To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine Star news report. Some parts in boldface…
Police are eyeing more criminal charges against three vloggers who were responsible for a kidnapping prank in Las Piñas City recently.
Col. Jean Fajardo, spokesperson for the Philippine National Police, said the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group is studying if additional complaints could be filed against the content creators behind Tukomi, which has 4.21 million subscribers on YouTube and 4.21 million followers on Facebook.
Fajardo said the vloggers uploaded a video of the kidnap prank on social media platforms, which generated thousands of comments from netizens.
The vloggers are facing complaints for alarm and scandal filed by the police Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) before the Las Piñas prosecutor’s office.
The respondents are Mark Lester San Rafael, Mark Hiroshi San Rafael and Eleazar Stephen Fuentes.
The vloggers staged a scene which showed men wearing black bonnets kidnapping a person in Barangay CAA-BF International.
Unknown to them, an off-duty police officer, S/Sgt. Ronnie Conmingo of the IMEG, was in front of a nearby store when the content creators staged the stunt.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this new development? Do you think that digital content creators who organize public pranks and post videos of them should be held accountable for causing disturbance on others? What do you think should be done with pranksters who organize pretentious acts of crime like kidnapping?
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
Now that the single-ticketing system in the National Capital Region (NCR) has officially started this past Tuesday, San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) president Francis Zamora stated that the full implementation of the said system may start within weeks, 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…
San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) President Francis Zamora said on Tuesday, May 2, the full implementation of the single-ticketing system in the National Capital Region (NCR) may start in a couple of weeks.
“Honestly, I am looking at a couple of weeks. Hindi naman mahabang panahon po ito dahil yung integration naman po ng ibang lungsod ay ongoing na (Honestly, I am looking at a couple of weeks. This won’t take a long time because the integration of the other cities into the system is ongoing as well),” the mayor said.
The dry run of the single-ticketing system started on Tuesday, May 2, in the following pilot cities:Manila, Quezon City, Parañaque City, Muntinlupa City, Caloocan City, Valenzuela City and San Juan City.
Zamora explained that the mayors of the seven pilot cities will convene soon to discuss and assess the results of the dry-run.
The single-ticketing system aims to streamline the traffic violations and fines of the 16 cities and lone municipality comprising the National Capital Region (NCR). It also allows violators to pay their fines using e-wallets and other digital payment platforms on the spot, preventing the need for them to proceed to the city hall to pay for their violation.
Earlier, all the mayors of the 16 cities and lone municipality in the NCR signed Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, which defines the 20 common traffic violations and the corresponding standardized penalties. The violations include:
– Disregarding traffic signs
– Illegal parking (attended and unattended)
– Number coding UVVRP
– Truck ban
– Light truck ban
– Reckless Driving
– Unregistered motor vehicle
– Driving without license
-Tricycle ban
– Obstruction
– Dress code for motorcycle
– Overloading
– Defective motorcycle accessories
– Unauthorized modification
– Arrogance/Discourteous conduct (driver)
– Loading and Unloading in Prohibited Zones
– Illegal counterflow
– Overspeeding
The fines for these 20 violations range from P500 to P5,000.
The following special laws will also be implemented in the region:
– Seat Belts Use Act of 1999
– Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act
– Mandatory Use of Motorcycle Helmet Act
– Children’s Safety on Motorcycle Act
– Anti-Distracted Driving Act
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Romando Artes explained that with the new system, motorists will no longer have to surrender their licenses once they committed a traffic violation.
With the single-ticketing system, the MMDA will provide handheld devices to its traffic enforcers that can offer cashless payment options to violators. These devices will be connected to the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) of the LTO to enable real-time data sharing and verification.
Aside from the handheld gadgets, body cameras will also be issued to the enforcers that are connected to the MMDA command center in real time.
The chairman stressed that with this system, corruption and other means of under the table negotiations between the enforcer and the violator will be prevented.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you notice any significant changes since the start of the single-ticketing system in NCR?
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, the City Government continued to push local tourism further by teaming up with the Department of Tourism-National Capital Region (DOT-NCR) and conducted a tourism guidebook orientation, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Las Piñas City government and the Department of Tourism-National Capital Region (DOT-NCR) conducted on Saturday, April 29, a tourism guidebook orientation to increase awareness and showcase the rich culture and history of the city.
The orientation was held at the Excelsior Hotel in Las Piñas City, attended by DOT- NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin and Project Development Officer Bamba Ramos among others.
Las Piñas Tourism and Cultural Office (TCO) Head Paul San Miguel said the city’s TCO is a newly created division in the local government tasked with implementing programs and initiatives to promote the city’s culture and history. He said the office was formed by Mayor Imelda Aguilar who wanted to present the city’s heritage to local and foreign tourists.
The tourism officer cited the famous Bamboo Organ, which was constructed in 1816 and can be viewed in St. Joseph Parish Church in the city. The organ has been recognized in 2003 by the National Museum of the Philippines as the “only surviving and functioning 19th-century Bamboo Organ in the country.”
He noted that the organ is usually visited by students conducting study tours, along with local and foreign tourists.
San Miguel said promoting the history and rich culture of the city will also help in economic growth.
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? Do you think your city will become a stronger and more competitive player when it comes to attracting local and foreign tourists? Do you think that the City Government should team up with bloggers, vloggers and social media influencers to boost the city image as a tourist-friendly place? Don’t you think Las Piñas City is ready to host special events that can attract visitors such as sports competitions, fashion shows, fitness models’ pageants, comic conventions, cosplay festivals, food showcases, film festivals and the like?
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
Summer is only getting hotter here in the Philippines and there have been rounds of water service interruptions that added to the inconveniences of families and businesses. In Metro Manila, the mayors will be meeting soon to discuss key proposals to temporarily halt business and activities that consume a lot of water, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The head of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) Mayor Francis Zamora, however, stated the possible regulation of water use which will involve the issuance of guidelines.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news article. Some parts in boldface…
San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) President Francis Zamora said he will call for a meeting with other Metro Manila mayors to tackle the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System’s (MWSS) proposal for local government units (LGUs) to temporarily ban businesses and other activities with high water consumption such as car wash stations and the use of inflatable pools in a bid to conserve water in preparation for the expected “strong” El Niño phenomenon.
“Magpapatawag po tayo ng pagpupulong kasama ang mga Metro Manila mayors para pagusapan ang mga bagay at hakbang na pwede nating gawin upang siguraduhin nga po na maregulate natin ang pag-gamit ng tubig ng mga establisyimento na malakas ang konsumo bunsod na rin po ng mararamdaman nating epekto ng El Niño sa mga darating na linggo o buwan (We will call for a meeting of the Metro Manila mayors to discuss the steps that we will take to ensure a regulated water use of establishments that have high water consumption amid the expected strong El Niño in the coming weeks or months),” Zamora said in a radio interview.
“Aaralin natin yung mga posibilidad. Yung mga nabanggit, these are (some of the) many possibilities that we can do. It is more of regulating the use kasi yung total ban naman, eh hindi naman natin agad agad masasabi ngayon na “o itigil nyo ito, i-ban yung ganito. We can regulate the use. Regulate means talagang magbibigay tayo ng mga panuntunan or guidelines sa kung ano ba ang pwedeng gawin (We will look at the possibilities. Those that we have mentioned, these are just some of the possibilities that we can do. It is more of regulating the use because it is impossible for us to immediately declare that these activities should be banned and must be stopped. We can regulate the use. Regulate means we really are going to issue guidelines),” he added.
The mayor stressed that despite the urgency of the matter, the MMC and all concerned agencies of the government must think about the livelihood of those who will be affected by the said proposal.
“We have to identify ano ba yung mga establisyimento na we consider talaga na malakas ang konsumo ng tubig. Necessary ba yung mga yan? Kailangan ba magbawas? Ito yung bagay na dapat upuan (We have to identify what establishments are considered to have high water consumption. Are those necessary? Should it be regulated? These are the things that need to be discussed),” Zamora noted.
“Merong effect sa both ends yan. Sa ating mga mamamayan at siyempre sa mga establisimyento na maaapektuhan. Gusto natin balansehin and to listen of course sa mga issues and concerns nila pati mga sentimiyento nila bago tayo gumawa ng isang hakbang para dito (These have effects on both ends. To us ordinary citizens, and of course, the establishments that will be affected. We want to find the perfect balance and to listen, of course, to their issues and concerns as well as their sentiments before we make a move on this),” the local chief executive explained.
On Wednesday, April 26, MWSS Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Technical Operations Group Jose Dorado Jr. identified car washes and the use of inflatable pools as high water consuming activities and said that the regulation of such activities and businesses should only be done by the local government units (LGUs) when the water level in dams becomes critical.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Metro Manila Council (MMC) will go ahead with a temporary ban on activities and businesses that continue to consume a high amount of water during this hot season? If you own a business that consumes a lot of water, are you worried about a potential ban or stoppage of your operations?
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, a group of vloggers organized a public prank in the form of a criminal act on the street only to realize that there was an actual police officer (in civilian clothes) who was armed. The police officer confronted them causing one of the vloggers to explain that what just happened was all a hoax as their group had been doing public pranks and shared videos of them online. They have since been charged for causing a disturbance in public. All of these and more were reported by GMA News.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…
Several vloggers are facing complaints for their April 6 prank in which they pretend to be kidnappers, causing a police officer to draw his weapon and respond to the fake crime.
According to Jun Veneracion’s “24 Oras” report on Friday, the bonnet-wearing pranksters alighted from a car along a Las Piñas City street and pretended to kidnap someone.
While panicked locals fled from the scene, Police Staff Sergeant Ronnie Conmigo of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, who lived nearby, showed up with a gun.
One of the vloggers tried to calm Conmigo down and explained it was all a prank.
“Hanggang sa nagsabi na lang na, ‘Sir prank ito! Prank ito!’ Gumaganoon sa akin. Medyo nahimasmasan ako. Sabi ko, madidisgrasya ko pa ang mga ito,” Conmigo said.
(Until he said, “Sir, it’s a prank! It’s a prank!” It calmed me down. Thankfully, I did not hurt anyone.)
Conmigo, who has been in the service for 26 years, was angry as he almost harmed the vloggers because of their prank.
“Kung iba po yun sakaling trigger happy yung pulis o may iba pang hindi pulis nabaril sila,” he said.
(If it was someone else, a trigger-happy police officer or an armed civilian, they could have been shot.)
Conmigo filed complaints against the five vloggers for alarm and scandal over their prank.
“Para hindi na po maulit yung ginagawa nila sir kasi maraming gumagaya pangit din sa mata ng bata yun tsaka napaka delikado sir,” he added.
(To prevent copycats. It sets a bad example. And it’s dangerous.)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned that such pranks could lead to criminal cases.
“Binabalaan po natin yung mga vloggers at yung mga pranksters na wag po nating gawing biro ang mga vlogs and pranks about sa paggawa ng krimen sapagkat yan ay may kaukulang parusa sa revised penal code article 153, ito po ay nagkakaroon ng kulong, may kulong po ang penalty dito na anim na taon,” Police Colonel Redrico Maranan, PNP Chief PIO, said.
(We are warning vloggers and pranksters that we should not turn crimes into laughing matters because there are penalties. In the revised penal code article 153, they might end up in prison. There is a penalty of six years in prison.)
The kidnapping prank video has 990,000 views on Facebook and almost 549,597 views on YouTube.
GMA Integrated News is still seeking the side of the vloggers.
The vloggers have been uploading prank videos on their social media platforms for some time. They said the videos were only for “good vibes.”
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? Do you think that vloggers who organize and record pranks in public for the sake of attracting viewers are causing more trouble than good? Do you consider a prank in the form of a crime a serious disturbance of the peace?
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
Last September, the legal battle between the BF Resort Village Homeowners Association, Inc. (BFRVHAI) and the side of Senator Cynthia Villar over a certain bridge and accessibility within BF Resort Village in Las Piñas City saw the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court (Las Piñas RTC) issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) for the latter.
This time around, the conflict may go into another round in relation to the homeowners association’s (HOA) construction of a certain gate and other issues, 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 fight between Senator Cynthia A. Villar and the BF Resort Village Homeowners Association in Las Pinas City may go into its second round.
Villar said she would talk with her lawyer on filing a suit over several issues such as the construction by BFRV of a gate barring entry into her composting plant and removal of signages in the subdivision.
Villar’s complaints against the subdivision came to a boil after her “fight” with a BFRV security guard last April 17 went viral.
“Wala namang outburst (there was no outburst). It’s for public use it is not for me. Composting program has been there for 20 years. It was even given an international award,” Villar, chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee, told Senate reporters in a press briefing.
“Eh ang laki-laki nya, alangan naman saktan ko sya (He is big, it is illogical for me to hurt him). There is something with It, he is a security guard he has a gun, Masasaktan ko ba yan, ang tapang ko naman, ang liit liit ko (Could I hurt him? Am I that brave? I am small,” she said.
“I could not go into details because there is a pending case. What we got is TRO (temporary restraining order),” she said.
She said she does not want people to remember her as a senator who just keep quiet.
“I fight for what is right and what is good for the people,” she added.
“I have this to say. I filed a case before the RTC (Regional Trial Court) Las Pinas because of the prohibition of BFRV to accept our friendship sticker…it is against local legislation. I filed a case, we were given a TRO (temporary restraining order) so the BF Resort Village can’t stop the people…dun sila nagalit sa akin (that’s why BFRV is mad at me). They are charging P2,500 per sticker, friendship sticker is free,” she explained.
“I have encountered problems. Removing the signages that BF should honor the friendship sticker based on local legislation passed in 1995. Replaced the announcement in all five entrances four times already. Last time nakita na sila ang nagre-remove (The last time, they were the ones removing the announcement),” she added.
“I was building an impounding facility for stray dog and cat they didn’t allow me,” she added,
“They blocked the composting facility. When I removed the ISF (informal settler families)…they are fencing it. They don’t want me to build sidewalk in front of the composting facility. They park their truck in my sidewalks,” she stressed.
Villar said BFRV also prohibited her from planting trees in that composting facility.
Asked if there is a malicious intent, Villar replied: “Yes, but I don’t want to talk about it because we are going to court.”
“I was talking to them to remove the gate because the composting facility is for the public, they have plenty of security guards,’’ she stressed.
“Before ayaw nya papasukin ang aming truck may dalang ready mix para sa sidewalk tinawag ko chief of police (Before, they barred the entry of my truck with ready mixed cement for the sidewalk So I called the chief of police who allowed its entry into the subdivision),” she added.
Asked if she has plans of leaving BFRV, Villar said “no,” adding that she has been a BFRV resident for the past 45 years.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a Las Piñas City resident, what is your reaction to this new development? Do you happen to know a lot of residents of BF Resort Village who might have been affected by the conflict between the Senator and the BFRVHAI? What can you say about the many quotes of Senator Villar in the Manila Bulletin’s news report?
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
Before proceeding to Cambodia for the 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games (also referred to as SEA Games and Cambodia 2023), members of the Philippine Team as well as top sports officials met with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. believes that sports is too valuable of a support to the society that it must be kept that way.
Speaking to the athletes who will compete in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) during the formal send-off ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay on Monday, Marcos said even their wins alone give the Filipinos joy already.
“That is why it has to be kept as a very, very important part of our support to our society. And beyond that, ang ating mga champion, ang ating mga nag-uuwi ng medalya at saka tropeo ay talaga namang nagdadala ng kasiyahan at naipagmamalaki ng buong madla na kami ay Pilipino. ‘Yang mga ‘yan Pilipino ‘yan, mga champion namin ‘yan at ‘yan ang siguro ang pinakamahalaga na dinadala — nagdadala kayo ng dangal sa Pilipinas (our champions, those who bring home medals and trophies really bring joy and become pride of the Filipinos. Those Filipinos, those are our champions and that’s perhaps the most important thing – you bring honor to the Philippines),” Marcos said.
He added, “It’s good for your discipline. It’s good for your health. It’s good for your camaraderie. It’s good to mature young people.”
This is the first time that Marcos attended an athletes’ send-off event since his overwhelming victory in the May 2022 presidential elections.
“It is my great, great pleasure to be able to be with you just very quickly. Pinilit kong makapunta rito dahil gusto kong makilala ‘yung mga champion (I made sure to come here because I want to meet our champions),” he said.
He expressed willingness to help the athletes and sports officials by any means possible.
“If there is anything more that this government can do, that this administration can do, that I personally can do, you please make sure you will tell me because we are all rooting for you,” Marcos said.
He wished the Cambodia SEAG-bound athletes and officials “good luck”.
“At huwag niyong kakalimutan kapag talagang napagod na, nahirapan na, na-injure na nang kaunti, pakinggan niyo ulit ‘yung sigaw, maririnig niyo kami ‘yun, ‘yung mga kapwa niyo Pinoy, sinisigaw (Don’t forget when you’re tired, you’re having hard time, you’ve been injured, listen to those rooting for you, you’ll hear us your fellow Filipinos shouting): Go! Go! Go! Go!,” he said.
The above article ended stating that over 800 Philippine Team athletes will compete in over 600 events covering 38 sports in the SEA Games this year. The games in Cambodia will run from May 5 to 17, 2023.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines will be able to win enough gold medals to finish in the Top 3 of the SEA Games in Cambodia?
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Philippine Star sports news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine triathlon team will try to replicate, if not eclipse, its three-gold medal haul in last year’s Hanoi Southeast Asian Games when it plunges into action in the Phnom Penh Games next month.
“I’m still confident, we’re targeting three (gold) medals, four if we are lucky,” Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco yesterday told The STAR.
Carrasco said a total of seven golds will be staked in the Cambodian meet – three in aquathlon, two in triathlon and the same number in duathlon.
Kim Mangrobang will spearhead the country’s charge after her triumphs in women’s triathlon and duathlon in Hanoi where the Filipinos went home with a 3-1-1 (gold-silver-bronze) harvest with the other mint coming from Fernando Jose Casares in men’s triathlon.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you looking forward to the triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon events of the SEA Games this year? Do you feel confident about the Philippines winning most of the gold medals of the three multisport events?
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 many millions of people here in the Philippines who own SIM cards but were unable to get them registered now have extra time to do so as the national government announced that the SIM card registration process has been extended for ninety days, according to a news report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Take note that the original deadline for SIM registration was April 26, 2023.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The registration for the subscriber identity module (SIM) cards will be extended for another 90 days or until July 25, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Tuesday.
However, after the April 26 deadline, subscribers will have limited access to services until they finally register.
“Most of the services will be cut off with the telcos (telecommunications companies). So, there will be a social media unavailability for those who do not register in the next 90 days,” Remulla said in an interview after attending a Cabinet cluster meeting.
Senator Grace Poe, meanwhile, called for a boost in information dissemination of Republic Act (RA) 11934 or the SIM Registration Act now that the deadline has been extended.
Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, said the extension would help clarify the confusion and concerns of registrants regarding the law.
“It should be emphasized that SIMs will still be available in local retailers and sari-sari stores even past the SIM Registration deadline. Users will simply be required to register first before they can activate their new SIMs,” she said in a statement as she welcomed the decision to extend the registration.
“SIM registration was meant to promote the responsible use of SIM and to halt the abuses of scammers and criminals. It is not meant to punish legitimate SIM subscribers, especially those at remote areas.”
She recalled that when the bill on SIM registration was under deliberation, lawmakers considered the compliance of the more than 168 million SIM subscribers and had foreseen the need to extend the registration period to accommodate all users. Poe was the bill’s sponsor in the Senate.
As of April 23, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) data show that about 82,845,397, or 49.31 percent of SIM cards have been registered.
The breakdown is as follows:
DITO: 5,796,175 or 38.73 percent
Globe: 37,099,437 or 42.77 percent
SMART: 39,949,785 or 60.25 percent
Poe reiterated her call to telecom firms to go down to the grassroots to reach out to more subscribers.
“As most telcos have been enjoying vast profits from their services, they have the corresponding obligation and the necessary resources to track down their SIM users and to widen the opportunity for registration,” she said.
Poe noted that while several locations have been visited for remote registration, more needs to be covered as key areas, such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have yet to be reached, according to data from the NTC.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) should also look into the continuing proliferation of spam messages despite the ongoing SIM registration, she said.
Meanwhile, two days before the SIM card registration deadline, the DICT and its attached agencies met with officials from the country’s three public telecommunication entities (PTEs) – Globe, Smart, and DITO – to discuss concerns on the implementation of RA 11934.
In a statement, the DICT said it exchanged views with the three firms on ways to resolve some issues faced by the registrants, such as barriers in obtaining government-issued IDs and documents, and improvements in the SIM registration process.
Only one of the 17 accepted government-issued IDs and documents is needed to proceed with the registration, the DICT said.
“The possibility of extending the SIM registration period was also discussed during the meeting. We advise everyone to await the official announcement of the Department on the matter,” the statement read.
Filipinos are encouraged to register their SIM cards before the deadline.
“The increasing number of registrants in the past few days is a clear indication that Filipinos share the desire to eradicate online and text scams once and for all,” the DICT said.
RA 11934, which was the first measure signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Oct. 10, 2022, aims to fight scams being made through text and online messages.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Were you able to have your SIM cards registered successfully before the 90-day extension was announced?
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
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from watching the movie 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, readers! For only the 2nd time since the COVID-19 pandemic affected the world, I managed to watch a movie inside the local cinema at SM Southmall in Las Piñas City. What is intriguing is that the movie I saw is actually a carefully edited compilation of footage sourced from an upcoming live-action series that is an ambitious Philippine adaptation of a certain giant robot anime from Japan. The movie I saw was Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience. Behind it all, the movie is part of GMA Network’s strategy of building up awareness for the Voltes V: Legacy TV series set to launch on May 8, 2023.
For the newcomers reading this, the original Voltes V anime series (Japanese title: Chôdenji mashin Borutesu Faibu) was launched in Japan in 1977. Shortly after, it made its English language debut here in the Philippines (note: Japanese characters’ names were Westernized) and ultimately it became very popular and it made an impact on millions of Filipinos who saw it and replayed it in the many years that followed. I noticed that many Filipinos of my generation think of Voltes V first when anime comes to mind. While I myself never became a fan, I saw lots of Voltes V anime episodes on TV at a time when Internet access, video streaming and social media were not yet realized here in the Philippines. I even saw GMA’s edited Voltes V anime movie (containing footage of the final five episodes of the anime series) in the cinema in 1999.
In recent years, GMA Network and its local talents joined forces with Toei Company of Japan to create a live-action TV series adaptation of the anime and there will be eighty episodes (double the anime TV series’ episode count) for broadcasting nationwide. This is Voltes V: Legacy and already the local production team went through lots of hard work making the episodes, the sets, the props, the costumes and the computer-generated images (CGI) to bring the classic series into life in coordination with Toei which reviewed and supervised the production. A lot of money has been spent into Voltes V: Legacy which was felt in GMA’s increased production costs.
As for Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience, the so-called movie contains varied footage allegedly from the first three weeks’ worth of TV episodes and it was exclusively screened in SM Cinema sites around the country for a limited time.
The story begins in the planet of Boazan where people with horns live in prosperity and privilege while those without horns have no choice but to live a hard, lower life. A gifted young Boazanian man named Hrothgar – who was born into royalty without horns and lived with his personal secret long enough into adulthood – was exposed by Zambojil’s group to be hornless and unworthy of Boazan’s throne. Sometime later, Hrothgar leads several fellow slaves and prisoners in an uprising against Emperor Zambojil’s authority. Before getting overwhelmed by the imperial forces, Hrothgar escapes into space with an Boazanian spacecraft and crashes into the sea on Earth.
He is discovered by Mary Ann and he gets introduced to Dr. Smith and Commander Robinson. Hrothgar informs them of his Boazanian origin and he expressed to them that Earth’s defenses are too weak to protect its people from alien invaders. As he adjusts with Earth life, Hrothgar changes his name into Ned Armstrong, marries Mary Ann and have children together. After several years on Earth, Ned Armstrong worked closely with Dr. Smith to prepare the people for future invasions…
Quality
The iconic Voltes V looks bulkier and more mechanical in CGI form and the good news is that the overall quality is great and there is a lot of fun seeing the giant robot in action. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
To begin with, the creative team of GMA managed to establish a cohesive narrative for the cinematic experience which is not an easy thing to do considering all the content from many selected episodes that had to be edited and arranged properly. This involves the presentation of the story details, the live-action elements, the CGI-heavy shots and the human performances to create a narrative that was easy enough to follow and absorb in my experience. I noticed that the so-called movie moved at a medium-to-fast pace which is not surprising because the goal of GMA was to entertain moviegoers and convince them to anticipate the live action TV series. Considering the speed of the pacing, there were some moments when I felt that some scenes were missing which only reminded me that the slower and more dramatic moments were being saved for the TV series.
When it comes to adapting the classic anime’s elements into live action, the creative team did a pretty good job most of the time. The costumes of the five pilots were made with a more practical physical design (note: they are not body tight) while retaining the classic colors and the V logo. The interior set of the Camp Big Falcon operations room looked more futuristic complete with having many people simultaneously operating. The interior set showing Prince Zardoz and his trusted companions closely resembles that of the anime. There was one particular physical set that did not look convincing – the outdoor street market in Boazan early in the movie had that indoor feel which not even the lighting could hide and the CGI shot showing the rest of the outdoor area and the far distance did not match with the place.
More on the artistic side of the presentation, I enjoyed the way the production people emulated the classic anime designs of not only the characters but also the key structures (places) and the giant robots (Voltes V and the two beast fighters) into live action. The cinematic Prince Zardoz looks so much like his anime counterpart and the same can be said about Dr. Smith and Mrs. Armstrong. The two beast fighters here were rendered to look much like their anime versions but were animated in a way to emphasize mass and scale.
The strategic posing in this notable shot is a fun and honorable throwback to a key moment in the very first episode of the original Voltes V anime TV series. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
There were some notable artistic discrepancies and flaws however. The cinematic Princess Zandra, Draco and Commander Robinson clearly did not quite match their anime counterparts. For some reason, Princess Zandra appeared with a very different costume displaying subtle sexiness instead of royalty. Could it be possible the creative team took inspiration from the Fatima Blush character (played by Barbara Carrera) in the 1983 James Bond movie Never Say Never Again while modernizing Princess Zandra? As for Draco, he does not look as intimidating as his anime version and he even looks more like a cosplayer! Commander Robinson here does not display the maturity of the anime version due to the questionable quality of the costume provided and the actor’s appearance. In my experience watching the anime series, Commander Robinson looked and felt like a military man in his early fifties which the live action version never captured.
Now I want to talk about Voltes V itself. The highlight of the CGI combined with really good art direction is the iconic giant robot, including the five vehicles that compose it. To begin with, the use of CGI emphasizing multiple moving mechanical parts to emphasize Voltes V is a very smart move done by special effects team. While each vehicle has a new visual aesthetic to match the live action approach, they still remained recognizable to me. The biggest visual highlight in the movie is the volt-in sequence when each vehicle combined to form Voltes V in robotic form. As each vehicle connected to each other, the classic sequence from the anime was replicated excellently. Given the artistic direction and the CGI’s emphasis of multiple moving parts, the volt-in sequence here is much more detailed than the anime version! I should state that it is very likely that the visual effects team worked overtime to achieve the high-level of detail, the vibrant colors and the impressive animation on Voltes V.
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With the approach on multiple moving parts, Voltes V itself looks bulkier in a mechanical fashion which I really admire. It should be stated that showcasing the iconic giant robot in action – complete with CGI presentation of the many Voltes weapons – is a visual feast complete with very vibrant colors! Each time Voltes V hits a beast fighter by punching or using a weapon, there is strong impact felt with each blow! The sound effects team really did good work adding weight and power to the action.
The work done by the special effects crew in this external shot of Jamie Robinson’s cockpit is very impressive and detailed! Ysabel Ortega acted convincingly to what happened. (photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
Considering the high detail and strong animation on Voltes V, the two beast fighters shown in this movie had very similar visual qualities. There was no major discrepancy on visual quality between the iconic robot and the enemy during battles.
More on the CGI, I can declare that the locally produced visual effects (by GMA Video and Riot, Inc.) looked very good for the most part! Apart from the battles between the giant figures, the sequences of animating the Voltes V vehicles, the Boazanian flying saucers (with fast moving sharp edges that make them resemble motorized wood-cutting blades), the fighter planes and physical damage of places were nice to see. There were, however, several explosions that were badly rendered (note: even looking flat and out of place) in key scenes and there were moments when military vehicles looked more like they belong in video games from a few console generations ago. The formation of the blade of Voltes V’s laser sword clearly needs more work as it looks unpolished. In the post-credits scene, CGI for Octo 1 was badly done!
Apart from action scenes, the giant robots and their weapons, CGI was also used on established places or structures. Camp Big Falcon really looks magnificent while the floating mechanical Boazanian skull appeared very creepy. In shots showing the far distance, Camp Big Falcon in the background still looks good even though the visual quality falls short of capturing true photo-realism.
Considering the way GMA edited the footage and selected visual effects shots for this so-called movie, the overall quality of the CGI literally landed some notches short of photo-realistic levels. That’s not criticism at all but a confirmation that Filipino-produced CGI showcased here is the best I have seen yet! All in all, an impressive ton of work by the special effects teams using computers.
As for the human performances, I can say that the cast collectively did a good job bringing the characters to life and this includes paying special attention to details from anime while adding certain elements that reflect modernization. Zardoz was portrayed to be sadistic and obsessed on conquering planet Earth which reflects his imperial task and the pressure that comes with it. Sometimes, Zardoz looked and acted even psychotic. Mary Ann Armstrong is the definitive mother figure here and the producers emphasized her more with scenes showing her as a very focused authority during crisis as well as a tender and loving woman during her time with the family. In some ways, Mary Ann Armstrong is almost like the protagonist of this so-called movie and the live action version looks deeper than the anime version. While the live action Commander Robinson needs a lot of improving, Dr. Smith here really looks and feels like he was instantly ripped off the anime resulting in a very straightforward version fans will recognize. The live action Ned Armstrong here has some elements that deviate from what was portrayed in the anime (note: a very skilled fighter whose moves were so obviously choreographed during an action scene) while retaining key elements that still made him recognizable.
The actors who played the five pilots of Voltes V performed nicely. Even with all the layered Tagalog expressions (including gestures that we Filipinos are familiar with), Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie are all very recognizable not in terms of looks but through the dialogue, character details and acting. The production team really worked hard to not only balance their respective shares of the spotlight, but also get good enough performances from the actors. Take note that apart from the on-set dramatization, the actors of the Voltes V team had to perform accordingly in their respective cockpit scenes (note: the special effects teams painstakingly provided all the CGI to specifically reflect what had been happening with the pilots and with their machines) and this includes internal communications between the members. What we have right now are the best actors available portraying Steve, Big Bert, Little Jon, Mark and Jamie and making them recognizable in terms of characterization.
With regards to the music, I can say that this one clearly needs improvement. There is orchestrated music in this cinematic experience that played new tunes while also redoing/recycling classic tunes from the anime TV series. When the anime tunes were played by the orchestra with a modern approach, they were recognizable to my ears but the power and essence of the original tunes were not replicated successfully. Sometimes, I just wished that the anime tunes were played more while the orchestra focused more on providing new music.
As for the famous Voltes V theme song, the new version performed by Julie Anne San Jose is a letdown! I’m not saying San Jose is a bad singer but her version – which even used the Japanese lyrics – lacked impact compared to the original version. While the volt-in sequence proved to be a grand visual feast for the fans and viewers who love great looking CGI sequences, its cinematic impact was brought down a bit by San Jose’s version of the theme song. How I wish that the movie producers just used the classic song from the 1970s anime series!
This original theme song should have been used in Voltes V: Legacy instead of the new version.
Conclusion
As expected, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience has a mix of strong points and flaws. The good news is that the good outweighed the bad and I pretty much enjoyed this cinematic version of the live action adaptation done by GMA, its strategic partners and the local talents. As this so-called movie was a mix of content from several episodes edited to form a suitable narrative, it succeeded in entertaining and engaging me. Yes, there were flaws and there were some parts showing weaknesses but those things did not damage the viewing experience too much. There is a good amount of fun with this so-called movie.
Obviously this cinematic version is part of GMA Network’s strategy to build up anticipation for the upcoming TV series (which has a declared 80 episodes for broadcasting). While some people will perceive Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience as a blatant form of marketing or even as corporate gimmick, I personally see it as a worthy showcase in the local cinema (note: cinemas here in the Philippines are still recovering from the massive damage of COVID-19) and it just might not be repeated. Let me remind you readers that this newest Voltes V adaptation highlights the peak of Filipino-produced CGI visuals and the Filipinos’ collective efforts to really make a worthy live action adaptation of a foreign entertainment property. This so-called movie is clearly not perfect (note: it is not deserving of perfect 10/10 scores that others gave it) but it is pretty good to watch in the cinema.
Voltes V looks better than ever and made a big entertaining impact in the cinema. How will Voltes V: Legacy turn out on TV given the fact that there are so many episodes set for broadcasting?(photo source – the Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience trailer)
As mentioned earlier, I’m not a fan of the Voltes V anime and I’m not exactly anticipating the Voltes V: Legacy TV series. I do confirm that the long-lasting legacy Voltes V is clearly thriving here in the Philippines and the new TV series could potentially make a deep impact on Filipinos who love entertainment and possibly replicate what happened in the 1970s and 1980s when the classic anime TV aired on TV nationwide. How the new TV series will turn out is clearly GMA’s own problem.
Overall, Voltes V: Legacy – The Cinematic Experience is recommended.
Author Carlo Carrasco 