journalism – Page 86 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Have you played the acclaimed Tunic on Xbox lately?

March 21, 2022March 19, 2022carlocarrasco

For those who missed out on the latest on Xbox gaming, last week saw the surprise launch of the independently made action-adventure game Tunic on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Windows PC and on MacOS. For those who are subscribing on Xbox Game Pass (XGP), Tunic is available for you to simply download and play.

To get yourself oriented with Tunic (developed by Andrew Shouldice and published by Finji), watch this official launch trailer below…

In relation to the surprise launch buzz it generated, Tunic gathered several rave reviews from several gaming media outlets. Below are some of notable quotes from the published reviews.

Game Informer: Tunic is a stunning achievement that manages to embody the best of nostalgia while being completely refreshing. It’s absolutely a must-play gem.

Windows Central: Tunic is an absolutely delightful game to slink away to for a few hours to explore, discover, and conquer. Solving puzzles and uncovering the myriad of hidden secrets can make for a calming adventure, but there’s always the potential for an exhilarating moment of victory after a particularly difficult boss.

Destructoid: What’s amazing about Tunic is that I can’t count any misstep. I fell into the world a few times, big deal. The penalty for death is paltry and they’re bugs that can be squashed. Once, a sound queue got stuck playing continuously, and I found myself pondering its significance in futility. I only noticed it wasn’t supposed to be happening when it continued through to the main menu. Sometimes things get in the way of the camera. There was nothing major enough to drag down the experience.

GameSpot: Most Souls-likes tend to adopt a grimdark fantasy aesthetic, but Tunic harkens back to the 8- and 16-bit eras by presenting a vibrant and colorful world that also offers a fiendishly difficult challenge. It’s not simply evocative of games from the late ’80s and early ’90s because it creates facsimiles of their graphics or gameplay, but because it manages to capture a tangible feeling of exploration and difficulty, where an instruction manual is your tool to deciphering everything. It’s the kind of game you would’ve purchased because the box art looked cool, eagerly flipping through the pages of its manual on the car ride home, not quite understanding it all but getting excited at the possibilities all the same. In Tunic’s case, this grand adventure lives up to the expectations.

For the newcomers reading this who are still trying to figure out what exactly Tunic is and what they need to know before trying the game, posted below is an excerpt from the launch day announcement published on Xbox.com written by Finji Senior Community Manager Harris Foster. Some parts in boldface…

A few years back, Tunic was revealed to the world on stage during the Xbox E3 2018 Briefing. This was a huge moment for both of us as a publishing team and for Andrew Shouldice who at the time was handling the duties of game designer, programmer, level designer, character artist, animator, and tester on Tunic.

In the nearly four years that followed, Tunic grew in an astonishing fashion. The development team and the game itself have multiplied in size and thousands of new fans have shared their excitement with us. Starting today we invite you to discover Tunic and all the secrets it has to offer on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and with Xbox Game Pass.

At first glance, Tunic may seem like a cute action-adventure game. You play as a small fox in a big world, fighting monsters and exploring an ancient land. But don’t let its charming exterior fool you, Tunic’s combat will test your reflexes and its mysteries will challenge your perception.

On your adventure you’ll explore a dense and mysterious overworld, from shadowy forests inhabited by dangerous creatures to intricate temples filled with hostile sorcerers. The sword is your primary weapon, but your greatest tool is knowing the right time to dodge, block, and swing. Your enemies will not hold back, so be sure to search your environment for bombs, stat boosts, and refillable health potions. Make a wrong move and your death will send you back to the last checkpoint without giving back any items you used. Be careful out there!

Tunic’s white-knuckle combat system pulls from modern action RPGs while its setting and tone comes from games of the classic cartridge era. But the challenge and inspiration doesn’t end there. Remember the good ol’ days when every game included a full-color instruction manual? A flimsy booklet packed with helpful combat tips, enemy descriptions, and secret hints? Tunic takes the lost art of the instruction manual and injects it directly into the game.

Scattered throughout the in-game world of Tunic are instruction manual pages for you to collect. Each one you find adds to your booklet, creating a compendium of this foreign realm. Study the pages carefully to get a lay of the land and have the upper hand on your combatants. Filled with gorgeous hand-drawn illustrations, the manual appears to be written in some unknown language. Come to think of it, everything in this world is written in these glyphs. What does it mean? Will we be able to translate it? What else might Tunic be hiding?

Mysteries and secrets sit at the heart of the Tunic experience. Every seasoned gamer knows that when a game has a waterfall, they should check behind it for hidden loot. Tunic presents a world overflowing with opportunities to sniff out secrets. When playing Tunic, we encourage you to collaborate with your friends.

In my own experience, I find Tunic to be highly playable, challenging and pretty enticing to play. It has that wholesome approach to its art style and visuals which resulted a unique fantasy look. The gameplay is where Tunic really stands out. The controls are pretty responsive and unique, and the game itself encourages both exploration and discovery to be done. This game also comes with a unique way on learning the functions on gameplay and controls complete with that nostalgic touch of visualizing instructions very similar to what video game manuals of long ago pulled off.

*Combat is done in real-time and the controls are pretty responsive . You can control where to move your character, where to face, how you time your strikes, and more.*

*Pay close attention to the details of the in-game locations so that you can familiarize yourself on where to go, determining which places are accessible and what kind of opposition awaits you.*

Do you remember the times when you used video game manuals for instructions? There is a nostalgic and digital way of learning how to play this game and you only need to press a bumper button on the control pad.

As of now, I’m still making my way through the game. I don’t know yet how long it will take to complete this acclaimed game but I can assure you readers that I am enjoying it a lot. Playing, discovering and learning with Tunic is fun! If you are an Xbox console owner with an active subscription to Xbox Game Pass, I encourage you to download and play Tunic!

In closing this piece, posted below are Xbox-related videos for your viewing pleasure.

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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. 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/

Applications for Las Piñas City’s Friendship Route vehicular stickers are being accepted online

March 21, 2022March 19, 2022carlocarrasco

If you are a resident of Las Piñas City who never had their Friendship Route vehicular sticker and you still want one, now is a good time to get your key documents and prepare yourselves for filing as the City Government recently announced it is accepting online applications for the Friendship Route stickers, the Manila Bulletin reported. Take note that a Google account is required for online application.

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

The Las Piñas City government announced that motorists who are using alternative routes to ease or decongest traffic along the main thoroughfares in the city can now apply for the friendship route stickers by visiting the link bit.ly/LPCFriendshipStickerApp

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said those who want to get the stickers must be residents of the city.

Aguilar said the stickers are not for sale and the city government has not come out with a new design or layout.

The stickers issued by the city government in 2011 up to succeeding years are still valid.

She said the online application is only for those who have not secured yet a friendship route sticker.

The city government issued on March 17 the guidelines on how to apply for the friendship route stickers.

The vehicle’s official receipt (OR) and Certificate of Registration (CR) of the owner should be registered with Las Piñas address.

Aguilar said residents can still avail of the stickers even as their vehicle is not registered in Las Piñas by just showing driver’s license or any other documents that will prove that the applicant is a city resident.

She said that those that are not qualified to apply for the stickers are public utility jeepneys, buses, taxis, school bus, delivery trucks and vans, tricycle and motorcycles, as well as vehicles stamped with “FOR HIRE” notation.

For everyone’s reference, posted below are the visual guidelines (note: written in Tagalog) of March 17 that the City Government published via social media…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this recent development? If you have not secured a Friendship Route sticker, do you plan to apply for one soon? Does the current traffic situation in the city compel you to pass through villages when driving?

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

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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

Three Chinese nationals apprehended in Parañaque City over kidnap of a fellow citizen

March 18, 2022March 16, 2022carlocarrasco

Another kidnapping incident involving Chinese nationals happened again in the City of Parañaque recently and the good news is that three suspects were arrested, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Three Chinese nationals were arrested by patrolling policemen when a fellow citizen whom they kidnapped screamed for help in Paranaque City on Tuesday night.

Police identified the suspects as Zhao Lian, 40; Su Xiaoxi, 34; and Long Chen 33. They were charged with kidnapping and illegal detention and are now all detained at the Paranaque City Police custodial facility.

Police said that prior to the incident, the victim, Niu Weicheng, applied for a job and agreed to meet his supposed employer.

The victim told police that he was fetched by the suspects in Makati City for a swab test.

However, the suspects brought him to Norway Building, Kassel Residences in Barangay Moonwalk, Paranaque City, where he was detained at about 9:00 p.m.

He also told police that the suspects demanded P600,000 from him, or else he will be sold as a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) worker in Cavite City.

The above report ended stating that Southern Police District (SPD) director Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg said that their police officers heard the victim scream for help while patrolling. Fortunately for the victim, the police officers responded which led to the arrest of the suspects.

For the newcomers reading this, the disturbing trend of Chinese nationals kidnapping their fellow Chinese people has been going on for years now. Parañaque itself has been a hot spot for crimes involving Chinese. For added insight, check out this February 2020 news video below…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are living in Parañaque City, do you believe that Chinese nationals are causing trouble in your local community? Are you concerned that a household in your local community occupied by Chinese nationals could be used for illegal activities such as the imprisonment of kidnap victims, smuggling, prostitution and the like? Do you believe it is high time for local authorities to investigate the POGOs? Does Parañaque need strong rules against kidnapping?

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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COVID-19 Crisis: Las Piñas City earns praise from DOH and MMCHD

March 17, 2022March 16, 2022carlocarrasco

The City of Las Piñas is on a roll once again as it as Mayor Imelda Aguilar announced that they earned the praise of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) for their orderly setup with regards to the vaccine and ancillary storage facilities, the Manila Bulletin reported.

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

Las Pinas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the city’s vaccine and ancillary storage areas earned praise from the Department of Health (DOH) and the Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) for its orderly setup.

Aguilar said the team of DOH Central Office and the MMCHD Logistics visited the city’s vaccine and ancillary storage areas on March 15.

She said the team composed of Irah Umadac, Ferdinand dela Cruz, Anne Bernabe and Carl Valeriano were escorted by City Health Office (CHO) officer-in-charge Dr. Julie Gonzales, Dra. Eleenor Gumpal and Dra. Anne Jagape, both of the National Immunization Program, during the inspection.

The mayor said the DOH and MCCHD commented that the city’s vaccine and ancillary storage facilities were properly maintained and the vaccines allocated to the city were well accounted for.

It is very nice to hear that the local authorities are doing good work with their vaccine and ancillary storage facilities. While we don’t know yet exactly how many doses of COVID-19 vaccines (including booster shots) are stored, rest assured they have supplies for the locals who need vaccinating or boosting. Take note that the City Government and its strategic partners are still doing COVID-19 vaccine operations around the city and recently their total inoculation count surpassed 1.3 million and to make vaccination more accessible to the locals, they also launched the vaccination bus.

For all the unvaccinated people reading this, any Las Piñas resident who has yet to get registered for the free COVID-19 vaccines can learn the ways by clicking here. Anyone who is ready and willing to register online can click bit.ly/LasPiñasVaccination

Meanwhile, the City Government is already handling the online registration process for COVID-19 vaccination for local minors (aged 5 to 17) which can be done at http://laspinascityonline.laspinascity.gov.ph/eCVRS/

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this recent development? Are you happy to hear that your city earned the praise of the DOH and MMCHD?

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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Better than Streaming: My first time in two whole years to watch a movie inside the local cinema

March 15, 2022March 14, 2022carlocarrasco

I finally did it! After two years of living with the COVID-19 crisis, I finally returned to the local cinema at Commercenter in Alabang recently where I saw The Batman on the big screen. The day was March 5 (Saturday) and it was a very notable experience for me personally and I can say that the theatrical experience is still better than watching movies via streaming.

To be very clear, it has been months since the cinemas all over Metro Manila reopened and as the months passed by, moviegoers have gradually returned in relation to what films were screened, what the local Alert Levels were and what health protocols were implemented. The reopening of cinemas went a long way since the 1^st quarter of 2021 (for references click here, here, here and here) and the Philippine cinema industry as a whole is trying to recover what was lost over the past two years. At one point, the movie theaters employed over 300,000 employees nationwide.

*On my way to watching The Batman at the cinema with my ticket!*

Going back to my return to the local cinema, I want to make clear that currently the cinemas will only accept people who have been fully vaccinated (meaning two doses of most COVID-19 vaccine brands were injected) which is why vaccination cards/passes are required for verification BEFORE any ticket will be sold. As such, I showed to the theater ticket seller my vaccination card and eventually I was allowed to purchase a ticket for The Batman which was P320 (more than US$6). I should state that it was also there at the Commercenter cinema where I last saw a movie in 2020…just before the first lockdown happened.

More on rules, it has been declared already that food and drinks are prohibited in Commercenter’s cinemas and that moviegoers are to wear their masks on as they watch a movie. Again, the prohibition on food and drinks at the said cinema were in effect when I viewed The Batman on March 5. According to a March 9, 2022 report by the Manila Bulletin, some theaters allowed their moviegoers to have food while watching.

*For transparency, these are the rules for you to see.*

While having no food and drink was a bummer for me as a paying moviegoer, I decided to just let things be and focus strongly on the narrative of The Batman which has a running time of almost three hours! That being said, as the movie went on, I was compelled to really focus on the story, the details and the dialogue (note: I turned my smartphone off as soon as I sat down). I also realized something that movie theaters can instantly provide that streaming apps and the home-based theater cannot – complete privacy and immersion.

In other words, there no distractions from external forces (examples: smartphone updates through the Internet, in-home telephone ringing, a noisy neighbor, someone knocking on the door, the house doorbell ringing, a motorist driving a car with an overly loud sound outside the house, etc.) and as such I experienced this strong engagement in watching the Matt Reeves-directed Batman movie. I also noticed that not only does Colin Farrell looks truly unrecognizable as the new cinematic Penguin, there were two moments I noticed he sounded and spoke like Robert de Niro!

I should also state that there were several other moviegoers who occupied seats on rows behind and in front of me. Clearly the attendance of that very screening was below 50% which only reminds me that the pandemic is still ongoing here in the Philippines. Fortunately, everyone was well behaved and in-theater noise and distractions were non-existent.

After waiting until the very end to see the very short and cryptic end-credits scene, I finally left the cinema satisfied and entertained. I found The Batman a worthy movie to watch on the big screen but to judge its quality and emphasized my observations about it, I would do that in a possible movie review.

*Nothing like looking at what films are being shown before you reach the ticket counter.*

My return to watching a movie in the local cinema was a really interesting experience. It was also my first time in many years to watch a movie on the big screen without consuming any drink or food. Still, I got my money’s worth overall and I really hope that what I paid will keep helping not just Commercenter cinema but the entire movie theater industry to achieve economic recovery with the pandemic still ongoing. The more people who get fully vaccinated, and the more fully vaccinated people who get boosted, the better it will be for movie theaters in terms of qualified moviegoers.

When it comes to spending time inside Commercenter, be aware that the mall has really nice places to enjoy delicious meals before or after you watch a movie at their cinema. You love ramen and Japanese meals, go to Sigekiya Ramen. You want to try Greek cuisine? Visit Akrotiri. You like good food and wine? Visit The Black Pig.

To those of you reading this, if you have the means and if your local cinemas are allowed to operate, I encourage you to buy tickets and watch your desired movie on the big screen inside the cinema. I suggest you stop streaming temporarily and help the movie theaters achieve economic recovery from this pandemic. For The Batman, I say screw HBO Max and HBO Go!

Remember this: Streaming will NEVER match the grandeur and immersion of the cinema! The cinema is always better than streaming. What you pay for movie tickets will help not only the cinema operators and their respective employees, you will also help the local authorities by means of tax collection and keeping the local area in order.

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COVID-19 Crisis: Vaccination bus launched in Las Piñas City!

March 12, 2022March 11, 2022carlocarrasco

Have you ever imagined entering a passenger bus not for traveling but rather to get vaccinated for COVID-19? That sort of thing became a reality in the City of Las Piñas as the City Government launched its bus for COVID-19 vaccination (referred to locally as “Bakuna Bus”) as part of their effort to reach out to the unvaccinated constituents while also participating officially in the latest 3-day national vaccination drive, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

*The vaccination bus. (source –* City of Las Piñas Facebook page)

The Las Pinas City government deployed on Thursday (March 10) a “Bakuna Bus” to administer Covid-19 vaccines to residents who remain unvaccinated.

Mayor Imelda Aguilar said the City Health Office (CHO), in coordination with the Las Pinas Rotary Club, deployed the vaccine bus to Barangay CAA as part of the three-day national vaccination on March 10 to 12.

Aguilar said the bus will serve the residents who are still unvaccinated and those who are set to receive their booster shot.

*Inside the bus. (source – City of Las Piñas Facebook page)*

*Vaccination staffer verifies the card of a patient inside the bus. (source – City of Las Piñas Facebook page*)

She said the city government is calling on all the unvaccinated and those who want to get the booster shot in Barangay CAA and nearby barangays to visit the mobile vaccination unit.

The mayor said the deployment of the bus is also part of the city government’s “Bayanihan sa Bakunahan sa Las Pinas”.

Aguilar said the vaccination team headed by CHO officer-in-charge Dr. Julie Gonzalez also conducts house-to-house vaccinations for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs).

She assured the residents that getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is very safe and will help boost their immune system against the virus.

The above report ended stating that mayor Aguilar assured local residents that getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is very safe and will boost their immune system. Take note that recently, the City Government announced that its total inoculation count surpassed 1.3 million and that includes a little over 180,000 booster shots recorded.

As already confirmed by various sources, the urgency for people to get vaccinated or boosted has faded as Metro Manila and some other places around the country have been placed under the Alert Level 1 status which allows more people to move around more freely complete with a reduction on restrictions. The challenge for both the national government and the local government units (LGUs) is to convince the people – especially the unvaccinated – to avail of the free vaccination shots.

Back to the vaccination bus, this project by City Government and its strategic partner is a nice idea and could help the local authorities reach out to the people in close proximity to the residential areas. There are lots of vaccination sites around the city for local to visit but the local authorities apparently decided to go all-out to get more people immunized. It also remains to be seen if other local governments will be inspired to come up with their own vaccination buses.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this recent development? If a vaccination bus arrives at your local community, will you avail of the free vaccination service? Do you want your homeowners’ association (HOA) to reach out to the City Government to have the vaccination bus serve your local community?

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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Muntinlupa City Government commends local cop

March 10, 2022March 8, 2022carlocarrasco

A local police officer here in Muntinlupa City was commended by the City Government because of the good deeds she did in the line of duty which resulted in a very exceptional rescue, the Manila Bulletin reported. This is very welcome news to hear given the fact that there are too many chaotic and depressing news reports generated daily by the mainstream media.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt (note: starting today, light blue backgrounds will be used) from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government congratulated a female police officer in the city who was awarded by the Philippine National Police (PNP) for good deeds.

PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos led the launching of the 2022 National Women’s Month Celebration on March 7 by recognizing Lt. Rizalyn Soledad, a Muntinlupa police officer, as one of the PNP Female Personnel with Good Deeds.

According to the PNP, Soledad was commended for leading the rescue of Divina “Nanay Dina” Estrada in September 2021. Estrada had been away from her family in Pangasinan for 15 years. She had been living in Muntinlupa until her rescue by the Muntinlupa police’s Intelligence Section, Community Affairs Section and Women and Children Protection Desk led by Soledad.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi praised Soledad for the PNP award and said women play a very important part in the development of the city and the country.

Manila Bulletin published the story of Nanay Dina on Sept. 20, 2021, who, through the help of the Muntinlupa police, went back to Pangasinan and was finally reunited with her family.

Estrada, 54, begged money from motorists for survival. On Sept. 17, 2021, the Muntinlupa police conducted a rescue operation and found Estrada along Daang Hari in Cavite.

Soledad said Estrada was weak and suffering from cataract. Estrada was unable to go back to Pangasinan since 2006 and lived by begging money from motorists and other people.

According to Soledad, Estrada’s daughter, Mejica Estrada, narrated that her mother went to live in Muntinlupa when her partner was incarcerated at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) so she could visit him. When her partner died, Estrada decided to settle in Muntinlupa.

In August 2021, Estrada asked her neighbors in Biazon Road, Brgy. Poblacion, Muntinlupa to find her daughter on Facebook. The neighbors were able to find Mejica, who promised that she would fetch her mother in Muntinlupa after learning about her situation.

However, Mejica was not able to immediately fulfill her promise when her husband and daughter became ill, and in part due to lockdowns and quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and provinces because of the pandemic.

The above news report ended stating that after the rescue, the police officers of Muntinlupa accompanied her all the way to Pangasinan province where she got reunited with her daughter and grandchild.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this newest development? Does this news make you trust the local police more?

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. 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@twitter.com as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/

Muntinlupa City Mayor clarifies issue about P1.2 billion standby loan from Landbank

March 9, 2022March 7, 2022carlocarrasco

If you are a local resident of Muntinlupa City, were you a recipient of circulating text messages about a certain loan worth over a billion Pesos that was allegedly used by City Government? Recently, Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi clarified the issue, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi refuted claims by his detractors that the city government already used a P1.2 billion standby loan from Landbank of the Philippines.

In March 2021, the Muntinlupa City Council passed an ordinance authorizing Fresnedi to enter into a loan agreement with Landbank in the amount of P1.2 billion to fund various projects.

During the flag raising ceremony at the Muntinlupa City hall quadrangle on March 7, Fresnedi reiterated that the city government has not availed of the standby loan.

“The Muntinlupa City government gave us the authorization to get a loan from Landbank. As of Dec. 31, our ending balance [at Landbank] is more than P2 billion. The [Landbank] manager said we have not availed of our standby loan. This means we have not taken any [amount from the standby loan],” said Fresnedi.

Fresnedi clarified the issue after text messages circulated claiming that the city government already got the loan from Landbank.

Landbank earlier issued a certification stating that the Muntinlupa City government has not availed of the loan.

“This is to certify that per records of this office, City Government of Muntinlupa has no outstanding drawdown as of December 31, 2021,” according to a certification issued by Landbank and signed by Lani Pornuevo, head of the Loan Operations Management Department.

Fresnedi said getting a loan is not a bad thing. He said when he assumed office during his first ever term as mayor, the city government took out a loan and used it to construct the Ospital ng Muntinlupa.

“Please remember, getting a loan is not bad when it is used in the right way,” he said.

The mayor said if ever the city government avails of the standby loan from Landbank, it will be used to fund ongoing projects of the city government.

In fact, he said, Landbank has sent two letters to the Muntinlupa City government to remind it about the standby loan.

According to Fresnedi, the standby loan is a program of the national government for economic recovery. The standby loan carries an interest of four percent per year.

“But what the city government needs to pay, if ever we avail of the loan, is only two percent per annum. The other two percent will be paid by the national government,” he said.

He said this is being done to help businesses to run and to help people get jobs, which are part of the national government’s national economic recovery plan.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Muntinlupa City resident, what do you think about the mayor’s clarification? Were the details explained well by him? Do you personally believe that the LGU (local government unit) should always be scrutinized over any loan it takes?

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: Over a hundred children saved as a result of combined efforts of the Israeli embassy, Chabad and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

March 7, 2022March 4, 2022carlocarrasco

It is indeed terrible that the nation of Ukraine continues to get ravaged by Russia which continues to be magnified a lot by the mainstream news media. To really set aside all of the media noise and politics related to the tragedy in Ukraine, focus on the Lord and praying to Him is a must. Pray to Him for the protection of Ukraine and for the stoppage of the rampage being done by Russia. Only God can lift up the persecuted and restore them fully and His Son Jesus will always be the light that people trapped by darkness can always come to. Let me also add the vengeance is the Lord’s (read Romans 12:19 in the Holy Bible).

Thanks to the Lord, there is really good news that recently happened as over a hundred children’s lives were saved as a result of the joint efforts of the Israeli embassy, Chabad and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, according to The Jerusalem Post’s news article. The said children are being taken cared of right now and at the same time the State of Israel is actively welcoming the affected Ukrainian Jews who have decided to migrate.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface…

More than 100 children made it out of Ukraine on Wednesday, thanks to a military-style operation that beat all the odds.

Many of the children live in Chabad’s orphanage in Odessa and the rest were sent by their parents, who stayed behind – in some cases to help younger children or elderly parents, and in some cases to fight.

The children – the youngest of whom is only 37 days old – left Odessa at 7 a.m. on four buses and arrived in Chisinau by 5 p.m. – a trip that normally takes three hours. But the roads are packed with cars full of refugees fleeing Ukraine and 40 of the kids, including the newborn, were not carrying documents.

For now, they will go to Berlin, where Chabad Rabbi Yehuda Tiechtel will look after them, hoping the war in Ukraine will end soon and that the children can return.

Daniel Svechnikov, 16, from Odessa, left behind his mother, who is taking care of his five-year-old brother, who has special needs.

“She is worried about me but she told me it was right to leave,” Svechnikov said. “I was scared, because I heard bombs. The Russians destroyed military targets near my home. At the border, I saw so many cars and people walking. Police helped us through traffic, and thank God we’re here.

Svechnikov said he wants to live in Israel, do his matriculation examinations and serve in the IDF. He said he hopes his family will follow him there.

Shoshana Khusid, 18, said her parents stayed behind to take care of her grandmother. She took her little brother and sister with her.

“It is very hard,” she said. “I was afraid because there were a lot of noisy sirens. From the first day of the war, I knew in my head that I had to go.”

The mission was helped by the Israeli embassy and Chabad and was funded by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which has allocated more than $4 million, donated by friends of Israel in the United States and Canada.

The grant is being transferred to Jewish organizations in the field and is assisting the Jewish community with food, medicine, emergency hotlines, evacuation, fuel and generators. The money will be used, among other things, for the activities of the Jewish Agency, Chabad, the Joint Distribution Committee, Tikva and other organizations that are active in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Operation “Israeli Guarantee” to rescue Ukrainian Jews will launch with Three special flights with about 300 immigrants will land at Ben-Gurion Airport on Sunday, March 6, in a joint operation by the Aliyah and Absorption Ministry, the Jewish Agency and the Fellowship, with the assistance of donations from the Jewish Federations in North America and Keren Hayesod.

Aliyah and Absorption Minister Pnina Tamano Sheta, Jewish Agency acting chairman Yaakov Hagoel and Fellowship president Yael Eckstein will welcome the immigrants at Ben-Gurion Airport.

Ukrainian Jews will arrive on three different flights. Two immigrant flights will depart from Warsaw, Poland and from Chisinau, Moldova. Another flight of about 100 orphans arranged by Chabad will depart from Iasi in Romania.

The new immigrants are refugees who escaped the fighting in Ukraine and were absorbed into the immigration centers opened by the Jewish Agency and IFCJ in the countries bordering Ukraine.

Immediately after landing at Ben-Gurion Airport, the immigrants will be absorbed by the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption.

The above article ended stating that absorption consultants who are tasked to take care of each immigrant and provide them with a broad initial absorption envelope for optimal adaptation and also a special rights exercise procedure. Also prepared for the immigrants are temporary housing solutions in hotels. These are parts of the emergency plan for the absorption of Ukrainian Jews.

Considering all the very depressing news reports about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine being published every day, this recent news about the saved Ukrainian children and the continued acceptance of Ukrainian Jews into Israel is truly delightful. This also proves that the Lord is working to help the sufferers and those who have decided to be faithful to Him! God will never abandon the unfortunate and those who are lost and unsaved only need to come to Jesus and look up to Him as their Lord and Savior.

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). For the people of Ukraine, you can donate to help them through Hillsong Church’s Ukraine Appeal effort. 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!

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

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COVID-19 Crisis: Booster shots received by ten million people all over the Philippines

March 4, 2022March 2, 2022carlocarrasco

As the heavily congested Metro Manila is now on its 4^th day under the Alert Level 1 status, people are now enjoying more freedom of movement and the food-beverage business joints are able to accommodate more customers who physically spend time at their respective venues. Along the way, there are some noticeable positive developments about business in the Philippines getting reported. Regardless, there is still the need to keep on following health protocols and face masks are still to be used even though the national daily count of new COVID-19 cases remains relatively low.

There is, however, the need to be vaccinated as well as boosted for COVID-19. No matter how loud the anti-vaccine fanatics rant and complain, nothing changes the fact that COVID-19 vaccines are a major factor on helping the Philippines gradually recover and rise up from this pandemic. More on the topic vaccination, it was revealed that the number of fully vaccinated patients (those who received two doses of most COVID-19 vaccine brands) who got boosted (the 3^rd shot/booster shot) has reached ten million, as stated in a recent report by the Manila Bulletin. The number of fully vaccinated people in the Philippines is over sixty million.

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

A total of 63 million individuals in the Philippines have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but only 10 million individuals have so far received their booster jab, said National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 special adviser Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa on Tuesday, March 1.

Herbosa, in an ANC interview, reiterated the importance of a booster jab despite having been “fully immunized” against the disease.

“The idea of the booster is to just increase your immunity. You already have immunity. Let me make that clear: if you are fully vaccinated, your immunity does not disappear but your antibodies actually wane. That’s why the booster shot stimulates your immune system to produce more antibodies against COVID-19,” said Herbosa.

He also added that while it stimulates the immune system in producing more antibodies, it actually gives “additional protection” against the disease and its emerging variants.

Meanwhile, Herbosa disclosed that the booster inoculation is one of the “slow parts” of the country’s vaccination program.

“Kailangan magpa-booster ha. If you have been fully vaccinated, you should get boosted [as well]. This is another slow part of our vaccination program. We’ve vaccinated 63 million but only 10 million have come forward to get their booster shots. Reminder to the public na hindi enough ang two doses, kailangan kumuha rin tayo ng third dose (We need to get boosted. If you have been fully vaccinated, you should get boosted as well. This is another slow part of our vaccination program. We’ve vaccinated 63 million but only 10 million have come forward to get their booster shots. I just want to remind the public that two doses are not enough, we need to get boosted),” he added.

The above report ended stating that based on the Department of Health’s (DOH) National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard statistics, 63,188,209 people were fully vaccinated while 10,137,607 people got their respective booster shots as of February 21, 2022. There is still a very long way to go before the booster shot count reaches 60,000,000.

While the Omicron variant does not look like a major problem anymore here in the Philippines, there is still that possibility that another coronavirus variant might come out. Whenever a new variant comes out, concerns or doubts about the protection provided by vaccines always emerge in people’s minds.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this new development? Are most of the people in your local community fully vaccinated or boosted for COVID-19 already?

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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