Recently in the City of Las Piñas, more than seven hundred local Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) formally received financial assistance distributed by the City Government, 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 city government of Las Piñas distributed financial assistance to over 700 Las Piñeros, amounting to P3,000, to beneficiaries of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program on Dec. 3.
Las Piñas Mayor April Aguilar said the beneficiaries of the AKAOP program will help them with their daily expenses.
Aguilar said the beneficiaries include members of the ERPATs organization, persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and other vulnerable sectors in the community.
She said that through AKAP, the city government continues to strengthen programs that provide protection and much-needed support to families who need it the most.
The mayor expressed her gratitude to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and team leader Jessica Estevis for overseeing and assisting in the payout.
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? Were there many AKAP beneficiaries among the members of your local community?
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 engagement, 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 reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the 1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.
In my previous retro review, Spider-Man had a match-up with his arch-enemy the Vulture who returned with a strong obsession within. The rematch is significant not only because it the two have a rivalry that lasted decades in reality, but also because the story was structured to function as a light reintroduction of Adrian Toomes (Vulture) for new Spider-Man fans of the 1990s.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #387, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with the Vulture absorbing energy and the youth of Spider-Man using the Juvenator in front of Dr. Sanchez. As a result, Adrian Toomes/Vulture physically turned much younger with rejuvenated skin, cancer getting health, a stronger body and his hair grown back. He declares himself as the new vital Vulture. Spider-Man is down on the floor clearly weakened and with a change of his body’s shape.
Instead of taking the opportunity to kill Spider-Man, the Vulture decides to fly away knowing that his long-time rival will have to deal with brittle bones of old age. As Dr. Sanchez tries to help him, Spider-Man feels exhausted, his lungs feeling gummy and his ears ringing. Knowing that police officers are coming, the webslinger decides to get away and leave Dr. Sanchez behind.
Moments later at the top of the building, the weakened Spider-Man takes his mask and glove off realizing that he has turned into an elderly man…
Quality
Can you recognize Peter Parker?
To get straight to the point, this continued rematch between Spider-Man and the Vulture is so outlandish (backed with the science fiction approach to life energy and the so-called fountain of youth), it almost felt like it was a story crafted for the What If series of comic books. In fact, the sudden aging of Peter Parker into an actually elderly man getting into close calls with two notable family members made this tale even more suitable for the What If series (note: What If #4 of 1989 had a severely aged Peter Parker in it).
Still on the storytelling aspect of this comic book, the creators used the fountain of youth concept to pull off a significant twist on the enduring Spider-Man/Vulture rivalry. As Spider-Man grew so old, the Vulture became much younger which in turn convinced him he could reinvent himself and put his genius of electro-magnetism to great use.
To make things clear, this tale is not purely a Spider-Man/Vulture rivalry with sci-fi twists. In fact, there is more to the plot than meets the eye here as the Juvenator machine becomes an important element of the story (leading to something intriguing in the next issue), and a sinister revelation concluded this comic book.
Conclusion
The Vulture rejuvenated into a young man at the expense of Spider-Man.
Amazing Spider-Man #387 (1994) is a solid follow-up to the previous issue and it also was a radical attempt to twist the Spider-Man/Vulture rivalry a lot reaching to the point of making it look and feel like a What If story. There is a good amount of suspense, character development and enough superhero spectacle that paid-off the build-up nicely. Ultimately, this tale is actually a part of a short storyline leading to the intriguing events of issue #388.
I want to make things very clear here…the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWA) is a very twisted agency of the United Nations (UN) working in close partnership with Palestinian terrorists. It pretends to be providing relief and human development of Palestinian refugees when, in fact, it empowers Islamic terrorists. The wickedness of UNRWA is so clear and obvious, it is not surprising that officials of the Trump administration are already discussing hitting the agency with terrorism-related sanctions, according to a Newsmax news report.
Before examining the Newsmax report, you can learn first many details about UNRWA by watching the YouTube videos posted below. Pay close attention to the details.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…
Trump administration officials have held advanced discussions on hitting U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA with terrorism-related sanctions, said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, prompting serious legal and humanitarian concerns inside the State Department.
The United Nations agency operates in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, providing aid, schooling, healthcare, social services and shelter to millions of Palestinians.
Top U.N. officials and the U.N. Security Council have described UNRWA as the backbone of the aid response in Gaza, where the two-year war between Israel and Palestinian terrorist group Hamas unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe.
The Trump administration, however, has accused the agency of links with Hamas, allegations UNRWA has vigorously disputed.
Washington was long UNRWA’s biggest donor, but halted funding in January 2024 after Israel accused about a dozen UNRWA staff of taking part in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack that triggered the war in Gaza. Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and kidnapped another 251 people to Gaza.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio then accused the agency in October this year of becoming “a subsidiary of Hamas,” which the U.S. designated as a terrorist organization in 1997.
It was not immediately clear if current U.S. discussions were focused on sanctioning the entire agency – or just specific UNRWA officials or parts of its operation, and U.S. officials do not appear to have settled on the precise type of sanctions they would deploy against UNRWA.
The possibilities that State Department officials have discussed include declaring UNRWA a “foreign terrorist organization,” or FTO, the sources said, though it is not clear if that option – which would severely isolate UNRWA financially – is still a serious consideration.
Any blanket move against the entire organization could throw refugee relief efforts into disarray and cripple UNRWA, which is already facing a funding crisis.
Sanctioning UNRWA on terrorism-related grounds would be striking and unusual, as the United States is a member and the host country of the United Nations, which created the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in 1949.
William Deere, director of the UNRWA office in Washington, said the agency would be “disappointed” if U.S. officials were in fact discussing an FTO designation. He said such a move would be “both unprecedented and unwarranted.”
“Since January 2024, four independent entities have investigated UNRWA’s neutrality including the U.S. National Intelligence Council. While occurring at different times and from different perspectives, they have all come to the same conclusion: UNRWA is an indispensable, neutral, humanitarian actor,” Deere said.
In response to a request for comment, a State Department official called UNRWA a “corrupt organization with a proven track record of aiding and abetting terrorists.”
“Everything is on the table,” the official said. “No final decisions have yet been made.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
The State Department and other departments have various sanctioning options at their disposal, which generally allow for asset freezes and travel bans targeted at specific individuals and entities.
An FTO designation would be among the most severe tools available to Washington and such designations are generally reserved for groups who kill civilians, like branches of Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think now is the time for the United States under President Donald Trump’s leadership to make significant moves to dismantle UNRWA on terrorism charges? Do you think the United Nations is lying and getting desperate in protecting UNRWA? Should UNRWA’s presence in the United States be close down? Do you think the evidence proving UNRWA’s links with Palestinian terrorist group Hamas is strong enough to justify sanctioning them?
The World Bank (WB) sees the economy of the Philippines making a gradual recovery in 2026 and 2027 fueled by strong domestic demand, according to a news report by BusinessWorld. The WB also stressed that corruption is unacceptable.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…
THE WORLD BANK (WB) sees a gradual recovery for the Philippines in 2026 and 2027, after growth slowed this year due to weaker investment and sluggish consumption, compounded by a corruption scandal and a string of natural disasters.
In its latest Philippines Economic Update released on Tuesday, the multilateral lender trimmed its Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 5.1% for this year from 5.3% in its June report. For 2026, it lowered its Philippine GDP growth forecast to 5.3% from 5.4% previously.
The World Bank also cut its Philippine GDP growth projection for 2027 to 5.4% from 5.5% previously.
These latest projections are below the government’s 5.5-6.5% growth goal for this year and the 6-7% target for 2026 to 2028.
“To borrow from Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo (Management), it’s a Nike swoosh pattern. He describes the US economy, and I’m describing our forecast for the Philippines as a kind of Nike swoosh. We have a dip in 2025, and then we have a gradual recovery in 2026 to 2027,” World Bank Senior Economist Jaffar Al-Rikabi said during a briefing.
He noted the average growth of the Philippines over 2025 to 2027 will be lower than 2024 when GDP expanded by 5.7%.
“For 2025… the growth is largely weighed down by domestic factors. In particular, lower construction activity and weaker consumption growth,” he said.
The Philippine economy expanded by a weaker-than-expected 4% in the third quarter, bringing nine-month growth to 5%, as the pace of household final consumption expenditure and government spending slowed amid a corruption scandal.
Mr. Al-Rikabi also noted the deceleration in fixed investment and private consumption due to higher-than-expected number of natural disasters that hit the Philippines this year.
“But for 2026 to 2027, we think that it’s likely that external factors will weigh more heavily on growth, largely slower export demand,” Mr. Al-Rikabi said.
The US imposed a 19% tariff on most goods from the Philippines starting August, dampening export demand.
The World Bank said the Philippine economy’s growth will pick up in 2026 and 2027, fueled by strong domestic demand.
“Private consumption is projected to strengthen as inflation stays low, employment remains robust, and monetary easing lowers interest rates, making it easier for businesses and households to borrow,” it said in the report.
According to the World Bank, private consumption, which accounts for more than 70% of the economy, is projected to expand by 4.8% this year, slowing from 4.9% in 2024. This is expected to pick up to 5.3% in 2026 and 5.4% in 2027.
The World Bank said investment is likely to recover as public infrastructure projects regain momentum, while recent liberalization reforms in telecommunications, transport, logistics and renewable energy improve the business climate.
The multilateral lender also expects headline inflation to average 1.8% this year, describing the pace as “very moderate” and a key source of resilience. This forecast is slightly above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 1.7% projection for 2025 and the 1.6% average recorded in the first 11 months.
‘CORRUPTION IS UNACCEPTABLE’ – Even as the Philippine economy will see a gradual recovery in the next two years, Mr. Al-Rikabi noted risks are tilted to the downside, with “more prominent” domestic drivers.
“There is a continued challenge of heightened perceptions around governance risks. This could, if it continues, erode investor confidence. It could delay public investment execution, and it could weaken growth,” he said.
The World Bank economist also noted there may be delays in fiscal and structural reforms amid the current domestic environment, “which could slow consolidation and weigh on growth over the medium term.”
A corruption scandal involving anomalous flood control projects has already triggered protests, slowed economic activity, and shaken investor confidence in the country.
“From the World Bank perspective, corruption is unacceptable,” World Bank Country Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei Zafer Mustafaoğlu said during the same briefing.
“The World Bank considers it detrimental to any country and has been fighting against corruption in all the member countries that we operate in,” he added.
Mr. Mustafaoğlu said the Philippine government could take this opportunity to increase transparency and modernize its budget execution system “that could actually support longer-term growth and can increase investment confidence (and) can increase long-term potential growth,” he said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Did you think the national economy will recover gradually in 2026 and 2027 as the World Bank predicted? With inflation being low, do you feel confident about spending for your needs and wants in the short term?
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, over one thousand five hundred persons with disabilities (PWDs) received free school supplies from the City Government and no less than Mayor April Aguilar herself witnessed the distribution, according to the local government’s social media post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the City Government’s social media post. Some parts in boldface…
More than 1,500 PWDs (Persons with Disabilities) and their families happily received the free school supplies from the City Government of Las Piñas.
Mayor April Aguilar, together with Elderly PWDs and PDAO Focal Person Ronald Monfero and CSWDO Head Lowefe Romulo, led the Awarding and Distribution of School Supplies for PWD in the city. Each bag contains school supplies, umbrella, lunch box, alcohol, and tumbler to ensure everyone is prepared for their studies.
The moment became emotional when Mayor April met especially the PWD beneficiaries. Feeling the joy and love in every hug, smile, and story with families.
PWDs and parents have extended their gratitude to the local government for its continuous program that helps, cares, and gives hope.
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 satisfied with what the City Government released to the PWDs? Has the City Government’s support for local PWDs been good over the past 12 months?
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 engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Setting The Record Straight About Cleveland’s 1986 Balloonfest – If there is anything unfortunate about the Internet and 21st century culture, it would be falsehoods and distorted information overwhelming the truth about past events. When it comes to Cleveland’s Balloonfest ’86, the event was a spectacle in which the organizers, its volunteers and strategic partners overcame lots of challenges along the way. The vibe and turnout overall in 1986 was generally positive. Today, there are simply too many liars and peddlers of misinformation (note: climate change activists, woke minds and people pretending to be experts) who posted online dishonest retrospective videos and opinions about Balloonfest ’86. That said, key members of the organizing committee and participants of the event got together to set the record straight in a YouTube video of Cleveland.com, and they have the facts to refute the accusations and falsehoods. Watch and learn from the video below.
#2 Tourists Causing Trouble In Japan – As I said some time ago, if you are entering Japan as a tourist, you better behave yourself and follow the rules. Massive tourism has been happening in Japan for some time now which is clearly adding to their economy and to discovering what the Japanese have to offer to the world. Unfortunately, there are foreign tourists who misbehaved and violated local laws to do gimmicks for social media (note: a selfish motive), disturbing the peace, adding to the pollution and even flying drones in restricted areas. Watch and learn from the video below.
#3 Remembering John McCain’s Bad Legacy – It has been years since former US presidential candidate and US Senator John McCain passed away. During his decades-long service in the US Senate, he was called by the corrupted mainstream news media a maverick for his willingness to work with Democrats on pieces of legislation. What many people do not know is the truth (backed with facts) that McCain’s legacy has been pretty bad as he not only betrayed the Republican Party but also the voters. When McCain was the Republican nominee for US President in 2008, his campaign was really doomed and Republicans got embarrassed. There is a lot more to discover about McCain in the MAGAmark video below.
#4 Congo Video Game – In 1995, the adventure movie Congo was released in cinemas and it managed to achieve better-than-expected commercial success despite being hit with negative reviews. The movie was based on a novel by the late Michael Crichton. As part of the film’s business strategy, a video game of it was released on Sega Saturn titled Congo The Movie: The Lost City of Zinj. I never played the game and there is a lot to learn about it in Sega Lord X’s video below.
#5 The Running Man Revisited – Remember the 1987 sci-fi action movie The Running Man starring Arnold Schwarzenegger? That film was not a faithful adaptation of the novel written by Stephen King (who used a different name) but it delivered bouts of fun for moviegoers. That said, there are lots of interesting details about the film, its source material, the process of adapting the story for film, and how it entertained people. Enjoy the selected retrospective and reaction videos below.
#6 You, Me and the Movies React To Frankenstein (1931) – Several decades ago, Universal Pictures released its cinematic adaptation of a 1927 play which itself is an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein novel. Simply titled Frankenstein, the 1931 movie went on to become a long-lasting part of American pop culture and is often regarded as a Hollywood. You, Me and the Movies’ Frankenstein reaction video is a must-see.
#7 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Young Frankenstein – If you want to see good old comedy that is effectively funny, you can’t go wrong with Mel Brooks. When it comes to making fun out of a particular horror icon or property, Brooks’ Young Frankenstein is a parody worth considering. Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video is fun to watch.
Illegal immigration is not only problematic for American citizens, it also puts minors into dangerous situations. As America continues to actively solve the illegal immigration crisis, White House border czar confirmed that more than sixty-two thousand migrant children were rescued by the Trump administration from human trafficking, according to a news report by Newsmax.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…
White House border czar Tom Homan said the Trump administration has rescued more than 62,000 migrant children from human trafficking.
“Over half a million children were smuggled into this country under Joe Biden. They lost track of 300,000,” Homan said Sunday on “Fox & Friends.”
Homan was referring to a Department of Homeland Security inspector general report that found nearly 291,000 unaccompanied minors had not yet been issued immigration court notices as of May 2024, and about 32,000 had missed hearings.
The watchdog report did not state that those children were definitively “missing,” but it warned that DHS lacked the tools to reliably track their whereabouts and respond to risks.
Homan described President Donald Trump’s second-term response as immediate and aggressive.
“President Trump committed on day one that we will do everything we can to find every one of these children,” Homan said.
Federal agencies launched joint operations to locate kids released to sponsors who never followed up, disappeared from contact, or were flagged for potential criminal exploitation.
DHS has also said it uncovered a backlog of tens of thousands of neglected child-safety leads and restarted investigations into suspect sponsors.
“We know many of them are in sex trafficking. Many are in forced labor. Many are being abused,” Homan added, saying investigators have found children working in dangerous jobs and being sold for sex.
He declined to share details about particular cases. “I can’t discuss some of the mistreatment we found out about.”
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think that more migrant children will be rescued from human trafficking as the Trump administration and its federal agents keep on solving the many problems related to illegal immigration? Do you think the administration of the failed US President Joe Biden neglected to anticipate the risks on migrant children as they allowed illegal immigration to worsen? Do you think the previous administration conspired with human traffickers and other organizations who added to the illegal immigration problem of the United States?
As Israeli Ambassador Dana Kursh recently met with Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr., the national police force vowed to strengthen its cooperation with the Jewish state as it seeks improvements over several important matters of law enforcement, 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 article. Some parts in boldface.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday vowed to strengthen its cooperation with the Israeli government to improve intelligence sharing, modernize police training programs, and adopt best practices in public safety and community policing.
This was after acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. received Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines, Dana Kursh, during a courtesy call at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday.
He said the meeting highlighted the enduring friendship between the Philippines and Israel as they explored ways to expand cooperation in key areas, such as security, capacity building, and information sharing.
“International cooperation provides us access to advanced technologies, training, and operational strategies in order for the Philippine National Police to strengthen its capabilities in crime prevention, emergency response, and overall community safety,” Nartatez said in a statement.
During the discussions, both sides identified practical initiatives for intelligence sharing, personnel exchanges, and joint training programs.
Through these collaborations, Nartatez said, the PNP aims to strengthen its capabilities in crime prevention, emergency response, and overall community safety.
For the newcomers reading this, this is not the first time that the PNP interacted and cooperated with Israel. In 2020, the PNP signed a security equipment deal with Israel. The recent meeting is about strengthening the ties between them with law enforcement in mind as the PNP wants to achieve safer communities and be able to respond faster in public safety matters in line with the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., to modernize the national police and promote international partnerships.
Knowing how sophisticated Israel really is on economics, cyber security, military technology and achieving peace, I believe that the PNP can benefit a lot from the Jewish state to achieve its goals with the long-term in mind.
One notable crisis that should be solved is cybercrime which is so rampant here in the Philippines and the number of Filipinos getting victimized keeps on rising. The PNP has its own teams focused on cybercrime and they have been busy searching for the criminals online to capture and prosecute them. Israel has the resources, the advanced technologies and the skills that will help the PNP a lot on its campaign against cybercrime. That said, having renewed Israel-PNP cooperation is crucial and I personally support it!
Praise and thank the Lord for this new development. Praise and thank Him for better ties between Israel and the Philippines.
To my fellow Filipinos reading this, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Images created with artificial intelligence (AI) applications that got shared on social media continue to fool people. It is unfortunate because AI is so accessible through apps and online, people can use them and create fake stuff that easily capture people’s attention.
For starters, look what happened in Japan when someone used generative AI to create a fake image about a bear on a road, shared it online and scared the local community. This was during the time when bear attacks in Japan increased.
Recently, deception caused by AI-generated imagery took its toll in parts of Southeast Asia. To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the technology article of VnExpress.net. Some parts in boldface…
When Thu saw a viral video purportedly showing a woman and her grandchild trapped in floodwaters in central Vietnam, she almost shared it until some things made her pause.
Thanh Thu first encountered an AI hoax last month when she believed a photo showing dozens of people clinging to rooftops during flooding in Thai Nguyen Province in the north was real. The grainy quality made the picture convincing at first glance.
“But on closer look, it made no sense as multiple helicopters were hovering just above the water yet not rescuing anyone,” she says
That experience made her more cautious. So when she saw the new flooding video, she examined it again and noticed the grandmother’s face was blurred and distorted, while nearby people appeared calm, chatting casually with water only reaching their knees.
“The footage was heart-breaking at first and gave me a strong urge to share it, but I realized in time that it was AI-generated just to attract views,” the 28-year-old in HCMC says.
In recent months, her social media feeds have been filled with photos of friends posing in destinations around the world, their faces retouched to look like models. But when she noticed that photos from various friends had identical settings, with only their faces changed, she realized the images were AI-generated.
In Hanoi, Hoang Viet, 27, has also been fooled by AI-generated content. A nature enthusiast, he once spent more than an hour watching a TikTok video about a supposed “rainbow mushroom” and even took notes for research. “Later I did more research and asked experts only to find out the species does not exist at all,” he says.
He recalls being frightened by clips of “sea monsters revived” or wild animals jumping on trampolines, all low-quality videos resembling security footage but drawing tens of millions of views. “All of them were fake.” After these experiences, he now cross-checks any information using reliable news sources or academic materials before accepting it as true.
The rise of tools such as OpenAI’s Sora, Google’s Veo 3 and Runway this year has caused a surge in AI-generated images and videos, from staged travel photos to recreated images with deceased relatives.
According to digital transformation expert Dr. Dinh Ngoc Son, AI-generated content is designed to exploit emotions and curiosity. “Sensational or unusual information always spreads faster,” he says. “As AI improves realism, the spread becomes stronger, creating an emotional whirlwind that is difficult to control.”
He says authenticity and digital ethics have become major challenges. As generative AI advances, the line between real and fake is becoming increasingly thin. He cites fabricated flood rescue clips and deepfake news anchors as examples.
In July Malaysian newspaper The Star reported that a couple in Kuala Lumpur drove 300 kilometers to a tourist destination only to find it did not exist and had been entirely produced by AI. “When users share such content without verification, it distorts public perception and undermines trustworthy information platforms,” Son says.
Cybersecurity specialist Ngo Minh Hieu, known as Hieu PC, says many people unknowingly expose personal data by uploading their photos to AI-powered editing apps. “With just a smartphone, anyone can create AI products,” the founder of the “Anti-Scam” project says. “While many use them for fun, scammers increasingly exploit them to deceive those who are less tech-savvy.”
At a national seminar on online fraud prevention in late October, Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung warned that criminals are taking advantage of AI and deepfake technologies to defraud citizens. On Oct. 28 anti-scam platform Chongluadao.vn issued a new alert about fraudsters using AI to manipulate e-commerce livestreams.
They take real sales videos, modify the sellers’ appearances to look physically disabled or ill, and re-upload them to solicit purchases from sympathizers. Scammers also create dozens of fake accounts to leave emotional comments, leveraging the bandwagon effect to deceive more viewers.
As someone who once bought products on livestreams of disabled people out of sympathy, Thu says the AI scam leaves her increasingly bewildered. “Now, when even images of those people can be faked, I do not know what to believe.”
To combat AI-driven misinformation, Son says joint action is needed from individuals, society and authorities. Individuals must improve their fact-checking skills, while the journalism and education industries should strengthen digital media literacy, he says.
Very clearly, AI has no soul and AI applications are being used for the wrong and irresponsible reasons. Not only are there tech users who use AI to make images or videos to grab people’s attention, there are criminals, fraudsters and scammers who use AI to steal money or information. This should remind you that technology can be abused a lot and affect people negatively.
An example of AI-generated imagery. (credit to VnExpress.net)
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you able to tell if a video you saw is generated by AI? Do you think a lot of people are abusing AI to grab people’s attention and increase their social media followers? Is your local government unit using AI through public services? Do you know anyone who became a victim of scammers who used AI?
Recently the City Government of Muntinlupa formally started the process of revising its zoning ordinance as well as its Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan (CLWUP), according to a news report by the Daily Tribune.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Daily Tribune. Some parts in boldface…
The local government of Muntinlupa City has begun revising its Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan (CLWUP) and its Zoning Ordinance, nearly 10 years after the last updates, Mayor Ruffy Biazon announced.
The revision aims to address environmental changes and the city’s increasing vulnerability to flooding.
This move follows a recent Spatial Strategies workshop led by the City Planning and Development Office. Mayor Biazon stressed that community input is critical, as local barangays are the first to witness changes and identify needs in their areas.
“The workshop is timely because we already need to update the CLWUP and the Zoning Ordinance since it has been almost 10 years,” Biazon said, citing the city’s proximity to Laguna Lake as a major factor.
“Over time, there have been changes in the environment and in the needs of the city,” he added.
The mayor also stressed the need to review development plans for lakeshore communities to properly guide the city’s priorities.
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 think the revisions of the zoning ordinance and the CLWUP will be done in due time and will help make the city more resistant to future flooding?
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 engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Author Carlo Carrasco 