Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, RPG enthusiasts and other gamers!
The long wait for the next Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game (RPG) experience is finally over as Avowed has officially been released for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP Ultimate) today. Five days ago, the game developed by Obsidian Entertainment was released on early access for those who paid the premium for the privilege.
For the newcomers reading this, Avowed is the newest game from RPG specialist Obsidian Entertainment and it has a fantasy setting and a unique concept for gamers who enjoy in-depth exploration, intense action, consequential decision-making, engaging role-play and strong storytelling. Avowed is set in the fictional world called Eora and is also part of the same universe as seen in Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity.
To get oriented, watch the launch trailer below.
Is it really great? Is it worth purchasing at all?
As of this writing, the critical reception remains questionable even though a lot of gaming publications posted their respective reviews resulting in a collective average that keeps on changing. As of now, the collective critical average for Avowed is mostly positive but additional reviews could change that.
For some insight, watch the video reviews of Avowed from MrMattyPlays, Colteastwood, GameSpot, XboxEra and Pure Xbox.
If you want to watch some extensive gameplay footage of Avowed that could help you decide to go for the game or not, watch the videos below.
Having waited more than four years to play Avowed (read my previous posts by clicking here, here and here), I will play it on my Xbox Series X console but not immediately. I’d rather wait for Obsidian to patch the game first to fix the bugs and other technical problems. I’d rather play an improved version over its launch version. Here is hoping that Obsidian will be listening to gamers’ feedback and improve the game accordingly.
I should mention that Obsidian is also working on its other high-profile video game The Outer Worlds 2 which is actually a multi-platform release (including PlayStation 5).
Recently in the City of Parañaque, two Chinese nationals were arrested by elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) for allegedly selling unregistered medicines, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have arrested two Chinese nationals allegedly involved in selling unregistered medicines in Metro Manila.
Agents of the CIDG-Detective and Special Operations Unit nabbed suspects Hu and Quan in a buy-bust at Concorde Village, Tambo, Parañaque City past midnight Saturday.
According to a news release Sunday, the CIDG agents confiscated two boxes of OTC 999 – Ganmaoling Keli, 20 boxes of Glucophage – Metformin Hydrochloride Extended-release tablets, two boxes of Amlodepine Besilate tablets, three boxes of Linou – Gliclazide tablets, two boxes of OTC – Longdan Xiegan pills, four boxes of Zhibai Dihuang pills, one box of Bear Bile powder, 12 boxes Diamicron – Gliclazide tablets and 16 boxes Bayaspirin – Aspirin Enteric-coated tablets.
The medicines, with an estimated market value of PHP15,000, are not registered with the Food and Drug Administration.
The suspects will be charged with violation of Section 11 of Republic Act 9711 (FDA Act of 2009) which prohibits manufacturing, importation, export, sale, distribution and transfer of unregistered drugs.
CIDG chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities related to the sale of unregistered medicines.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, how many Chinese nationals are living within your local community right now? Did you notice any foreigners selling unregistered medicine locally? Why do you think Parañaque remains a hot spot of criminal activities involving Chinese nationals?
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
In connection with the recent raid on a particular travel and consultancy firm that was allegedly involved with the issuance of fake Philippine government documents, it seems that crime syndicates may have infiltrated certain agencies of the government, 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 boldface…
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian warned that criminal syndicates may have infiltrated key government agencies following the recent raid on a travel and consultancy firm that allegedly facilitated the issuance of fraudulent Philippine government documents.
“The recent raid strengthens our suspicion that criminal syndicates have infiltrated agencies such as the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bureau of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Philippine National Police (PNP),” Gatchalian said in a statement on Friday.
This came after members of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) found birth and marriage certificates and a passport with a foreign national’s photo but a Filipino name during a raid at JRB Travel and Consultancy Services Inc. based in Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday.
Gatchalian, who has filed a bill to expand Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) authority and impose penalties on civil registrars involved in fraudulent registrations, urged law enforcement to intensify efforts in dismantling these illegal networks.
He cited cases wherein individuals reported paying large sums to the travel agency to secure the release of their detained partners, with one complainant claiming to have paid PHP900,000 to free her fiancé and another paid PHP1.1 million for her husband’s release after a Jan. 17 raid in a Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) center in Parañaque City.
In a press conference on Thursday, PAOCC Executive Director Gilberto Cruz described the raided travel agency as the “missing link” in the Senate’s ongoing investigation on POGOs.
He said the firm enabled foreigners to obtain government-issued documents, allowing them to stay in the country despite crackdowns on POGOs.
Aside from document forgery, Cruz revealed that personnel of the travel agency also impersonated PAOCC personnel to extort money.
Cruz, however, clarified that no actual PAOCC officers were involved in the scheme.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the national authorities will be able to find and arrest all the criminal elements who infiltrated government agencies? Do you think the law enforcers can put a stop on the forgery of government documents?
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 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 to the year 2000.
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. Tutankham print ad
This print ad appeared in several comic books in 1983.
First released in the arcades in 1982, Tutankham is a 2D adventure game that had a mix of shooting, maze exploration and puzzle-solving with Egyptian settings and concepts. It made its way to the Atari 2600 published by Parker Brother, and it was this specific version I played. This game print ad appeared in comic books I read in 1983, and the people who made it implemented a hand-drawn art of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun dominating the space to emphasize the Egyptian setting. In fact, this ad made me think more of Egypt and left little to give me an idea of the game design.
2. Star Trek arcade flyer
The clever use of classic Star Trek imagery was used in this initial flyer by Sega.
Back in the 1980s, a futuristic design for an arcade machine like this one was mind-blowing.
I never played the Star Trek arcade game (full title: Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator) Sega released in 1983. I only saw its graphics and gameplay during an episode of Starcade. With its game design and visual presentation, Star Trek was a very ambitious arcade project for its time and Sega really went in to promote it. The initial arcade flyer (first one above) was meant to grab the attention of both gamers and arcade operators. The next arcade flyer (2nd one above) showed the ambitious design of the arcade machine made with player immersion in mind.
3. Battlezone arcade flyer
While the hand-drawn artwork was too detailed for the arcade game’s graphics, it still emphasized strongly the concept of the game.
In the history of video games, Battlezone was a groundbreaking game both visually and with game design. It was designed to give gamers an immersive experience of driving a tank with 3D graphics, fun gameplay and a first-person view. Its own history is worth researching. Atari knew it had to heavily promote their ambitious game and the arcade flyer above featured nice hand-drawn artwork while also showing the two types of Battlezone machines that arcade operators can choose from. Battlezone went on to become a highly influential arcade game.
4. Chrono Cross North American print ad
Arguably, this print ad was aimed at RPG enthusiasts, Chrono Trigger fans and gamers looking for something adventurous to play.
First released on PlayStation in Japan, Chrono Cross made its way to the said console in America just a few months before the PlayStation 2 launched there. While there was a risk that came with releasing the ambitious follow-up to the classic Chrono Trigger so late in the PlayStation’s life, Squaresoft (now Square Enix) still went on to aggressively promote Chrono Cross in America. This 2-page print ad that appeared in many gaming magazines remains captivating to look at. As typical of the time, 3D polygonal models and the epic-looking art were used in dominating fashion leaving the small space (lower-left corner) to display a few gameplay screenshots and other 3D art. Still it a fun game to play and this should remind you that Chrono Cross was recently remastered for modern consoles.
5. Ms. Pac-Man arcade flyer
The wife of Pac-Man and the machine.
Given the fact that Pac-Man was so massively successful, it was not surprising that a sequel had to be made and released on as many arcades as possible. Ms. Pac-Man was the sequel and it was released in arcades in 1982 eventually achieving huge commercial and critical success. To promote the game, Midway’s ad makers came up with an ad showing unique art of Pac-Man’s wife looking glamorous (with a driver and a vehicle in the background) and a photograph of the arcade machine on the right. This also was one of the early arcade flyers to use the words “femme fatale”.
6. Centipede arcade flyer
Three machines of Centipede for arcade operators to choose from.
Centipede is another arcade classic from Atari. Released in 1981, a lot of players enjoyed the game’s simplistic and yet addicting design of shooting an incoming centipede and its remaining portions that move down the field. Similar to the Battlezone arcade flyer, this game’s flyer had nice art of a centipede on the top and images arcade machines. Even by today’s standards, this flyer remains eye-catching.
7. Tempest 2000 print ad
This 2-page print ad of Tempest 2000 is still captivating to look at.
Back in the 1990s, Atari went on to release their Jaguar console which was promoted as a 64-bit machine. At a gaming convention, the company met with prospective game developers over Jaguar projects and one of the developers volunteered to do Tempest (a memorable Atari arcade game). This resulted in the development of Tempest 2000 which was a remake of the classic.
As a Jaguar-exclusive game, Atari came up with an eye-catching 2-page ad showing off the 3D visual presentation (6 gameplay screenshots and one original artwork) while boasting in the text description that Tempest 2000 was named the “Best of Show” at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The game was released in 1994 attracting mostly positive reviews from game critics and was one of the best-selling Jaguar games (note: Tempest 2000 can now be played in the Atari 50 collection). With the Atari legacy and presentation combined, this print ad remains captivating to look at.
8. Alien vs Predator print ad
Arguably the most defining and most entertaining game on the Atari Jaguar.
If there is any game that truly defined enjoyment and the technological features of the Atari Jaguar, it is the 1994 first-person shooter Alien vs Predator. At the time of its release, it was one of the most immersive games of the Alien vs. Predator crossover franchise and it allowed players to experience what fighting the Predator or the Xenomorph was like. The game also allowed gamers to play as a Colonial Marine (human soldier).
To sell the game, Atari came up with a 2-page ad highlighting the Aliens on one page and the Predator on the other. As the Predator was shown with a grotesque human skull, the use of photographs (most likely sourced from the movies) strongly emphasize the game was aimed at the mature audience among gamers. Six screenshots of gameplay were displayed by the ad makers who were clearly aware of the high popularity of first-person shooting games. Alien vs Predator was a critical and commercial success, and its print ad is arguably the most memorable one of any Atari Jaguar game ever made.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1996 and explore a part of the Marvel Comic shared universe through a tale of the Spider-Man 2099 monthly series.
To put things in perspective, the original Spider-Man 2099 monthly series that launched in 1992 lasted a total of 46 issues. The prolific author Peter David wrote the first 44 issues as he resigned from his duty in relation to the sudden firing of Marvel 2099 editor Joey Cavalieri in 1996. The previous issue was a great read.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man 2099 #44, published in 1996 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Peter David and drawn by Ron Lim.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in the City of New York already flooded and infiltrated by lots of marine life. Under the water, Spider-Man and Roman the Sub-Mariner fight each other intensely as the foot of a gigantic sea monster is about to step in. At the last moment, Spider-Man saw the huge foot and instantly flipped away to survive with the Sub-Mariner.
After getting separated, Spider-Man gets out of the water to breath and immediately spots an organic-looking horn that the Sub-Mariner used to control the huge monster. Suddenly, on the aquatic humanoids appears to get the horn. Spider-Man then used his web to get the horn first which triggered the aquatic humanoid to move fast towards him.
Quality
The intense battle between Sub-Mariner and Spider-Man went on even as the huge sea monster is very near them in the city.
Without spoiling the plot, this comic book is a tale about a massive disaster and also a tale about the complicated legacy of Miguel O’Hara whose personal life is even more connected with the corporation he works for.
The huge disaster of New York getting flooded (which started in the previous issue) and Spider-Man fighting the leader of the mutates (genetically designed sentient beings) concluded in a really satisfying way. The futuristic webslinger really found himself struggling with the determined Sub-Mariner (motivated by what Alchemax did to the aquatic world) while dealing with the fact that so many citizens got displaced or even got killed by not only the huge flood but also by the presence of the gigantic sea monster. The stakes were really raised high for Spider-Man and the pay-off was really good.
The rest of the comic book deals with the intense meeting between Conchata O’Hara and Tyler Stone, Xina’s time with the Net Prophet, Gabriel O’Hara’s time with “father” Jennifer. Among the three sub-plots, the conflict between Conchata and Tyler is very intense and dramatic to read. More importantly, it was crafted by Peter David to be really believable and it ultimately added tension to the background and even the future of Miguel O’Hara (now a powerful Alchemax executive). This particular sub-plot is easily the most important one this comic book has and it will compel fans to revisit the 25th issue of this monthly series as well as issue #10.
While the sub-plot of Xina and the Net Prophet does not generate enough depth for this comic book, there is a big revelation made in the sub-plot of Gabriel and “father” Jennifer which will compel fans to revisit issues #40 and #41. In fact, nothing is ever simple regarding the origin of a specific villain of the 2099 universe.
When it comes to the artwork, this comic book is a downgrade compared to what was presented in issue #43 (drawn by Andrew Wildman). I’m not saying that Ron Lim’s art is bad, it’s just nowhere as good as that of Wildman’s art. In fairness, Ron Lim managed to make the city disaster look intense and he managed to make the characters look recognizable. In fact, Lim successfully made the Conchata-Tyler scenes look intense and dramatic.
Conclusion
The giant monster aspect of this comic book added intensity to the battle and the disaster. There were a few Godzilla vibes here and there.
As the final Peter David-written issue of this monthly series, Spider-Man 2099 #44 (1996) is undeniably a very solid reading experience. There were strong pay-offs executed here to what was built-up in the previous issues, and in typical fashion, David kept building up the other sub-plots. The conclusion to the Conchata-Tyler sub-plot is actually more powerful than that of the city disaster. Clearly, Peter David kept track of the character developments and events that previously happened and dramatized them nicely here. In fact, you will feel some sympathy towards Miguel O’Hara knowing how unfortunately complicated his family legacy really is.
Overall, Spider-Man 2099 #44 (1996) is highly recommended!
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) revealed online recently that the overall collection of its coin deposit machines (CoDMs) has exceeded P1.2 billion. The latest statistics are accurate of as January 15, 2025.
Based on the latest statistics, a total of P1,235,393,307.96 (14.07%% higher than the previous count of P1,082,972,600.36) in coins got deposited into BSP machines on 284,974 transactions from customers. In terms of physical quantity, 310,679,523coins were deposited.
Doing the math on the latest statistics, customers averaged P4,335.1088 per transaction at the machines (compared to the November 15, 2024 average of P4,231.9156 per transaction). As for the grand total Peso amount divided by the number of coins deposited, the average is P3.9764 per coin deposited (previous average was P3.8654 per coin deposited)
When it comes to the number of coins involved with each transaction, 310,679,523 coins divided by 284,974 transactions resulted in an average of 1,090.2030 coins per transaction (a slight drop compared to the previous average was 1,094.8293 coins per transaction).
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the BSP coin deposit project deposits could hit P2 billion by the end of this year? When was the last time you deposited at least 50 coins into the nearest CoDM of the BSP? Do you think it is time for the BSP to add its coin machines in the Visayas and Mindanao regions?
Japanese motor giant Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) formally announced recently that it will be investing P7 billion in the Philippines which President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., welcomed, 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 boldface…
President Marcos welcomed Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s (MMC) P7-billion investment plan in the Philippines in the next five years, saying this will create more jobs for Filipinos.
Marcos expressed his appreciation to MMC during Mitsubishi President and CEO Kato Takao’s courtesy call to the President in Malacañan on Thursday, Feb. 6, to discuss the company’s investment plan in the Philippines.
During their meeting, Kato said MMC’s expansion plan includes adding a new production model at its Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) plant in Laguna. Marcos welcomed this move as it would generate more jobs for Filipinos.
“The jobs that it will provide, that your investment will provide, are very important to us and certainly, vehicle manufacture is one of those,” President Marcos said.
In a Facebook post, the President described Mitsubishi as a valuable partner in his administration’s quest to boost the automotive industry.
“As a strong partner in our journey to strengthen the automotive industry and empower Filipino workers, we welcome Mitsbushi Motors Corporation’s plans to expand operations in the country,” he wrote.
“Mr. Takao Kato and I share the same goals of driving innovation, creating more jobs, and making sustainable transportation a reality for Filipinos,” he added.
During the meeting, Marcos said that MMC will be included in the government’s Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) Program, a new proposed version of the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program. He hoped MMC’s inclusion would help in its expansion plans.
For his part, Kato said the Philippines is MMC’s most important investment in Southeast Asia, citing its good and stable economy.
“In the ASEAN, (the) Philippines is our number one market,” Kato told the President.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think Mitsubishi’s ambitious investment plan will add a lot to the ongoing economic growth of the country?
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 topics and the related videos I found.
#1 Saving Private Ryan reaction videos – I still remember the day I saw Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan in the local cinema in 1998. It was a mesmerizing war movie experience. Considering its acclaimed status, commercial success and impact on pop culture, it is not surprising that the movie is the subject of many movie reaction videos on YouTube. That being said, I spotted a few must-see videos. If you have not seen the movie yet, watch it first. Otherwise, enjoy the videos below.
#2Woke game companies panic as gamers reject their games – There is no doubt that the woke virus and the pathetic DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) have infected a lot of video game companies, most notably Ubisoft and Electronic Arts. This explains why several video games ended up as creative promotions of identity politics, woke concepts and feminist garbage done at the expense of quality and fun. That being said, a lot of gamers collectively rejected the woke games by not buying them, as well as avoiding future woke releases. Be aware of the latest trends in video games by watching Adam Post’s analytical video below.
#3 US President Trump’s plan for the American takeover of the Gaza Strip – I can clearly say that US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a plan for America to take over the Gaza Strip (which is physically located within Israel and borders Egypt in the southwest) to redevelop it was both totally surprising and very ambitious. For decades now, Gaza has been a hot spot of Islamic terrorists – notably Palestinian terrorist group Hamas – who were able to arm themselves heavily, launched countless attacks against Israel, and even enriched themselves by abusing the countless humanitarian donations they received. That being said, Trump’s plan makes a lot of sense and if implemented (only after Israel concludes its war against the terrorists), it could change the tone of the Middle East. Watch and learn the details from the video below.
#4 Democrats keep getting dumber and dumber – Ever since Donald Trump returned as President of the United States, the remaining Democrats in power only turned more chaotic and dumber. In his show, Ben Shapiro explains in detail why the Democrats have gotten dumber. Watch the video below.
#5 Trump’s ban and the trans hysteria – In case you missed the news, US President Trump signed an executive order that banned men from participating in women’s sports events. In short, men who identify as women (read: transgender) are not allowed to compete with the real women in their sports activities. Since then, the transgendered mob and LGBTQ have turned chaotic. Very clearly, the Satanic Leftists do NOT care about fairness in sports, do NOT care about the protection of women, and they do NOT care about common sense! Watch and learn from the videos below.
#6 VKunia reacts to Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol – Remember back in 2011 when Tom Cruise had a successful return with Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol? Since then, the Hollywood superstar kept coming back as Ethan Hunt in more sequels and the Mission: Impossible film franchise still remains essential for both Cruise and Paramount. Witness how the 2011 MI movie impacts VKunia in her reaction video below.
#7 PatmanQC examines the history of the Superman arcade game – Back in 1989, I played the Superman arcade game developed by Taito. Even though it was repetitive and had generic villains to fight with, it was still a fun experience for me. Looking back at it, it was one of the early Superman-related video games that was made with fun and quality in mind. It even came with the iconic theme from the movie. To learn more about the history of the Superman arcade game, watch PatmanQC’s video.
#8 GoodBadFlicks examines The Cannonball Run – Released in 1981, The Cannonball Run is a action-comedy movie inspired by a real-life cross-country outlaw road race. The film had a huge cast that includes Roger Moore, Burt Reynolds, Farrah Fawcett, Jackie Chan and others. To learn more about what made the movie fun to watch and what else inspired its creation, watch GoodBadFlicks’ video below.
Now that the global scandal of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been exposed, there is a list of connected projects here in the Philippines (more than 30 projects according to a recent Philippine Star news report) and the disturbance is only growing. The administration of US President Donald Trump has been examining the spending and projects of USAID, and the Democrats have been outraged which is not surprising because a lot of USAID projects are based on their Leftist and woke agenda.
This past December, the Manila Bulletin reported a project involving USAID (specifically the United States Agency for International Development – Clean Cities, Blue Ocean or USAID-CCBO for short) and the City Government of Parañaque (through its City Environment and Natural Resources Office called CENRO for short) in the form of a mural painting emphasizing “environmental stewardship and youth empowerment through community-based initiatives.”
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the December 12, 2024 Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The city government of Parañaque, through its City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO), together with the United States Agency for International Development – Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (USAID CCBO), conducted a mural painting event on Dec. 11 promoting environmental stewardship and youth empowerment through community-based initiatives.
Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez said the event, with the theme “Raising Awareness on Solid Waste Management and Marine Litter Pollution,” was held at the City Material Recovery Facility in Barangay La Huerta and was participated by students from Parañaque National High School – Main
They were accompanied by their principal, Gerry Lumaban, and teacher Winnie Freda Cabero.
The students’ artistic talents were showcased during the activity under the guidance of AG Sanio, a renowned Filipino muralist, conservationist, photographer, landscape architect, and environmental advocate.
Within the context of the Manila Bulletin news report, it’s hard to see if there is anything wrong or questionable about the Parañaque City project involving USAID. It is also not yet clear how much American taxpayer’s money was spent by USAID on the project (a mural painting). Perhaps in due time, the Trump administration will find all the details about it.
The December 2024 project is not the first time that Parañaque’s CENRO was involved with USAID which you can see by clicking here. This past January, the USAID – CCBO team visited Parañaque to “conduct a dry run of the Waste Sorting Line.”
For the newcomers reading this, if you want to learn about USAID and what the scandal is all about, watch and learn from the YouTube videos below. The scandal is only growing.
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 aware of the project in your city involving the scandalous USAID? If you have seen the project, do you find it questionable or acceptable? Do you think the project in Barangay La Huerta benefits the citizens of Parañaque at all? Do you think projects that emphasize climate change or environmentalist propaganda are needed in Parañaque City at all? Can you speculate how much in American taxpayer Dollars were spent by USAID in Parañaque City? If you are an American, how do you feel about your tax Dollars being spent in several USAID projects in the Philippines and around the world?
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
Was there anyone in your local community who got scammed many times last year? Based on the findings of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), cybercrime complaints more than tripled in 2024 and victims lost almost P200 million as well, 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 Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Friday said there were a total of 10,004 cybercrime complaints filed with their office in 2024, more than three times the 3,317 complaints in 2023.
In a statement Friday, CICC Executive Director Undersecretary Alexander Ramos said the total amount lost by cybercrime victims reached almost PHP198 million last year alone.
He attributed the exponential increase in the number of complaints to the growing awareness of the public on cybercrimes and their willingness to report.
“In previous years, people were not aware that they were being scammed and many were not also aware of where to file their complaints,” Ramos said.
Of the total, around 3,534 complaints, or 35 percent were consumer fraud, these include non-delivery of goods or services and fake advertisements.
On the other hand, there were 3,242 online fraud complaints, or 32 percent of the total. This includes financial fraud, impersonation, job scams, investment scams, and love scams.
Other types of complaints were unsolicited communication, illegal access, identity theft, sexual cybercrimes, phishing, and cyberlibel.
He added that GCash was the top wallet used by victims of consumer fraud, online fraud, and phishing, with a total loss of PHP76.49 million to its users.
Other financial platforms used by victims were BPI with PHP28.47 million losses, GoTyme with PHP15.38 million, and PayMaya with PHP13.99 million.
He called on victims of scams to call the government’s toll-free hotline at 1326.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you scammed in 2024? Do you think that banks and e-wallet companies should enhance security of their respective apps to protect their users from the cyber criminals and scammers? Do you personally know anyone who lost a lot of money because he or she got scammed while using GCash?
Author Carlo Carrasco 