Recently in the city of ParaƱaque, elements of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) apprehended eight Vietnamese nationals in a hotel for allegedly overstaying, illegal employment and suspected involvement in online scam operations, according to a news report by DZRH.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the DZRH news report. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
Eight Vietnamese nationals in ParaƱaque City were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for allegedly overstaying, unauthorized employment, and suspected involvement in online scam operations.
The BI operatives conducted an enforcement operation on November 11 at a hotel unit along Roxas Boulevard, where they apprehended 29-year-old Nguyen Phan Gia Khuong, along with seven other Vietnamese nationals, which 6 more men and one woman.
Initial reports indicate that Khuong reportedly overstayed in the country and allegedly engaged in work and activities not authorized under his immigration status. Authorities further said he is connected to suspected online scams targeting foreign victims.
While conducting the inspection, officers found drug-related items and several bullets in a separate room within the same building. The evidence was promptly recorded and handed over to the proper law enforcement authorities for further investigation.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stressed that the agency is resolute in its crackdown on foreign nationals who exploit the countryās hospitality.
Viado also stated that the Philippines will not tolerate individuals who violate its laws or engage in illegal activities. He added that their agency is intensifying operations to ensure that those who pose a threat to public safety are apprehended and deported.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of ParaƱaque, are you concerned that there could be more illegal aliens secretly living and doing online scam operations in the city?
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
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 movie enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1994 to examine the first issue of a comic book mini-series that served as the official adaptation of the movie Mary Shelleyās Frankenstein.
The 1994 film ā starring and directed by Kenneth Branagh and produced by Francis Ford Coppola ā had a huge marketing push through the local media and in the cinemas here in the Philippines. Robert De Niroās name alone attracted a lot of moviegoersā attention and there were some literature enthusiasts who had the impression (or were hopeful) that the film would be faithful to the 1818 Gothic novel by Mary Shelley.
Like many others here in the Philippines, I went to the local cinema (which was half-full) to watch Mary Shelleyās Frankenstein and ended up having a mixed opinion. The production values looked grand and the cinematography (specifically the location shots and vistas) was very impressive but I felt something was off with regards to the direction which brought the storytelling down.
As with some other Hollywood movies of the time, there was a comic book adaptation of Mary Shelleyās Frankenstein in the form of a mini-series from Topps Comics. I remember seeing issue #1 displayed at the local comic book specialty store shortly after seeing the movie but I was not interested on buying it. Recently, I finally secured a copy of the comic book and read it for the first time ever.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Mary Shelleyās Frankenstein #1, published in 1994 by Topps Comics with a story written by Roy Thomas (based on the screenplay by Steph Lady and Frank Darabont) and drawn by Rafael Kayanan. This is the first of a 4-issue mini-series.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins at sea in 1794 in the middle of very cold weather. The ship carrying Captain Walton and his crew crashed on to pack ice and became trapped. The captain refuses to give up on his quest to reach the north pole and he has the crew chopping the ice. Suddenly they hear a frightening noise as something approaches.
A cloaked man emerges from the mist and it turns out he was not the source of the frightening noise. Without hesitation and right in front of the captain, the cloaked man tells the crew to bring their weapons and follow him. The captain tells the newcomer that only he gives the orders. The crewās dogs ran away moving towards the source of the noise in the mist.
The dogs reached the source of the noise and attack it. The dogs were no match for it as they each got hit and eliminated. As the crew heard the dogs die, the captain tells everyone to move back to the ship.
Moments later, the captain and the cloaked man are inside the ship. A tall human figure slowly approaches the ship. After an exchange of words about what has been going on, the captain asked the cloaked man who he is. The man reveals he is Victor Frankensteinā¦
Quality
This particular scene looked great in the movie itself. There was nothing the comic book creators could do to translate it into illustrated literature.
To make things clear, this comic book covers the filmās beginning until the scene in which Frankenstein attempts to give his creature life. As there were no printed advertisements, the comic book creators tried hard to cram several scenes into it complete with lots of details regarding the setting, the scientific thoughts of Frankenstein, experiment details and more. Indeed, a lot of the exposition in the film made it here and there were also cinematic sequences that simply could not be replicated in print format.
The illustrated opening scene replicated enough of the essence of the cinematic opening. Like the movie, the narrative moves back in time to explore Victor Frankensteinās youth, his family, how Elizabeth became his adopted sister and how family tragedy started his path to becoming obsessed with overcoming death through science, medicine, chemistry and biology.
As it is clear that this illustrated version could never replicate the grand visuals of the film, such scenes were trimmed a lot with the readers in mind. The narrative moved between slow and medium pace similar to the film but for readers, it is a must to pay close attention to the details to truly understand the story and how Frankenstein develops.
Frankenstein here is portrayed not only as an obsessed scientist (who wants to conquer death by creating life with his own efforts) but also as a hurting man whose destiny has been altered with pain, struggle and darkness ahead. No matter what the odds were, Frankenstein believes he can achieve what is impossible while also believing he is not a mad man. Of course, Frankensteinās own obsession blinded him so much, he fails to realize the truth that he has turned into a truly mad scientist who does not care at all about ethics, nature and morality. As such, Frankenstein is truly unlikable as the protagonist.
While a lot of effort was done to translate the filmās plot into comic book storytelling, Rafael Kayanan did a decent job with the visuals showing ranging quality throughout. Given the historical setting and European locations of the movie reflecting the novel, it is indeed difficult for any artist to replicate the looks, the environments and the many material objects of the period. Some illustrated scenes looked detailed while others showed some signs of rush. If you are hoping to see the characters looking like the actors in the movie, you wonāt find much of that here. Ironically, there were a few shots that reflected that gore and violent movements of the film.
Apart from the story, there are two pages in this comic book that provided details about the history of Mary Shelleyās novel and how her creation impacted entertainment and pop culture in America (including the famous 1931 movie). Selected images were also included.
Conclusion
The dogs are powerless towards the unseen creature of Frankenstein.
The way I look at Mary Shelleyās Frankenstein #1 (1994), it clearly follows the movieās scenes visually rather than following closely the screenplay and that means translating Kenneth Branaghās vision into comic book form here. As such, there definitely is something off with regards to pacing and storytelling. There really is not much enjoyment in this 1st issue of the comic book adaptation mini-series. In fact, this is more of a humanized portrayal of unethical science driven by one character’s obsession with conquering death.
Overall, Mary Shelleyās Frankenstein #1 (1994) should be avoided.
As the signs are clear that economic growth of the Philippines has weakened, President Marcos called on financial giant HSBC to help foreign investors realize the economic opportunities in the country, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has called on international bank HSBC to help more foreign investors see the huge economic opportunities the Philippines has to offer.
āTogether letās build a more progressive Philippine economy, where people can access reliable financial services, obtain meaningful opportunities, and live more dignified, comfortable lives,ā he said in a speech at HSBCās 150th year anniversary gala in Taguig City on Tuesday night.
āLet us continue creating an environment where investors, stakeholders, and most importantly, our citizens see the Philippines as a nation of promise,ā he added.
He acknowledged the foreign bankās support for government initiatives, including its participation in recent bond issuances such as the SEC-registered USD3.3 billion-equivalent dual currency global bond that aims to ensure the continuation of vital government programs.
āThese programs, whether on infrastructure, education, or social protection, directly benefit our people, especially those who rely on stable public services,ā he said.
He also cited HSBCās strong collaboration with relevant economic agencies and its contribution to increasing the countryās exposure to foreign investors.
From its first branch in Binondo in 1875, Marcos said HSBCās growing presence in the Philippines serves as a vote of confidence in the future of the Philippines.
On the part of the government, he said the administration continues to strengthen its financial systems to protect depositors.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, he added, is refining capital, liquidity, and governance standards to ensure that banks are resilient.
The country, he said, also adopts reforms such as the Basel III New Standardized Approach, the National Risk Assessment, and clearer guidelines for the disqualification of erring officers.
āToday, as HSBC adapts to a rapidly changing economy, we are confident that the bank will remain true to its commitment to making its services more inclusive, more secure, and accessible to Filipinos,ā the chief executive said.
HSBC, the leading international bank in the country, serves 41 million clients across 57 markets, with over USD3 trillion in assets.
In his remarks, HSBC Interim Group Chairman Brendan Nelson said the firm has āstrongā confidence in the Philippines and is ready to work with the country to sustain its growth momentum.
He said HSBC is ādetermined to continue growingā in the Philippines as he noted its strategic position in Southeast Asia, one of the regions, he noted, is set to benefit most from the āconfigured globalized world.ā
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think economic growth of the Philippines will get stronger in 2026? Do you think foreign investors will take a new look at the Philippines for economic opportunities soon?
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 worldās most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Full Metal Jacket ā A few months ago, my YouTube series post included several reaction videos of Stanley Kubrickās Full Metal Jacket. Recently Ashleigh Burton posted her own Full Metal Jacket reaction video and I can say that it is very enjoyable to watch as the YouTuber (who is a jolly person) had her own bouts of laugh-out-loud moments reacting to it. Watch Ashleigh Burtonās video below.
#2 Ghost in the Shellās Relevance Analyzed ā I was still in college the first time I saw the 1995 anime feature film Ghost in the Shell on home video. While I enjoyed the action and the high-quality visuals (2D animation mixed with computer-generated graphics), I was unable to grasp the story and its many philosophical messages within. To really enjoy it and understand Masamune Shirowās concepts, watching Ghost in the Shell should be done with patience and the right mindset. Fortunately, a YouTuber took the time to replay the anime feature film and paid close attention to the many details within. Indeed, Ghost in the Shell is more relevant than ever today as it tackled hacking, cybersecurity, identity and artificial intelligence early on. To find out more, watch the video below.
#3 Yakisoba In Japan ā You like Yakisoba? Yakisoba is a Japanese noodle stir-fried dish and it first appeared in food stalls in Japan about a century ago. There are lots of places in Japan that offer yakisoba to customers and there are also variants of it depending on where you find it. In the city of Kobe (the same city that got ravaged by a massive earthquake in the mid-1990s) is a Yakisoba shop that serves a lot of customers each day. That means something must be really good with the yakisoba. Watch and learn from the video below.
#4 Do You Trust James Gunn? ā I never bothered to watch James Gunnās Superman movie this year. In fact, when it was announced that Gunn and his partner would start a whole new line of DC Comics superhero movie projects under the Warner Bros. banner a few years ago, I was never excited nor interested. I saw Gunnās work in Guardians of the Galaxy (he wrote and directed it) and the 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake (he wrote it) and neither film was worth replaying. Iām not saying Gunn is a bad filmmaker, I just donāt find his work compelling enough and box office numbers donāt change a thing. He also directed The Suicide Squad which ended up as a commercial disappointment. When it comes to cinematic superhero works, there are reasons why long-time superhero fans and comic book readers donāt trust Gunn which you can learn from the videos below.
#5 Austria Pushes Back Against Mass Migration ā Right from the top, Austria made decisive moves to push back against the flow of mass migration and made it clear they want to preserve their culture and prioritize their citizens. It has been over ten years since Germany ā under Angela Merkel ā committed a huge blunder by opening its borders to so many people from the Middle East and Africa which affected other European nations negatively. It is obvious that the high amount of so-called refugees already in Europe collectively have no desire to assimilate with the culture and norms of the nations they entered, and they want more social benefits and more money at the expense of the citizens. Austria itself had enough and you can find out how they pushed back against mass migration by watching the video below.
The 3rd quarter growth of only 4% the Philippines achieved has been on peopleās minds a lot lately. As such, the country is at risk of falling behind its neighbors in Southeast Asia in terms of economic growth and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, according to a BusinessWorld news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
The Philippine economy is at risk of further falling behind its Southeast Asian neighbors, an economist said, noting it may take two years to catch up with Vietnam and up to 70 years to catch up with Singapore.
ā(T)he Philippines could find itself lagging behind if alleged public spending issues continue to divert attention and resources away from the structural reforms needed to accelerate economic development,ā Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Lead Economist Emilio S. Neri, Jr. said in a commentary on Wednesday.
In the third quarter, Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4%, its slowest pace in over four years amid slower household and public infrastructure spending as the flood control scandal dampened investor and con-sumer sentiment.
In the nine months to September, GDP growth averaged 5%, putting the governmentās 5.5%-6.5% full-year growth target further out of reach.
āThe Philippine economy is growing, but not enough to close the economic gap with other countries,ā Mr. Neri said.
He noted the Philippine GDP per capita is lower compared with other economies in the region. Citing International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, he said the Philippinesā GDP per capita stood at $4,078 in 2024.
āAt the current growth rate, it would take the Philippines two years to catch up with the GDP per capita of Vietnam, 4 years with Indonesia, 14 years with Thailand, 26 years with Malaysia, and 70 years with Singapore, assuming their incomes remain stagnant. In reality, their GDP per capita continues to grow, which means the gap could persist or even widen,ā Mr. Neri said.
The Philippines lagged behind Singapore which had a GDP per capita of $90,674 in 2024, followed by South Korea ($36,128), Japan ($32,498), China ($13,312), Malaysia ($12,540), Thailand ($7,491), Indonesia ($4,958) and Vietnam ($4,535).
āBefore the pandemic, the Philippines had a higher GDP per capita than Vietnam, but has since been overtaken. At current trends, it would take the Philippines two years to catch up with Vietnam, but that gap could increase to 13 years by 2044,ā Mr. Neri said.
The BPI economist said the Philippines needs structural reforms to accelerate growth in order to close the widening gap with its neighbors.
āThe current economic model of the country is not enough, as shown by the countryās inability to grow faster than 6% in recent years,ā he said.
Mr. Neri said the economy has been ātoo reliantā on consumer spending, driven by overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittances and the business process outsourcing industry.
āThere is a need to diversify its sources of growth. The economy must improve in terms of production, especially in agriculture and manufacturing, as they will allow the economy to be more self-sufficient and to reach foreign markets. These industries have been critical to Vietnamās success and could play a similar role for the Philippines,ā he said.
However, Mr. Neri said implementing these reforms will be hard if the government lacks focus.
āPublic spending issues divert fiscal resources and policymaking focus away from long-term development priorities. Efforts to strengthen safeguards against potential issues in government spending are essential, enabling the country to work on structural reforms that could improve the economy,ā he said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What do you think should the government do to accelerate economic growth?
In a new move against worldly evil and Islamic terrorism, United States President Donald Trump revealed his intention to officially declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and already the final documents are being prepared behind the scenes, according to a news report by Newsmax.
For starters, watch below the related news video from Sky News Australia.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report Newsmax. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
President Donald Trump told Just The News on Sunday that he will designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.
Trump said “final documents are being drawn” and that “it will be done in the strongest and most powerful terms.“
Trump has weighed such a move since his first administration. The Muslim Brotherhood ā an Islamist movement founded in Egypt almost a century ago with chapters, political parties, and affiliated groups around the world ā has long been accused by critics of fueling extremism and destabilizing the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Trump for his plans to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terror group, The Jerusalem Post reported.
“I commend President Trump for outlawing the Muslim Brotherhood,” he said. “This is an organization that endangers stability in the Middle East and beyond. That is why the State of Israel has outlawed parts of the organization and will continue to do so.“
Last week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott designated both the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as “foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations,” according to Just The News.
Republicans in the House and the Senate, as well as some Democrats, have urged the State Department to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you support Trumpās move to officially declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization? Are you aware of the Muslim-majority nations that officially opposed the Muslim Brotherhood? Were there Islamists who intimidated you or invaded your local community over the past six months?
With the weakening economic growth and growing socio-economic uncertainty affecting the entire Philippines, prominent business groups reaffirmed their commitment to invest and create jobs in the country, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
Six prominent groups representing the business sector reaffirmed their commitment to invest and create jobs in the Philippines amid weakening sentiment in the economy, which is fueled by what they described as a āpolitical turmoilā stemming from the ongoing corruption scandal.
In a rare joint statement sent to the media moments after a pivotal reshuffle in the administrationās economic team, the business groups emphasized that they remain committed to supporting the Philippine economy.
āWhile the current political turmoil raises understandable concerns, we stress that the countryās long-term fundamentals remain strong; anchored by a well-regulated financial system, a stable banking sector, and companies that continue to invest in and believe in the Philippines,ā the groups said on Monday, Nov. 17.
The statement was signed by Makati Business Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (FINEX), Philippine Finance Association, and Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD).
In a statement that essentially serves as a pitch to potential investors, the six business groups said that the institutions safeguarding local markets ācontinue to operate independently and rigorously.ā
The groups cited the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as among the most reliable government partners when it comes to businesses.
Both the BSP and the SEC uphold regulatory frameworks aligned with global standards, ultimately ensuring market integrity, prudent risk management, and strong investor protection, they said.
āThe Philippines continues to meet international benchmarks on capital adequacy, disclosure requirements, and corporate governance,ā the groups said.
The business groups also took note of the corporate earnings of publicly listed companies, which reflect the economyās underlying strength.
They noted that even during periods of global instability, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, companies continued to demonstrate resilience with growing revenues and stable margins.
Further, the groups said that investment sentiment in the country remains robust, with gross fixed capital formation ranging between 22 percent and 27 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) over the last 10 years.
āThis ongoing level of capital spending, mainly driven by business growth, clearly indicates that Philippine companies continue to build capacity, expand operations, and invest in the countryās long-term prospects,ā the statement read.
While upholding optimism, the six business groups stressed that investor confidence is influenced not only by economic fundamentals but also by governance.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Does the joint statement of the prominent business group boost your confidence about the future of the country? Do you think the Philippine economy will be able to bounce back strongly next year? Does the continuing media coverage of the flood control corruption scandals and investigations continue to bother you?
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series.
While issue #284 marked the turning point following the successful return of Jean Grey and the encounter with Bishop, issue #285 generated strong vibes of the sci-fi TV series Otherworld as it revealed most of the X-Menās Gold Team members in a completely different world filled with unknown inhabitants and culture. Clearly a lot has happened following the Gold Teamās debut in issue #281 which reflects the respective contributions of the creators.
With those details laid down, here is a look back atĀ Uncanny X-Men #286, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Jim Lee and Scott Lobdell (who worked on the script). The art was done by Whilce Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Jean Grey, Colossus, Storm and her male companion (Mikhail Rasputin) together. While Jean is surprised and relieved to see Storm again (she was separated from the team temporarily in the last issue), Colossus is shocked to see his long-lost brother Mikhail alive and well. Mikhail reveals that so many years have passed since he last stood with his little brother and had long abandoned any hope of a reunion.
The reunion is interrupted when a portal has grown larger by the moment and it means that it is only a matter time before Earth is pulled into the realm they are in. Both worlds are at risk of getting destroyedā¦
Quality
Charles Xavier and Forge are still on Earth separated from the rest of the X-Men’s Gold Team members.
Following the build-up and character developments that happened in the previous issue, this X-Men tale is pretty much a strong pay-off while leaving some space for suspense and surprises. The writers intended to conclude what started in issue #284 and along the way, they had to go through the challenges of introducing a new world, new people and the conflicts within. Mikhail Rasputin ā the same guy who helped Storm in issue #284 ā is easily the most impactful addition to this tale and because of him and what he revealed, Colossus became emotional and felt like his life was crumbling as he simply could not handle the truth. Colossusā despair and emotional state here served as the creative seeds that later led to the betrayal he would eventually commit (in Uncanny X-Men #304).
The Mikhail-Colossus interaction was easily this comic bookās source of emotions which added some weight to the plot. By the time I reached the end of this issue, I felt really satisfied and at the same time curious about the state of Colossus (note: thereās a still a long road of X-Men tales before Uncanny X-Men #304).
With regards to the writing, John Byrneās intricate touch on the dialog was clearly missing but Scott Lobdell did a fine job taking over. While Whilce Portacio was credited as illustrator, there were a few pages that looked like they were drawn by someone else. The same also happened with regards to the inking in different parts of the comic bookā¦Art Thibertās inking has a fine touch and there were some images that had aggressive and thicker inking (it has to be the work of someone uncredited).
Conclusion
A very significant moment for the Rasputin brothers witnessed by Jean Grey, Storm and a few of the locals.
While there were some inconsistencies on the quality of the artworks, Uncanny X-Men #286 (1992) had a really strong script and the good news here is that the creative team managed to pull off a solid conclusion. This is the kind of tale in which the X-Men utilized their skills and made tough decisions while being far away from Charles Xavier. At this particular stage of the Uncanny X-Men series, the Gold Teamās development really progressed and they became a more appealing team to follow.
Overall, Uncanny X-Men #286 (1992) is highly recommended!
Truancy ā the action of staying away from school without good reason ā went up again in Japan as confirmed by a government survey, according to a news article by Nippon.com. This problem has been going on for more than a decade now and it should spark discussions about what it would take to keep more students attend their classes with the future in mind.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from Nippon.com article. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
Ongoing Rise in Nonattendance ā A survey on problematic behavior and nonattendance of schoolchildren by Japanās Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology found that a record 353,970 students refused to attend school for 30 days or more during the 2024 school year. This was an increase of 7,488, or 2.2%, from the previous year and marked the twelfth consecutive annual rise. Compared to a decade earlier, nonattendance has risen 5.5-fold for elementary school students and 2.2-fold for junior high school students.
Looking at nonattendance by education level, there were 137,704 elementary school students (up 5.6% from the previous year) and 216,266 junior high school students (up 0.1%), which accounted for 3.9% of enrolled students.
The most common causes schools found for nonattendance were ālack of motivation,ā at 30.1%, followed by ābreakdown in routinesā (25.0%), āanxiety or depressionā (24.3%), āpoor academic performance and regular failure to submit homeworkā (15.6%), and āfriendship issues other than bullyingā (13.2%).
The disruption to routines during the COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have lowered the barrier to nonattendance, while parents and guardians have also become more open to it as a necessary form of recuperation.
This development reminds me of a particular quote by the late Ray Walston as teacher Mr. Hand in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The words were as follows:
What is this fascination with truancy? What is it that gets inside your heads? There are some teachers in this school who look the other way at truants. It’s a little game that you both play. They pretend they don’t see you. You pretend you don’t ditch! Now, who pays the price later? You!
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Is truancy/absenteeism a huge problem in your local community or in your city right now? If you are a parent who plans to migrate to Japan soon, do you intend to have your child enrolled in schools there? Do you think the long-term trend of absenteeism in Japan will be reversed in the near future?
If you received a text message containing links, you better avoid clicking on those links as scammers have gotten more sophisticated with technology to steal money, access to personal accounts and personal data from victims through mobile communication. That being said, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has warned the public about text hijacking, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldfaceā¦
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) warned the public on Friday that only scammers would send links through the short messaging system (SMS) or text message.
BSP, in a press release, said legitimate banks, e-money issuers, and other financial entities will not send links, even though the messages look like it came from these regulated institutions.
This scheme is called text hijacking that āinvolves scammers inserting fake messages into legitimate text threads to make them look authentic.ā
āThese messages often contain malicious links designed to steal access to victimsā financial accounts and are usually accompanied by urgent prompts such as notifications of expiring rewards, unauthorized transactions, or account verification requests to pressure recipients into clicking the link,ā it said.
Reports about fraudulent text messages continue to rise, the BSP noted.
This, even as the central bank and other financial institutions have increased their education campaign aimed to inform the public about this scam.
The public is advised to avoid clicking links in text messages or e-mails even if they appear to come from banks or e-money issuers; enable multi-factor authentication to secure accounts and never share personal or financial details with anyone.
If the account has been compromised, contact the bank or e-money issuer through official channels: https://bit.ly/BSPScamAlert
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Where you ever a victim of text hijacking? What do you think government and financial institutions should do to find the scammers and have them all arrested?
Author Carlo Carrasco 