Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, police officers armed with a search warrant issued by the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) raided the home of a tricycle driver and found unlicensed firearms and ammunition, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The raid happened in Barangay Putatan.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Muntinlupa Police raided the house of a tricycle driver who yielded unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The raid was carried out on Jan. 29 on Everlasting Circle in Barangay Putatan by members of the Muntinlupa Police’s Station Intelligence Section, Putatan Substation, Station Investigation and Detection Management Section, and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT).
The target of the raid was the house of alias Casio, 55, a tricycle driver, who is allegedly a former soldier.
Executive Judge Myra Quiambao of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court issued the search warrant on Jan. 25.
During the raid, the police seized a Sentry special CTG, .38 caliber revolver with six pieces of live ammunition, one Replica (Beretta 9mm) with magazine, one Armino .22 caliber revolver, one improvised shotgun with five pieces of live ammunition, one .23 caliber rifle with one magazine and five pieces of live ammunition, and a brown belt bag.
Casio was arrested by the police.
Southern Police District Director Brig. Gen. Mark Pespes said they are strengthening their efforts to reclaim unlicensed firearms through police operations and implementation of search warrants against owners of the illegal guns.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, does this police operation make you feel safer when traveling around the city?
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
Recently the immigration officials revealed that citizen of the Czech Republic who arrived at the international airport in Clark, Pampanga, was denied entry as a result of bad behavior and disrespect with regards to registering with the eTravel system online, 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…
Being rude can get you the boot. This is just what happened to Czech tourist Jaroslav Konsel, 55, when he arrived at the Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga last Jan. 3.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco said immigration officers denied the Czech tourist’s entry into the country for uttering expletives when he was asked to register with the eTravel system online.
“Reports that he taunted and mocked the immigration officers who were politely explaining to him the eTravel requirement is enough ground for him to be excluded and banned from entering the country,” Tansingco said.
He pointed out that Konsel showed disrespect to the country’s laws and persons of authority in refusing to comply with the requirement to fill out the eTravel.
“Registration in the eTravel system is mandatory for all international passengers as it is an electronic travel declaration system which receives and stores information and data about all passengers who enter and exit the country,” the BI said.
Citing reports from BI officials at the CIA, the bureau said that airline and immigration employees attempted to assist Konsel in filling out the form but he angrily rejected.
“BI-CIA officials reported that Konsel immediately became rude and started mouthing foul language when he was told by the BI officer to first fill out the e-travel form online,” it said.
“He allegedly continued to behave in an outraged manner even as he was filling out the eTravel form and even refused to listen or follow instructions from people who were assisting him in the eTravel counter,” it also said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the immigration officers did the right thing by denying the Czech visitor entry into the country in response to his rude behavior? Do you think the reported incident could cause a new diplomatic problem between the Philippines and the Czech Republic?
Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced that an access road between two villages will be opened with the easing of traffic in mind, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Muntinlupa City government announced the opening of a connecting road between two villages to ease traffic and provide easy access to residents.
The opening of the access road between the government housing project Katarungan Village and South Greenheights Villagewill happen soon.
According to the city government, the connecting road between R. Pamatina Street in Katarungan Village and Rosemary Street in South Greenheights Village is being built with the pavement being constructed, and installation of lights and security guard post.
The homeowners associations of the two villages signed a memorandum of agreement on Dec. 18 last year to approve the opening of the access road.
“Malaking kapakinabangan kasi they don’t have to go to the National Road papunta ng Daang Hari, Alabang o papunta ng Poblacion so magiging parang declogging road para doon sa dalawang villages (This will have huge benefit because they don’t have to go to the National Road to go to Daang Hari [Road] in Alabang or [Barangay] Poblacion so it will be like a declogging road for the two villages),” said City Administrator Allan Cachuela.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you find this development beneficial to you when it comes to traveling locally?
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
Welcome back, fellow gamers, geeks, and Xbox fans!
If there is anything that surprised me during the 2024 Developer_Direct event of Team Xbox, it was the guest participation of Square Enix which unveiled key details about their new action role-playing game (RPG) Visions of Mana which is coming to Xbox Series X,Xbox Series S and Windows PC this coming summer season. A release date will follow.
For the newcomers reading this, Square Enix announced previously that Visions of Mana is actually a multiplatform game. When compared to Team Xbox’s first party games unveiled during the Developer_Direct – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Avowed – Visions of Mana is the only non-exclusive game, the only 3rd party game, the only game not coming to Xbox Game Pass (XGP) and the first-ever game from the Mana series coming to the Xbox platform.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the Developer_Direct video presentation of Square Enix with Visions of Mana. Pay close attention to the details…
For added insight, posted below are selected excerpts from the Xbox.com article about Visions of Mana for you to read. Some parts in boldface…
What is Visions of Mana? – This sprawling new single-player action RPG puts you in the shoes of Val – a curious and carefree young man and skilled fighter. One eventful night, his childhood friend is chosen as an alm – someone who must travel to the Mana Tree and rejuvenate the flow of mana power. Val joins her as the Soul Guard to protect her on her journey, and an epic adventure begins.
As Val, you’ll explore vast areas, battle monsters, gain allies, and uncover the many secrets of this expansive world. And what a world it is! As you can see from the screenshots and trailer, it’s a beautifully vibrant game with rich colors and expressive characters.
The beauty is matched by equally appealing combat. Aerial combat allows for physical and magic attacks in mid-air, and the grand and mysterious powers of the Elemental spirits can assist players in the form of specialized weapons. It’s fast-paced, strategic, and endlessly satisfying.
In short, it’s a perfect entry point for those of you yet to experience a Mana game, as it brings together everything great about this incredible series.
What is the Mana series? – The Mana games are a long-running series of fantasy RPGs that typically feature fast-paced, action-based combat, appealing visuals and music, and stories that center around themes of nature and the majestic Mana Tree.
It’s one of the most immediately enjoyable series, with exciting combat, colorful worlds, and a desire to always innovate. Here’s how Mana Series Producer Masaru Oyamada defines it:
“There are different opinions on what makes a Mana game – as the Series Creator Koichi Ishii always tries to do something new with each game after all.
Expect a lot of action and adventuring in Visions of Mana.
“I think we’ve managed to capture all of these elements in one consistent visual style for Visions of Mana, which really reflects the spirit of the series.” – Masaru Oyamada, Mana Series Producer
“But from my own perspective, I think there’s very much a distinctive Mana style that is easily recognizable to everyone. You can see it in the Tree of Mana illustrations by the great Hiroo Isono, in Mr. Ishii’s unforgettable monsters, and in the characters that inhabit these worlds.
“I think we’ve managed to capture all of these elements in one consistent visual style for Visions of Mana, which really reflects the spirit of the series.”
Each Mana game is a standalone adventure, with its own characters, stories and even gameplay mechanics. There’s rarely any narrative connection between them – instead they’re connected by elements like repeating monsters, such as the adorable rabites.
In other words, you can jump into any Mana game as if it’s your first, and Visions of Mana is no different. In fact, it’s a particularly great place to start as it’s the first entirely new mainline Mana game in more than 15 years!
Which Brings Us to Visions of Mana – Visions of Mana offers a fresh new take on the series, with large areas to explore and a rich story, all portrayed with a beautifully colorful visual style.
That was something that the team was particularly eager to capture, as Mr. Oyamada explains:
“I asked the development team to try to create character models that captured the atmosphere of character designer HACCAN’s illustrations, and experiment to see if they could make a world that incorporated the beautiful depictions of nature from the artist Mr. Hiroo Isono.
“During this process of experimentation, I also managed to secure the support from Mr. Koichi Ishii, the creator of the Mana series and designer of many of its classic monsters, asking him to oversee the updating of his past monster designs into 3D for current generation graphics. All this led to a world that I felt was recognizable at a glance as being from the Mana series.
There is a lot waiting to be discovered in locations like this in the game.
For me, Visions of Mana is a very enticing RPG that has open-world environments, nice art style and the gameplay shown looks highly playable. Even though it is not bound for Xbox Game Pass, I encourage Xbox gamers – especially those who love RPGs from Japan – to take a close look at the game and see how it would fit into their games-to-play-in-2024 list. It should be noted that Visions of Mana reflects the reinvigorated business relationship between Square Enix and Team Xbox. The more Visions of Mana sells on Xbox, the better. Lastly, if you watched Square Enix’s Developer_Direct presentation, you would have noticed the game developers/creators acknowledged the Xbox community.
Watch out for the release Visions of Mana on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC this summer.
Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, electric tricycles (e-trikes) became a topic of concern for one member of the City Council, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The City Councilor clarified that any regulation covering e-trikes will be discussed in a public hearing that will be conducted by the legislative body.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
A member of the Muntinlupa City Council has proposed to regulate passenger e-trikes (electric tricycles) amid the growing number of the vehicles plying the national road.
During the City Council’s regular session on Jan. 29, Councilor Ryan Bagatsing expressed concerns about the safety of e-trikes, which are currently not required to register with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
He is also concerned that some e-trike users are not following traffic rules and overloading.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Bagatsing said the use of e-trikes should be regulated in Muntinlupa.
Bagatsing noted that road accidents have happened involving e-trikes. He is also concerned that in some cases, these electric vehicles are driven by minors.
He is proposing that all e-trikes should be registered with the city government to identify the owners, users and drivers.
“It’s the same thing with what we are doing with fishing boats. These have body numbers to identify the users. We really need to come up with some regulations,” he said.
Another issue is e-trikes using the national road in Muntinlupa. Currently, tricycles in Muntinlupa are banned from using the national road, a long stretch of road from Barangay Tunasan to Sucat.
Motorists have complained that e-trikes have become hazards on major roads in the country.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you consider e-trikes as a hazard on the major roads locally? Do you think that e-trike drivers in the city lack discipline and are prone to causing traffic violations knowing that they are not under the LTO since they are not required to be registered with them? Do you think that e-trikes traveling along major roads like the Alabang Zapote Road are so slow, they make traffic congestion worse and slower moving? Do you think it is time to have all e-trikes and electric bikes (e-bikes) banned from traveling along the city’s major roads?
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
The results are finally in. The economy of the Philippines grew by 5.6% for the year 2023 and this was short of the government’s own declared target of 6% to 7%, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine economy grew slower at 5.6% in year 2023, falling short of the government’s target as elevated interest rates resulting from high inflation environment dampened consumption, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Wednesday.
The economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) or the total value of goods and services produced in a period, grew by 5.6% from October to December 2023, PSA chief and National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said at a press conference.
This is slower than the 7.1% growth rate seen in the fourth quarter of 2022. It is also a deceleration from the upwardly revised third quarter 2023 GDP growth rate of 6%.
The fourth quarter economic performance brought the full-year 2023 economic growth rate to 5.6%, slower than the 7.6% full-year 2022 GDP growth.
This is below the government’s target range of 6% to 7% for 2023’s full-year GDP growth.
“While this growth is below our target of 6 to 7% for this year, this keeps us in the position of being one of the best-performing economies in Asia,” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said during the press briefing.
Comparing the growth rates of neighbors in the region, the Marcos administration’s chief economist said the Philippines’ fourth quarter growth surpassed that of China (5.2%) and Malaysia (3.4%) while falling behind Vietnam (6.7%).
“More importantly, our full-year GDP for 2023 is now 8.6% higher than pre-pandemic levels,” Balisacan said.
High inflation, interest rates – The NEDA chief said the slowdown seen in 2023 could be attributed “possibly to effects of past interest rate increases.”
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy-setting Monetary Board has raised the benchmark interest rate by 450 basis points since May 2022 to temper inflation, which resulted from global supply disruptions and economic uncertainty following Russia’s full-scale attack and invasion of Ukraine since February 2022.
Notably, the Philippines’ full-year inflation — which measures the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services — accelerated to 6% from 5.8% in 2022.
“The impact of inflation is on Household final consumption expenditure. We saw the impact on food expenditure… directly affected by inflation,” Mapa said.
Spending on food for the whole year grew at 8.1%, slower than 12.4% in 2022.
“We are concerned about the low growth in real spending on food due to high food prices, though it has moderated in recent months,” Balisacan said.
Meanwhile, household final consumption expenditure decelerated to 5.3% from 7% in the previous quarter in 2022.
For the whole year, household spending slowed down to 5.6% from 8.3% in 2022.
“The government will be relentless in managing inflation, especially for basic commodities such as food. Our efforts include improving the efficiency and building resiliency of the agriculture value chain, utilizing strategic trade policy when domestic production is inadequate, and establishing mechanisms to empower consumers to exercise their market power to combat inflation,” Balisacan said.
Likewise, government final consumption expenditure contracted by 1.8% in the fourth quarter, from 3.3% growth in the same period in 2022.
Full year, government spending grew 0.4%, slower than the 4.9% growth in 2022.
Balisacan said the decline in state spending last year was “largely due to the fiscal consolidation program.”
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think 2024 will be a better year of growth for the Philippine economy? Do you think more government spending will boost economic growth without adding much to inflation?
The way the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) sees it, the inflation rate of the Philippines will end up at less than 4% this year although there could be external developments that might alter things, 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…
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects the inflation rate to fall below four percent this year due to base effects, and is eyeing a lower January 2024 consumer price index (CPI) versus December’s actual 3.9 percent.
BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said the base effects will push inflation rates lower for the months of January and February, and for the first quarter on average. They also expect CPI to climb back up after the first three months.
When asked if he sees a below four percent inflation by end-2024, the BSP chief said it is “very likely if you look on a month-on-month basis, it will moderate,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English. “So you have to adjust on base effects,” he added.
The central bank will revise the current 4.2 percent risk-adjusted inflation forecast for 2024 on Feb. 15 to below four percent, said Remolona. “(It’s) very likely,” he said, citing again, the base effects.
The Monetary Board’s first policy meeting this year is scheduled on Feb. 15. The hawkish BSP has kept a tight policy stance of 6.5 percent since October last year.
Meanwhile, the BSP will announce its month-ahead CPI forecast for January on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
According to Remolona, “I think it will be lower (from 3.9% December) because of base effects.”
BSP Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila Jr. said upside risks to inflation continue to evolve, and they now include the Red Sea crisis as another factor to their risk-adjusted inflation forecast. The Red Sea conflict centers on the Houthi rebel attacks which disrupted the trade routes in the Suez Canal. This affects the Philippines because oil imports bound for the country passes through the Suez Canal.
The changing labor conditions in the country is another upside risks that could be more of a risk than expected, according to Dakila.
The slowing growth in the global economy, and this already includes China, is a previously cited downside risk to inflation. The El Nino weather phenomenon – originally estimated to last only until March this year, is now expected to extend until the second quarter 2024.
The biggest upside risks to the inflation outlook is the spillovers such as second-round effects. This is electricity rates, transport fare hikes and wage increases.
As for the economy, Remolona said he has more confidence now that the economy will perform better this year.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think inflation here in the Philippines will land below 4%? Do you think that developments overseas could cause a spike in inflation in our country in the months ahead?
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government announced that it was recognized by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for outstanding performance in local disaster risk management.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt the City Government’s social media post dated January 26. Some parts in boldface…
The City of Las Piñas has been conferred the Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The award, which recognizes the city’s outstanding performance in local disaster risk reduction and management, comes after Las Piñas scored a 2.37 rating in the 23rd Gawad KALASAG Seal for Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils and Offices (LDRRMCOs) for the calendar year 2023. This honor underscores the city’s compliance with the standards set by the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, also known as Republic Act No. 10121.
City Mayor Imelda Aguilar expressed her gratitude and pride in receiving the award, emphasizing the city’s proactive approach to disaster risk management.
Under her leadership, the city has implemented comprehensive disaster risk reduction programs, including regular drills, community awareness campaigns, and investments in infrastructure that mitigate the impact of natural calamities. These initiatives have been instrumental in preparing the city’s residents and institutions to effectively respond to emergencies.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you delighted to see your city getting recognized for disaster management excellence?
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
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, over a thousand senior citizens in two barangays were vaccinated for pneumonia as a result of the latest vaccination drive of the City Government, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin report. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas City Health Office (CHO) launched a pneumonia vaccination drive in two communities to safeguard the health of the city’s senior citizens on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
Las Piñas Vice-Mayor April Aguilar said the vaccination drive was held at Barangays Almanza Dos and Pamplona Tres with over 1,100 senior citizens getting the pneumonia vaccine.
Aguilar said the vaccination drive is part of the city’s ongoing effort to protect the elderly population who are vulnerable to respiratory diseases like pneumonia.
She said the initiative is especially crucial as pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of illness and death among senior citizens in the Philippines.
The vice-mayor who supervised the vaccination drive emphasized the local government’s commitment to the health and well-being of the senior residents.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are there many senior citizens in your local community who need to be vaccinated for pneumonia?
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
Social media influencers of the Philippines who make a lot of money should be aware that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) now has methods to track their earnings online, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. As far as the BIR is concerned, the influencers cannot hide from them.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has cautioned social media influencers considering tax evasion, emphasizing that the agency has mechanisms to accurately ascertain the earnings of all individuals involved.
BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said the bureau has various methods to effectively obtain and verify the actual earnings of influencers by collaborating with their online platform providers.
“If others think they can hide it, they’re mistaken. We have mechanisms in place to obtain information from these entities about their revenues, so we can access that data,” Lumagui told reporters on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
The BIR categorizes social media influencers as individuals who generate income from their digital posts, identifying them as self-employed individuals operating as sole proprietors.
Despite the BIR’s best efforts, there have been numerous reports indicating that many social media influencers have chosen to ignore the bureau’s requests for voluntary compliance with tax laws.
In 2021, the BIR launched a campagin to address tax non-compliance among influencers, targeting around 250 prominent social media personalities who were believed to have earned substantial incomes and received various benefits.
Under Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 97-2021, influencers are required to pay their income and business tax obligations, including either a percentage tax or a value-added tax.
However, the BIR faced a setback after several influential figures promptly deactivated their social media accounts for various reasons following the issuance of RMC 97-2021.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think it is good for the nation that social media influencers should be compelled to pay the BIR the tax on their respective online income? Do you think the local money making social media influencers will come up with new ways to avoid taxation? Do you think the affected social media influencers will somehow rebel against the government by posting subversive content with the 2025 national and local elections in mind?
Author Carlo Carrasco 