Manila – Author Carlo Carrasco

Flavors of NCR 2024 was a blast of delicacies, discoveries and fun

April 23, 2024April 22, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently Muntinlupa City hosted the 2024 edition of the Flavors of NCR food festival at the Filinvest City Central Park in Alabang and I personally witnessed the formal opening ceremony which involved many high-level officials and special guests. A lot of people visited the food festival on April 19 and 20 which added to the credibility of Filinvest City Central Park as a suitable open-air venue for special events.

For the newcomers reading this, Flavors of NCR is a special event presented by the Association of Tourism Officers – NCR which collaborated with the City Government of Muntinlupa for this year’s event. It is a showcase of unique cuisine found in the sixteen cities and one municipality of the National Capital Region (NCR). The local government units (LGUs) that participated include: Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and the Municipality of Pateros.

Event launch

The ribbon cutting led by high officials that include Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano (3rd from left), Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon (3rd from right) and Department of Tourism-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin (2nd from left) to name a few.

The opening ceremony of Flavors of NCR 2024 was attended by Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, Department of Tourism-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin, Association of Tourism Officers-NCR headed by Manila City Tourism chief Charlie Dungo, and Pasay City chief of staff Peter Eric Pardo. Also present were Muntinlupa Vice Mayor Temy Simundac and Muntinlupa City Council Raul Corro.

“We are delighted to host the Flavors of NCR,” Mayor Biazon stated during his welcome remarks to all the guests. “(We acknowledge) the presence of other cities here so that their products will be showcased and we are proud to have you here.”

Biazon stressed that hosting the Flavors of NCR opens up opportunities for Metro Manila’s LGUs and their respective food-and-beverage stakeholders access to the Calabarzon region composed of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon with a collective population of over sixteen million people.

It should be noted that the Alabang area of Muntinlupa is a popular destination for Calabarzon residents as well as those from nearby cities who enjoy shopping and recreational activities during the weekend. That being said, Flavors of NCR fits nicely with the weekend vibe at Filinvest City.

After the formal ribbon-cutting was done, Flavors of NCR 2024 officially opened and a lot of people and photographers followed Biazon and the guests visit the different food booths of each city.

Each LGU and their best

I visited and explored the designated areas (also referred to as “booths”) of each LGU during the food festival. Each area had a different style of interiors and layouts of food, drinks and other products being offered to visitors. There were also chairs and tables present for those who need to seat down and eat. Check out my raw YouTube videos plus pictures below…

*Native delicacies on display for sale at the Las Piñas City booth.*

*Burger patties being cooked at the Mandaluyong City area.*

*Delicious halo-halo from Aling Consuelo Halo-Halo sa Ugbo. This was sold at P100 each.*

*Marikina City had four sellers that attracted customers during the food festival.*

*Drinks, dessert and other stuff offered to customers at the Las Piñas City booth.*

Flavors of NCR was indeed a true showcase of what local businesses per LGU has to offer. Manila had halo-halo sold by Aling Consuelo Halo-Halo Sa Ugbo, Las Piñas City had Bea’s Home of Quality Kakanin and Other Native Delicacies selling native delights, Quezon City had Papa Diddi’s Handcrafted Ice Cream for those wanting something cold and sweet, Mandaluyong City had Ben’s Burjer for customers who love hot burgers, Marikina City had Mang Ding’s BBQ and Nanay Ipang’s Everlasting, and so on.

As expected, the variety of food and drinks were really great. Offered to customers were chicken, beef, pork, siomai, barbeque, puto, bibingka, pansit, siopao, fried chicken, roasted pig, pastries, cakes, halo-halo and ice cream to name some. There were also non-food products being sold such as bags and accessories in some booths.

*Sea food and other food items being sold at the Parañaque City booth.*

*Fried chicken being prepared for customers.*

*The best of Muntinlupa City offered to customers.*

*Food and bags for sale inside the booth of Malabon City.*

It was really nice to see these small businesses represent their locality and offered their best products to visitors at Filinvest City Central Park. Adding zest to the food festival were some performances by different bands from the cities of NCR. There also was a modern dance activity that drew in lots of visitors which added to the customers at the food festival.

Conclusion

The 2024 edition of Flavors of NCR at Filinvest City Central Park was indeed a nice showcase of what each LGU had to offer for those who love food and drinks. In addition, this festival really emphasized unity between the local governments of NCR and it also promoted local tourism. The festival also attracted some residents of Filinvest City’s residential towers (plus others from Ayala Alabang, Palms Pointe Village and other residential communities) and some employees (who worked at offices near the park) whose shifts ended.

In the perspective of tourism, this event really boosted Filinvest City Central Park’s status as a venue for special events or activities. To date, the said park continues to be an attraction for visitors and already it has been used by organizers of sports events and musical events.

The successful staging of Flavors of NCR could inspire food festival organizers to have their events held within Filinvest City in the future.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: Were you able to attend Flavors of NCR at the central park in Filinvest City? If you did, how was your experience? Do you wish to see another food festival to be held at Filinvest City Central Park soon?

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

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

Delivery rider arrested for extorting money from motorist while posing as a traffic enforcer

April 12, 2024April 2, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Manila, a delivery rider who disguised himself as a traffic enforcer flagged down a motorist and extorted money which eventually led to his arrest, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The suspect has been charged for robbery extortion and the usurpation of authority.

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

A delivery rider posing as a traffic enforcer was arrested after he flagged down a motorist to extort money.

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the suspect as Lloyd Tolentino, 27, resident of Barangay Kaunlaran, Navotas City.

According to the police report, the 43-year-old victim Reagan Ramos was traveling along Pedro Bukaneg Street corner Roxas Boulevard in Malate, Manila on Sunday night, March 31.

He said he was flagged down by the suspect, who was wearing a Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau uniform, and introduced himself as a traffic enforcer.

The suspect asked for the victim’s driver’s license for a traffic violation (swerving), but the victim contested.

The victim became suspicious when the suspect demanded P200 in exchange for not being issued a traffic violation ticket. Police said the victim immediately reported the incident to authorities that led in the arrest of the suspect.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you concerned that there could be more abusive delivery riders around Metro Manila who could be committing the usurpation of authority and extort money from motorists?

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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Transwoman arrested by police officers for extorting money from student lover

March 26, 2024March 17, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Manila, local police officers arrested transwoman (note: Transgendered woman who is actually male but identifies as female) for extorting money from a student lover, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

A transwoman was arrested by operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) for allegedly extorting money from his lover in Ermita, Manila on Thursday, March 14.

MPD identified the suspect as Justine, 25, a resident of Makati City.

The suspect was arrested in an entrapment operation after his 24-year-old victim, a student, reported him to the police.

Prior to the suspect’s arrest, the victim said he met the suspect on an online dating application.

He said that after a while, they became online sweethearts before they decided to meet in person in Makati City.

The victim said that during their meet-up, he and the suspect had a sexual encounter, but he did not know that the suspect was filming it.

He said that the suspect suddenly demanded P10,000 from him, threatening that he would use the sensitive video as a content on his social media account if he would not give him the money.

The threat prompted the victim to report the suspect who was nabbed in an entrapment operation inside a convenience store on United Nations Avenue in Ermita.

In a media interview, the victim said that he only found out late that the suspect was a transwoman.

Confiscated from the suspect’s possession were an iPhone and the P10,000 marked money.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Are you concerned that someone in your family could be engaging with strangers through online dating applications? Did someone from your local community became a victim of a transgendered crook? Do you think that a lot of extortionists, LGBTQ people and scammers are taking advantage of users on online dating applications?

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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Electric tricycle (e-trike) driver arrested for cursing the police after illegally parking his vehicle

February 29, 2024February 20, 2024carlocarrasco

With the huge spotlight on electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric tricycles (e-trikes) in recent times here in the Philippines, it is clear that such vehicles have caused public disturbances and already local and national authorities are working in response to them. Within the city of Manila, an incident happened recently as an e-trike driver, who caught the attention of the local police with illegal parking, got arrested after cursing the police, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

An electric tricycle or e-trike driver who illegally parked his vehicle was arrested for direct assault after shouting and cursing police in Tondo, Manila on Saturday, Feb. 17.

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the arrested suspect as Abraham Fernandez, 31, a resident of Barangay 123 in Tondo, Manila.

Before the suspect’s arrest, MPD personnel patrolled when they saw the suspect parked his e-trike in a no-parking zone along Juan Luna Street, Barangay 9, Zone 1 in Tondo, at around 4:20 p.m.

The authorities approached the suspect and told him to remove his vehicle blocking the road, which could cause traffic.

However, instead of cooperating, the suspect resisted, shouted, and cursed at the authorities in front of the public, which resulted in his arrest.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction about this recent development? Did you notice e-bike or e-trike drivers drive recklessly within your local community? Are there any minors who drove e-bikes or e-trikes in your local community? Are you hoping that the local government and the nation government agencies will ban e-bikes and e-trikes on major roads and have all the vehicles required for registration?

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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Transgendered woman arrested for extorting money from a minor

August 21, 2023August 16, 2023carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Manila, local police officers arrested a transgendered woman (note: biological male identifying as female) for the alleged extortion of money from a minor, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The victim’s mother learned about the details of what happened and called the police for assistance. The arrest was the result of an entrapment operation.

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

A 23-year-old transgender woman was arrested by police in an entrapment operation for allegedly extorting money from a minor with special needs at a mall in Ermita, Manila on Monday morning, Aug. 14.

The MPD-MDACT said the suspect is a student with aliases “Ann Antukin” and “Sunata Hen” residing in Brgy. Balong Bato Quezon City.

The mother of the victim told police investigators that her son (name withheld), a minor with special needs, met the suspect on Facebook two years ago. Their online relationship blossomed and they became lovers.

Through the course of the relationship they exchanged intimate photos of themselves in their online conversations. Her son thought all along that the suspect was a real woman, the mother said.

The problem started when the suspect demanded money from the victim, threatening to expose his sensitive photos to his parents.

Police said that the mother of the victim got wind of her son’s predicament after she found out that he stole money from her. This prompted her to check on her son’s cellular phone where she discovered that the suspect was demanding money from the victim such as a monthly allowance of P10,000 and others.

She further learned that the suspect was asking her son to deliver the money at a mall in Ermita.

The mother sought the assistance of the MPD-MDACT team who promptly planned an entrapment operation against the suspect at the mall.

During his arrest, the suspect yielded two pieces P1,000 marked money, a Vivo V23 5G cellular phone, a vaccination record card and a National ID under his name.

The above report ended stating that the transgender suspect is facing charges for violating Article 317 (swindling of minors), Republic Act No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act), and Republic Act 11930 (The Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children) and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (CSAEM) Act.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a parent whose children are still minors, does this crime news report make you feel concerned about what kind of people your children communicate with online? Do you think that there could be more transgendered individuals out there looking to victimize children and other people that they believe could easily be fooled?

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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PNP anti-cybercrime operatives raid online lending firm, multiple people caught in the act of sending threatening messages to clients

December 19, 2022December 15, 2022carlocarrasco

Did you borrow money from an online lending firm and later got threatened by their agents because you failed to settle your debt on time? For your information, a certain online lending firm in the City of Manila recently got raided by elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and resulted in the arrests of many people, 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…

Anti-cybercrime operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested a total of 83 people in a raid on the office of an alleged illegal online lending agency in Sampaloc, Manila.

Police Brig. Gen. Joel Doria, director of the PNP-Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG), said those arrested were the ones who were sending threats to their clients who would fail to pay the debt on time.

“They were caught in the act of sending threatening messages to customers while some where unlawfully accessing the clients’ personal information which is posted online with libelous remarks,” said Doria.

The operation stemmed from the numerous complaint of threats and humiliating remarks purportedly coming from employees of the online lending agency using the social media.

Doria said they immediately launched the operation after securing a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) from a court to search and seize pieces of digital evidence that were allegedly used by the loan shark company in its lending scheme with usurious rates. The raid was conducted in Barangay 497 in Sampaloc district.

The modus of the lending agency is to encourage people to secure a quick loan. But once the client would avail and fail to pay on time, they would send threats and humiliating messages not only to the clients but also to their friends and followers on social media.

“They take advantage of our poor netizens who happened to click on their advertisements and promotions through social media and ‘google play apps store’ that offer instant loans,” said Doria.

“Customers who fall trapped to this online lending agency, experienced public humiliation and harassment coupled with threats and illegal access to their phones’ contact list when customers cannot pay on time,” he added.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you borrowed money from an online lending firm and you already failed to settle your debt with them, did their agents send threatening or humiliating messages to you? If you are a victim of such harassment from the online lending firm you borrowed from, are you ready to report them to the police? Does this crime news report make you hesitant to borrow any money from an online lending firm?

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

Supreme Court issues TRO against No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) and sets January 2023 oral arguments

August 31, 2022August 30, 2022carlocarrasco

To those of you motorists who got penalized over alleged violations of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) implemented by some local government units (LGUs), be aware that the Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the said police and scheduled oral arguments on January 2023, according to a GMA Network news report. Also be aware that certain Metro Manila city mayors are standing firm with the NCAP.

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

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) being implemented by local government units.

In a media briefer, the SC said effective immediately, any apprehensions through the NCAP programs and ordinances related to the policy shall be prohibited until further orders from the court.

It also enjoined the Land Transportation Office and all parties acting on its behalf from giving out motorist information to all local government units, cities, and municipalities enforcing NCAP programs and ordinances.

The SC set the oral arguments on the issue on January 24, 2023.

The SC’s order came after transport groups Kapit, Pasang Masda, Altodap, and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations filed a petition against local ordinances related to NCAP in five cities in Metro Manila.

A lawyer also asked the high court to declare as unconstitutional and issue a TRO against Manila City Ordinance No. 8676, which implements the policy.

For its part, the LTO has previously asked local governments to temporarily suspend the implementation of the policy, with its head, Teofilo Guadiz III, calling on the mayors of the five cities to sit down with the LTO and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to create uniform guidelines.

To this day, the NCAP is controversial and anyone who got charged for traffic-related violations can challenge the findings through due process. There was this case of the road trap in Parañaque City that affected a lot of motorists with penalties for alleged disregarding of traffic signs. For insight, posted below is an excerpt from a Motopinas.com article about Parañaque’s road trap. Some parts in boldface…

For the many motorcycle riders who reside in Las Pinas and Cavite, going to Manila or Quezon City meant passing through Paranaque City’s Dr. Arcadio Santos Avenue (Sucat RD) toward Domestic Road on the way to EDSA, or toward Macapagal BLVD and Roxas BLVD.

A few weeks ago, road users were in an uproar on what they dubbed as “road trap” in one of the intersections of the said thoroughfare.

On this particular intersection of J.P. Rizal and Sucat RD, the second lane was marked with an arrow for left-turning vehicles only. Since Paranaque City is one of the few Metro Manila cities that implement a No-Contact Apprehension System, hundreds of drivers and motorcycle riders were summoned with their corresponding traffic violation which amounts to PHP 1,500 for Disregarding Traffic Signs (DTS).

What’s odd is that the marking was previously pointing north towards the former Nayong Pilipino and not to the left.

With fuel costs nearing PHP 100/liter, every penny counts for the Juan dela Cruz rider/driver, and penalties from similar traffic violations could mean a family skipping lunch or dinner.

Just recently, a motorcyclist was summoned by the city for DTS. The motorcycle rider sought help from the Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO), who then advised what steps should be taken following due process of law.

According to MRO, based on their research of relevant laws, LGUs like Paranaque City cannot make a new or update a road marking/traffic sign without prior approval from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) or the Department of Transportation (DOTr)/ Land Transportation Office (LTO).

To follow due process, MRO advised the rider to first seek a reaction/memo from the DPWH as to the legality of the road/traffic markings. The DPWH has then sent a letter to Paranaque LGU advising them that the marking is inconsistent with current standards. You can view the MRO social media post here.

On their end, the City of Paranaque has made the necessary lane marking corrections and has declared the motorcycle rider’s traffic violation void.

For added insight about Parañaque, watch the video below.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this new development? If you were charged for traffic violations based on findings through the NCAP system, which particular local government unit penalize you? Do you believe that the NCAP system is being abused by LGUs as a means to raise internal revenues at the expense of motorists who were tagged for traffic violations? Did Parañaque City’s notorious road trap get you penalized? Do you believe that the NCAP made traffic flow and road discipline better? Do you believe that the NCAP implemented by the cities of Parañaque, Valenzuela, San Juan, Manila and Quezon City should be declared illegal by the Supreme Court?

Do you believe that the city governments of Parañaque, Valenzuela, San Juan, Manila and Quezon City should be compelled to reveal how much many they each raised from all the penalties collected through NCAP?

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/.

Parañaque City police officers arrest gun ban violators

July 26, 2022July 26, 2022carlocarrasco

According to a GMA Network news report, Parañaque City police officers arrested three people for allegedly violating the implemented ban of guns in relation to the State of the Nation Address (SONA). The notable thing here is that the apprehension happened outside of Parañaque City.

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

Parañaque City cops arrested three people on Monday for violation of the ongoing six-day gun ban for the safety of the first State of the Nation Address of President Bongbong Marcos.

Unang Balita reported on Monday — SONA Day – that authorities acting on a tip tailed and cornered the suspects on Ongpin Street in Binondo, Manila.

Police said the suspects immediately surrendered.

An initial police investigation indicates the suspects were carrying service firearms as they were supposedly private security agents of a company.

Authorities said the three will face complaints for violating the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.

According to the report, the suspects have refused to give any further statement.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this latest news development? Could there be gun smuggling or a lot of loose firearms (unregistered weapons) within the City of Parañaque that could be connected to this recent development?

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 athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

I Love Israel: Israel welcoming fully vaccinated travelers from the Philippines

November 8, 2021November 5, 2021carlocarrasco

Good news for Filipinos who wish to visit Israel and the Holy Land! According to the recent report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Filipino travelers who have been fully vaccinated (with the 2^nd dose received within the previous six months or 180 days) can final visit Israel, take the swab test there, go through the mandatory quarantine and once the result shows a negative reading, visitors will be able to enter and start touring.

As we are all living in this ongoing pandemic, there are lots of requirements to be made before even booking a flight to Israel. Those who wish to travel there should also be aware as to what brands of COVID-19 vaccines are acceptable to them.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the very short PNA article. Some parts in boldface…

Israel is accepting Filipino and other foreign tourists as long as they are fully vaccinated and their second dose had been administered within the last six months, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss said Wednesday.

“On the 1st of November this week, we opened for vaccinated tourists so anybody who is vaccinated can visit Israel. Filipinos are now welcome to visit Israel,” he told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.

Tourists may travel to Israel “individually or as a group” but are advised to check first the specific entry guidelines and requirements before booking their flight and tour packages.

The envoy said travelers will have to present a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result taken 72 hours prior to departure and take another swab upon arrival at the airport.

After the test, the tourist will undergo mandatory quarantine until the result is out.

Fluss noted that Israel is only allowing foreigners who had been vaccinated with a jab recognized by the World Health Organization, such as Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, and Sinopharm.

Among others, the second dose must be administered within the past six months and supported by a vaccination certificate.

“If (the last shot) is more than six months, you are considered unvaccinated. So either you take the booster and then you can visit or you can’t,” he said.

Filipinos are allowed visa-free entry to Israel but Fluss said they must secure a “special entry permit”, which had been required from all foreign nationals following the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Tourism exchanges’

As Israel looks forward to welcoming Filipino tourists to the Holy Land, Fluss said Israeli travelers are likewise waiting to visit the Philippines, popular for its picturesque beaches and world-class dive spots.

“The Philippines, for Israelis, is a very interesting attraction. Israelis have been to Thailand but they like to always find new and exciting destinations and in the last few years they found the Philippines. So I want to see more of the Israeli exchanges,” he said.

In the meantime, he invited Filipinos to visit their religious sites and churches that had been closed to foreigners since March 2020.

“The Philippines is a Christian country and I think people are very keen to travel to the Holy Land and we would be very happy to see more tourists to come and visit,” he said.

“Israel is an interesting country with the combination of the Holy Land, history, religion, culture; and Tel Aviv is a city of fun and is one of those cosmopolitan cities that goes 24 hours. It’s a combination of modern and traditional,” he added.

Fluss is also hoping the Philippine Airlines could finally mount its direct flights between Manila and Tel Aviv in April 2022 after the target launch last October 2021 was postponed “due to issues with the routes”.

Whew! That was a heavy load of information posted above. To make your dreams of visiting Israel come through, you will have to meet all the requirements related to vaccination (note: always have your records ready), COVID-19 testing, getting the special entry permit, booking and more. It’s challenging to meet the requirements but it’s not impossible and ultimately Israel is always a great place to visit filled with wonders of discovery. Visiting the Holy Land with deep faith in the Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit will be tremendous.

Let me remind you about the growing strength of ties between the Philippines and Israel. The State of Israel sent experts here in the Philippines to share their expertise on dealing with COVID-19. Scientists from the Philippines will be hosted by Israel for COVID-19 matters. Months ago, Filipino students and caregivers were vaccinated for free in Israel.

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!

In ending this I Love Israel piece, posted below are Israel-related videos.

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Skyway Stage 3 Quirino southbound exit now open to motorists

May 26, 2021May 25, 2021carlocarrasco

Hey readers! Have you been driving along Skyway Stage 3 lately? In case you missed the news, the southbound Quirino exit of Skyway Stage 3 was officially opened this past Monday. To be specific, it allows motorists from Balintawak and Quezon Avenue to travel to Manila much faster and safer than before.

In a May 24, 2021 Facebook page post, San Miguel Corporation president Ramon S. Ang wrote: Together with the DPWH, we opened today the Quirino southbound exit of Skyway Stage 3. This will cut travel time from Balintawak and Quezon Ave. to Manila to less than 20 mins from the usual 1.5 hours. In the midst of the pandemic, we remain committed to delivering sustainable infrastructure that will ensure better lives for the present and future generations. This is the world we want.

*The Quirino exit on the southbound lane of Skyway Stage 3 formally opened. (source – Ramon S. Ang Facebook page)*

To put things in perspective some more, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine News Agency (PNA) article about the same subject matter. Some parts in boldface…

San Miguel Corporation (SMC), through SMC Infrastructure, opened Monday the southbound Quirino exit of the Skyway Stage 3 elevated expressway to Class-1 vehicles, allowing motorists coming from Balintawak and Quezon Avenue to directly reach Manila within less than 20 minutes from 1.5 hours without traffic.

The opening was led by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar and SMC president Ramon S. Ang.

“The full completion of Skyway Stage 3 will divert at least 75,000 vehicles away from EDSA or C5. This is a realization of President Duterte’s promise to decongest EDSA. Skyway Stage 3 is proof that the private sector and the government can work together towards a unified solution,” Villar said.

Ang said the opening of the Quirino southbound exit will greatly improve accessibility from Quezon City and Manila.

“With more private vehicles diverted to Skyway Stage 3 on their way back from NLEX (North Luzon Expressway), or coming from Quezon Avenue, to Manila, traffic on our major public roads as well as on streets usually utilized as ‘shortcuts’ or ‘alternate routes’, will be a thing of the past. This will redound to relief from congestion and faster and easier commutes for many of our countrymen on our major thoroughfares. We thank President Duterte and the government team led by Secretary Villar for all their support,” he said.

And said SMC will continue to deliver on its commitment to bring motorists quality infrastructure that addresses congestion and lack of accessibility.

“We remain dedicated to providing convenient and seamless travel for motorists to help decongest Metro Manila and enable growth in all areas that we reach,” he added.

SMC, which fully-funded and built 100 percent of the Skyway Stage 3, said the expressway now has 15 operational ramps.

These include Northbound entry/on-ramps — Buendia (Zobel) and Quezon Avenue; Southbound entry/on ramps –Balintawak, Quezon Avenue and Plaza Dilao; Northbound exit/off ramps –Quirino Avenue, Nagtahan, Quezon Avenue, A. Bonifacio, and Balintawak; and Southbound exit/off ramps –Quezon Avenue, E. Rodriguez, Nagtahan, Quirino and Buendia (Zobel).

Now here is a related news video for your viewing pleasure and learning…

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Have you traveled along Skyway Stage 3 and exited through Quirino already? If you did, what was the experience like? How fast did it take you to travel from Balintawak or Quezon Avenue to exit through Quirino? Is the southbound travel along Skyway Stage 3 even better now that the Quirino exit is open?

To all motorists based in Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Parañaque, how often did you travel along Skyway Stage 3 this year?

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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