Inspiration – Page 2 – Author Carlo Carrasco

I Love Israel: Israeli agricultural center and DILG sign memorandum of understanding (MOU) on food security solutions

April 18, 2024April 18, 2024carlocarrasco

As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is directly connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. I can assure all of you that nobody from the evil Islamo-Leftist mob, nobody from the pro-Palestine zealots and nobody from any evil society would stop me from supporting and loving Israel.

Now, on with the news…

Recently here in the Philippines, memorandum of understanding (MOU) on food security solutions was signed by an Israeli agricultural center and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), according to an official announcement. The MOU signing was witnessed by Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the announcement published through the DILG’s website. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an Israeli agricultural center aimed at providing intensive training and education to selected local agriculture students on modern food security solutions.

The MOU was signed by DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos and AgroStudies Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Yaron Tamir at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

In his speech, Abalos thanked the Israel Embassy and the AgroStudies for their friendship and partnership, as the agreement will significantly boost the attainment of Pres. Marcos Jr.’s vision of ensuring food security under the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance.

Agrostudies is an international training center which provides a program for agricultural education to interns from developing countries around the world.

“We thank our partners for this continuous partnership of you transferring the technology and best practices to our Filipino farmers,” he said.

Abalos also thanked the partner national government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Agriculture, National Security Council, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for their equal commitment to pushing forth the said program.

The DILG Chief also cited the DILG’s Halina’t Magtanim ng Prutas at Gulay (HAPAG) Program, which complements the national government’s food security measures, and the KADIWA ng Pangulo program, which provides access to quality and safe food items at affordable prices.

Based on the MOU, the DILG will collaborate with LGUs in the selection of eligible students to participate in the 11-month AgroStudies program in Israel, focusing on various aspects of agriculture, including crop cultivation, livestock management, and agricultural technology.

Meanwhile, Tamir explained that the Philippines was the first partner country of Israel over the last 20 years, with some 8,000 Filipinos as scholars in this program, the largest among 15 partner -countries in the AgroStudies internship program.

“Our purpose is for the students and farmers to learn modern technologies in Israel and engage in businesses in the Philippines. I promise that as long as I am the CEO, the Philippines will have the highest quota,” Tamir said.

Posted below is a related news video…

The MOU signed is crucial because food security is a priority under the current government. We Filipinos should be very thankful that Israel – which is an established world leader on agriculture, farming, water and food development – was willing to be a strategic partner as there are over one hundred million people around the Philippines who need to be fed in the long term. Along the way, the Philippines has to keep working hard on boosting agricultural production, expanding the number of government-backed food stores, stabilizing prices of food and cracking down on those who smuggle and hoard agricultural goods.

We should also be thankful to the Lord that even as Israel remains busy fighting the terrorists not only in Gaza but also across the border with Lebanon (Hezbollah), the Jewish state and Israeli companies still value the Philippines as a key partner on economics and social development issues.

To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept 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!

We live in a very divided world. Around the world, Leftist forces have been supporting evil forces like the current regime of Iran which is known for supplying and arming the Palestinian terrorists and other terrorist groups around the Middle East. Leftist forces have been supporting the Palestinian Authority and other enemies of Israel. The Leftists and terrorists always go together and their anti-Semitism is clearly obvious. Hamas is purely evil and they are being protected by not only their fellow terrorists but also by mainstream news media outlets who are linked with Leftist forces and people who hate Israel and the Jewish people. Beware of the evil union of the Islamo-Left which is wicked deep within.

With all that said, I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel and believe that He will guide the Israeli forces to another victory which means finishing off Hamas, crushing Hezbollah and forcing Iran and its terror proxies to give up. Read Joshua 11:1-20 in the Holy Bible for relevance and truth.

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! Always stand in support of Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

In ending this I Love Israel piece, posted below are Israel-related videos for your enlightenment.

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

Muntinlupa City raises monthly allowance of Class A athletes

April 16, 2024April 12, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government formally raise the monthly allowance of its athletes under Class A who represented the city in competitions locally and overseas, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The raise was done by means of legislation.

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

The Muntinlupa City government has increased the monthly allowance of its Class A athletes who represent the city in local and international competitions.

Ordinance 2024-164, passed by the Muntinlupa City Council, was signed by Mayor Ruffy Biazon on April 11.

Under the ordinance, a Class A athlete is someone who has shown excellence in sports and is representing Muntinlupa in regional, national, international and invitational competitions including the Olympics, Asian Games, SEA Games, world championships, Philippine National Games, national finals, Philippine Youth Games, and Palarong Pambansa.

For 2024, Class A athletes from the years 2022 to 2023 will receive a monthly allowance of P1,000 while additional athletes will start from P500 per month.

For 2025, Class A athletes of 2023 will get P1,500 per month; P2,000 per month in 2026; P2,500 per month in 2027; and P3,000 per month in 2028.

The allowance can be used by athletes to buy food and medicine, transportation, equipment for training, playing uniform and other expenses for their studies, the ordinance stated.

The criteria for the selection of Class A athletes are: should be a resident of Muntinlupa for at least one year during the time of his training or joining a competition; recommended by the coach; and those who represent Muntinlupa who win gold, silver and bronze medals in international, national, regional and invitational competitions certified by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Sports Association, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Education and International Sports Federation.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you confident that the raise of allowance for the local Class A athletes will boost their moral and encourage more locals to excel in sports?

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

HSBC remains committed to investing in the Philippines and supporting the government’s economic agenda

April 16, 2024April 5, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently the huge international financial firm The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) confirmed its commitment to investing in the Philippines and supporting the government’s economic agenda which President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., welcomed, 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…

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday welcomed the commitment of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) to support the government’s economic agenda and continue to invest in the Philippines.

HSBC Holdings Group officials, led by its Chairman Mark Tucker, paid a courtesy visit to the President at the Malacañan Palace and expressed its intention to continue expanding in the country.

“Today, we are left as one of the few international banks. But our commitment to the Philippines, and continuing to invest, continuing to work here remains absolutely intact,” Tucker told Marcos.

He added that HSBC, which has been operating in the Philippines for almost 150 years, is interested in expanding its investment in the Philippines, particularly on foreign direct investment (FDI), saying it “supports FDI by a number of different ways.”

For his part, the chief executive acknowledged the significant contributions of HSBC to the Philippine economy, pointing out the “interconnections” it has made in the country.

“Thank you again for HSBC’s continued interest. We continue to encourage (foreign investments). The economy, actually, we’ve tried to open it up, we put very, we put much (importance)… on the fact that private partnerships are necessary,” Marcos said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think HSBC’s commitment will encourage other international financial firms and foreign investors to support the national economy?

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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Delivery rider arrested for extorting money from motorist while posing as a traffic enforcer

April 12, 2024April 2, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Manila, a delivery rider who disguised himself as a traffic enforcer flagged down a motorist and extorted money which eventually led to his arrest, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The suspect has been charged for robbery extortion and the usurpation of authority.

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

A delivery rider posing as a traffic enforcer was arrested after he flagged down a motorist to extort money.

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the suspect as Lloyd Tolentino, 27, resident of Barangay Kaunlaran, Navotas City.

According to the police report, the 43-year-old victim Reagan Ramos was traveling along Pedro Bukaneg Street corner Roxas Boulevard in Malate, Manila on Sunday night, March 31.

He said he was flagged down by the suspect, who was wearing a Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau uniform, and introduced himself as a traffic enforcer.

The suspect asked for the victim’s driver’s license for a traffic violation (swerving), but the victim contested.

The victim became suspicious when the suspect demanded P200 in exchange for not being issued a traffic violation ticket. Police said the victim immediately reported the incident to authorities that led in the arrest of the suspect.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be more abusive delivery riders around Metro Manila who could be committing the usurpation of authority and extort money from motorists?

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 CPP-NPA members charged for financing terrorism

April 8, 2024March 27, 2024carlocarrasco

Two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) were charged for financing terrorism and the Department of Justice (DOJ) claims it found compelling evidence against the suspects, 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 Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said it found compelling evidence to indict two members of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) responsible for collecting revolutionary funds and financing terrorism.

Following information gathered by the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), accused Leonor Taguinod Dumlao and Valentin Cruz Tolentino will be charged with violation of Section 8 of R.A. No. 10168, known as “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.”

The charges will be filed before the Batangas City regional trial court, the DOJ said in a statement.

The two were originally arrested under Oplan Paglalansag in Mindoro Oriental and Rizal in August 2023.

According to reports, the two accused possessed firearms and ammunition with no definite source of income or apparent purpose, prompting authorities to initiate background checks and collaborate with intelligence counterparts from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) to ask the court’s issuance of search warrants against the two.

Authorities discovered firearms, ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), IED components, and a significant sum of money.

Dumlao and Tolentino, the DOJ said, are alleged members of the National Finance Commission (NFC) of the CPP/NPA which had direct involvement in demanding money from construction firms, telecommunication companies, bus companies, mining companies, and businessmen in the guise of “revolutionary taxes.”

The two were also allegedly responsible for the creation of the National Economic Striking Force (NESF) of the CPP/NPA, which serves as security of the “Rebolusyonaryong Buwis sa Kaaway na Uri” or the RBKU.

“We will never let even an inch of terrorism’s tyranny sow fear among our citizens, much more let the cowards behind this menace run free. This is a time when we Filipinos should fortify our resolve and show our resilience in fighting this evil,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there are several Communists here in the Philippines who are secretly financing terrorism, smuggling weapons and plotting chaos? Do you think the young leftist activists living in your local community could secretly be agents of the CPP/NPA?

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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Honest and helpful Muntinlupa City Government worker commended

April 8, 2024April 7, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government commended its own employee for honesty and helpfulness as he found P6,000 at a nearby automated teller machine (ATM) and returned it all, 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…

Mayor Ruffy Biazon commended a Muntinlupa City government employee who returned the money that he found at an automated teller machine (ATM).

Patrick Gabriel Moreno, an employee of the Muntinlupa City Health Office, found the money amounting to P6,000 at a Landbank ATM located at the city hall compound.

Instead of keeping the money for himself, Moreno surrendered it to Landbank. Through Moreno, the money was returned to the owner.

Moreno, who recently got married, was praised by Biazon.

“This is very admirable, and it’s important to recognize such behavior to inspire others. Here in the City Government of Muntinlupa, we aim to promote the exemplary qualities of a Muntinlupeño,” said Biazon.

For his good deed, Moreno was awarded a certificate of commendation during the city government’s flag ceremony on April 1.

The Muntinlupa City government, through its Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence or PRAISE Committee, recognizes employees who perform extraordinary actions beyond what is expected of their functions.

The recognition highlights the importance of integrity in public service and reinforces Muntinlupa City’s dedication to fostering a culture of honesty and accountability, the Public Information Office said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you happy about this local news?

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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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 6

April 5, 2024March 29, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will examine print ads from the 1980s and the 1990s that caught my attention and I will explain why they are worth look back at.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Operation Wolf print ad

*Even though there were screenshots from the game, this was still an eye-catching print promoting Operation Wolf for the Nintendo Entertainment System.*

Looking back at the history of pop culture, the 1980s saw the surge of Hollywood action movies that emphasized or even glorified militarism. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone and Tom Cruise were just a few Hollywood stars who found success playing military figures. It was not surprising that there were game developers in Japan who noticed the Hollywood military trend and were inspired to make games that had similar themes. The Japan-based company Taito developed and released the light gun shooter arcade game Operation Wolf which became a huge commercial success worldwide. Unsurprisingly, versions of Operation Wolf were eventually made for the existing home computers and game consoles of the time.

The above print ad of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version of Operation Wolf only showed the official artwork, descriptive text and noticeably no gameplay screenshots. While the ad made the NES version of the game look exciting to look forward to, the actual game looked and felt nothing like the arcade version as the console’s limitations resulted in really small 2D sprites (which made shooting tough) and the 2D art used were rather ugly to see. I can only speculate that the people at Taito knew their product for the NES had sub-par quality and only hoped for the best trying to fool gamers to buy it.

2. Foreman For Real print ad

*Apart from boxing and endorsing grills, are you aware that George Foreman is also a worship leader and preacher of God’s Word?*

In late-1994, George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight boxing title and the last time he had it was way back in 1974. For the newcomers reading this, Foreman halted his professional boxing in 1977, established his connection with God, preached His Word, opened a youth center and became a major product endorser. Foreman came back into fighting in 1987 and stunned everyone when he became heavyweight champion seven years later.

That being said, it was no surprise that game publisher Acclaim (which already released a video game with the boxer in 1992) quickly returned to Foreman to get him as the titular endorser in the 1995 video game Foreman For Real which was released on multiple gaming platforms less than a year after his championship victory. Apart from showing Foreman’s dominating image and screenshots from the game, the ad even had a promo of a free 2-week membership with Gold’s Gym. This ad was a lively reminder of the significance of Foreman’s presence in professional sports and it was instantly eye-catching.

3. BurgerTime print ad

*Arcade hits like BurgerTime also made it into personal computers.*

Previously, I showed an eye-catching print ad of the arcade classic BurgerTime. This time, the BurgerTime print ad shown here focused more on the IBM and Apple computer versions. This print ad had a photograph of an actor playing chef Peter Pepper carrying a huge burger bun running away two eggs and a hotdog, and near them were the respective boxes of BurgerTime for IBM and Apple. This is a sharp change of visual style away from the comic book-style art used in the other BurgerTime print ad. I can only imagine how excited IBM and Apple computer users became after seeing this ad back in the 1980s.

4. Shining Wisdom print ad

*Even though this was a very eye-catching ad that appeared in several publications, Shining Wisdom went on to become a forgotten game after receiving mixed reviews from game review writers.*

Here is another print ad of Working Designs from the 1990s. Released only on the Sega Saturn in 1996, Shining Wisdom was a fantasy action-adventure game from Japan that publisher Working Designs localized with North Americans in mind. This meant taking lots of creative liberties with the story, name changes, insertions of pop culture jokes and even altered the personalities of the characters. Developed by Sonic Software Planning and Camelot Software Planning, Shining Wisdom started as a project for the 16-bit console Mega Drive (Sega Genesis in America) that was revised for the more powerful Saturn console. While this print ad caught the attention of gamers and readers, Shining Wisdom received mixed reviews from critics upon release. Sadly, not too many gamers talk about this game anymore.

5. Cabal print ad

*Military action and shooting strongly emphasized in this print ad for the Nintendo Entertainment System version of the arcade smash Cabal.*

Like many games released in the 1980s, Cabal had a strong military theme and allowed players to engage in bouts of shooting playing soldiers who have to fight entire armies of bad guys. This print ad about the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) version of the game had really nice art dominating the page, the packaging of the game plus three screenshots showing what gamers could expect. This was a very eye-catching print ad that made Cabal look both exciting and enticing.

6. Metal Gear print ad

*Wow! So many weapons and pieces of equipment displayed in this Metal Gear (NES version) ad.*

Back in the late 1980s, the NES port of Metal Gear had a notable promotion in America thanks to this cleverly designed print ad. When it comes to emphasizing “gear” from the title, the marketing team emphasized the words “Gear up” and literally filled the ad spaces with lots of pieces of equipment that was not only eye-catching but also gave readers the idea that a huge adventure awaits them in Metal Gear. As for the game box on the lower left corner of the print, the cover art highlighting the character Snake was an artistic copy of a still image of actor Michael Biehn as Kyle Reese in The Terminator (1984). This print ad was both entertaining and intriguing to look at.

7. Dino Crisis print ad

*For many gamers, Dino Crisis was like a combination of Resident Evil and Jurassic Park and this visceral looking print ad really got lots of people interested in the game.*

In 1999, Capcom released Dino Crisis for PlayStation in America and the timing was almost perfect as millions of gamers who owned the console enjoyed the releases of Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2 (both games from Capcom) firmly establishing the survival horror genre as a popular one. That being said, a lot of RE fans anticipated the release of Dino Crisis due to the fact that the game shared several elements with Resident Evil games in terms of exploration, survival, control and shooting. Not only that, Resident Evil creator and original game director Shinji Mikami was in charge of the making of Dino Crisis. Mikami pointed to the films The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) and Aliens (1986) as influences on making the game which for most gamers was perceived as “Resident Evil filled with dinosaurs.”

The print ad above had a very engaging visual design that symbolized action, horror and tension well. Mikami clearly wanted gamers to experience the intense violence of encountering dinosaurs and this ad gave viewers a small sample of that. It’s safe to say that this print ad was effective as Dino Crisis went on to sell millions of copies and established Regina (the red-haired lady in the ad) as another memorable character from Capcom.

8. Airwolf/Knight Rider games print ad

*Very clearly, the advertiser focused on the cool look to sell the games of Airwolf and Knight Rider.*

Back in the 1980s, Airwolf and Knight Rider were wildly popular TV series that each had winning formulas to entertain millions of viewers with action, suspense and storytelling. It was not surprising that video game adaptations of them were produced on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). This particular print ad was an efficient way of promoting the Airwolf and Knight Rider games which featured two players looking cool with jackets and sunglasses. Acclaim clearly aimed for the TV series’ fans and slightly older players among the NES owners/users.

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NLCOM helps alleviate the loss and despair of fire victims in Barangay Pilar Village, Las Piñas City

April 3, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, New Life Community Care Foundation International, Inc. (NLCOM) – the compassion arm of New Life Philippines located inside Alabang Hills Village in Muntinlupa City – sent a team to help fire victims in Barangay Pilar Village recover by providing them more assistance and this includes the conducting of Psychological First Aid.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the March 24, 2024 social media post of NLCOM. Some parts in boldface…

As the 125 families affected by the second-alarm fire in Maligaya Compound, Brgy. Pilar, Las Piñas continue to tread their paths to recovery, NLCOM carried on with extending help and ministering to them in the past five weeks.

We were able to promote healthy recuperation in the children by conducting Psychological First Aid, aside from the weekly feeding of hot meals for the families and fun kiddie activities. It was such a sight of grace to see how the kids would excitedly gather as soon as they see the team and would ask for more activities, not wanting it to end. To see the grown-ups grinning while watching the children enjoy and to hear many of them express their appreciation for the time spent with them was truly heartening.

We responded with the desire to alleviate the loss and despair that they are feeling. It may only have been momentary, but the compassion bestowed surely etched a long-lasting mark in their hearts.

For the newcomers reading this, I previously blogged about NLCOM back in 2020 which you can read by clicking here and my most recent blog can viewed by clicking here, here and here. As mentioned earlier, NLCOM has a history of providing relief to disaster victims and helping them rebuild their lives and communities as they recover.

NLCOM is committed to organizing activities from disaster preparedness trainings, relief goods distribution, mobile kitchen feeding operations, Psychological First Aid to kids and adults traumatized by a disaster, and rebuilding of damaged houses. To get to know NLCOM better, I recommend you watch their official YouTube video below…

If you have decided to help potential disaster victims through NLCOM, be aware that New Life’s compassion arm is accepting donations. You may send your monetary donations to:

NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CARE FOUNDATION INT’L. INC.

PESO CHECKING ACCOUNT:

Unionbank (Richville Branch)

00-133000543-3

US DOLLAR ACCOUNT:

Unionbank (Richville Branch)

13-133000530-7

Swift Code: ubpphphmm

Via PAYPAL:

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/nlcomPH

For more information about NLCOM, visit https://nlcom.org.ph/ or visit their office at 2 Don Manolo Boulevard, Alabang Hills Village, Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Contact them at landline 88091542 extension 426.

In ending post, let me share with you a few holy scriptures that should remind you that God is our source, our provider and the blessedness of giving is absolutely true.

Now [may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NKJV)

Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor.

Proverbs 11:25 (TPT)

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him.

Proverbs 19:17 (AMPC)

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Balikatan (US-Philippines joint military exercise) set to start on April 22, 2024

April 2, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Balikatan, the annual joint military exercise of the Philippines and the United States of America, will officially begin on April 22 and last until May 10, 2024 with the participation of at least sixteen thousand troops, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. This year’s edition of Balikatan includes activities that will take place outside of the territorial waters of the Philippines.

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

The 39th iteration of “Balikatan” Exercise (BK39-2024), an annual military drill between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and United States Armed Forces, will be held on April 22 to May 10 and at least 16,000 troops from both countries are expected to take part in it.

Col. Michael G. Logico, the exercise executive agent for BK39-2024, said that American troops and their support groups have already started arriving in the country for the war games.

For this year’s Balikatan Exercise, there will be 11,000 American troops and 5,000 Filipino personnel that will be joining in an array of military drills.

“Starting April 1, we will begin with our information warfare exercise that will be held here in Camp Aguinaldo. Officially, that is still part of Balikatan but it will happen before the opening ceremony. The reason why is because we will use the venue for the information warfare exercise for other events in Balikatan,” Logico said on Wednesday, March 20.

Contingents from other countries will also be joining including 150 troops from Australia, and an undetermined number of military personnel and a frigate from France. Fourteen nations will also deploy contingents as observers to the exercise, including 150 personnel from Japan.

A sinking exercise will also be conducted where participants will have to coordinate their movements to test the interoperability of their weapons systems in sinking a mock enemy ship.

For this exercise, the AFP and US Armed Forces will try to send the former BRP Caliraya (AF-81) to the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

BRP Caliraya, a Philippine Navy ship that was decommissioned in 2020, was supposed to be sunk in a sinking exercise during the Marine Aviation Support Activity (Masa) 2023 between the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and US Marine Corps off San Antonio, Zambales in July 2023 but it ran aground off Morong, Bataan while being towed.

Group Sail – Aside from that, Logico said that for the first time, there will be activities that will be held outside the country’s territorial waters, including a group sail with the participating countries in the West Philippine Sea and its nearby maritime area.

“They will be moving from Point A to Point B. We will be utilizing the western side of Palawan , extending beyond our 12 nautical miles so this is also a new thing that we are [doing]. We’ve done group sails before but this time, we will [be] going beyond our 12 nautical mile limitation. In previous exercises, we’ve been limited to just 12 nautical miles, now we are encouraging or we are venturing outwards, beyond that,” Logico explained.

The participants for the group sail include the Philippine Navy, US Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, US Coast Guard, and French Navy. The participants will conduct a combination of division tactics to test their interoperability at sea including search and rescue; visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercises; gunnery exercises, and well deck operations among others.

“When you are talking beyond 12 nautical miles, that is already international waters so France’s presence is easily justified. They are exercising FONOPS [freedom of navigation operations] but they are incorporating themselves into the group sail and then it just so happened that they are performing communications exercises, division tactics exercises,” Logico added.

The group sail between the Philippines, United States, and France is expected to raise the eyebrow of China, which has maintained a strong presence in the South China Sea to protect its claims.

However, Logico said the exercise is part of the Philippines’ right and the AFP is unfazed by any challenges that would be posed by China. He said the AFP wants to send a message through the group sail that it is serious about defending the Philippines’ territory and it has allies to help them achieve their goals.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Do you think the war games between the Philippines and the US will inspire Filipinos to defend their nation? What kind of reaction do you think China will come up with towards the US-Philippines war games?

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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Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT) remains as one of the top taxpayers in Muntinlupa City

April 1, 2024March 20, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT) was recognized by the City Government as one of the Top 10 taxpayers in the city and this is also the 3^rd consecutive year the corporation made it in the prestigious rankings, according to a Malaya Business Insight news report.

For the newcomers reading this, Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT) describes itself as “a real estate investment trust backed by Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), one of the largest property developers in the Philippines with an established portfolio of residential, office, retail and industrial developments around the country.”

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

Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT), the pioneering real estate investment trust (REIT) arm supported by Filinvest Land, Inc. (FLI), and renowned as the country’s first sustainability-themed REIT, has once again received recognition as one of Muntinlupa City’s top taxpayers for the third consecutive year. Acknowledged alongside nine other esteemed businesses by the city, under the guidance of Hon. Mayor Ruffy Biazon, FILRT has been commended for its significant contribution to the city’s economic progress, bolstering various local government initiatives such as scholarships, healthcare, and security infrastructure.

Maricel Brion-Lirio, FILRT President and CEO, affirmed, “We are steadfast in our commitment to embedding sustainability in our Muntinlupa developments, and we remain dedicated to investing in projects and endeavors that champion environmental and social responsibility. FILRT and FLI stand as steadfast allies of the government, offering unwavering support for the city’s continuous pursuit of advancement.”

FILRT currently owns and manages 16 eco-efficient buildings encompassing over 280,000 square meters of gross leasable area within Northgate Cyberzone, an IT BPO campus-style hub accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in Filinvest City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Notably, FILRT’s office property portfolio boasts a globally competitive tenant mix predominantly consisting of blue-chip BPO companies.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you delighted to see how much socio-economic progress FILRT contributed to the city? Are many members of your local community working in a company occupying properties within the Northgate Cyberzone or at Filinvest 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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