In the views of the First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) and the University of the Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), the economy of the Philippines could grow by 5.5% for the year, according to a news article by Philippine News Agency (PNA). 2023 has been an economically challenging year and many anticipated that the national economy won’t grow as high as it did in 2022.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine economy is projected to grow by 5.5 percent this year, driven by the growth in government spending, a report released by the First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) and the University of the Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said.
In the September issue of The Market Call released on Wednesday, FMIC and UA&P said Philippine economic growth in the third quarter of the year will likely reach 5.0 to 5.2 percent.
For the fourth quarter of this year, FMIC and UA&P project the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 6 percent.
This would bring the full year GDP growth to 5.5 percent which is slightly below the government’s 6 to 7 percent target for this year.
“Despite the weak July-August, we think the NG will accelerate further its spending on infrastructure and transportation for the rest of the year, and employment will have strong rebound in September,” the report said.
The Philippine economy grew by 4.3 percent in the second quarter of this year. During the quarter, government expenditure contracted by 7.1 percent.
FMIC and UA&P however expect government spending to accelerate in the second half of the year.
“National Government took up the slack in July spending as it ramped up expenditures by 16.2 percent year-on-year in July through higher social protection and infrastructure outlays,” the report said.
Aside from government spending, FMIC and UA&P also expect manufacturing and construction to drive growth.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the national economy can do better than the 5.5% growth foreseen by the First Metro Investment Corporation (FMIC) and the University of the Asia and the Pacific (UA&P)?
In a new attempt to provide jobs in the Philippines and boost the economy, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., recently signed into law the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news report. Some parts in boldface…
The passage of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act will help the government achieve the goal of the Philippine Development Plan to provide more jobs to Filipinos, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Wednesday.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed on Wednesday the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act which seeks to, among others, address the challenges in the labor market.
“We support the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act as it contributes to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which aims to increase employability, expand access to employment opportunities and achieve shared labor market governance,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.
The law mandates the formulation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Plan (TPB) to address unemployment, underemployment, the informality of working arrangements, the reintegration of Overseas Filipino Workers and other challenges in the labor market.
It will also focus on improving the employability and competitiveness of Filipino workers through upskilling and reskilling initiatives and will provide support for micro, small and medium enterprises, and industry stakeholders.
The TPB Inter-Agency Council, chaired by the NEDA Secretary, will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the employment situation and labor market in the country.
The Council will also ensure the effective use of resources, harmonizing and complementing all governmental efforts and assisting local government units in planning, devising and implementing employment generation and recovery plans and programs within their respective localities.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act will create positive results over the next few years if it succeeds? Do you think that more could be done to help local job hunters find opportunities and get employed soon?
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the local police department officially warned the business establishments about the ongoing solicitation scam (which includes a fake endorsement) for a so-called beauty pageant and they also revealed captured CCTV footage of the suspect, 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 Las Piñas City police issued a warning to all business establishments against a solicitation scam using a fake endorsement for the “Miss Amazing Philippines’ 2023” beauty pageant.
City police chief Col. Jaime Santos said Rovic Macariola, a resident of Barangay Almanza Uno and president of Dender and Development, was reportedly approaching business establishments and soliciting donations to support the city’s candidate for the beauty pageant.
Santos said Macariola reportedly solicited donations, amounting to P2,500 to P3,500, to business establishments in exchange for reduced payments for business permits at the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).
The city police chief said upon verification, they found out that the suspect has a pending case for illegal drug possession, estafa, swindling, and falsification of legislative documents.
Mayor Imelda Aguilar also issued a warning on Friday, Sept. 29, about the use of her fake signature in an endorsement indicating that the suspect is authorized by her office to solicit funds to support the city’s candidate for the “Miss Amazing Philippines’ 2023” beauty pageant.
Upon learning of the illegal activity of Macariola, Aguilar immediately alerted the police and ordered the arrest.
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? Have you personally encountered the suspect? Were there any businesses in your local community that were approached by the suspect? Have you ever heard of a beauty pageant called Miss Amazing Philippines?
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, Mayor Imelda Aguilar issued a warning to the public about a solicitation scam for a beauty pageant involving a fake endorsement, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Eerily, this development shared common elements with what happened in Muntinlupa lately.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Las Piñas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar warned city residents against a solicitation scam using a fake endorsement for the “Miss Amazing Philippines’ 2023” beauty pageant.
Aguilar said the endorsement using her fake signature states that a certain Rovic Macariolla, a resident of Barangay Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City and a president of Gender and Development was being authorized by her office to solicit to the public to support the city’s candidate for “Miss Amazing Philippines’ 2023” beauty pageant.
She said the local police, under the supervision of Col. Jaime Santos, was already alerted and ordered to arrest the suspect.
The mayor urged the public to call the local police hotline numbers at 0998-5987928/0947-4622859 or at (02) 8832-6422/8808-7395/8525-8403 once approached by the suspect.
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 concerned that scammers pretending to have endorsements of local officials could be pouncing on potential victims in your local community? Has anyone approached you and tried to solicit money from you for a beauty pageant?
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
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Muntinlupa City was named the No. 5 overall most competitive highly urbanized city in the Philippines and landed in the top three in resiliency and infrastructure.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon received the awards at the Philippine Creative Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Congress held on Sept. 28 at the Manila Hotel.
Local government units were ranked based on the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index by the National Competitiveness Council.
“Cities and municipalities are ranked on their competitiveness based on an overall competitiveness score. The overall competitiveness score is the sum of scores on five main pillars which pool data from several sub-indicators. The five main pillars are: economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation. Scores are determined by the values of the actual data, as well as the completeness of the submitted data. The higher the score of a city or municipality, the more competitive it is,” according to the CMCI website.
Overall, Muntinlupa ranked fifth under the most competitive highly urbanized cities category in the country with a score of 49.59.
It is also No. 3 in the resilience and infrastructure pillars, and No. 6 in the innovation pillar.
“Infrastructure pertains to the physical assets that connect, expand, and sustain a locality and its surroundings to enable provision of goods and services,” according to CMCI.
Resilience, on the other hand, “applies to the capacity of a locality to build systems that can absorb change and disturbance and being able to adapt to such changes.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, what is your reaction to what the city achieved in the latest CMCI rankings? Do you believe that Muntinlupa is a blossoming and highly competitive city among all highly urbanized cities of the nation?
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 progressive City of Muntinlupa, the local sellers of rice grain received temporary relief as the City Government implemented a moratorium on the collection of rental payments, 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 Muntinlupa City government has imposed a moratorium on the collection of rental payment from stall holders engaged in the selling of rice as assistance to them following President Marcos’ decision to put a price cap on regular and well-milled rice.
Marcos issued Executive Order No. 39 on Aug. 31 imposing a mandated price ceiling of P41 per kilo for regular milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice. The rice price cap took effect on Sept. 5.
To assist the affected rice retailers, the Muntinlupa City Council passed Ordinance 2023-120 “imposing moratorium on rental payment for public stall holder in the retail business of selling rice during the effectivity of Executive Order No. 39 or the imposition of mandated price ceiling on rice.”
Mayor Ruffy Biazon signed the ordinance on Sept. 26, which became “effective immediately upon its approval.”
According to the ordinance, the President issued E.O. 39 “with an end view to put a price cap on rice in the effort to ease off the increasing price of the staple caused by illegal price manipulation such as hoarding by opportunistic traders and collusion among industry carters in the light of the lean season, as well as global events taking place beyond the Philippines’ control, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India’s ban on rice exportation, and the unpredictability of oil prices in the world market, among other factors, have caused an alarming increase in the retail prices of rice/”
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular No. 2023-131 for mayors to assist and ensure the effective regulation of the price of rice through “regular inspections of public and private markets, as well as rice warehouses; activation of hotlines, consumer complaints desk, and Timbangan ng Bayan; and deputation of barangay officials and non-government organizations to monitor abnormal price increases,” the ordinance added.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you approve of the City Government’s moratorium on the collection of rental payments with regards to the local sellers of rice grain?
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
A person of Parañaque City wanted for the crime of rape was arrested by police officers in the province of Quirino, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. It turns out, the suspect is among the Top 10 most wanted persons of the city.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A man wanted for rape by sexual assault and rape and tagged as the sixth most wanted person in Parañaque City was arrested on Sunday, Sept. 24, in Quirino Province.
The Southern Police District (SPD) said the Parañaque police identified the suspect as Marcial Sante, who was arrested at around 4:00 p.m. in Barangay Gulac, Diffun, Quirino Province.
The Parañaque police reported that a tracker team from the Don Bosco substation coordinated with the Quirino Province Mobile Force Company on the arrest of Sante.
Sante was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Madeline Bona Mendoza of Parañaque Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 87 and Judge Leilani Marie Dacanay of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 294 for rape by sexual assault and rape on August 1.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? Are you concerned that Parañaque-based criminals could be staying in the province to avoid arrest? Do you consider rape a serious problem in the city right now?
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 and movie enthusiasts! Chances are you must have heard about the controversy and debates over Sound of Freedom, a movie about the child trafficking which was made years ago but only got released this year after overcoming many hurdles. The film starring Jim Caviezel as real-life hero Tim Ballard and directed by Alejandro Monteverde, was released at a time when wokeness in Hollywood got so feverish a lot of movies were no longer interesting for me.
In case you missed the news, the low budget Sound of Freedom performed beyond expectations in the American box office and has since been making waves gradually in cinemas around the world. The film opened officially here in the Philippines on September 20 and I finally saw it in the local theater.
With regards to the controversy about Sound of Freedom, I urge you to reject the Leftists’ constant ranting against it and make the effort to see it yourselves. If you take into account the conceptualization of the movie, it is almost a decade old now and efforts to write the script happened years before QAnon even started (for context, watch Midnight’s Edge video by clicking here). Blatant accusations of QAnon conspiracy theory against this film are simply false and officially denied by Tim Ballard. Communist-filled Hollywood (Commiewood) and the woke mob are simply lying to stop people from seeing the movie.
With those details laid down, here is my review of Sound of Freedom.
The official movie poster.
Early story
The story begins in Honduras when a pretty lady visits the home of a father who has one young daughter and one young son, and convinces him to have them audition into modeling. The audition happened in a different location (filled with the man’s two kids and many others) and as the father was not allowed to be present, he was asked to return in the evening. By the time he returned, the place was empty and the children were kidnapped. They secretly shipped to another country.
In America, Tim Ballard and his time successfully apprehended a man for possessing and distributing child pornography. Tim’s teammate points out to him that although they have arrested many child predators, they could not even save a single child from exploitation and abuse…
Quality
I will start first by saying that this movie was not made to entertain viewers but to emphasize the real-life problems of child trafficking, kidnapping, the abuse of minors, sex trafficking and why slavery today still has many millions of victims (including minors).
This movie closely examines the struggles that come with fighting the syndicates (that kidnapped children and sell them) and the customers (who paid to illegally acquire children for their wicked desires) as told through the eyes of Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel) who is clearly feeling the heavy stress of his US Homeland Security job (which takes a lot of strength, sacrifice and sheer will to do). Ballard himself has many kids with his faithful and supportive wife (Mira Sorvino) and therefore he can easily relate with the parents whose children got kidnapped and sold in other countries.
Caviezel is mostly subtle with expressing Ballard’s emotions as well as his verbal expressions with the other people he interacted with. This is not to say that Caviezel’s act is wooden, rather he is straightforward with portraying a man who feels disturbed by the collective stress of his duty (but still far away from the breaking low-point). Even though he is getting worn down, Ballard’s sheer determination to save a specific kidnapped-and-abused daughter for a Honduras-based father is nicely captured by Caviezel.
The efforts of fighting the criminals who pounced on children involves a lot of hurdles to overcome. I’m not just talking about Homeland Security agents taking down people in America who engaged in child pornography but also going after the very criminals overseas who kidnapped children, shipped them from one nation to another and sell them as “models” to pedophiles. As such, Ballard’s efforts involves spending time overseas (away from his family), making local connections and secretly working his way into different locations where the risks of getting killed are high.
Again, this tale is not about entertaining viewers as it works on emphasizing to them how extremely difficult it is to bring down the criminals in real-life. The good news is that this film is nicely directed by Monteverde whose cinematic style is simplistic and yet engaging to watch. There is a clear subtle approach on showing what little violence the film has. As for scenes of child abuse, there is nothing graphic to see (left ambiguous) nor was there anything intense about them. While I am certain that some parts of the story involved liberties in order to establish a functional cinematic narrative, this movie strives hard with realism while also avoiding becoming preachy with its message (expressed in subtle fashion) about human trafficking, child slavery and the business involving pedophiles and kidnappers.
Conclusion
Sound of Freedom was clearly made to inform the world that children are still being kidnapped, used for illegal transactions, transported around the world and sold to the predators. This real-world problem continues to happen somewhere every single day and there are simply not enough law enforcers who could fight the criminals and rescue the kidnapped minors. Nor do the law enforcers have the resources to stage major rescue operations while facing off with armed criminals and their bodyguards.
While it is told through Tim Ballard, this movie is not about him and his profession. It is about the extreme difficulties that law enforcers – both domestic and overseas – have to go through to save the very young victims. The story was told with consistent realism and subtlety which make it very believable to watch. Jim Caviezel is indeed a solid performer and his portrayal of Tim Ballard will easily remind you that true heroes are the ones who bravely face tremendous odds to achieve their goals (for good) while still maintaining their sanity no matter how hopeless the situations appeared.
Sound of Freedom is a cinematic call to action to make others aware about the ongoing menaces of sex trafficking, kidnapping, abuse of minors and the cartels (demonic people) that profited from their evil trade. Like Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, this film was made for reflective viewing and not for amusement. Indeed, God’s children are not for sale and this is the truth that the bashers of this movie do not want you to realize. There is also the biblical truth to the popular quote from the film. Read the holy scripture below…
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:1-10 (NKJV)
To put things politically, you must be wondering why the Satanic Left – Democrats, Communists, socialists, Marxists, liberals, the SJWs and the woke extremists – keep on bashing and hating Sound of Freedom. Here is why…because the Leftists are themselves pro-crime (example: “Defund the police.”) and they have made efforts to weaken law enforcement which emboldened the criminals such as robbers, murderers, kidnappers, smugglers, rapists, terrorists, molesters, illegal immigrants and, of course, the pedophiles. The Leftists are clearly wicked and they are lots of them present not only in government but also in showbiz, the mainstream media and other sectors of societies. The Leftists care less about the children and nuclear family, and this is why they want more drag queens and homosexuals to go after the children without law enforcers blocking them. The Leftists are okay with children getting kidnapped, abused and raped. In short, those in the Left are okay with being evil and doing what Satan wants.
I saw Sound of Freedom at the local cinema.
The Leftists are very afraid of Sound of Freedom and remember that it is the one notable movie that almost never got released. That being said, you must watch the movie whenever you have chance to do so.
Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government was formally declared a drug-free workplace and a marker was unveiled highlighting it, 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 Muntinlupa City government achieved another feat when it was declared a drug-free workplace.
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman Catalino Uy and Mayor Ruffy Biazon unveiled the marker for the drug-free workplace during the weekly flag-raising ceremony at the Muntinlupa City hall quadrangle on Monday, Sept. 25.
According to Florecito Ragudo, chief of the Muntinlupa Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Office (DAPCO, the Muntinlupa City government became a drug-free workplace after successfully following the parameters set by the DDB.
He said the drug-free workplace policy was finally initiated under the administration of Biazon after years of deferment due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Overall, what our mayor wanted was that all employees are not using illegal drugs so we can deliver effective services to our citizens,” said Ragudo.
Biazon signed an executive order establishing a workplace anti-drug abuse assessment team to implement the policy.
Under DDB Regulation No. 13 issued in 2018, the drug-free workplace policy covers “all appointive public officers in all offices, including all constitutional bodies, departments, bureaus, and agencies of the national government, government–owned and controlled corporations, state and local universities and colleges, and elective local officials of local government units.”
“Mandatory drug testing shall remain a requirement for initial entry to government service. Any applicant found positive for drug use shall be denied entry to government service,” it added.
Uy congratulated the Muntinlupa City government for achieving the milestone.
“On behalf of the Dangerous Drugs Board, I would like to commend and congratulate [you]. We are with you in the success in having and launching of drug-free workplace policy here in Muntinlupa. Congratulations,” said Uy.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think of the City Government as a shining example of a drug-free workplace?
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
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
About 7,800 young kids received free school supplies from the Muntinlupa City government.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon distributed the Balik Eskwela Packages to the young students in 89 Child Development Centers in Muntinlupa on Sept. 20.
Through Muntinlupa’s Early Childhood Education Division (ECED), the students received school bags, water tumblers, notebooks, pad papers, jumbo pencils and crayons.
“Naglaan ng pondo ang city government para makapag-provide ng gamit para sa kanila. Bahagi ito ng Karunungan Agenda natin sa ilalim ng 7K Agenda (The city government allotted funds to provide things to them. This is part of of the Karunungan Agenda under the 7K Agenda),” said Biazon.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the City Government is doing the right thing with the release of school supplies to qualified local students?
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
Author Carlo Carrasco 