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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 31

June 2, 2025May 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.

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, posters 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 and related products.

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

1. Operation Wolf American and Japanese arcade flyers

In the late 1980s, Taito achieved massive success in arcades around the world with Operation Wolf. Released during the late stage of the Cold War and with many militaristic action movies already released by Hollywood, Operation Wolf attracted a lot of money from countless players as well as praise from game critics. For the American market, Taito came up with a colorful yet gritty looking arcade flyer that had nice hand-drawn artwork and enough details and screenshots to give readers a useful look at what to expect. The Japanese arcade flyer meanwhile has an even grittier looking original artwork that strongly emphasized war, guns and action. In retrospect, I look both arcade flyers a lot.

2. Centipede Atari 2600 and Atari 5200 print ad

*I played Centipede a lot on Atari 2600.*

While I completely missed out on the arcade version of Centipede, I managed to play its Atari 2600 version a lot. Ultimately, the simple game design and unique challenges resulted in lots of fun-filled bouts in my experience. To promote the game’s versions on Atari 2600 and Atari 5200, the game giant came up with this particular print ad that had two near-identical artworks that reflect the concept of Centipede. The ad also has some catchy expressions in the text description. This old ad is still fun to look at.

3. Atari RealSports print ad

*Long before EA sports video games, there was this.*

Way back in 1982, Atari launched its RealSports line of sports video games mainly to revitalize sports gaming for their consoles. In fact, RealSports was the result of a critical and aggressive ad campaign by competitor Intellivision which had its Sports Network series of games. In this RealSports print ad, a large image of Atari’s baseball game was used probably to emphasize the scope of the field. The ad had screenshots of the volleyball and football games, while the text description reflected Atari’s aggressive response to Intellivision. This ad is an early example of competition between rival game console makers focused on sports gaming.

4. Lethal Enforcers Sega CD print ad

*When was the last time you bought a video game with a hard copy and a peripheral bundled together?*

Porting light gun games from the arcade to the console is very difficult and tricky to do. This is what Konami did in the early 1990s when they released a version of the arcade hit Lethal Enforcers on the Sega CD console and the package had a light gun with the game on disc. To promote the Sega CD version, Konami came up with a 2-page print ad with the catchy line “You won’t find a toy like this in any Cracker Jack box.” In addition, their ad had a few paragraphs of descriptive text to not only excite gamers but also gently inform them that Lethal Enforcers was also available on the Sega Genesis (note: this console is required for the Sega CD add-on to work) and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Overall, this old ad has a strong visual approach and a clever marketing strategy.

5. Pitfall II: Lost Caverns Atari 2600 print ad

*A very stylish layout to promote the game.*

In 1982, Activision struck gold with the huge success of Pitfall! which became an influential model of designing platform games. Of course, the publisher (now owned by Microsoft) did not stop there as they went on to make the sequel Pitfall II: Lost Caverns to not only keep the success going but also to exceed the standard they set with the first game. Activision came up with a print ad that not only told gamers of Pitfall Harry’s next adventure but also express humor visually. In line with Activision’s policy of crediting its creators (note: Atari was notorious for refusing to credit its game makers during this era), game designer David Crane was acknowledged in the ad.

6. Team USA Basketball print ad

*See your favorite NBA player from the 1990s?*

In 1992, a lot of people were obsessed with the Dream Team Olympic basketball squad of the United States as its roster had NBA legends like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley and David Robinson to name a few. In fact, the Dream Team became the most popular attraction among all teams in any sport of any country that participated in the summer Olympics in Barcelona. Knowing how popular the squad really was, Electronic Arts (EA) made the video game Team USA Basketball and released it on the Sega Genesis which was already a popular console for sports video games. EA came up with this eye-catching 2-page print ad that strongly emphasized the Dream Team, international basketball gaming, and the company’s tested design on 2D basketball video games. In retrospect, this print ad is still amusing and exciting to look at.

7. Jungle Hunt Atari 2600 and Atari 5200 print ad

*Do you fine the parallel artworks amusing or disturbing?*

Following the huge success of Jungle Hunt (previously titled as Jungle King), Atari saw potential Dollar signs and made a deal with Taito to publish ports under their own brand for the Atari 2600, Atari 5200 and 8-bit computers. As with the Atari console ads of Pitfall II: Lost Caverns and Phoenix, Atari came up with a print ad that featured two parallel artworks that look similar with each other as they promoted Jungle Hunt for Atari 2600 and Atari 5200. To their credit, the artworks used were detailed and eye-catching, and the descriptive line of words displayed carried a possible reference to 1975’s Jaws.

8. GameShark print ad

*A James Bond-inspired way of promoting GameShark.*

Remember GameShark? For the newcomers reading this, GameShark is the brand of a line of products released on different video game consoles and personal computers (Windows specifically) that gamers use to cheat in video games. GameShark was popular at a time when not too many people had access to the Internet nor did gamers had the means to search for cheats online, and codes were needed to enable cheating. GameShark became so popular, more ambitious and stylish print ads were realized such as this James Bond-inspired 2-page ad. On face value, this ad looked like it was a promoting a particular game but ultimately it was about promoting GameShark with style, cool and some sexiness.

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

Parañaque Congressman-elect Yamsuan eyes expansion of BAON program for poor-but-deserving students among constituents

June 2, 2025May 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Incoming Parañaque 2^nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan confirmed that he intends to expand the BAON (Bigay Ayuda at Oportunidad sa Nakababata) program to help the poor-but-deserving students among the constituents and he will do it once he takes office, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. In fact, there were already thousands of students in District 2 of Parañaque who benefited from the said program this year.

For context about the recent National and Local Elections, Yamsuan ran under the Team Pag-Asa banner and his successful teammates include Vice Mayor-elect Benjo Bernabe, and the re-elected City Councilors Tess de Asis, Binky Favis and Shannin Olivarez. Yamsuan won over 2^nd District Representative Gus Tambunting with a lead of almost ten thousand votes. The 2^nd District includes large communities such as Barangay BF Homes, BF Homes subdivision and Tahanan Village. To learn more about Yamsuan, check out his Facebook page by clicking https://www.facebook.com/congbrianyamsuan

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

Parañaque City 2nd district Representative-elect Brian Raymund Yamsuan is eyeing the expansion of his “ayuda” program for poor but deserving students among his constituents.

“Our BAON (Bigay Ayuda at Oportunidad sa Nakababata) program had huge impact on the youth in the second district. We will continue implementing and find ways to broaden its scope to benefit more Parañaqueños in the district,” Yamsuan said in a statement Tuesday, May 27.

“We will start on day one of my term,” he declared ahead of the 20th Congress.

Yamsuan, Bicol Saro Party-list’s lone nominee in the current 19th Congress, said education would be among his priorities as he endeavors to empower the youth and help them take charge of their future.

“Our goal is to make education affordable and easily accessible to give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed in overcoming life’s challenges and carving a stable and vibrant future,” he said.

“Edukasyon, sipag at determinasyon ang pinanghawakan ko noon para makaahon sa kahirapan kaya’t alam ko na kung mabibigyan lamang ng maayos na edukasyon ay may naghihintay na matatag na bukas para sa bawat masisipag na Parañaqueno ng second district,” added the former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assistant secretary.

(Education, diligence and determination were what I held onto in the past to rise above poverty, which is why I know that a stable future awaits every hardworking Parañaquenõ in the second district if given the chance to have a proper education.)

BAON, which Yamsuan started implementing in the district last year, provides a one-time P5,000 educational assistance to each qualified student-beneficiary, and P10,000 each to Dean’s Listers or those With High Honors.

As of April 2025, BAON has benefited about 5,000 students in the elementary, high school and college levels who are residents of Parañaque’s 2nd district.

Yamsuan said that on top of continuing his BAON program, he is also in talks with fellow lawmakers to determine how to increase government funding for the Parañaque City campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) so that more underprivileged but deserving students from the second district would be able to study in this state educational institution.

Established through the efforts of the city’s former mayor, Florencio Bernabe Jr., PUP Parañaque offers academic programs leading to Bachelor of Science degrees in computer engineering, hospitality management, information technology, and office administration. It also offers a Diploma in Office Management Technology-Legal Office Management.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think that an expanded BAON program of incoming Congressman Yamsuan will generate positive results in the 2^nd district of the city in relation to education?

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 engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 79

May 30, 2025May 25, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 You, Me and the Movies react to Night of the Living Dead (1990) – While there are a lot of YouTube videos about the Night of the Living Dead from 1968, there are simply much lesser videos to the 1990 remake by comparison. For the newcomers reading this, the 1990 version of Night of the Living Dead was directed by Tom Savini, presented in color and had its own ways of modernizing the zombie apocalypse genre of film. In my experience, I saw the 1990 remake long before I accidentally discovered on cable TV the 1968 original. If you want to discover the movie and don’t mind spoilers, check out You, Me and the Movies’ entertaining reaction video below.

#2 Unsolved Mysteries Season 3 episodes (hosted by Robert Stack) – If there is any American TV show that made weekday nights entertaining or engaging, it’s none other than Unsolved Mysteries hosted by the late Robert Stack. It’s a good thing for Unsolved Mysteries fans worldwide that episodes hosted by Stack are available for free viewing at YouTube via the FilmRise channel. That being said, posted below are assorted episodes from season 3 of the show for you to discover.

#3 PatmanQC examines the RoboCop arcade game – In 1988, Data East released their adaptation of RoboCop in the arcades achieving tremendous success around the world. RoboCop is considered by some as an arcade classic and is arguably the best RoboCop game ever made. To find out who were responsible for the arcade game and what made it so enjoyable, watch the in-depth video by PatmanQC below.

#4 Healthy breakfast recipes by Shannon Barker – Shannon Barker is a pretty model who appeared in lots of fashion shows. In my retro comic book review of The Solution #17, I expressed my opinion that Barker would make a very good cosplay photograph model as Shadowmage. Apart from fashion, Barker is also a lifestyle vlogger and if you are interested in health breakfast recipes, watch her video below.

#5 Space Quest revisited – Decades ago, me and my friends were able to play on PC (DOS era) the graphic adventure game Space Quest (full title: Space Quest: Chapter I – The Sarien Encounter). Space Quest was one of my computer games released by Sierra On-Line and it involved being observant, being able to pay attention to the descriptions, and typing the right commands in order to progress. Recently, I saw a retrospective video of Space Quest done by YouTuber Power Pak, and it definitely is both nostalgic and fun to watch.

#6 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Howard the Duck – In 1986, the comedy Howard the Duck was released in cinemas and ended up failing both critically and commercially. While it is considered as one of the worst films ever released, it still has a dedicated following. Believe it or not, the movie was produced by George Lucas and his company Lucasfilm made it. To say that Howard the Duck is cinematic trash is extreme and if you want to see how it impacts Ashleigh Burton, watch her reaction video below.

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Courageous Parañaque City cop commended

May 30, 2025May 26, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently a local police officer was commended by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for courageously doing his duty in Parañaque City and getting injured doing so, according a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

The Philippine National Police (PNP) commended a Parañaque City cop who sustained injuries while fulfilling his duties.

Staff Sgt. Carlo Sotelo Navarro, 45, of the BF Homes Police Substation 5, showed the kind of courage expected of a cop when he attempted to pacify an aggressive suspect in Creek Drive 1, San Antonio Valley 8 on Friday morning, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said in a news release Saturday.

According to reports, Navarro, together with other police officers and members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), responded to a public disturbance alert.

When Navarro confronted the suspect identified as “Arnold,” the latter suddenly drew a kitchen knife and struck the police officer in the head and chest.

Navarro’s colleagues and BPAT members were able to restrain the suspect, who is now under police custody. The injured police officer was taken to a hospital and is already in stable condition.

“The courage of PSSg Navarro is a powerful reminder of the kind of sacrifice our police officers make every day. He answered the call of duty without hesitation, knowing the risks. That is true service. We pray for his recovery and salute his heroism,” Marbil said in a statement.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you find the injured cop’s courageous service inspiring? Do you hope that this recent development will inspire local cops to perform their service better and push back strongly against local crime?

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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Motorcycle rider in Parañaque City caught carrying illegal substances worth over P300,000

May 29, 2025May 25, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, local police officers apprehended a motorcycle rider who carried with him more than P300,000 worth of illegal substances, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The suspect was initially stopped for not wearing a helment.

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

A motorcycle rider initially stopped by police for not wearing a helmet was later found transporting P307,000 worth of illegal drugs in Parañaque City on Friday, May 23.

The suspect, identified as alias “Hidehiro,” 21, a resident of Tondo Manila, was apprehended at around 4:50 a.m. in front of Imperial Plaza on Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.

Officers from the Parañaque City Police Tambo Substation, conducting “Oplan Sita,” flagged down the suspect for failing to wear a helmet.

When police asked for Hidehiro’s driver’s license and motorcycle documents, he refused and attempted to flee by abandoning his motorcycle.

Upon inspection, police found in the suspect’s motorcycle compartment 40 grams of shabu packed in 15 aluminum sachets and 10 transparent sachets, with a total value of P272,000, along with ecstasy tablets worth P35,000.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that the smuggling of illegal drugs will keep on going locally? Do you think Parañaque still has a long way to go before it gets declared as 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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Retro Classics now available on Game Pass covering Xbox consoles, PC and other devices

May 28, 2025May 22, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, RPG players, retro gaming enthusiasts and other gamers!

In what is clearly the most serious effort exerted by Team Xbox on retro gaming, they recently released Retro Classics on the Game Pass subscription service covering gamers with Xbox consoles, personal computers (PCs) and device with cloud gaming.

To get things started, watch the official launch trailer of Retro Classics below.

For insight about Retro Classics, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement on Xbox.com. Some parts in boldface.

Retro Classics games are available to play for Xbox Game Pass members. Players who stream on the Xbox app on PC now have an additional streaming option with GeForce Now. Game Bar introduces quick settings, visual updates for Widgets in Compact Mode, and coming soon, Microsoft Edge Game Assist, an in-game browser that brings an immersive game-centric experience to Edge. And Xbox gift cards can now be redeemed for any amount via Xbox Rewards.

Announcing Retro Classics available for Game Pass Members – We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Retro Classics, a collaboration between Xbox and Antstream Arcade, available to play for Game Pass members globally.

Starting today, Game Pass members can dive into a collection of 50+ classic Activision games from the ’80s and ’90s, including beloved titles like Commando, Grand Prix, Kaboom!, Mech Warrior 2: 31st Century Combat, and Pitfall! This initiative is a step in our commitment to game preservation and backwards compatibility, allowing players to experience many timeless games on modern devices.

With Retro Classics, Game Pass members can expect a seamless gaming experience across console, PC, and on supported devices with cloud gaming. Whether playing on Xbox console, the Xbox app on PC, or streaming on supported LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, and Meta Quest headsets, Retro Classics offers a versatile and accessible way to enjoy these nostalgic titles. Game Pass members can access Retro Classics through their Game Pass membership by searching and installing the feature via their console or on the Xbox app on PC. Additionally, players can take on friends, rivals, or the entire world with unique challenges. For the achievement hunters, there are some great new ones to collect, and for newer players, the ability to save and reload your progress, a first for many classic titles.

Game Pass members can look forward to discovering additional games added from Activision and Blizzard, expanding the Retro Classics collection to more than 100+ titles over time.

Now that Activision and Blizzard were mentioned in the official announcement, it is clear that this retro gaming approach by Team Xbox (in strategic partnership with Antstream Arcade) is one of the benefits of the 2023 acquisition of Activision-Blizzard-King.

Having played video games for decades, I know for a fact that Activision alone has lots of old video games from the 1980s and the 1990s. I still remember playing Activision’s Keystone Kapers on the Atari 2600 when I was very young. The same company also released Pitfall! and River Raid on different consoles in the 1980s. The Activision games of the 1990s I often remember were MechWarrior, MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat and Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure. As for Blizzard, I remember playing Blackthorne and I witnessed some people who played Warcraft and StarCraft games in the 1990s.

*See a retro game that interests you? (Photo source – Xbox.com)*

There definitely be more old-but-fun video games coming into Retro Classics for Game Pass subscribers to enjoy. It remains to be seen how fast Team Xbox and its partner will be able to add the games.

If you are already a Game Pass subscriber and if you have decided to enjoy retro gaming, you can do so by availing of Retro Classics by clicking https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/retro-classics/9MTVJ3HHTQGS

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 78

May 26, 2025May 22, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Star Wars: The Phantom Menace revisited – Remember way back in 1999 when Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace was released with a massive amount of hype and anticipation? I first saw that George Lucas-directed movie at the cinema in Festival Mall which was full of people. As the years passed by, The Phantom Menace did not age well as it had serious pacing issues, lots of childish elements (mainly because of a certain very annoying character) and it ended up inferior compared with its sequels Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. But let’s be honest here…while The Phantom Menace is indeed the weakest film of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, is it truly terrible and unwatchable? Now is a good time to revisit the 1999 movie through retrospective videos posted below.

#2 You, Me and the Movies react to Cape Fear (1991) – In recent times, YouTuber You, Me and the Movies posted their reaction video of the 1991 version of Cape Fear starring Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte. For the newcomers reading this, Cape Fear of 1991 is pretty hard core with its violence and, more notably, it carries elements that would terrify both viewers and their respective families. It is the kind of movie that will make you think about your family and how to protect them from cunning and violent criminals. Watch and learn how the movie impacts You, Me and the Movies.

#3 PatmanQC examines the history of Operation Wolf – Now for some retro gaming fun! I remember back in the late 1980s, Operation Wolf was popular in arcades here in the Philippines. As that game was released during the late stages of the Cold War, it was not surprising that it was both socially relevant and enjoyable for gamers. If you are wondering who created the game and what inspired them to produce Operation Wolf, watch the in-depth video by PatmanQC below.

#4 King’s Quest revisited – Still with retro gaming, I want to share with you all that in the late 1980s, I was fortunate to have played King’s Quest on PC (DOS specifically) which was an intriguing and challenging gaming experience for me. I never finished the adventure game from Sierra On-Line but I enjoyed its game design, its groundbreaking visuals and its fantasy world. I recently saw Space Quest Historian’s retrospective on King’s Quest and it had a nice mix of comedy and attention to details. Watch it now.

#5 Pedro Pascal’s wokeness exposed and explained – I really hate it when entertainment gets poisoned by the woke mob from the movie studios down to the performers and creators. I also despise the trend in which woke forces in Communist-filled Hollywood (Commiewood) make movies and shows that promote their Satanic Leftist agenda, and then the woke stars propagate their toxic beliefs in multiple ways. Recently Ranting for Vengeance posted new videos exposing the woke toxicity of actor Pedro Pascal and explaining in detail what happened. I can say this early you should stay away from Pascal’s projects such as the new woke Fantastic Four movie. As for Warner Bros., I don’t like James Gunn’s Superman. Watch and learn from the video below.

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Parañaque Congressman-elect Yamsuan aims to reduce people’s dependence on ayuda by locally implementing government livelihood programs

May 26, 2025May 21, 2025carlocarrasco

Parañaque City’s incoming 2^nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan aims to reduce people dependence on ayuda (dole outs) as he stepped up the implementation of the government’s livelihood programs, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Part of his efforts include the refiling of bills in the next Congress.

For context about what happened in the recent elections, Yamsuan ran under the Team Pag-Asa banner and his teammates include Vice Mayor-elect Benjo Bernabe, and the re-elected City Councilors Tess de Asis, Binky Favis and Shannin Olivarez. Yamsuan won over 2^nd District Representative Gus Tambunting with a lead of almost ten thousand votes. The 2^nd District includes the very large Barangay BF Homes, BF Homes subdivision and Tahanan Village. To learn more about Yamsuan, check out his Facebook page by clicking https://www.facebook.com/congbrianyamsuan

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

Parañaque City 2nd district Representative-elect Brian Raymund Yamsuan has stepped up the implementation of the government’s livelihood programs in a bid to reduce district folk’s dependence on “ayuda” or dole outs.

Yamsuan said he has begun exploring tie-ups with non-government organizations (NGOs) to assist in training qualified beneficiaries of his “Dagdag-Puhunan” and “Bigay-Negosyo” entrepreneurship programs.

The solon, who represents Bicol Saro Party-list in the 19th Congress, has been implementing these in the district since last year in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Yamsuan also said he will re-file bills in the incoming 20th Congress that aim to create local job facilitation offices for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), and promote entrepreneurship by creating a sustainable financing program for micro and small enterprises, to name a few.

“Ang kailangan natin mabigyan ng mga oportunidad ang mga tao na umangat ang kanilang estado ng pamumuhay. Hindi yung basta magbibigay lang tayo ng ayuda ng walang follow-through. Ang pagbabago magsisimula rin sa mga tao mismo. Bibigyan natin sila ng oportunidad para magtiwala sila sa kanilang sarili na makapagbago at mag-rely sa kanilang kakayahan sa halip na umasa na lamang sa ayuda,” Yamsuan said in a recent media interview.

(What we need is to provide opportunities for people to elevate their standard of living, instead of just giving dole outs without any follow-through. Change will start with the people themselves. We will provide them the opportunity so that they will have the confidence to change and rely on their capabilities instead of just depending on dole outs.)

This “follow through” involves providing livelihood training and seminars for ‘ayuda’ beneficiaries to encourage them to set up micro businesses and “graduate” from being doleout recipients, he said.

Yamsuan said his Dagdag-Puhunan and Bigay Negosyo programs provide comprehensive livelihood training for applicants before they can qualify as beneficiaries.

These programs will be enhanced to include financial literacy seminars to educate people on how to prudently save, spend or invest their ayuda or earnings from livelihood programs.

“Ang ‘ayuda’ kailangan pa rin yan ng ating mga mahihirap na kababayan, kasi pantawid nila yan (Our poor countrymen still need dole outs because it will serve as a lifeline for them),” But we will teach them how to use it wisely. The same goes for those who have received assistance through our livelihood programs,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan said his twin programs can lead to success stories if beneficiaries use the funds given to them wisely.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think incoming District 2 Representative Yamsuan will be able to implement socio-economic reforms for his constituents? Do you think that the 2^nd District of Parañaque could experience a new wave of economic improvements over the next three years? Do you believe now is a good time for Filipinos to become less dependent on government-provided cash assistance?

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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Philippines trade officials meet with Pan Pacific International Holdings Corporation (PPIH)

May 25, 2025May 21, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently officials of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) met with the executives of Pan Pacific International Holdings Corporation (PPIH) – the company behind the popular Don Quijote stores – and they discussed opportunities of trade expansion, 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 PNA. Some parts in boldface…

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque has met with executives of Pan Pacific International Holdings Corporation (PPIH) to expand trade opportunities for Philippine products.

PPIH is the Japanese retail powerhouse behind Don Quijote and Don Don Donki store chains.

In a statement on Tuesday, DTI said the meeting, held on May 19 in Tokyo, centered on expanding the sourcing of Philippine products for inclusion in PPIH’s global store network, particularly in Japan, the United States, and other Asian markets.

The recent engagement with PPIH officials is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to deepen trade and investment ties with key global partners, with the representatives from both parties eyeing collaborative solutions to address regulatory and packaging requirements, facilitating smoother entry of Philippine products into foreign retail markets.

During the meeting, PPIH expressed strong interest in increasing the visibility of Filipino-made goods in their retail ecosystem, both as standalone Philippine-branded products and as ingredients or components for Japanese-packaged offerings tailored to local markets.

PPIH identified food and wellness items, natural and sustainable home goods, and unique lifestyle products as key areas of sourcing interest.

They also expressed interest to connect directly with more Philippine exporters and manufacturers, beyond current intermediaries, to gain better access to new and trending products.

“We welcome every opportunity to introduce Filipino products to the world — especially through partners who share our commitment to innovation, inclusion, and excellence. As we work toward a more dynamic and future-ready Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines), engagements like this underscore our dedication to creating new market avenues for Filipino enterprises,” Roque said.

DTI said that while PPIH noted that opening a Donki store in the Philippines remains a long-term consideration, executives acknowledged that a successful sourcing partnership with the Philippine government and exporters could play a significant role in including the Philippines in future regional expansion plans.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that PPIH will proceed with trade expansion opportunities with the Philippines this year? Do you think that a strategic partnership will be realized soon?

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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Nine foreigners who were caught with undeclared P441 million cash and foreign currency up for deportation

May 24, 2025May 20, 2025carlocarrasco

The nine foreigners – who had two Filipino companions – who were recently caught in the Cebu airport carrying undeclared amounts of cash of over P440 million and some foreign currency will be deported after their local cases get resolved, according to a GMA Network news report.

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

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Tuesday it is seeking to deport the nine foreigners arrested at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport for carrying undeclared bags of cash amounting to over P440 million.

According to Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval, the deportation proceedings are ongoing.

The nine foreigners and two Filipinos were arrested by the Philippine National Police Aviation Security as they were attempting to board a private plane to Manila at about 10:30 p.m.

The suspects—including six Chinese and individuals from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan—were found carrying seven bags instead of the declared three bags containing up to P441,922,542, USD$168,730 (around P9.342 Million), and HKD$1,000 (around P71,000).

The BI said that aside from deportation proceedings, the group may also face criminal and anti-money laundering charges before local courts.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be more foreigners in the country carrying with them huge amounts of undeclared cash?

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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