While the rest of the world has been busy with political, economic and military developments, something very tremendous happened recently in Israel, and it is about a 2,000-year-old discovery that reveals a lost community and it further proves the Jewish heritage in the Holy Land is real, according to a news article by CBN News. The discovery is also a reminder about John’s baptisms.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the CBN News article. Some parts in boldface.
A 2,000-year-old archaeological marvel has been unearthed in southern Israel, revealing a mysterious community lost to time and the latest proof of the ancient Jewish connection to the Holy Land.
The major discoverytook place in Kiryat Gat, near the site of the ancient Philistine city of Gath, where Goliath came from.
The find, a mikveh ritual immersion pool, provides evidence of a Jewish community that remained in the region following the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD and persisted until the Bar Kokhba revolt– the final Jewish rebellion against the Roman Empire.
Themikveh was used for spiritual purification or holiness, which the Bible refers to in the book of Leviticus, and its discovery is a reminder of a Second Temple-era tradition that’s linked to the introduction of Christians baptisms.
Israeli tour guide Yoav Rotem tells CBN News, “These are the roots of the baptism of John… John the Baptist… Going from Leviticus through Judaism of the Second Temple time all the way to John the Baptist and Jesus, these are the roots, and they’re still in the ground.”
To preserve the mikveh, the Israel Antiquities Authority dug up the entire ritual bath and removed it from the site.
Rotem argues thatthis discovery is the latest archaeological proof that the Jewish population wasn’t entirely absent from the region after the Romans tried to wipe them out. While some uninformed anti-Israel activists claim the Jews just popped up and took over the holy land in 1948, Rotem says the Jews have clear ties to the land that are constantly being unearthed.
He also cited historical letters, theCairo Geniza archive of 400,000 ancient manuscripts in Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic, that provide further proof, in addition to the many substantial, ongoing archaeological discoveries of ancient Jewish presence in the land.
“There’s a huge amount of information from historical information to archaeological to letters between rabbis, of Jewish appearance (or presence)… The Jews are still alive after 70 (AD). Some of them, minorities, staying in the land, a lot of Jews moving to the Galilee,” he explained.
For additional insight, watch the CBN News YouTube video below.
To all my readers, I encourage you to thank the Lord for this tremendous breakthrough in Israel. No matter what the anti-Israel activists say, the ancient Jewish heritage in the land of Israel is absolutely real backed with physical pieces of evidence and ancient diggings achieved. Clearly, Israel is the land of Jews, not the Palestinians.
At the same time, I encourage you all to realize the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
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 from the 1980s to the 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 to the 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. Atari Console and Games Print Ad
Back in the 1980s, this was simple and yet exciting to look at.
Back in the 1980s, the styles of video game advertising were very different. Back then, Atari was the market leader on console gaming with the Atari 2600 and they had a lot of video games made for it. As such, the above print ad showing the console and the video games (with the front covers of the game boxes) was typical of the era and it was captivating to look at. By today’s standards, the ad looks simple but it still has the appeal to lure gamers.
2. Shark Attack North American Arcade Flyer
The front.
The rear.
Remember long ago when Steven Spielberg’s Jaws made some people afraid of sharks and the sea? Jaws was a massive blockbuster, and it was influential to the public. A few years later, Universal Pictures pushed through with Jaws 2 without Spielberg, and it also was a huge commercial hit. By the start of the 1980s, creature feature films inspired by Jaws were released and pop culture itself was influenced. In 1981, the obscure arcade outfit Pacific Novelty Manufacturing released their game Shark Attack in arcades. To promote the game, the company came up with an arcade flyer that had a comedic touch on the text descriptions while featuring a pretty blonde fashion model posing as the diver. The front of the flyer had the arcade cabinet, the model and an exaggerated artwork of a shark holding a knife and a fork. On the rear, the sexiness was ramped up with a shot of the model’s behind (plus more pictures of the model herself). This is indeed an amusing and funny arcade flyer.
3. Centipede North American Arcade Flyer
This was designed with arcade operators in mind.
When Atari released Centipede in arcades in 1981, it attracted a lot of gamers and became a huge commercial hit. Part of its success is linked with the strategic promotions Atari committed, and the above arcade flyer is one of the variants of Centipede flyers. The one above shows an illustrated centipede carrying a coin in its mouth and in the background are two different arcade cabinets plus a cocktail table machine (for those who want to play Centipede while sitting down). This particular arcade flyer of Centipede emphasizes the popularity of the game and there are different types of machines that arcade operators can choose from. At the same time, this old flyer remains amusing to look at.
4. Rambo Famicom Japanese Print Ad
Using this iconic imagery of Sylvester Stallone as Rambo was a very smart move.
When it comes to Hollywood action movies of the 1980s, Sylvester Stallone was highly successful, and he impacted American pop culture with the Rocky and Rambo films. By 1985, Stallone struck gold with Rambo: First Blood Part II which made over $300 million worldwide. Considering the Cold War theme and ambitious action scenes of the movie, it was clear for Japanese game developer Pack-In-Video to make an official video game adaptation of Rambo: First Blood Part II for the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) in the form of a 2D side-scrolling adventure game. The said game was simply titled Rambo and to promote it, the company came up with the above Japanese print ad that had the iconic Rambo image of Stallone holding the rocket launcher, and a few screenshots of the game itself. If you look closely at the lower-right corner, you will see a cartoonish hand-drawn art of the Rambo character with a bow and arrow. Considering how very popular Stallone, his character and the movie were, it made a lot of sense to promote the Rambo Famicom game like this in Japan.
5. Gyruss Family Computer Disk System Japanese Print Ad
Gyruss was Konami’s first-ever game developed for the Famicom Disk System of Nintendo.
In 1983, Konami released Gyruss, a science fiction tube shooter designed by Yoshiko Okamoto. The game was a huge arcade hit and it really attracted a lot of players who enjoyed the unique game design and spaceship shooting. Konami licensed the game to a few companies which resulted in the creation and release of Gyruss ports for different consoles and home computer systems. In 1988, Konami released an enhanced Gyruss port for the Family Computer Disk System of Nintendo. To promote the Famicom Disk System port, Konami came up with a print ad that had a nicely detailed painted artwork of a spaceship (representing the player) about to hit incoming enemies deep in space, 3 screenshots and the official price and release date displayed. The artwork is still captivating to look at and the port itself features major overhauls that arguably made it better than the arcade original. Konami really went the extra mile for this Gyruss port.
6. Operation Thunderbolt Japanese Arcade Flyer
Great looking artwork on the front.
The rear.
Following the huge success of Operation Wolf, Taito went on to make the sequel military shooter Operation Thunderbolt which was named after the 1977 movie that itself was based on the real-life Entebbe raid of 1976. To promote the game, the company came up with a pretty compelling arcade flyer for the Japanese market. The front has a detailed painted artwork that emphasizes the conflict between soldiers and Islamic terrorists in the Middle East. The rear has technical details of the arcade cabinet, several phone numbers and hand-drawn art of the terrorists (they easily remind me of Palestinian terrorists) clearly called the enemies. While the listing of phone numbers on the rear was very unusual, this old arcade flyer still looks great. Operation Thunderbolt went on to achieve huge commercial success in the arcades and later on consoles. It was one of the highest grossing arcade games in Japan in 1989.
7. Batman Returns North American Print Ad
Sega’s clever print ad promoting the Sega CD game of Batman Returns.
Batman Returns was a big hit in cinemas in 1992 although it never came close to matching the success of its 1989 predecessor. When it comes to video games, Batman Returns was even more ambitious as there were different game adaptations on different platforms. For the Sega CD Batman Returns game, Sega came up with the above ad that strongly featured photos of Michael Keaton as Batman, Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman and Danny DeVito as the Penguin with a stylish dark background and four screenshots of the game. The line “Batman Returns…on Sega CD” was really catchy and ultimately the game itself was very notably an expanded version of the Sega Genesis version with selected video footage from the film. As Sega had the license to make Batman Returns games for its platforms, this print ad is absolutely an attention-grabber.
8. Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi North American Print Ad
The Force is with the handheld gamers.
If there is anything notable about Star Wars in the 1990s, it is the fact that there is a lot of merchandise, comic books, video games, books and other licensed products released long after 1983’s Return of the Jedi which itself was perceived to be the last of the film franchise. In the mid-1990s, ports of Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi were released on the competing handheld platforms Nintendo Game Boy and Sega Game Gear. This particular single-page ad has a nice visual design that captured the vibe of the movie (which I saw as a young boy in 1983) and it made handheld gaming look cool.
9. Elevator Action Returns Japanese Print Ad
Did you play Elevator Action Returns on the Sega Saturn?
In 1994, Taito struck gold with the release of Elevator Action Returns in Japanese arcades. The sequel was a big hit for the company and they eventually released a console port on the Sega Saturn only in Japan. For promotion, a print ad was made using the official painted artwork while also showing the screenshots and other details about it running on the Saturn (which itself was a powerful 2D sprite machine). Just looking at this old ad brings back the excitement of Elevator Action Returns and I now have a digital copy of it on my Xbox Series X.
10. Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu North American Print Ad
A very ambitious print ad promoting Jade Cocoon in North America.
By the late 1990s, Japanese role-playing games (JRPG) really became popular on gaming consoles in America which arguably was the result of the massive global success of Final Fantasy VII. In 1999, there were a lot of JRPGs that got released on PlayStation and publisher Crave Entertainment literally pounced on American gamers’ interest on JRPGs by releasing Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu. Crave aggressively promoted the game and the result was this 2-page print ad that emphasized the game concept (developed by Genki), showed screenshots of the game, and displayed artworks that fans of Studio Ghibli anime productions can recognize. While Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu never became a massive commercial hit because of the low print run, there is no denying that its print ad was one of the most visually appealing ads of 1999. The ad alone made it look very ambitious.
11. Konami LaserScope North American print ad
Did you get excited after seeing this Konami LaserScope print ad? Do you know anyone who bought the peripheral?
In 1990, this print ad of Konami’s LaserScope appeared in comic books and several other publications. The LaserScope was a gaming peripheral designed for use on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) complete with compatibility with existing games that were made to support the NES Zapper. The ad even boasted a voice-activated firing feature and a hands-free approach on playing NES games. While the ad boasted that players will have the most powerful voice in video games, the LaserScope itself was a very flawed and badly optimized device. Apart from having a built-in microphone that was oversensitive, tracking targets was a chore requiring constant head-turning which in turn made the gameplay experience very tiring and frustrating. This old ad promised a lot and the LaserScope was a catastrophe. When was the last time you bought hardware from Konami?
A major breakthrough happened in Israel where researchers of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) developed aerogel that is capable of capturing and breaking down oil spills, according to a feature article by The Jerusalem Post. This breakthrough could improve Israel’s way of protecting the natural environment and solving problems caused by oil spills.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the article of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface.
Oil spills occur regularly around the world, but large, catastrophic disasters are much less common than small, everyday leaks.
Thousands of minor spills happen every year during routine tasks like refueling ships, pipeline leaks, or equipment failures on land. In the 1970s, there were between 70 and 100 large tanker spills annually. Fortunately, major marine spills from tanker accidents have dropped by more than 90% since the 1970s, with fewer than 10% per year.
Spills actually occur more frequently on land near storage tanks, industrial sites, and pipelines, but these get more attention because they spread fast and harm fragile ocean and coastal habitats.
Nature is also responsible – the single largest source of oil entering the oceans isn’t human error at all; it is natural seepage from rocks on the seafloor, accounting for about 40% to 50% of all oceanic oil.
Israelis probably remember February 2021, when its most severe and prominent modern disaster – a massive undisclosed spill (estimated at dozens to hundreds of tons of crude oil) sent heavy black tar washing ashore. It contaminated roughly 160 kilometers of Israel’s 195-km. coastline, from Rosh Hanikra to Ashkelon, severely harming marine wildlife like sea turtles and birds. They recall seeing masses of seabirds covered in tar and dying as a result of the environmental catastrophe.
But now,researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Beersheba are the first to develop a technology that captures and biologically breaks down oil pollution, treating crude oil and fuel pollution in marine and aquatic environments– a promising approach to both immediate containment and long-term environmental recovery.
The BGU technology is aimed at both the immediate capture of hydrocarbons and their longer-term degradation. Lab experiments showed that the material can adsorb approximately 80 to 100 times its own mass in crude oil, fuel, tar, and other hydrocarbons.
It was developed in the university’s Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, led by Prof. Ariel Kushmaro and Dr. Danit Lisa Karsagi Biron of BGU’s Faculty of Engineering.
They created a porous aerogel made from cellulose fibers – that could be created from used egg cartons, old newspapers, and other paper materials – enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus.These nutrients support oil-degrading bacteria, making it possible for the material not only to capture pollutants but also to speed their subsequent biological breakdown.
The research team saidthey developed the aerogel using nutrient enrichment, freeze-drying, and pyrolysis (the thermal decomposition of organic materials at high temperatures – typically 300°C to 900°C) in the absence of oxygen, which prevents combustion.
Kushmaro told The Jerusalem Post in an interview thatthe aerogel provides a surface on which the bacteria can attach, bringing them into close contact with both the adsorbed hydrocarbons and the nutrients they require. In this way,the system creates conditions that support the microbial breakdown of the captured pollutants.
The process can even minimize the need to remove and dispose of contaminated adsorption material after treatment. The technology is currently undergoing patent recognition through BGN Technologies, BGU’s technology commercialization company.
To all my readers, I encourage you to thank the Lord for this scientific breakthrough achieved by Israeli researchers. Even though it has been attacked militarily and through misinformation campaigns by its enemies, Israel continues to be a world leader on technology and economics. Indeed, God has a plan for Israel to be the guiding light for the world. The aerogel developed by Israel’s researchers will pave the way to protecting the natural environment better and help affected communities recover faster from oil spills. Soon enough, other nations will want to have Israel’s breakthrough for the same reasons. It is just a matter of time.
At the same time, I encourage you all to realize the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
It is official! The United States has officially sanctioned the Palestinian Authority (PA) and members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for failing to live up to their commitments as described in two historical commitment acts from 1989 and 2002, the US State Department announced.
As such, the so-called PA president Mahmoud Abbas has been denied an entry visa to the US ahead of the General Assembly of the wicked United Nations (UN). Be aware that the Palestinian Authority is guilty of paying terrorists and actually commits apartheid.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the entire announcement of the State Department. Some parts in boldface…
The State Department has reported to Congress that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA) have, once again, failed to live up to their commitments as described in the PLO Commitments Compliance Act of 1989 (PLOCCA) and the Middle East Peace Commitments Act of 2002 (MEPCA). This includes initiating and supporting actions at international organizations that undermine and contradict prior commitments in support of Security Council Resolution 242 and 338, taking actions to internationalize the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict including through the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ), seeking to bypass negotiations through seeking unilateral recognition, and continuing to pay stipends to terrorists and to glorify acts of terrorism and terrorists in public pronouncements and school textbooks.
As a consequence of their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace, the United States will extend sanctions that deny visas to PLO members and PA officials in accordance with section 604(a)(1) of the MEPCA. The Department has maintained the standing waiver for personnel notified to the PLO Observer Mission to the United Nations as was the case in the Department’s prior determinations. It is in our national interest to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for glorifying terrorism.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think this latest move by the United States will impact the PA, the PLO and their international partners significantly? Do you think the other nations that took sides with the Palestinians and normalized themselves with Islamic terrorists will think twice about how they do diplomacy? Are you convinced that the Palestinians have a religious and ethnic commitment to terrorism?
Starting January 3, 2027, direct flights between Manila and Tel Aviv will launch with Israeli airline Arkia in-charge of the service, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. For many Filipinos who desired to visit the Holy Land in Israel, this is a dream that will come true and the new route is the first non-stop air link between the two major cities.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface.
Filipinos can soon fly directly to Israel without making a stopover, as Israeli airline Arkia prepares to launch the first nonstop flights between Manila and Tel Aviv in January 2027.
Thenew route will begin on Jan. 3, 2027, with an initial service of one flight a week and a travel time of about 11 hours, according to Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh.
For years, travelers between the Philippines and Israel have had to take connecting flights, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi among the main stopover points, while other options include connections through New Delhi, Bangkok, Seoul, and other Asian cities.
The new service will therefore provide the first nonstop air link between Manila and Tel Aviv.
Kursh welcomed the development in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Sept. 8, saying the route would bring the two countries closer after years without a direct connection.
“For the first time in many years, our two countries will be connected by a direct flight, bringing Israel and the Philippines closer than ever before,” she said.
The Israeli envoy said the new air link would go beyond making travel more convenient, as it could alsoopen more opportunities for tourism, business, investment, and cultural exchanges.
“This is much more than a new flight route,” Kursh said.
“It is a bridge between our peoples, creating new opportunities for tourism, business, investment and cultural exchange, while making it easier for Israelis and Filipinos to discover each other’s beautiful countries,” she added.
The Department of Transportation had earlier pushed for direct flights between the Philippines and Israel, with officials saying improved air connectivity would help strengthen bilateral ties.
Kursh said she looked forward to welcoming more Israeli visitors to the Philippines while encouraging more Filipinos to discover Israel.
“I look forward to welcoming many more Israeli visitors to the Philippines and to seeing even more Filipinos discovering the beauty, diversity and warmth of Israel,” she said.
To all my readers, I encourage you to thank the Lord for this breakthrough of cooperation between Israel and the Philippines. Ambassador Dana Kursh is absolutely right by stating that the direct Manila-Tel Aviv air link is the bridge between Filipinos and the Israelis who will benefit from the new opportunities for tourism, business, investment and cultural exchange. For Filipinos who desire to visit the Holy Land to discover the holy sites, witness the Holy Bible come to life and deepen their faith in the Lord, the direct flights are absolutely golden.
I personally have a desire to return to Israel someday to spend quality with the Lord right there in the Holy Land. I love Israel and I believe strong in the biblical ties between Jews and Christians.
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord for this breakthrough to lead to more breakthroughs for both Filipinos and Israelis.
At the same time, I encourage you all to realize the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
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 Reaction Videos of The Transformers: The Movie – I can hardly believe it has been forty years since The Transformers: The Movie was first released. Following its disappointing theatrical run, the animated feature film became highly pursued by Transformers fans as soon as it was released on home video, and me and my friends enjoyed it a lot. It’s theatrical disappointment never stopped it from becoming a classic for Transformers fans and its importance in pop culture has been established solidly. By today’s standards, The Transformers: The Movie is a showcase of not only high-quality animation and a great lineup of characters, it also has the fine vocal performances of entertainment legends Orson Welles, Peter Cullen (who died recently), Leonard Nimoy, Scatman Crothers, Robert Stack, and Frank Welker. That said, it is not surprising that the 1986 animated film is featured in many movie reaction videos and I found the most entertaining ones for you to enjoy.
#2 Summer Bargains in Japan – Are there a lot of bargains offered by your local grocery or department stores during the summer season? In Japan, as captured by Nippon TV, a grocery store organized “all-you-can-stuff” events that offered customers the golden opportunities to accumulate as many fresh vegetables (sourced from the summer produce of local farms) as they can for a fixed rate per attempt. Watching this Nippon TV video is entertaining and informative. I encourage you all to watch it from start to finish.
#3 1978 Interview Clip of Ingrid Bergman – If you have seen the classic movie Casablanca, you would remember the radiant beauty of Ingrid Bergman and her on-screen romance with Humphrey Bogart’s character. A few years before she passed away, Bergman was interviewed on TV and I posted below a short video excerpt for you to see. Not only will you learn from Bergman a notable revelation about her co-star’s presence behind the scenes of Casablanca’s production, you will see how intellectual and insightful she was. Go watch the video below.
#4 The Indiana Jones Game Konami Was Never Allowed to Make – Time for retro gaming! Back in the 1980s, Konami was a very prolific producer of video games for both arcades and consoles. In 1987, Konami released Arumana no Kiseki for the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) disk system. What struck me when I first played the game was the many creative elements it shared with the 1984 film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The playable action hero was designed with close resemblance to Indiana Jones (complete with the fedora). The game even had locations that looked like they were ripped off from the 1984 movie. To learn more about Arumana no Kiseki, who created it and why it had lots of Indiana Jones-related elements in it, watch the video below.
#5 Roger Moore Technically Played James Bond in The Cannonball Run – Released in 1981, The Cannonball Run was an all-star comedy film with an emphasis on racing and stunts. It was heavily inspired by a real-life illegal cross-country motor race that happened in America in the 1970s and the movie had the very popular celebrities of the time like Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett and Roger Moore. Moore, who was already famous as the cinematic James Bond, technically played Agent 007 in The Cannonball Run. If you are curious and you want to know more, go watch Calvin Dyson’s retrospective of the movie and Moore’s presence.
#6 Jerusalem Walk Video – During the day-off of the Israel pilgrimage tour I joined in 2023, I took the rare opportunity to explore the city of Jerusalem on foot. I started the day at the Old City of Jerusalem where I visited the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and other holy sites before marching all the way to the modern part of Jerusalem going as far as the famous Mahane Yehuda market. This Jerusalem walk video brings back memories to me and if you love world travel, I encourage you to watch it.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) recently announced that it will ensure the Philippines will benefit a lot from the ambitious Pax Silica project as they negotiate with the United States on the final framework, according to a GMA News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on Wednesday said it will ensure that the Philippine side, negotiating with the US on the final framework agreement to hit the ground running for the Pax Silica project in New Clark City, Tarlac, will push for a deal that would be most beneficial for the country.
At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, BCDA President and CEO Joshua “Jake” Bingcang said that the government is eyeing to sign the comprehensive framework agreement for the Pax Silica initiative with the US by November.
However, Bingcang admitted that “negotiations can always take longer,” noting that the target signing “is not cast in stone as long as the two [parties] will come up with mutually agreed arrangement.”
Nevertheless, the BCDA chief said the Philippines is pushing for terms that would “most beneficial sa’tin (to us)” as negotiations for the framework deal are ongoing.
“It’s a business contract, normally it is favorable to the host country,” he said.
Bingcang said the government has also made clear that the project will operate under the BCDA’s governing legal framework and applicable investment laws.
“It would be covered by two Philippine laws —the BCDA law and CREATE MORE so the incentives provided will be covered by these two laws,” he said.
“Never in that initial arrangement that we are going to adopt anything other than the two laws,” he added.
Pax Silica is the US Department of State’s flagship initiative on artificial intelligence and supply chain security, aimed at advancing a new economic security framework among allies and trusted partners.
The Philippines in April officially joined the Pax Silica initiative, cementing its place among other 23 global signatories, including the European Union, Japan, India, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
As part of the initiative, Manila and Washington are working to establish a 4,000-acre industrial hub that is envisioned as a new model for AI-focused investment within the Luzon Economic Corridor.
The BCDA chief earlier clarified that the Pax Silica hub is not envisioned as a cluster of hyperscale data centers but as an industrial hub that would include the manufacturing of semiconductors and microchips used in computers, laptops, electric vehicles, and other technologies.
Bingcang said that through Pax Silica, the Philippines and its partners see an opportunity to process raw materials domestically instead of exporting them in unprocessed form.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that the BCDA will be able to secure an agreement with the Americans to ensure the Philippines will benefit from Pax Silica economically? Do you realize Pax Silica’s potential to boost manufacturing jobs and the processing of raw of materials in the Philippines?
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 @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
In a serious attempt to attract more travelers from Southeast Asia, the tourism ministry of Israel enhanced the existing ties with travel agencies in the Philippines and Singapore, 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.
Israel’s Ministry of Tourism is seeking to attract more travelers from Southeast Asia by strengthening ties with travel agencies in the Philippines and Singapore, as it promotes the country’s destinations and assures visitors of safety.
The ministry recently hosted a seven-day familiarization tour for travel agents from both countries, showcasing Israel’s religious, historical, adventure and leisure attractions as part of its campaign to expand arrivals from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
The itinerary includedvisits to Jerusalem, Dead Sea and Tel Aviv, as well as a jeep tour through the Judean Desert and a wine tour in the Golan Heights.
Hassan Madah, international director of the Israel Ministry of Tourism in Jerusalem, said the country remains open to international visitors.
“We welcome you all. Israel is open to everyone, and travelers can be assured that our country is safe to visit,” Madah said.
He saidthe ministry hopes to welcome more visitors from the Philippines and Singapore, citing the country’s religious sites, historic cities, deserts and beaches as key attractions.
The ministry identified thePhilippines as one of its priority markets in Asia, alongside India, China and South Korea, with growth driven largely by faith-based travel.
Singapore, meanwhile, is considered a strategic market because of its position as a regional aviation and travel hub.
The tourism ministry said it has been strengthening partnerships with Southeast Asian travel industry stakeholders through regional events, including ITB Asia in Singapore.
Despite the lack of direct flights between the Philippines and Israel, Filipino arrivals have remained steady, according to the ministry.
TheDepartment of Tourism and the Israel Ministry of Tourism have signed a joint declaration of intent to promote two-way tourism and are engaged in discussions with airlines on improving connectivity.
Israel Ministry of Tourism Philippines Marketing Manager Anna Oraiza Aban saidvisa-free travel access for Philippine and Singaporean passport holders makes visits to Israel more convenient.
To all my readers, I encourage you to thank the Lord for this breakthrough of cooperation between Israel and both the Philippines and Singapore as the Jewish state seeks more visitors from Southeast Asia.
As such, I encourage you all to pray to the Lord for this breakthrough to lead to more breakthroughs in terms of improved travel, more connections between Israel and Southeast Asia, and more opportunities for Southeast Asian people to visit the Holy Land and realize the legacy of God, Lord Jesus and the Jewish people.
At the same time, I encourage you all to realize the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
For insight, the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute during the time of then President Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippines made it clear that it has a functioning judiciary and that the there is no need for the ICC to meddle. Strangely, Filipino authorities enforced the ICC arrest warrant which resulted in the arrest of former President Duterte and his transfer to The Hague for trial.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt of the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…
THE Philippines on Tuesday distanced itself from a campaign by the administration of US President Donald J. Trump urging countries to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying Washington’s latest position on the Hague-based tribunal is a matter of American policy and that Manila would continue to follow its own laws.
“The policy of the US is not within the scope of our government,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told reporters in a Viber group chat in Filipino.
Ms. Castro was asked to comment on a statement by US Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio, who said on Monday that “nations that refuse to reject the ICC’s false authority while relying on US assistance are likely to come under scrutiny.”
“This is a policy of the United States, and we respect their position,” Ms. Castro separately told GMA News. “At this point, we have no comment, as we are simply acting in accordance with our own laws.”
The Marcos administration has repeatedly said the Philippines has no plans to rejoin the ICC, while maintaining that its position on the tribunal is based on Philippine policy rather than that of any foreign government.
The Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the ICC, in 2019 under former President Rodrigo R. Duterte after the tribunal opened a preliminary examination into his anti-illegal drug campaign.
Although Manila is no longer a state party, the ICC maintains that it retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was still a member.
Former presidential legal counsel Salvador S. Panelo welcomed the Trump administration’s campaign against the ICC, saying the tribunal should stop what he described as interference in the affairs of sovereign states.
“The Trump administration’s launching of a government-wide campaign against the International Criminal Court, vowing to pressure countries to withdraw from the tribunal and accusing it of threatening US sovereignty, as well as other countries’ sovereignties like the Philippines, Russia and Israel is long in coming,” he said in a statement.
“The illegal and unforgivable incarceration of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, intruding into our country’s sovereignty with the cooperation of the Marcos administration, is a classic example of ICC’s unlawful intrusion to countries that are not members,” he added.
Mr. Duterte, 81, was arrested in March 2025 after Philippine authorities enforced an ICC arrest warrant and transferred him to The Hague, where he remains in the tribunal’s custody while facing allegations of crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign.
He has denied wrongdoing, while his supporters continue to challenge the court’s jurisdiction following the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Philippines is in a very awkward position between the United States and the ICC? Do you think the Philippines will lose American assistance in the near future as a result of its decision to distance itself from the US campaign against the ICC? Do you support campaigns opposing the ICC?
In response to the official request of Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez, Israel has agreed to extend earthquake aid in the South American nation by an additional two weeks, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface.
The Israeli aid delegation’s earthquake relief work in Venezuela will continue for an additional two weeks after interim president Delcy Rodriguez met with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar to request the extension, the Foreign Ministry and the IDF announced on Wednesday.
The decision was approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
With a small delegation of only 30 people, Israeli presence in Venezuela has been focused on designing a national reconstruction plan, which Rodriguez hopes to begin implementing.
As part of the plan, the IDF began mapping and categorizing approximately 1,300 buildings on Monday, classifying them as either to be demolished or potentially salvageable despite damage.
Additionally, IDF Brig.-Gen. Elad Edri said that the IDF engineers have provided guidance to Venezuela on handling debris from damaged buildings.
‘Out of the box thinking’ as earthquake death toll rises – The multi-year plan is a major accomplishment of the Israeli delegation, and Venezuela approved it within days, rather than the weeks or months it would normally take to develop.
Edri said the severity of the disaster warranted rapid, out-of-the-box thinking.
Following the June 24 earthquake, the IDF delegation flew out of Israel on June 30 and landed in Venezuela on July 1 after multiple complex stopovers, Edri said.
He explained that, given the current chaos, other delegations who wanted to assist with the disaster have needed four to five days of travel and waiting to reach disaster-stricken sites.
Even the IDF could not fly directly into Caracas; they flew into Valencia instead and then traveled domestically to Caracas.
On Sunday, the Venezuelan Information Ministry announced that the death toll had risen to 3,342. The new tally also puts the number of injured at 16,470, while the number of homeless has risen to 17,345.
To all my readers, I encourage you to thank the Lord for this breakthrough of cooperation between Israel and Venezuela. Not so long ago during the rule of the dictator Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela was hostile towards Israel and took sides with the Palestinians. With Maduro gone (thanks to the United States under President Donald Trump’s leadership), Venezuela now has a new leader and there has been a series of changes that happened since.
As such, I encourage you all to pray to the Lord for Israel and Venezuela to become allies and willing diplomatic partners in this chaotic world we live in. Pray also to Him for the continued recovery of Venezuela whose people suffered so much not only from the recent earthquake but also from the decades-long economic deterioration under their dictators.
