Recently in Parañaque City, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) successfully pulled-off a buy-bust operation that resulted in the seizure of almost two hundred million worth of illegal drugs and the apprehension of two suspects, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), with the Philippine National Police, seized P197.2 million worth of drugs in a buy-bust operation in Parañaque City on Saturday.
According to a statement, the buy-bust occurred at an exclusive subdivision around 5 p.m. and led to the arrest of two individuals.
The suspects allegedly took advantage of the subdivision’s strict security protocols to avoid surveillance and intelligence operations by Philippine authorities.
Along with the suspects, police seized 29 aluminum packets weighing an estimated 29 kilograms, labelled “Freeze-dried Durian” in Chinese characters.
The packets contained white crystalline substances suspected to be shabu worth P197,200,000. Authorities also confiscated mobile phones, buy-bust money, and a pink paper bag used in the transaction.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could still be more crooks carrying or distributing illegal substances within residential communities?
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
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 Reactions and retro review of Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter – If you have seen at least a majority of the many Friday The 13th movies, which one do you think is the best of them all? For me, it is the fourth movie Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter and you can read my retro movie review of it by clicking here. Already there are many movie reaction and retro review videos about the 1984 film on YouTube, and I selected the entertaining ones for you to see below.
#2 The failure of BuzzFeed – I never relied on BuzzFeed for updates nor entertainment stuff. As I was browsing YouTube, I noticed this video by It’s Blanko focused on BuzzFeed which has been in trouble for some time now (click here, here and here). Recently, BuzzFeed, Inc. tapped into AI (artificial intelligence) for audience engagement and growth. The video below is quite comprehensive with its examination of BuzzFeed’s culture, business practices and how it struggled years later.
#3 PatmanQC examines the history of Atari’s Star Wars arcade game – Now on to retro gaming! Way back in 1989 in a Las Vegas hotel, I played the Star Wars arcade game produced by Atari. It was an enjoyable experience as the game design was pretty immersive, fun and responsive. It was also one of the early first-person view games that I experienced as a gamer. Storywise, the game was set during the Rebels’ attack on the Death Star. To find out more about the history and making of the arcade classic, watch PatmanQC’s in-depth video below.
#4 Retrospective on Parasite Eve – Back in 1998, Square released Parasite Eve, a role-playing game (RPG) that emphasized horror over fantasy, and a story that had some grittiness related with its police story concept. I finished the game on PlayStation and ultimately I was not too impressed with the game nor was there any incentive for me to replay it. While it was commercially successful enough to spawn two sequels, Parasite Eve has been pretty much forgotten by the public and Square Enix showed no signs of reviving its franchise. That being said, I found a retrospective that should interest both Parasite Eve fans and younger gamers who are interested in the 1998 game.
#5 The Denver Nuggets’ memorable 1994 elimination of the Seattle Supersonics – If you are fond of basketball and if you are interested to discover a great upset in the history of the NBA Playoffs, you should check out the shocking fall of the Seattle Supersonics to the Denver Nuggets in the elimination round of the 1994 NBA Playoffs. Back then, Seattle was #1 in the Western Conference while the Nuggets were at #8. Dikembe Mutombo led the Nuggets and their team was fortunate to have talented supporting players to help them outclass Shawn Kemp and the Sonics. To learn all the details, watch the video below.
With the 2025 local election results of Parañaque City recorded, the local board of canvassers officially proclaimed yesterday former City Councilor Benjo Bernabe as the incoming Vice Mayor, and you can watch the proclamation itself entirely by clicking https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HQLW9d7kY/
Social media post confirming Bernabe’s victory for Vice Mayor. (source – Benjo Bernabe Official Facebook page)
Benjo Bernabe proclaimed as the next Vice Mayor of Parañaque. At rightmost is his father former Mayor Jun Bernabe. (source – Benjo Bernabe Official Facebook page)
The 129,213 votes Bernabe gathered is the largest ever in his career as an elected public servant of Parañaque. That being said, it is not surprising that there were rounds of cheers of “Bernabe! Bernabe! Bernabe!” during the proclamation. Given the fact that Team Pag-Asa was pretty small in terms of candidates, Bernabe’s victory is clearly a tremendous achievement.
For the newcomers reading this, Bernabe previously served as City Councilor (District 2) from 2010 to 2013. He ran for Mayor in 2013 but ended up short. Bernabe is the son of Florencio “Jun” Bernabe who was Parañaque’s Vice Mayor from 1998 to 2004, and was the Mayor from 2004 to 2013. It is clear that Benjo Bernabe’s victory is a strong political comeback for the Bernabe family.
Small team, big victories
Bernabe’s Team Pag-Asa teammates also scored notable victories as well. Partylist Representative Brian Yamsuan was proclaimed as the new Representative of Parañaque’s 2nd district after defeating incumbent Representative Gus Tambunting by a score of 81,999 to 72,077 votes as of this writing. Former City Councilors Tess de Asis and Binky Favis got re-elected with huge scores of 111,737 and 103,800 votes respectively in District 2. De Asis is #2 and Favis #3 among all District 2 candidates for the City Council.
Another Team Pag-Asa teammate, Shannin Olivarez, was hanging at the #8 slot in District 1 with 42,188 votes as of this writing. Only the Top 8 vote gatherers per district will serve in the City Council from mid-2025 to mid-2028.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, did many voters in your local community vote straight for Team Pag-Asa candidates during the May 12 elections? What do you hope to see from Vice Mayor-elect Bernabe, Congressman-elect Yamsuan, and incoming City Councilors De Asis, Favis and Olivarez once their terms of service take effect?
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
Recently in Parañaque City, a man who has been wanted in Makati for many counts of qualified theft was apprehended by the local police who were armed with an arrest warrant, 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…
A 27-year-old man wanted for 16 counts of qualified theft in Makati was arrested by members of the Parañaque City Police Warrant and Subpoena Section (WSS) on May 7.
The accused, Ryan Christian, listed by the police as the No. 8 most wanted person (station level) was arrested at around 2:40 p.m. at his residence in Sitio Sto. Nino, San Martin de Porres, Parañaque City.
Ryan Christian was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Rainald Cajurao Paggao, of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 142, with a recommended bail of P456,000.
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 there could still be more wanted people from other cities or provinces hiding in Parañaque’s local communities??
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 science fiction enthusiasts, 20th century pop culture enthusiasts, Star Wars fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1996 to examine the 2nd tale of a notable Star Wars storyline that took place between the films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi…Shadows of the Empire!
For the newcomers reading this, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire was a huge multimedia Star Wars event launched in the mid-1990s without a movie. Apart from exploring what happened in between the 1980 and 1983 classic Star Wars movies, Shadows of the Empire expands the lore by introducing new characters, Luke Skywalker’s gradual recovery from what he suffered from in The Empire Strikes Back, and the Galactic Empire’s ties with criminals who turned out to be resourceful. Back then, Star Wars was still fully under the control of George Lucas and his businesses. I already reviewed the first issue and enjoyed it.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #2, published in 1996 by Dark Horse Comics with a story written by John Wagner and drawn by Kilian Plunkett. This is the 2nd chapter of a 6-issue mini-series.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Darth Vader in the middle of a lightsaber sparring session with a droid. As he makes his fighting moves, he issues instructions to a thug named Jix who was standing and watching. Vader tells him that the bounty hunter Boba Fett still has not yet delivered the captured Han Solo (in carbonite) to Jabba the Hutt in Tatooine, and he anticipates that Luke Skywalker will make an attempt to rescue him. Vader wants Jix to insinuate himself into Jabba’s swoop gang.
On another part of the galaxy, several Rebel X-Wing fighters (led by Luke Skywalker), the Millennium Falcon (with Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C3PO and Lando Calrissian) and the Outrider (Dash Rendar) travel together approaching the planet Gall with different objectives: the Rogue Squadrom will go draw out the imperial fighters while both the Falcon and the Outrider will sneak in to find the damaged Slave-1 (Boba Fett) and rescue Han Solo…
Quality
The Millennium Falcon and Slave-1 in the same encounter.
When compared to its predecessor, this comic book has a lot of plot developments moving forward. It is in this story where you will see Leia, Lando and Chewbacca really pull off their first-ever attempt to rescue Han Solo and the way it was presented by the creative duo Wagner-Plunkett was worth the anticipation. Even though the odds are against them, Prince Leia is clearly determined to get Han back not for her love for him but for the Rebel Alliance’s need.
With Darth Vader having lesser spotlight and none of Emperor Palpatine, the creative team was able to shift more of the spotlight on the galactic criminals. The introduction of Jabba’s Swoop Gang was nicely done and the portrayal of them as a rowdy and very sinister bunch is very notable.
Anyone who enjoyed playing the Shadows of the Empire video game on Nintendo 64 (N64) will be pleased to see Dash Rendar and his Outrider space ship here even though the spotlight lasted only briefly. As expected, Dash is creatively a smuggler-type substitute for Han Solo and I have the feeling that he will re-appear in the remaining issues of this mini-series.
As for the famous hero Luke Skywalker, you won’t see him wielding his lightsaber nor see him using his Jedi powers. Instead, you will see him taking action as an X-Wing Fighter pilot and you will see even more of his ability to lead his Rogue Squadron teammates. The way Luke was portrayed here was pretty accurate compared to his cinematic portrayal which proves the writing done was really solid.
In fact, the writing by Wagner remained consistently high in quality particularly with dramatizing Princess Leia, Lando, C3PO, R2D2 and Darth Vader. It is through Dash Rendar, Jix and the Swoop Gang where you will see Wagner push his creativity as he expands the lore of Star Wars to emphasize the galactic crime world and smugglers.
Lastly, Wagner really went all-in in developing the iconic bad guy Boba Fett in this comic book. You will really see how Boba Fett uses violence not just to overwhelm any opposition but also to protect the high bounty with the frozen Han Solo who is easily wanted by other bounty hunters and scum. When it comes to the visuals, expect to see similar quality Plunkett delivered in the first issue right here. Plunkett is very good with visualizing space ship battles, space travel, machines and locations, but showed weakness on drawing the humans. In fairness, Plunkett came up with very original styles and designs for the Swoop Gang and Jix, making them look really distinct.
Conclusion
Darth Vader and the thug named Jix.
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #2 (1996) is a solid follow-up to issue #1 and it managed to have the main plot and sub-plots move forward significantly. The storytelling is consistently good and the engagement was pretty strong. I can say I am convinced to look forward to finding out more in the next issue.
Overall, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire #2 (1996) is recommended.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced that the economy of the Philippines grew by 5.4% in the first quarter of this year, 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 Philippine economy expanded faster in the first three months of 2025 amid the growth seen in services, industry, and agriculture sectors, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) —the value of goods and services produced in a period— grew faster by 5.4% in the first quarter of 2025, higher than the upwardly revised growth rate of 5.3% in the last quarter of 2024, PSA chief and National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa reported at a press conference in Quezon City on Thursday.
This was also the fastest GDP growth rate seen since the third quarter of 2024, albeit slower than the 5.9% growth recorded in the first quarter of 2024.
At constant prices, the economy reached a value of P5.477 trillion during the period, up 5.4% from P5.196-trillion GDP seen in the same quarter last year.
Department of Economy, Planning and Development Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said the country’s GDP needs to increase by 6.2% in the remaining quarters of 2025 to hit at least the lower-end of the. government’s growth target of 6% to 7% for the year.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines can still grow by 6% by the end of the year? Do you think election spending will add a lot to economic growth?
Recently in Parañaque City, local police officers apprehended two suspects who allegedly were involved in the killing of a used car dealer, according to a Malaya Business Insight news report. They have since been charged with murder and there were witnesses who positively identified them.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Malaya Business Insight news report. Some parts in boldface…
OPERATIVES of the Paranaque police have arrested two suspects in the killing of a second-hand car dealer in the city during a meet-up arranged via Facebook.
Southern Police District Acting Director Brig. General Joseph Arguelles said the two suspects were apprehended 24 hours after the killing in a pursuit operation by the Paranaque police in Bernardo Compound, Barangay Don Bosco.
Information provided by the SPD showed that two individuals posing as buyers shot and killed the 32-year-old victim when they met at around 11:50 p.m. last May 4 in front of the South Super Hi-way Medical Center in Barangay Marcelo Green Village. The victim was supposed to show them a car that they said they were interested in buying.
Arguelles said that after shooting the victim at close range, the suspects fled the scene, one riding off with the victim’s gray Nissan Terra sports utility vehicle, while his companion used a motorcycle.
“Investigators quickly gathered leads through digital backtracking and witness accounts,” Arguelles said, adding police later recovered the abandoned Nissan Terra and the getaway motorcycle in Barangay Don Bosco.
In the same area where the victim’s vehicle and the motorcycle were found, police operatives discovered three individuals engaged in a pot session and seized from them a caliber 45 pistol and illegal drugs.
“During custodial interrogation, the three revealed the identities of the gunmen as alias Jovillo and alias Ryan,” Arguelles said, adding they were arrested at “exactly 11:50 in the evening of May 5 after the killing.”
Police seized two unlicensed firearms and around 15 grams of suspected shabu with a street value of P102,000.
“Witnesses also positively identified the two as the perpetrators of the shooting and robbery,” the SPD chief said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could still be more public killings waiting to happen?
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
The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) recently emphasized that all local government units (LGUs) around the country are required to have their respective business registration processes fully automated by the year 2028, according to a Business Mirror news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Business Mirror. Some parts in boldface…
ALL 1,642 local government units (LGUs) are required to fully automate their business registration processes by 2028 or before the end of the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., according to the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta).
At a briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Arta Secretary Ernesto V. Perez divulged that out of 1,642 LGUs in the country, only 115 LGUs have fully automated their business registration processes as of March 31, 2025 while 1,203 LGUs are “partially automated.”
With only three years left in the Marcos administration, Perez said Arta is intensifying its efforts to make sure that all LGUs across the country will comply with the automation of business registration processes.
Having a fully operational eBOSS or electronic Business One-Stop Shop means being able to streamline the procedures for the filing of applications and issuance of local business licenses, permits, clearances, and authorizations through the LGU’s provision and usage of an “on-demand” single, digital portal, according to ARTA.
“Ang target po before the term of this administration ends in 2028, all LGUs must be compliant. That is why our partners for this are the DICT, DILG and DTI,” said Perez.
With this, the Arta chief revealed that it issued 431 Notices to Explain. “We will file charges against the 134 LGUs that did not respond. Because based on our experience, if they know the government agency is serious and will file charges, they will act on it. I hope they don’t wait for us to file a case against them before they act,” Perez said.
He explained that the Office of the Ombudsman will determine the proper violation and penalty to be imposed on these non-compliant LGUs.
“Our President has a strict directive for all government processes to be streamlined and digitalized,” Perez said, partly in Filipino.
Perez said these LGUs cannot use lack of budget or financial resources as an excuse for non-compliance with eBOSS, “Because there is a free system that DICT developed. This began with the Integrated Business Permitting and Licensing System (IBPLS).”
“The DICT has improved the e-gov.ph and it’s free. The LGU just needs to apply. Meanwhile, those LGUs with budget, they hired third-party service providers,” Perez explained.
Moreover, the Arta chief said LGUs cannot use poor internet connection as an excuse for non-compliance.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Has your local government unit made its business registration processes fully automated already?
With the 2025 National and Local Elections all set for May 12, the Energy Task Force on Election (ETFE) gave its assurance to the public that uninterrupted power will be done, 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 boldface…
The Energy Task Force on Election (ETFE), led by the Department of Energy (DOE), has assured the public of uninterrupted power supply nationwide during the May 12 midterm polls.
In a virtual briefing Monday, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said the energy sector is “fully prepared” to provide stable electricity and fuel throughout the voting, transmission, and canvassing periods.
“We assure the public that the energy sector is fully prepared to ensure an unimpeded power supply before, during, and after the elections,” Fuentebella said.
“Contingency plans are in place, and we are in constant coordination with security agencies to help ensure a smooth and secure election process,” he added.
The ETFE, a multi-agency body led by the DOE, works closely with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and security forces, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and Bureau of Fire Protection to ensure a smooth and credible elections.
Since January, the task force has held regular coordination meetings and inspections to assess readiness and implement contingency plans, while field personnel have conducted maintenance on transmission lines, polling stations, and backup systems, especially in remote and off-grid areas.
The DOE official said the energy sector has mapped out priority areas and is monitoring potential vulnerabilities, particularly in Visayas and Mindanao.
“We have taken all necessary steps to support the smooth and credible conduct of the 2025 elections. The Department of Energy, through the ETFE, stands ready to respond and coordinate with our partners to maintain uninterrupted energy access across the country,” Fuentebella added.
He said the task force will closely monitor potential worst-case scenarios, including the simultaneous occurrence of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and low-pressure weather systems that could trigger power disruptions.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think stable and sufficient electricity will be provided during and after the elections? Do you think power outages could still happen during the canvassing period?
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) confirmed that the inflation rate of the Philippines fell down more to 1.4% in April 2025 which is the lowest since November 2019, according to a news report by GMA Network.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines’ inflation rate continued its deceleration streak for the third straight month, remaining below 2% in April, on the back of slower movements of food and transport costs, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Tuesday.
At a press briefing, PSA chief and National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa reported that last month’s inflation print —which measures the rate of increase in the prices of consumer goods and services— cooled down further to 1.4% from 1.8% in March.
This was the slowest since November 2019, when inflation clocked in at 1.2%.
April’s inflation rate brought the year-to-date rate to 2%, well within the government’s ceiling of 2% to 4% for the entire 2025.
“Ang pangunahing dahilan ng mas mababang antas ng inflation nitong Abril 2025 kaysa noong Marso 2025 ay ang mas mabagal na pagtaas ng presyo ng Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages sa antas na 0.9% [from 2.2% in March],” Mapa said.
(The main contributor to the lower inflation rate in April 2025 versus March 2025 was the slower increase in the prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages with a rate of 0.9%.)
“Ito ay may 82.3% share sa pagbaba ng pangkalahatang inflation sa bansa,” he added.
(This accounted for 82.3% of the decrease in the country’s overall inflation rate.)
The decline in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages index was brought by the stronger contraction in cereals, such as rice, to -7.4% from -5.2%.
Also contributing to the overall inflation downtrend was the faster contraction in Transport index at -2.1% from -1.1% month-on-month, accounting for 15.2% to the decline.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the inflation rate of the Philippines could go down even further to as low as 1% soon?
Author Carlo Carrasco 