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 part of the Valiant Comics shared universe through the Armorines monthly series.
During the said decade, Valiant Comics was notable for having crossovers that some readers found to be tightly executed in relation to continuity. The armored U.S. Marines (Armorines) and the powerful individual X-O Manowar have the spider aliens as a common enemy.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Armorines #6, published in 1994 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Jorge Gonzalez and drawn by Jim Calafiore.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins in space when the spider aliens (located inside a huge space ship) are organizing themselves to get back to their home world.
Meanwhile above the Earth, X-O Manowar significantly helps the Armorines with repairing their space shuttle. It turns out that they have been spending a long time in space and the crew has gotten exhausted after the big battle with the spider aliens. Going back home was their next objective.
Just as the crew prepares to return to Earth, the same huge space ship of the spider aliens suddenly approaches them…
Quality
The spider aliens.
Set after the crossover tale about the humans’ battle with the spider aliens in space, this tale served as a creative extension of those events utilizing space travel and sci-fi action concepts. The Armorines once again fight the spider aliens and X-O Manowar (a major Valiant character) gets heavily involved as he has a personal grudge against them. Without spoiling the plot, I can say that themes of freeing yourself from the enemy and getting back home are evident.
There is plenty of action to enjoy here and the sci-fi settings (including the interiors of the spider aliens ship) are nicely presented. I also like the fact that the tension gradually built-up as the story went on. Still, at this particular stage of this series, I could not help but feel that the Armorines have been in conflict with the spider aliens for too long.
Conclusion
There is a lot of sci-fi action to enjoy here.
Armorines #6 (1994) is a pretty good read but I was getting tired of seeing the Armorines remaining in conflict with the spider aliens. What added strong value to the comic book was the heavy involvement (and crossover) of X-O Manowar and his interactions with the Armorines was well executed. To be clear, the story was not conclusive and at this stage, I still am interested to see what would happen next. Here is hoping that the Armorines conflict with the spider aliens will improve somehow.
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 arts and culture enthusiasts, and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to explore the comic book launch of a notable fictional team co-created by the Whilce Portacio and Brandon Choi…Wetworks.
For the newcomers reading this, Whilce Portacio was one of the highly talented illustrators who left Marvel Comics and co-founded Image Comics in the early 1990s. While his fellow co-founders Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino and Erik Larsen were able to launch their respective dream projects (creator-owned properties) during Image’s first year of publishing, the launch of Wetworks was delayed by two years due to a death in Portacio’s family.
As a very young comic book reader in those days, I remember hearing rumors about Wetworks inside comic book stores I visited. There were rumors of business negotiations, solicitations and scheduled launches (ranging from October 1993 to January 1994). I also noticed some comic book enthusiasts who bought old copies of X-Factor and Uncanny X-Men that Portacio illustrated while waiting for Wetworks to debut.
In the middle of 1994, Wetworks was finally launched under the Image Comics label and I still remember the day when I saw lots of copies of issue #1 displayed on the shelves and windows of comic book stores.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Wetworks #1, published in 1994 by Image Comics with a story written by Whilce Portacio and Brandon Choi. The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Scott Williams.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins when a covert operations team working under International Operations (IO) travels to eastern Europe to infiltrate and destroy the base of operations of a certain warring faction and retrieve a biological agent (highly contagious) no matter what the cost. As it turns out, this new mission for the team (led by Colonel Jackson Dane, one of the pioneers of Team 7) started less than twenty four houses after their previous mission and their female member Pilgrim (reconnaissance specialist) pointed out that the demolition charges they are carrying are strong enough to wipe out an entire city block. Another teammate called Grail (the Filipino named Salvador Joel Alonday) stated that they are supposed to be a hostage rescue team.
Meanwhile deep inside the command center of IO in Washington, D.C., Admiral Halsey tells Miles Craven that Team 7 (the team led by Dane) are under his command and states that his sources tell him that there is more to the mission than just a group of ethnic nationalists obsessed on a biological terror campaign. It turns out, Craven sent the team to eastern Europe without fully informing them of what they are going up against. Craven insists that Team 7 are paid to put their lives on the line and to die if necessary just to get the job done. Craven then reveals to Halsey the true nature of the mission. The admiral then realizes Craven is right and certain sacrifices must be made for the greater good.
Craven and his team arrived at the location in Transylvania. They started seeing signs that someone else arrived ahead of them…
Quality
One of the team members looks at a symbiote.
I’ll start first with the fantasy concept and the storytelling. Whilce Portacio and Brandon Choi’s joint creation of Wetworks is indeed an inspired move with connections to real-life military influences the creators had. The Wetworks team – initially referred to as Team 7 – started looking and acting like typical military squad in the world of fiction but the major twist that happened drastically redefined and refined them into the most unique military team in the world of superhero comics. It’s the closest thing to seeing G.I. Joe fused with living symbiotes (another inspired move most likely influenced by a certain Marvel murderer with a symbiote whose origin is linked with one of the most iconic superheroes ever) there is and I can say Wetworks remains relevant and stands out nicely among superhero comic book teams to this day.
With regards to the plot, it looks cliched on face value. I’m talking about the trope in which a team is sent by their powerful superiors on a mission without knowing all the crucial details needed (because the superiors hid it from them) and they eventually encounter immense danger. As mentioned earlier, the major twist in the plot not only completed a major transformation of Dane and his teammates but also ramped up the fantasy aspect of the tale to much higher levels.
Still on the plot, Portacio and Choi came up with a solid structure for the narrative. The build-up of details and tension was very good and the pay-offs (lots of spectacle plus twists) were great. As the story moved on, the suspense grew stronger and the narrative succeeded in making me care about the team led by Dane.
Meet the team members who would later become Wetworks.
When it comes to the art, Portacio’s work here (with ink by Scott Williams) still looks great and, more notably, it is a fine departure from the superhero visuals he worked in years prior. As with his past works, you will see the artist’s stylized approach on visualizing the narrative related to how he implements the panels per page.
Portacio did a very good job with the military look of Wetworks and he drew their guns with a high amount of detail that should be seen (you should try using a magnifying glass on this comic book). Not only that, his art on military hardware such as the gunships, the interiors plus equipment all have that detailed appearance. When it comes to action, I believe that Portacio took a lot inspiration from Hollywood action flicks (most notably Predator) on portraying Wetworks members using their guns and positioning during battle.
Of course, the spectacle is not totally limited to military stuff. There is a touch of fantasy and horror visuals involved which is directly related to what was set-up for Wetworks to encounter in the near future. To realize what I am saying here, you must read this comic book until the intense end.
Conclusion
Wetworks #1 from 1994 is still great to read!
I can say without a doubt that Wetworks #1 (1994) remains as gripping and as entertaining as when I first read it decades ago. In short, it has aged well and reading it all over again today is compelling and a lot of fun to do. If you ask me, this is one of the finest works ever by Whilce Portacio in terms of art and storytelling. As one of the many comic books Image published during its first few years in the industry, Wetworks #1 (1994) clearly stands out with its military theme and fantasy concept. Lastly, Wetworks is set within the WildStorm universe as dramatically symbolized with the presence of International Operations (the team’s superiors).
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, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1980s to explore Marvel Comics’ launch of a comic book series based on the wildly popular military-themed franchise of toys – G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.
For the newcomers reading this, Hasbro launched the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline in 1982 which was actually a revival of the original G.I. Joe series of toys (sized 12 inches) in the 1960s and 1970s. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toys had a new format for its action figures influenced by the success of the Micronauts and Star Wars toys. Veteran writer Larry Hama (the same guy behind the memorable Wolverine #75 of 1993) was already working for Marvel and was developing the concept of a new comic book about elite commandos fighting terrorists. Such development happened before the 1982 relaunch of G.I. Joe, and eventually Marvel’s editor-in-chief Jim Shooter approached Hama for a new comic book project based on Hasbro’s military toyline. Eventually a series of developments followed that saw the creation of the evil organization Cobra, the core villain Cobra Commander and more.
The impact of G.I. Joe as a licensed comic book series turned out positively as it helped attract new readers at the newsstands and it developed a strong following with young readers who were not highly interested with superheroes.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1 published in 1982 by Marvel Comics with the main story written by Larry Hama and drawn by Herb Trimpe.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with an Amtrak train traveling between New York City and Washington, D.C. Inside the nuclear physicist Dr. Adele Burkhart who previously served as one of the brains behind the Doomsday Project. It turns out, Burkhart was declared a traitor for denouncing the military claiming that she was misled by them to work on the said project. Inside the train, she has several security personnel guarding her as she is on her way to testify in front of a certain congressional committee.
As she speaks during a press conference inside one of the train’s cars, several flying soldiers of Cobra attacked the exterior of the train. In front of Burkhart, a few of the journalists turned out to be elements of Cobra led by the Baroness. The Baroness and her companions succeed in defeating the bodyguards and kidnapped Burkhart by means of flight.
At the Pentagon, the kidnapping of Burkhart compels the military to call in their special counter-terrorist group called G.I. Joe for a rescue operation. The stakes are high as they know that they cannot let Cobra keep Burkhart long enough to use her and they cannot let her die as the whole world is aware that they considered her an embarrassment. They ordered Colonel Clayton Abernathy (code name: Hawk) to assemble the Joe Team composed of Clutch, Flash, Breaker, Rock ‘n Roll, Scarlett, Stalker, Short-Fuse and Snake-Eyes…
Quality
Dr. Burkhart held hostage by Cobra and in the presence of Cobra Commander, the Baroness and many terrorists.
To get straight to the point, the main story (Operation: Lady Doomsday) was carefully structured by Hama to tell a story engagingly while also functioning to introduce readers to the characters and immersing them into the illustrated literary universe of G.I. Joe that is noticeably separated from the popular cartoon series. It is a classic portrayal of good versus evil laced with militarism and espionage.
The story moved at a medium pace and the approach on build-up and pay-off was executed carefully. There were scenes that had a sufficient amount of details regarding the plot or character moments (as opposed to development) that made the reading experience immersive. In short, there was no rush in the narrative while the pace never slowed down to a halt (no boring moments).
That being said, you will get to see lots of scenes that focus on the side of G.I. Joe as well as on the side of Cobra which is led by Cobra Commander (who is obsessed and scheming) followed by the Baroness (who is more focused on achieving goals but cannot do so without authority). You will see a certain gap between Cobra Commander and the Baroness which shows something seems off within their terrorist organization. This served as a creative contrast with G.I. Joe being more straightforward with the way they organize themselves.
The only weakness this comic book has is the fact that with so many characters from both the good and the bad sides, identifying them was pretty challenging especially when their military uniforms obscured their looks. Characters like Cobra Commander, Snake-Eyes, Scarlett, Rock ‘n Roll, Stalker and the Baroness are instantly recognizable.
As the main story remains a really good read, the 2nd story (Hot Potato) also written by Hama but drawn by Perlin served as a nice additive to this comic book.
Conclusion
G.I. Joe starts getting ready for the high-stakes rescue mission.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1(1982) is indeed a very solid reading experience. This is a strong introduction of the literary version of G.I. Joe and its portrayal of good versus evil remains believable and compelling. I also enjoyed the way the creators balanced the build-up of tension, plot and character moments with spectacle or twists utilized as pay-off. Lastly, I should say that this comic book has lots of action for you to enjoy and the execution of the action scenes made sense within the context of the stories. Remember that this marked the beginning of a memorable long run of G.I. Joe comics that reached into the 1990s. This one is a true classic and it should remind you that there was a time when political correctness and wokeness did not get in America’s way of fighting terrorists.
Overall, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #1(1982) is highly recommended!
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 part of the Valiant Comics shared universe through the Armorines monthly series.
In my previous retro review, the comic book introduced us to the armored U.S. Marines (composed of members who go out on the field with armored suits and other members who serve as co-pilots via virtual reality) and their superiors. Their mission took them very deep down the ocean where they have to enter a sunken nuclear-powered submarine not knowing that something dangerous lurks there.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Armorines #2, published in 1994 by Valiant Comics with a story written by Jorge Gonzalez and drawn by Jim Calafiore.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins five hundred kilometers off the coast of Australia. Gunny, his armored teammates and the Navy SEALs are deep underwater on a mission at the sunken nuclear-powered submarine. They are being attacked by several large sharks that all have freakish and ruined surfaces. While the sharks don’t have any exceptional intelligence, they have lateralis systems that alert them to low-frequency vibrations and are able to detect the minute electric fields generated by the prey.
While the Armorines have energy weapons that can easily cut through flesh and hard objects, the sharks remained challenging to hit. They and the Navy SEALs struggle to keep together and focus on their mission…
Quality
Can you just imagine yourself working on a mission deep under the sea with lots of sharks swimming nearby?
As a direct follow-up to issue #1, this comic book shows more of what the Armorines can do on a mission even though their spotlight had to be shared with the Navy SEALs who are their partners on the mission involving the sunken submarine. The spectacle readers can look forward to here are the action scenes of the Armorines using their high-tech weapons against sharks that are many times larger than each of them. The focus of the story, unsurprisingly, is the mission inside the sunken submarine and the coordination between the armored US marines with the Navy SEALs. While there is no clear villain yet, this comic book’s script has effective writing behind it and the result is a plot that turned out to be engaging enough. If you are looking for character development, you won’t find it here.
Meanwhile, Jim Calafiore’s art really shines as he successfully implemented enough visual details on the characters, the sharks, the underwater environment and the interiors of the submarine. His art on the sharks are really monstrous to look at!
Conclusion
While the Armorines did not have to worry about being shot back, the huge size, speed and the unrelenting aggression by the freaking sharks still proved to be big challenges for them.
Armorines #2 (1994) is indeed a solid continuation and progression to what came before it. While issue #1 was mainly a build-up and introductory story, this one shows the Armorines in action on the line of duty while working in tandem with their Navy SEAL brothers. While the mission is the main subject of the story leaving no real room left for any character development, there were two twists (note: science fiction in nature) that added to the depth of the story. Safe to say, I am motivated enough to look forward to the next issue.
The Philippine Navy (PN) is looking towards Israel with regards to their plan to acquire several more missile boats, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). To be specific, they are looking for Israel-produced Shaldag Mark V missile boats. Thank note that Philippine Navy recently received two new missile boats made in Israel.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine Navy (PN) is planning to acquire at least 15 more Israel-made Shaldag Mark V missile boats, which are the basis of its Acero-class patrol gunboats.
“We are planning to get 15 additional ‘Acero’-class gunboats (to augment the) nine (now on the pipeline),” Navy chief Rear Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr. told reporters on the sidelines of the commissioning and send-off ceremony for the fast attack interdiction craft missiles (FAIC-Ms) BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901) and BRP Lolinato To-Ong (PG-902) Monday.
Adaci said the additional “Acero”-class gunboats would help them to meet their requirements in “patrolling the seas of the country”. He also said the FAIC-Ms will be assigned to the Littoral Combat Force.
He said four more FAIC-Ms, the other name of the “Acero” class in the PN service, will be delivered sometime in 2023.
“I don’t know the exact delivery dates next year but this shall be throughout (next year),” the PN chief added.
The last batch of three, which will be built at the PN shipyard in the Naval Station Pascual Ledesma in Cavite, is scheduled for 2024.
Adaci said Israel Shipyard Limited will help the PN rehabilitate the old shipyard and make it more modern and allow it to build these types of ships.
“In that way, our people can learn how to do it, maintain these ‘Acero’ class boats and that will be the start of the transfer of technology,” he said.
These 32-meter high-speed vessels are equipped with quick intercept ability, remote stabilized weapons, and short-range missiles that are capable of delivering precision strikes against larger hostiles and high-value targets on land and sea.
Four of the FAIC-Ms will be armed with non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missiles with pinpoint accuracy and a range of 25 kilometers while the other five will be armed with Typhoon-mounted 30mm main cannons and .50 caliber heavy machine guns.
The acquisition of these FAIC-Ms is among the 2019 projects approved by former President Rodrigo Duterte under the Horizon 2 List of the AFP Modernization Program.
The notice of award for the FAIC-M project, worth around PHP10 billion, was issued on January 5 last year. These are expected to replace the force of patrol killer medium or medium-sized patrol craft.
For the newcomers reading this, Israel is a military super power as well as a provider of advanced technologies which authorities here in the Philippines are realizing even more in relation to their military needs and objectives. For far too long have locals been obsessed with Silicon Valley (California, the United States) for just about anything related to technology. Many do not realize it but Israel is a major player in technology. As such, we should be thankful to the Lord that the Philippine Navy continues to look at Israel for new military hardware which is surely beneficial.
The State of Israel formally turned over the Ground Based Air Defense System (GBADS) to the Philippines in a special ceremony held in Pampanga with the presence of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines), and Israeli Ambassador Ilan Flus, the Embassy announced via their official Facebook page.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss led the turnover ceremony of Israel’s Ground Based Air Defense System (GBADS) to the Philippines on November 8 in Pampanga.
GBADS is a mobile land-based medium range air defense missile system. It is projected to protect vital military installations, critical government facilities, and the cities and towns of the Philippines.
In his turnover speech, Ambassador Fluss said that GBADS is among the finest and most advanced air defense systems in the world, which only a few countries were able to procure. He added that he is proud that Israel is supplying technologies and systems that make a difference in the fight against terror and in stabilizing peace and security in the Philippines.
The turnover of the GBADS systems proves that Israel is a reliable and intimate ally of the Philippines by supplying quality strategic defense systems to the Philippines.
“Mr. President, before I end my message, let me express again the friendship, commitment, and willingness of myself and the Israeli government to continue and expand even more this very close and intimate collaboration between our two countries. Not only in the defense sector but also in areas such as food security, innovation, digitalization, disaster preparedness and other efforts of your administrations. This is what good friends are all about,” Ambassador Fluss emphasized in his speech.
For the newcomers reading this, this latest development is connected with the contract for acquisition signed by the Department of National Defense (DND) in 2019 with the Israel Ministry of Defense (Israel-IMOD) and the manufacturer, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (RADS). We Filipinos should be thankful to the Lord that Israel-Philippines ties continue to grow and result in cooperation and understanding with each other. The Philippines itself played a major role decades ago by providing safe haven for Jewish refugees. The GBADS from Israel will improve the nation’s defense for sure. That being said, we are grateful to Israel and its people. In addition, we who follow Jesus must always bless the Jewish people in accordance to what God declared in Genesis 12:1-3in the Holy Bible. Posted below for you are scriptures from the New King James Version (NKJV) and The Message (MSG) translation.
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)
God told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you.
I’ll make you a great nation and bless you. I’ll make you famous; you’ll be a blessing. I’ll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I’ll curse. All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you.”
The Philippines’ defense of its littoral zones will be strengthened thanks to the newly acquired fast-attack interdiction craft-missiles (FAIC-Ms) from Israel for the Philippine Navy’s use, according to an announcement published through the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Be aware that this is not the first time that military hardware made by Israelites will be used to enhance the defense operations of the Philippines.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…
The newly-acquired fast-attack interdiction craft-missiles (FAIC-Ms) will boost the Philippine Navy’s (PN) capability to protect the country’s littoral zones.
The littoral or nearshore is the part of a sea, lake, or river that is close to the shore.
“These ships could be deployed to patrol and protect our littorals from any possible threats,” PN spokesperson Commander Benjo Negranza said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency Tuesday.
Other possible missions of these ships will be determined by the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), he added.
The BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901) and BRP Lolinato To-Ong (PG-902), which were formally christened in rites at the PN headquarters in Manila on Tuesday, are the first two out of the nine FAICS-Ms acquired by the Philippines from Israel Shipyards Limited for PHP10 billion.
These vessels are named after two Philippine Marine Corps heroes and Medal of Valor recipients — the late Private First Class Nestor Acero and the late 1st Lt. Lolinato To-Ong.
“This acquisition aims to strengthen the country’s naval capability in terms of enhancing littoral defense and maritime interdiction operations as it will complement the previously acquired 12 MPAC (multi-purpose attack craft) of the PN,” Negranza said.
These two FAIC-Ms were sponsored by Soledad B. Bacarro, the wife of AFP chief-of-staff Lt.Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.
The two vessels were loaded aboard a cargo ship and departed Haifa, Israel in late August. These vessels were formally launched last June 26.
Three more vessels are scheduled to be delivered starting this year while the remaining four units will be constructed at the PN shipyard in Naval Station Pascual Ledesma in Cavite City.
These 32-meter high-speed vessels are equipped with quick intercept ability, remote stabilized weapons, and short-range missiles that are capable to deliver precision strikes against larger hostiles and high-value targets on land and sea.
Four of the FAIC-Ms will be armed with non-line-of-sight (NLOS) missiles with pinpoint accuracy and a range of 25 kilometers while the other four will be armed with machine guns and light automatic cannons.
The acquisition of eight FAIC-M units is among the 2019 projects approved by former President Rodrigo Duterte under the Horizon 2 List of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.
The notice of award for the FAIC-M project, worth around PHP10 billion, was issued on January 5 last year.
These are expected to replace the force of patrol killer medium (PKM) or medium-sized patrol craft.
Be thankful to the Lord as Israel-Philippines ties continue to grow stronger through military and defense-related matters. The Philippines has a lot of work to do to enhance national defense and that means we must pray to our Lord for the national defense goals to be fulfilled. The newly acquired FAIC-M units from Israel are the newest blessings for the Philippines. 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.
I am delighted over the news that the Army here in the Philippines acquired high-tech military equipment in the form of armored mortar carriers (AMC) which were made by the Israel-based company Elbit Systems, according to a report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Elbit Systems is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of programs throughout the world, primarily in the defense and homeland security arenas. They develop and supply a broad portfolio of airborne, land and naval systems and products for defense, homeland security and commercial applications. The company’s systems and products are installed on new platforms, and they also perform comprehensive platform modernization programs. A range of support services are also provided.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Philippine News Agency. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine Army’s (PA) Armor Division got a much-needed firepower boost with the delivery of 15 M125A2 armored mortar carriers (AMCs), which are equipped with 120mm mounted mortar systems (MMS).
PA spokesperson, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, said the AMCs were delivered on December 29 and were sourced from the Israeli firm Elbit Systems.
“The newly delivered 15 AMCs are for inspection within the first quarter of the year by the Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee before acceptance and (deployment) to the Army’s field units,” Trinidad said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday night.
The AMCs are under Horizon Two of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program and acquired under the Army’s mounted mortar acquisition project.
“The new AMCs are part of the PA’s modernization project that will capacitate the country’s land force’s credible defense posture from various threats, local and international,” he said.
The Cardom 120mm recoil mortar system mounted on the M125A2 AMC is an autonomous, computerized system that has a range of 7,000 meters and a maximum fire rate of 16 rounds per minute operated by four crewmen.
The AMCs with MMS are used by the US Army, Israeli Defense Force, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries.
Meanwhile, PA chief, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., welcomed the arrival of the AMCs as he waits for its formal acceptance, noting that these deliveries are in line with the Army’s thrusts on enhancing the capabilities of its ground forces.
“These new armor assets will bolster the Army’s capability to deal with constantly evolving threats. With the realization of upcoming big-ticket modernization projects, the Philippine Army is on track to becoming a formidable and adaptive force capable of responding to a multitude of conventional and unconventional threats,” he said.
Armor Division commander, Maj. Gen. Efren Baluyot, said the new assets would provide close and immediate indirect fire support for maneuver units while quickly deploying in tactical situations.
Once those AMCs get cleared and start getting operated officially, they will surely enhance the Philippine Army’s (PA) operations especially in battles against the Leftist rebels and terrorists within the country.
We should all be thankful to God that our nation has a very essential partner and close friend in Israel which has helped Filipinos a lot in different ways such as the sharing expertise on COVID-19, cooperating on defense, having Filipinos in Israel vaccinated for COVID-19 and providing essential relief to typhoon victims. More on this particular development, it is great to see the Philippine Army acquiring military hardware from Elbit Systems which itself is highly credible not only with its business record and advanced military technologies, but also because they provided military hardware to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and other nations. I should also state that Israel is home to many high-tech companies which is something that the mainstream media does not even care to cover.
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.
In ending this I Love Israel piece, posted below are Israel-related videos for your viewing pleasure.
+++++
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/
Author Carlo Carrasco 