las Pinas police, the suspects were captured by CCTV along Guyabano Street and Marcos Alvarez Avenue boarded a taxi with plate number UWN786 upon reaching Las Pinas Medical Center.

The above report ended stating that a few witnesses provided information that helped the police arrest the suspects.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are living in Parañaque City, what is your reaction to this report? Does it bother you that the suspects reached a residential area by the time they got arrested?

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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Search for the five best restaurants of Las Piñas City is ongoing

June 9, 2022June 8, 2022carlocarrasco

Recently, a special search for the best restaurants in the city was launched by the City Government of Las Piñas which involves the Nutrition Office and the Tourism Office, the Manila Bulletin reported. This ongoing search emphasizes local restaurants, nutrition and even tourism.

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

The Las Piñas city government launched the search for the five best restaurants in the city that serve the best delicacies that will help promote the city as a culinary destination.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the search for the five best restaurants is a project of the Nutrition Office under the leadership of Dr. Julio Javier and the Tourism Office under Paul San Miguel.

Aguilar said the search is also in preparation for the celebration of Nutrition Month in July where the winners will receive special tokens of appreciation from the City Nutrition Office.

She said the Tourism Office will promote the city’s best delicacies to both local and foreign tourists.

She added that the winners will be featured in the city’s official Facebook page and Nutrition Office.

The above article ended with Mayor Aguilar stating that the winners of the special search will be featured in the official Facebook page of the City Government and that of the Nutrition Office. Watch out for updates about this search at https://www.facebook.com/cityoflaspinasofficial and also at https://m.facebook.com/MayorImeldaAguilar/

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this recent development? Is there any particular local restaurant that you had visited time and time again? Did that particular local restaurant consistently produce delicious meals each time you ordered? What kinds of meals do you enjoy whenever you eat in a local restaurant?

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 and also please consider sharing this article to others. 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 at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/

Alabang Central Market inaugurated by Mayor Fresnedi

June 8, 2022June 8, 2022carlocarrasco

Outgoing Muntinlupa Mayor and Congressman-elect Jaime R. Fresnedi led the inauguration of the new Muntinlupa City Public Market, now rebranded as Alabang Central Market, together with local officials on Wednesday morning.

The local exec leads the unveiling of the marker of the new market’s Building A, one of its two buildings, with outgoing Congressman and Mayor-elect Ruffy Biazon.

The inauguration was led by outgoing Mayor and Congressman-elect Jaime Fresnedi. Also present were incoming Mayor Ruffy Biazon and several other city officials plus guests. (photo source – Muntinlupa PIO)

Fresnedi hopes that the construction of the new market will boost the local economy and help small business owners in the city to recover from the challenges of the pandemic.

Also in attendance during the inauguration ceremony were Vice Mayor Temy Simundac, City Councilors, City Administrator Engr. Allan Cachuela, Muntinlupa City Public Market chief Randy Garcia, and other local officials.

Alabang Central Market has two buildings for its Wet and Dry sections with a lot area of 20,000 sqm.

Building A has three floors with a total of 448 stalls. The building’s ground floor consists of 242 stainless stalls for fish, chicken, beef, and pork products, 11 buko stalls, 5 commercial/dry stalls, 6 canteen stalls with toilet, while the second floor has 172 vegetable stalls and 12 canteen stalls.

*A look at the modern facility. (photo source – Muntinlupa PIO)*

Meanwhile, the three-storey Building B which is yet to be completed shall consist of 357 dry stalls for groceries, sari-sari stores, supplies, and canteen, among others with roll up doors.

The buildings in the new Alabang Central Market are equipped with fire protection features such as fire hose cabinets, sprinkler system, fire alarm detection. Some of the architectural features in the facilities also include rainwater collector, LED lights, and being solar panel-ready.

Facilities at the site development also include: Material Recovery Facilities, Electrical Room, Genset Room, Ice Storage / Ice Plant, Products Storage (Wet and Dry), Meat Inspection Office, and Security Office.

Further, it has a parking capacity for 235 private cars, 8 accessible parking slots, 13 tricycle slots, 54 motorcycle parking, and 23 delivery trucks.

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The above information was sourced from an official press release. Some parts were changed for this website.

A Look Back at Harbinger #1 (1992)

June 8, 2022June 5, 2022carlocarrasco

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 Harbinger monthly series.

For the newcomers reading this, Harbinger was created by former Marvel editor-in-chief and Valiant founder Jim Shooter (note: read my retro reviews of his works here, here, here, here and here) and artist David Lapham. Harbinger follows a few teenagers with unique abilities or powers who got involved with the Harbinger Foundation, an organization established by Toyo Harada who dreams to change the world as people know it.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Harbinger #1, published in 1992 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Jim Shooter and drawn by David Lapham.

Early story

The story begins at 2:35 PM of June 2, 1991. Pete and his companion Kris are riding a car floating high above the road being followed by a helicopter. After Pete manages to communicate with the helicopter’s operators, they even settle down by landing on a road with no traffic. As Pete and the helicopter people begin talking, three people – Weasel, Eel and Lump – quickly rushed in to subdue Pete and Kris. After Pete manages to free himself from Weasel and Lump, he uses his power to lift up the car Kris drove (note: Kris is no longer in the car) and uses it as a weapon to hit Lump.

Just as Kris hits Eel on the stomach, Pete notices that the gasoline was leaking out of the car which Eel ignites with her electricity causing a huge explosion. Pete and Kris managed to survive the blast and together they fly off to a motel to rest and reorganize themselves.

The next morning, they have a meal together and Kris examines a newspaper. She notices another one of the Harbinger Foundation’s print ads reaching out to people who find themselves different or notice strange things around them. The two fugitives realize that the said foundation somehow made involved youth become dangerous. Remembering that people write and send letters to the Harbinger Foundation, Pete comes up with the idea of intercepting letters…

Quality

This is one very engaging story to read. While story concepts about super-powered teenagers being desperate and struggling to realize their purpose while facing evil is not new, this comic book has a concept that remains unique even by today’s standards. Instead of seeing a group of powered teenage outcasts escaping society’s authorities or taking refuge in the home of a caring person, this comic book follows teenagers who are being targeted by a powerful organization as one of them – Pete – personally got involved with them before.

The story written by Jim Shooter is deliberately paced at a moderate level which allows readers to be able to absorb the details before moving from one chapter to the next. Along the way, Kris and Pete get to meet other powered characters like Faith, Flamingo and John. In between the introductions of the three mentioned characters, Shooter’s script managed to set up enough space for character development and interactions between the characters which have been executed to be believable. Even key elements of youth such as insecurity, fear, angst and the false sense of maturity are portrayed along the way. I should state that Shooter dramatized these characters like they were real people.

As for the Harbinger Foundation itself, it complete lacks visibility and its exposure was limited to the print ad and mentions. Still, the foundation is a clear and present danger to Pete and his companions as it has powered youth members who are dedicated to it and they also have heavily armed personnel working for them.

If you are fond of superhero spectacle, I can say that the action scenes were executed in accordance to the narrative. The spectacle of this comic book was clearly made to emphasize the plot elements and not serve as eye candy. That being said, this is a unique way of enjoying superhero spectacle.

Conclusion

*The Harbinger Foundation’s pawns Weasel, Eel and Lump take on Pete and Kris.*

Harbinges #1 (1992) is a pretty engaging comic book of Valiant and at the same time it is also one of the more unique portrayals of powered teenagers who are living with tremendous odds tilted at them. The tone of the story really felt grounded in reality (the early 1990s specifically) and the character moments, action and incidents were all executed in a believable fashion.

Overall, Harbinger #1 (1992) is highly recommended!

+++++

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