journalism – Page 69 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Alleged gunman behind October 3 Las Piñas City killing of radio broadcaster Lapid surrenders to local authorities

October 19, 2022October 18, 2022carlocarrasco

Finally! The alleged gunman behind the October 3 killing of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid (note: for references click here and here) turned himself in to the local authorities and was presented to the media with the presence of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benhur Abalos and others, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Apart from that, there were some very disturbing details revealed and the one who surrendered was part of a team that worked in the October 3 killing.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA’s article. Some parts in boldface…

The alleged gunman in the killing of veteran radio host Percival Mabasa, more popularly known as Percy Lapid, has surrendered to authorities, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said on Tuesday.

“Ngayong umagang ‘to, gusto ko lang i-kumpirma na nasa kustodiya na ng PNP (Philippine National Police) itong suspek na ang pangalan ay Joel Estorial. Siya ay of course taga-Quezon City (This morning, I would like to confirm that the PNP has custody of the suspect identified as Joel Estorial, He is of course a resident of Quezon City),” Abalos told reporters in a press conference at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame.

Abalos said Estorial, 38, a resident of Quezon City, turned himself in to the police on Monday “out of fear for his personal safety” after his photo was released last week and a PHP6.5-million bounty was placed on his head.

Estorial revealed that there are six of them involved in the murder of Lapid and they were promised a sum of PHP550,000.

He also surrendered the firearm he used to gun down Lapid at about 8:30 p.m. on October 3 at the gate of BF Resort along Aria Street, Barangay Talon 2, Las Piñas City.

“Ang tanong ng publiko, totoo kayang sumuko yan or he’s just a fall guy? Hindi po, siya talaga. Hindi niya lang inamin because the gun itself matched the slug, nag-match ang ballistics. ‘Yung mga damit (na suot niya nung nakuhanan siya ng CCTV) na pinunit punit niya nandoon pa rin (he presented to the police) (The public may be asking, did he really surrender or he’s just a fall guy? No, it’s really him, he didn’t just admit it because the gun itself matched the slug, the ballistics matched. The clothes (that he was wearing when he was caught on CCTV) that he tore apart are still there (he presented to the police),” said Abalos.

Abalos said Estorial issued an extrajudicial confession where he also named his cohorts identified as brothers Edmon and Israel Dimaculangan and a certain Orly, who are all still at large.

Meanwhile, the two other suspects who were not identified are “from the New Bilibid Prison”.

Abalos said police are still identifying the mastermind of the crime as well as the motive.

Wearing a bulletproof helmet and vest, Estorial faced the members of the media and apologized to the family of the victim.

“Sana po mapatawad ako nila. Hindi ko naman kagustuhan yun. Nadala lang ako (I hope they can forgive me. I had no intention. I was just carried away),” he said.

Estorial said the order to kill Lapid came from someone inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Estorial narrated that he was with “Orly” a resident of Batangas, during the incident while the Dimaculangan brothers, on the other hand, were on another motorcycle.

“Kasi ‘yung ano usapan, kung sino ang matapat doon kay Percy po, siya ang babaril eh nagkataon natapat sa akin, sabi naman po kapag hindi ko binaril, ako ang papatayin kaya binaril ko na po si Percy (What was discussed was whoever is nearest to Percy, they will shoot him. It just so happened that he was near our team, I said if I will not shoot him, they will kill me, so I shot Percy),” Estorial said.

When asked by Abalos as to who threatened him, Estorial said: “Si Orly (It’s Orly).”

Estorial said the PHP550,000 was split six ways, with him getting PHP140,000 deposited to his account.

For added insight, watch the GMA News videos below.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Who do you think could be the mastermind behind the killing of the radio broadcaster? Do you believe the police will be able to figure out all the details and find the answers behind everything?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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Muntinlupa City Mayor Biazon’s first 100 days report delivered

October 17, 2022October 15, 2022carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, Mayor Ruffy Biazon delivered his highly anticipated first 100 days report which the Manila Bulletin reported. His report presented the achievements and developments in a categorized manner. Subsequently, the City Government posted on its official Facebook page digital copies of the mayor’s speech.

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

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon reported what his administration has accomplished in the first 100 days in office.

“It’s hard to believe that it has been 100 days since I took my oath of office and talked about my vision and aspirations for Muntinlupa,” he said in a speech on Oct. 14.

Since assuming office on July 1, Biazon said he has signed 37 executive orders.

Biazon came up with 7K Agenda (Kabuhayan, Kalusugan, Karunungan, Kapayapaan at Kaayusan, Kaunlaran, Kalikasan at Katarungan), the priority areas of his administration.

“Among the seven K, our priorities are Kabuhayan [Livelihood], Kalusugan [Health], and Karunungan [Education] that are important parts in bouncing back from the crisis brought about by the pandemic. Those three agendas are what we call the Pandemic Recovery Program,” he said.

Health

Biazon said under his administration, he stepped up the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Muntinlupa.

As of Oct. 5, Muntinlupa 125.2 percent of the target population have been fully vaccinated and 49.35 percent of them have received at least one booster shot. In total, 1.24 million vaccines have been administered in the city, he said.

Under the PinasLakas vaccination campaign, the Muntinlupa City government has reached out to 20 private companies, eight private schools and 21 homeowners associations.

Biazon also focused on improving services and facilities at the city-run Ospital ng Muntinlupa. A waiting area was built for the companions of patients, who are currently not allowed to stay in rooms due to Covid-19 protocols. An urban garden was also built at the hospital for frontline healthcare workers. He said the new building at the hospital, constructed through the cooperation between him and Rep. Jaime Fresnedi, will soon be opened.

A “Super Health Center” will be established at the Barangay Putatan Main Health Center that will offer more services and longer operating hours.

Livelihood

Under Biazon’s administration, 172 micro-entrepreneurs have availed of P3.89 million zero percent interest loans through the Tulong Negosyo-Dagdag Puhunan Program.

Through online and Mega Job Fairs, the city government has offered 9,373 job vacancies and given referrals to 3,317 applicants.

A total of 1,468 disadvantaged workers were given temporary employment under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

In addition, the SMILE Munti or Support Muntinlupa Industries and Local Entrepreneurs was launched to help promote small and new businesses in the city.

Education

The national government ordered the return of face-to-face classes. Biazon said in Muntinlupa, the “Ready & Safe” face-to-face classes in public and private schools were implemented ensuring that schools were ready to accept students.

The city government currently has 82,442 scholars and educational assistance beneficiaries.

Recently, the College of Medicine of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa and Ospital ng Muntinlupa was opened to become the first medical school in the city. The mayor said a scholarship grant of P100,000 per year will be given to each qualified beneficiary of the College of Medicine.

To see the entire report of Manila Bulletin, click https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/15/muntinlupa-mayor-biazon-cites-accomplishments-in-first-100-days-in-office/

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to the mayor’s first 100 days report? Do you think the city is headed towards the right direction? Under the new administration, do you think the City Government’s services have improved?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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I Love Israel: The enduring partnership of Israel and the Philippines discussed

October 14, 2022October 13, 2022carlocarrasco

Recently, the Manila Times had a virtual interview with Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss. Content of that interview was published online by the newspaper and it sure contains lots of details about the strong ties between Israel and the Philippines.

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

The Manila Times (TMT): Could you give us an overview of Philippine-Israeli bilateral relations? What is the direction of our bilateral relations?

Ambassador Fluss: I would like first to say that I want to congratulate The Manila Times for its anniversary — 124 years is long, many years. So, congratulations.

Generally speaking, the relations are, I would say, very good and warm. Historically, we always remember 1928, the Philippines giving a safe haven to 1,300 Jewish refugees trying to escape Nazi rule where most countries, not all countries, closed the borders for refugees.

And the Philippines during the time of President [Manuel] Quezon showed the gesture of giving the message of helping those who are in need. And it is something that we appreciate very much.

And the second thing I would mention, which is very important to us historically, is 1947 when the Philippines voted in support of the establishment of the Jewish State of Israel, voted in the United Nations. This gives the foundation for the political foundation for the establishment of the State of Israel.

For this reason, until today, Filipinos do not need a visa to enter Israel and I think this is one of the reasons why we are seeing a really very good flow of people, movement of people between our two countries because it is easier with no visa.

Hopefully, when we see direct flights between our two countries, and I am very optimistic it will happen sometime next year, I think Manila-Tel Aviv will be a very busy line.

First of all, there is always a very good sense of people feeling very comfortable, very interested, very warm to each other I think it comes from similar values — the importance of family, value of family, value of charity, of helping each other, the community, I think these are the issues that we share between our societies, our two countries.

Today, we just had a JCM, the joint committee meeting, which is an annual political meeting between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel and the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) here. We did an overview of the relations.

And generally, things are going well between our two countries — friendly, warm, open discussions.

TMT: In terms of trade and commerce, are there new avenues that we can explore to further enhance our economic cooperation?

Ambassador Fluss: I’ll say my vision as the Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines is to create bridges of innovation and technology between our two countries, which means one side to transfer the knowledge, what we’re doing in Israel.

Because Israel is known as a global hub of innovation. I want to share this experience and to help the Philippines in creating its own system of innovation where you can have local innovation, entrepreneurship. And to support that, I’m working on both government-level and private sector, academia, and also introducing relevant Israeli technologies that can support the development process here in the Philippines.

In this regard, we had a delegation in the Philippines last week of companies in the agricultural sector who came to a big agricultural expo in Davao, which is the “food basket of the Philippines.” We participated there. I was there in Davao last week.

There is a lot of interest in Israeli technologies and this is also part of the vision and one of the main goals of the President (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) is enhancing agricultural productivity and food security, and we are trying to support these efforts. The State of Israel is a leader in agriculture technologies.

So, for one side the economy and trade, so more business delegations. We are also looking at another delegation coming to the Philippines on the area of water. We are also planning to have an exhibition on Israeli innovation in the Philippines, which will be presented here. We have Israeli experts to talk about Israeli innovations.

During the pandemic two years ago, the Israeli Embassy expanded and we opened a trade and economic office in the embassy which shows Israel is now investing more in promoting the relations between our two countries in this sector.

To read the rest of the interview, I encourage you all to visit https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/10/11/tmt-anniversary/ph-israel-an-enduring-partnership/1861565

Ambassador Fluss confirmed that Israel-Philippines ties are in a really good state not just diplomatically but also socially and economically. This past September, it has been confirmed that the State of Israel will assist farmers in the Ilocos Region by sharing their solutions to modern agriculture which should boost the local productivity. Ambassador Fluss visited the province of Ilocos Norte for the first time and met with the officials there.

Be thankful to the Lord as Israel-Philippines ties continue to grow stronger. As such, I encourage you all to not just read Manila Times’ interview with Ambassador Fluss but also pay close attention to the many details recorded in the interview so you can have a clear view about the state of Israel-Philippines relations. That interview is a blessing from our Lord. Keep on praying to Him to have the two nations rise high strongly and stand out among all nations of this very divided world we live in. Pray to Him that no enemy will ever succeed on opposing Israel and the Philippines. The evil ones will be exposed and will fall down in due time.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful (not religious), you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel, love the Jewish people and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus! Always stand in support of Israel! Israel-Philippines ties are essential!

In ending this I Love Israel piece, posted below are Israel-related videos plus one Philippine news video for your viewing pleasure and enlightenment.

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Kalingang Munti Action Center (KMAC) formally inaugurated at Muntinlupa City Hall

October 13, 2022October 11, 2022carlocarrasco

In the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the Kalingang Munti Action Center (KMAC) was formally launched recently at City Hall with the presence of Mayor Ruffy Biazon and many other local officials, the Manila Bulletin reported. The KMAC was described as a one-stop shop for the public in availing of frontline services and it was the fulfillment of the first executive order signed by the Mayor.

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

*Several local officials led by Mayor Ruffy Biazon attended the inauguration of the KMAC at City Hall. (source – Muntinlupa PIO)*

Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon launched on Monday, Oct. 10, the Kalingang Munti Action Center (KMAC), a one-stop shop for the public in availing of frontline services.

On his first day in office on July 1, Biazon signed his first executive order creating the KMAC.

The center will serve people who are availing of medical, financial, and burial assistance.

A total of 106 persons were served by the center on the first day of operations.

Biazon said through KMAC, people no longer need to go from one city hall department to another for services.

“Mas pinadali ang proseso para mas mabilis ding matatanggap ng ating kababayan ang tulong (The process has been simplified so our citizens can receive help faster),” said the mayor.

He added that with KMAC, the city government will have information and a database on indigents in Muntinlupa that will result in the efficient use of resources.

“Matiyak natin na yung talagang nangangailangan ay nabibigyan (This will ensure that those who are in need will be given assistance),” he added.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what is your reaction to this development? If you need to avail of assistance at Muntinlupa City Hall, would you plan to visit the KMAC first?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirms September 21 arrest of Korean telecommunication fraud suspect in Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City

October 12, 2022October 10, 2022carlocarrasco

The arrest of foreign fugitives in Parañaque City (for reference, click here, here and here) has been going on for some time now. Recently, a fugitive from South Korea was arrested in Barangay BF Homes in Parañaque which, according to a Manila Standard news report, happened on September 21, 2022 and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) only confirmed it and talked about it lately. The report described the place of arrest as “BF Tahanan Village” which is a loose reference to Tahanan Village.

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

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Sunday announced the arrest of a South Korean fugitive wanted by authorities in Seoul for involvement in a multi-million telecommunications fraud case.

In a report to Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) identified the fugitive as 33-year-old Lee Won Ho, who was arrested last Sept. 21 at his residence in BF Tahanan Village, Parañaque City.

The FSU operatives who arrested Lee were armed with a warrant of deportation issued pursuant to a summary deportation order that the bureau’s board of commissioners issued against the Korean in four years ago.

Tansingco said Lee will be deported immediately and that the latter was already placed in the immigration blacklist to prevent him from re-entering the country.

“He is an undesirable alien whose presence here poses a serious risk to public interest,” Tansingco said. “Thus, he should be perpetually barred from entering the Philippines.”

BI-FSU acting chief Rendell Ryan Sy said the Korean was issued an arrest warrant by the Incheon district court in Seoul, Korea where he was indicted for Fraud and that the latter’s passport was already revoked.

Lee was tagged as a high-ranking member of the so-called Minju Family, a big-time telecom fraud syndicate allegedly operating in Manila.

Sy said the syndicate is suspected of having defrauded over USD21 million from their Korean victims based overseas.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Parañaque City resident, what can you say about this latest crime-related news? Do you think that Parañaque still has lots of foreign fugitives living somewhere among the many villages or private subdivisions? Are you concerned that a foreign fugitive could be living next door to you?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Additional Speed Bumps inside Alabang Hills Village installed

October 11, 2022October 10, 2022carlocarrasco

Whatever residential community you travel in, always watch your speed, follow the local traffic rules and always be mindful of the pedestrians and vehicles near you. This is an old lesson that needs to be remembered again as the Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) announced recently that it has started the installation of additional speed bumps inside their village with safety in mind.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the AHVA’s official announcement. Some parts in boldface…

Today we have begun to install additional speed bumps in an effort to make our roads safer for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Since we took over in mid-March this year, we have noticed that many motorists, both residents and non-residents, do not slow down at certain intersections and instead barrel down the road endangering not only themselves but other motorists as well. They particularly endanger cyclists and pedestrians, most especially children. We have personally observed many near-misses. This has to stop. We ask all motorists to observe all the speed bumps and all road and traffic signs. VIOLATORS WILL BE APPREHENDED AND FINED.

We also request all cyclists to also slow down at intersections and blind curves. By not doing so, you are not only endangering your lives but also the lives of those that you may hit. Many near-misses have also been reported to us.

The new/additional speed bumps installed today are at the following intersections:
• Angeles St. corner Angeles St.
• Toledo St. corner Tagaytay St.
• Doña Ines St. corner Tacloban St.

For the newcomers reading this, Alabang Hills Village in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City is not just a major residential community but also home to churches, San Beda College Alabang and a cluster of town homes as well. It is also an essential place to pass through for residents of Barangay BF Homes and BF Homes subdivision (who have valid vehicular stickers and bicycle/motorcycle stickers issued by the AHVA) who wish to reach the Alabang area without traveling along Concha Cruz Drive.

For the non-residents reading this, If you don’t have a non-resident AHVA vehicular and you really need one right now, then you better apply online immediately by clicking https://alabanghillsvillage.com/sticker/. Also be aware of the enforcement of the “No sticker, no entry” policy towards non-residents.

For inquiries about this new development, visit https://alabanghillsvillage.com/ or call them at 88508254. You can visit their office at 1 Don Jesus Boulevard inside Alabang Hills Village from Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM. Always remember to follow their rules and speed limits whenever you are in the village. Be aware also of the recent in-village traffic adjustments.

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A Look Back at Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (1992)

October 11, 2022October 9, 2022carlocarrasco

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 early 1990s and explore a key chapter in the post-Crisis era of DC Comics through a Superman comic book – the first full appearance of Doomsday!

To those of you who read my retro review of Adventures of Superman #498 (1993) – which was the opening chapter of the Funeral for a Friend storyline – you might be wondering why I decided to revisit the Death of Superman storyline so suddenly. It all comes down to context related to Superman’s eventual death and what killed him. Not only did Doomsday become a very important part of DC Comics’ gallery of super villains having achieved the killing of the Man of Steel, the oversized monster became part of DC’s further comic book universe reboots as well as part of multimedia adaptations of DC Comics stories specifically in the Smallville TV series as well as in 2016’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Indeed, Doomsday’s place in American pop culture is sealed and that shows how much of an impact was made by the unstoppable super villain co-created by Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson and Roger Stern. Doomsday was conceived way back in 1991 during the brainstorming session of the Superman comics writers and editors of the time.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman: The Man of Steel #18, published in 1992 by DC Comics with a story written by Louise Simonson and drawn by Jon Bogdanove. This comic book marked the beginning of the Death of Superman saga.

Early story

The story begins deep underground as the left fist of a covered, large being keeps punching the metallic wall to get out of containment. As the punches keep on pounding the wall, the glove gets torn revealing a fist with gray skin and sharp bones protruding through the knuckles. After making its way out of containment, the earth shakes and the animals got disturbed as the creature – mostly covered with an alien body suit with only the left arm freed – makes its way from deep underground.

Miles away within the city of Metropolis, a young black boy buys a spray paint container (which has a fluorescent yellow paint that glows in the dark) inside a hardware store. In response to the curiosity of the store owner, the boy denies that he would use the glow-in-the-dark pain on a subway wall. The boy has a very tough task ahead of him as he will be going after monsters.

At a power station, a group of intelligent creatures make their way to steal electricity for their war machines…

Quality

*Even with only his left arm free, Doomsday still caused massive destruction causing injuries and deaths to others.*

To make things clear, this comic book tells two stories that moved in parallel together. The first story involving Superman, Lois Lane and the affairs that involved the mentioned young black boy is the typical good-versus-evil superhero tale. What made that story standout was Lois Lane’s involvement as she got into trouble facing the opposition before Superman came in to save the day. As before, seeing Lois Lane talk to Superman in the presence of others while keeping his identity secret remains engaging to read. This tale was good enough to read.

The other story that follows the sudden appearance and the early rampage of Doomsday is the more engaging one to read. This was clearly a build-up for the Death of Superman concept but it was highly effective, well-paced and clearly defined by the creative team. Not only will you see Doomsday’s unstoppable power of destruction, you will witness his complete disregard of life – animals and humans – which strongly hints the an immense danger that Superman, the Justice League America (JLA) and the people of Metropolis are not prepared for. Like the Terminator, Doomsday cannot be reasoned with as massive destruction and death are his core elements. Within the pages of this comic book, it can be viewed that Doomsday was designed for endless waves of destroying life and anything that gets in the way.

Lastly, I should state that Simonson and Bogdanove presented Doomsday not only to be destructive but also as a frightening force that people in real life would not want to see realized.

Conclusion

*The other tale that involved Lois Lane and the young black boy.*

Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (1992) remains a very powerful read. Yes, it is a build-up of Doomsday and the Death of Superman saga but it remains highly significant as it kicked-off the creative change of direction of DC’s Superman creative teams going towards tragedies that Superman and his allies cannot easily stop. This one marked start of Doomsday’s eventual high rise not only in comics but also in pop culture in general. That being said, this comic book is a must-have in your collection.

Overall, Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (1992) is highly recommended.

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A Look Back at Superman: The Man of Steel #20 (1993)

October 10, 2022August 26, 2024carlocarrasco

Previously, I reviewed Adventures of Superman #498 (1993) which marked the first chapter of the Funeral for a Friend storyline and dramatized the impact left behind by the death of Superman. That particular comic book had strong writing and succeeded in dramatizing how Superman’s friends, associates and other characters coped with his death with the future looking uncertain to them.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman: The Man of Steel #20, published in 1993 by DC Comics with a story written by Louise Simonson and drawn by Jon Bogdanove. This comic book marked the third chapter of the Funeral for a Friend storyline.

Early story

The story begins with people in Metropolis struggling to move forward not only because their hero Superman died but also because of the tremendous damage left behind by Doomsday. In his headquarters, Lex Luthor is talking with the telephone surrounded by several people with Supergirl watching. The matter being discussed was the burial of Superman at Centennial Park particularly in a structure Luthor himself donated. While he has to live on with the fact that he failed to kill Superman, Luthor tells himself he can still bury him.

At the Kent farm far away from Metropolis, Jonathan and Martha Kent are agonizing not only because of the death of their beloved son but also because they realized they cannot even get near him at his funeral as it will be organized as a major event with only the important people allowed to attend…

Quality

It seems like destiny to have the super villain Lex Luthor in the presence of a fictionalized Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton during the funeral of Superman. By today’s standards, the Clintons made it normal for America to bow to terrorists and make deals with them. That being said, their inclusion in this comic book is just wrong.

To go straight to the point, like Adventures of Superman #498 (1993), this comic book continues to dramatize the impact of Superman’s death on Metropolis and its people in a very engaging manner. It shows that DC’s creative teams in charge of Superman comic book at the time were really organized and coordinated with each other on crafting the Funeral for a Friend storyline. What makes this comic book stand out is the funeral itself which was organized as a public event (with the burial itself done in the presence of important people – including a very evil couple from the Democrats who love abortion and terrorism) and this includes the presence of many other DC Comics superheroes like Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Maxima, Shazam (AKA Captain Marvel) and others. The burial had its own share of intriguing and dramatic moments emphasizing the people’s struggle to adjust themselves knowing they don’t have Superman anymore to help them.

*Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Robin help out as the huge crowd became rowdy.*

More on the post-death dramatization, the creative team managed to keep Superman’s associates Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen and the other Daily Planet people feeling uneasy over the Man of Steel’s death which makes their work covering the funeral professionally a challenge. Unsurprisingly, Lois Lane gets her own fine share of the spotlight agonizing over the fact that she lost her beloved Clark (Superman to the public) whom she was supposed to get married with. The emotional struggle within her intensified as she experiences difficulty of informing the elderly Kent couple about what happened. This is rich writing prepared by the creators.

Not only that, the creative team also went all-out with dramatizing the impact of Superman’s good deeds on the people. You will see several people from Metropolis’ general population talk about how Superman helped them or inspired them. There are certain lines of dialogue that are quite touching to read.

Conclusion

*A pretty powerful portrayal of Lois Lane’s struggle on dealing with the new reality that she lost her beloved Superman.*

Superman: The Man of Steel #20 (1993) is another solid, post-death story emphasizing the new normal that Metropolis people and Superman’s friends are having difficulty adjusting to…a world without the Man of Steel. Based on the high quality of the storytelling and character development, it is easy to tell that the Superman titles’ creative teams planned ahead and prepared themselves for telling a post-death saga which was pretty risky given the iconic status of Superman and his decades-long legacy in comics and pop culture. This comic book really made Superman’s absence feel powerful and undeniable.

Overall, Superman: The Man of Steel #20 (1993) is recommended.

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Gamer arrested by PNP Anti-Cybercrime team

October 10, 2022October 7, 2022carlocarrasco

There is a need for us to behave ourselves and watch out backs not only in the real world but also online. I say this because the Philippine News Agency (PNA) recently reported the news of a gamer who got arrested by the Anti-Cybercrime team of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for violating key parts of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The arrest happened in Quezon City.

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

A man was arrested for sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl whom he met while playing an online game, the Philippine National Police – Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) reported on Friday.

In a statement, ACG chief Brig. Gen. Joel Doria said 35-year-old suspect Estelito Gibaga Jr. was nabbed by members of the Quezon City District Anti-Cybercrime Team (QCDACT) inside a motel located at West Point Street, E. Rodriguez Avenue on Thursday.

Based on the report submitted by QCDACT officer in charge Lt. Michael Bernardo, Gibaga met the victim, a Grade 9 student, in a public chat of an online game where both of them were players.

After a series of conversations, they shifted the conversation to “Snap Chat” and Facebook Messenger wherein they subsequently had a “virtual” romantic relationship.

During this time, the suspect allegedly sent the victim obscene photos of “himself” and asked the victim to do the same.

Bernardo said on September 6, the mother of the victim saw her daughter chatting with the suspect in the middle of the night.

When she saw the exchange of conversations between the two, she was shocked and confronted her daughter. This was when the minor admitted to her that she is being lured by the suspect into doing obscene things.

Bernardo said on September 16, the victim and her mother appeared at the office of QCDACT to lodge a complaint against the suspect, which resulted in the planning of an entrapment operation to catch him.

On Thursday, the mother and the victim reported back to QCDACT and informed the office that the suspect and the minor would meet up to watch a movie at a mall.

This prompted the Anti-Cybercrime Team to prepare an entrapment operation.

“When the suspect and the victim met at the Gateway entrance, they went to McDonald’s to take out snacks and headed to Guess Hotel. After entering the room, we lost no time in apprehending the suspect,” Bernardo said.

Doria, meanwhile, advised parents to keep a tight watch on the online activities of their children.

“Sexual predators are everywhere, even on online games,” he said.

The above article ended stating that the suspect will be charged for violating the following provisions of Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012: Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, the Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009, and Article 286 (Grave Coercion).

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you convinced that there are a lot of sexual predators and undesirable elements among the many users of the Internet and social media?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others as well as making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

P1.5 million cash reward for those who could provide information behind the October 3 killing of a radio broadcaster in Las Piñas City

October 8, 2022October 7, 2022carlocarrasco

Recently, there has been a wave of news and social media buzz over the sudden killing of a notable radio broadcaster that happened in the City of Las Piñas on October 3. In a more recent development, a person-of-interest was made known visually and the cash reward of P1.5 million was announced, according to a GMA Network news report.

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

Police investigators already have a person of interest in the October 3 killing of radio broadcaster Percival Mabasa, or more popularly known as Percy Lapid, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Friday.

At a press briefing, NCRPO chief Police Brigadier General Jonnel Estomo said the person of interest was captured by CCTV cameras from along Lapid’s routes moments before he was shot dead.

“The Special Investigation Task Force Percy Lapid, with their ongoing follow-up investigation, confirmed to have developed a person of interest in the case as a result of their collection of all available backtrack CCTV footage along the victim’s routes before the incident happened,” Estomo said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, who was also in the briefing, presented an enlarged printout of the person of interest, whose identity is still unknown.

“Importanteng ma-identify natin ang taong ito [it is important to identify this person],” Abalos said.

Estomo also announced that the reward money being offered to fast-track the resolution of the case has been increased from P500,000 to P1.5 million.

Estomo also said the additional cash reward came from “friends of the victim and concerned citizens.”

“Our very own SILG said that we are offering this reward to anyone who can provide information that will lead to the speedy resolution of this case,” Estomo said, referring to Abalos, who offered the initial P500,000 reward from his own pocket.

Estomo said the police are guaranteeing the safety and security of the informant.

Abalos, meanwhile, expressed confidence that with the reward money and the person’s picture released to the public, the person of interest would be identified soon and that it would be better for him to just surrender.

“Marami nang nakakaalam sa iyo, marami nang magsusumbong. Siguro sumuko ka na. Napakaimportante na sumuko ka na sapagkat pag-isipan mo, ‘yung mga nag-utos sa ‘yo baka may masamang gawin sa ‘yo,” Abalos said, addressing the person on the picture.

(A lot of people already know you and they may reach out to us. So perhaps you should surrender. It’s important that you surrender before whoever ordered you to commit the crime do something bad to you.)

Lapid, host of online broadcast program “Percy Lapid Fire” at DWBL 1242 and columnist for Hataw, was shot dead by two men while on his way home in Barangay Talon Dos, Las Piñas City on the night of October 3.

Malacañang earlier said President Marcos is “concerned” over the killing of Lapid.

Meanwhile, the family of the slain broadcast journalist appealed to Marcos Jr. to lead the investigation into the killing.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Roy Mabasa, Lapid’s brother, said the President leading the investigation may put a stop to the killing of journalists “once and for all.”

“Nais kong manawagan sa Pangulo na sana ay pangunahan itong imbestigasyon. Dahil bakit ba natin gusto na ang Pangulo ang nasa unahan nito? Para matigil na once and for all ang killings sa mga journalist,” he said.

(I want to appeal to the President to hopefully lead the investigation. Why? So that for once and for all the killing of journalists will stop.)

For added insight, watch the news videos below…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this recent development? Did the recent killing make you feel uneasy? Are you willing to help the authorities identify and find the person-of-interest so that the case will be resolved?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

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