special events – Page 2 – Author Carlo Carrasco

National Age Group Aquathlon 2024 set for September 29 at Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, registration ongoing

July 25, 2024July 17, 2024carlocarrasco

Calling all the multisport enthusiasts, the triathletes, swimmers and other active lifestyle enthusiasts! The National Age Group Aquathlon 2024 event is all set to happen on September 29 at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Cavite. Registration for the event is ongoing and you can get yourself registered by clicking here (note: RaceYa account and log-in required).

Race distances are as follows:

STK-Aqua:

6 yrs. old & under 50m swim – 100m run

7- 8 yrs. old 100m swim – 200m run

9-10 yrs. old 200m swim – 400m run

11-12 yrs. old 300m swim – 1.5k run

Youth Category: 300m swim – 2.5k run

Elite Category: 500m swim – 2.5k run

Age Group: 500m swim – 2.5k run

Race categories are as follows:

Elite Level

Elite Men and Women: 18 years old and over

Jr. Elite Men and Women: 16-19 years old

Youth

Youth Men and Women :13-15 years old

Age Group

Age Group Men: 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 & Above

Age Group Women: 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50 & Above

STK-Aqua

6 yrs. old & under, 7-8 yrs. old, 9-10 yrs. old, and 11-12 yrs. old

Team Competition

Top 3 teams in the Age Group category. Each team must have a minimum of 5 members. Cumulative time of the first 5 members to cross will be considered the total team time. Team Names will be submitted upon registration. Minimum of 1 female in each team.

Organized by Triathlon Philippines and sponsored by Philippine Sports Commission, Asian Center for Insulation Philippines, Gatorade-the official hydration partner, LeGarde L-Carnitine, Standard Insurance and Fitbar, the National Age Group Aquathlon 2024 offers the perfect platform for athletes to push their limits and experience the thrill of multisport racing.

Media partners for this event are Radyo Pilipinas 2 and PTV Sports. Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub is the official venue partner.

To get registered online, click https://register.raceya.fit/event/naga2024

For Philippine triathlon and multisport updates, click https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

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

Hillsong Conference set for July 8-10, 2025

July 24, 2024October 28, 2024carlocarrasco

To all the fellow people of faith reading this, be aware that the next Hillsong Conference will be held from July 8 to 10, 2025 at the Hillsong Hills Campus in Norwest, New South Wales, Australia. Already, online registration for the next year’s conference is open and you can register now by clicking here.

For the newcomers reading this, Hillsong Conference is the annual worship event of Hillsong Church which draws a lot of people from around the world to worship Lord Jesus, to deepen their faith in Him and to interact with other faithful people. This should remind you that the family of God is spiritual, not biological.

The conference will have lots of activities about worship, Holy Bible studying, servant leadership, faith-led mentoring and more. There will also be pastors and other worship leaders who will be orienting participants who intended to deepen their faith in the Lord and realize their true purpose in accordance to God’s plan.

Attending Hillsong Conference is NOT about getting into religion at all. It is all about developing and edifying your faith in the Lord, to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and realize that Lord Jesus is the way to God the Heavenly Father.

For a greater understanding about Hillsong Conference, posted below is the official message from Hillsong Church’s Global Senior Pastors Phil and Lucinda Dooley…

Hillsong Conference has always been a gathering dedicated to equipping and encouraging the Body of Christ and advancing the Kingdom of God on this earth. Over the years, we’ve experienced a beautiful and profound move of God that has impacted our lives, families, churches, and communities – for which we are eternally grateful.

As we look ahead to 2025, our mission remains unchanged. We gather to witness His wonder, to catch a glimpse of His Glory, to continue to learn of His ways and discover more of Him, the Great I AM – JESUS!

In Exodus 3:14-15, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob – has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” Through every season, He is there. Amidst the noise, He is our Shepherd. To every anxious heart, He is Peace, and at every ending, He is the Beginning.

This conference is for anyone who wants to grow in their spiritual formation, build the Kingdom of God, and engage effectively with the world around us. As a church we are dedicated to delivering a God breathed conference that is designed to bless, inspire and equip you regardless of your area of Kingdom endeavour. Whether you’re passionate about church leadership, excelling in the marketplace, deepening your spiritual formation, or enhancing your community impact, there is something for everyone. Through authentic worship, insightful Bible teaching from diverse contributors, and space for reflection and ministry, Hillsong Conference 2025 will deepen your sense of purpose and propel you forward into the mission God has for you!

We are filled with excitement and anticipation for the coming year and hope you and your family can join us for what we believe will be a truly impactful Hillsong Conference.

Together, we gather for the Great I AM.

With love,

Phil and Lucinda Dooley

To register for Hillsong Conference 2025 online, click https://brushfire.com/hillsong/conference-2025/580249

For other details of the conference, click https://hillsong.com/conference/sydney/

About Hillsong Church – Hillsong is a contemporary Christian church. Overwhelmed by the gift of salvation we have found in Jesus, we have a heart for authentic worship, are passionate about the local church, and are on mission to see God’s kingdom established across the earth.

Hillsong Church was founded by Brian and Bobbie Houston in 1983 in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Now Hillsong has churches in city centres in 27 countries around the world.

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First-ever gameplay of Perfect Dark reboot revealed at 2024 Xbox Games Showcase

June 12, 2024June 11, 2024carlocarrasco

Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks and gamers!

Wow! That was a powerful presentation of 1st party video games at the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase (also referred to as Xbox Showcase) that happened in America very recently. Not only was it better and more exciting than the Xbox showcase of 2023, it made this year’s State of Play and Summer Game Fest look even more lackluster and more unsatisfying. Already there are PlayStation 5 (PS5) fans who begged Sony to do better with their showcase of games because this year’s Xbox showcase – which is also the first of the new age of Microsoft-owned Activision-Blizzard-King – energetic and exciting.

For this post, I will be focusing on one of highlights of the Xbox showcase…the first-ever reveal of gameplay and features of the Perfect Dark reboot (for my previous posts, click here and here). For starters, watch the gameplay showcase video below…

Wow! The Perfect Dark presentation exceeded my expectations on gameplay and it looks like The Initiative (Xbox game studio) and Crystal Dynamics (the studio responsible for many Tomb Raider games over the past several years) really got their creative forces combined to make something unique.

Like the previous games that preceded it, the new Perfect Dark utilizes a first-person viewpoint for immersive gameplay and it has a new version of Joanna Dark introduced featuring the likeness of model Elissa Bibaud. Strangely enough, the new agent Dark does not look too attractive. Perhaps more new images of her will be unveiled someday.

*The new Joanna Dark featuring the likeness of model Elissa Bibaud.*

*Elissa Bibaud’s picture from her Instagram.*

The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics must have brainstormed a lot and worked long to modernize the gameplay for this new game (officially the 4^th Perfect Dark game for consoles played at home). What was shown during the video presentation were moments when Joanna Dark used gadgets to do thermal scanning, extract data wirelessly, generate voice-prints and create deepfake audio. Not only that, Joanna is capable of climbing wall pipes, sliding on surfaces and doing wall-running.

Without spoiling the concept of the video too much, I can say that Joanna Dark is already an agent who goes to Garden City in Cairo to find the wanted criminal Daniel Carrington and discover what he has been scheming. With all the details made available by the video and the Xbox Wire piece, Perfect Dark is really a first-person adventure that allows players to figure out what to achieve as they work their way through in missions. This is not just an action-packed first-person shooter.

Perfect Dark is a first-person adventure game laced with sci-fi and espionage elements. Players will be offered opportunities to overcome obstacles in creative ways such as using gadgets to infiltrate places.

Considering what was shown, I can only hope that the game developers will be able to create wide and vertical maps that will allow players to explore a lot more as they take on missions. By today’s standards, linear level designs just won’t cut it anymore. I know for a fact that making an open-world environment will take too much time and effort to complete Perfect Dark, so having wide and vertical maps will be good enough to offer players exploration opportunities.

Strangely enough, the video presentation does not specify which Xbox consoles Perfect Dark will be released for. What was confirmed is that the upcoming game will launch on day one on the Game Pass service which means it will eventually be released on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Windows PC. That being said, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S owners who are subscribing to Xbox Game Pass (XGP) and Windows PC gamers subscribed already to PC Game Pass will be able to play the new Perfect Dark on launch day someday. I doubt a version of the game will be released for the aging Xbox One consoles.

*In this game, you can accomplish your mission objectives by using stealth or by engaging with the enemies directly with guns and other high-tech weapons.*

While there is no release date yet for the Perfect Dark reboot, you can learn more about the game by clicking https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/06/09/perfect-dark-details-interview-xbox-games-showcase-2024/

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China tops PTS4 contest of NTT Asia Triathlon ParaTriathlon Asian Championships 2024 at Subic Bay Freeport Zone

June 3, 2024carlocarrasco

This past weekend at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Jiachao Wang of China won the gold in the men’s PTS4 contest of the NTT Asia Triathlon ParaTriathlon Asian Championships 2024, according to a sports news release published through the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA sports news story. Some parts in boldface…

China’s Jiachao Wang displayed his awesome form to claim victory in the men’s PTS4 category of the 2024 NTT Asia Triathlon Para Championships in Subic Bay Freeport on Sunday.

Wang clocked one hour, 06 minutes, and 39 seconds to beat Japanese Keiya Kaneko (1:12:30) and Filipino Alex Silverio (1:15:55) in the 750m swim, 20.26km bike and 5km run event.

“I’m happy to win,” said the 32-year-old Wang, who was born and raised in Kunming, Yunnan province. He lost his left arm in an accident when he was five years old.

“This is my first time to compete here, the weather is hot and humid,” added Wang, who won medals as a swimmer in three Paralympic Games before shifting to triathlon nine years ago.

After making his debut in Athens (2004), he bagged one silver (200m individual medley) and one bronze (400m freestyle) at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Wang pocketed one gold (men’s 4x100m medley relay) and two silvers (4x100m individual medley and 4x100m freestyle relay) in London (2012).

Wang, who placed fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, has completed the World Triathlon Level 2 coach certification course in South Korea last May 23.

Silverio, who hails from Compostela town in Cebu, was satisfied with his performance.

“I did not expect a podium finish because there are many good athletes in my category. I am so happy that I was able to get a medal,” said the 34-year-old member of the Talisay Luigi Triathlon Group (TLTG) Go For Gold Philippines team.

Meanwhile, Filipino Edison Badilla (1:35:36) beat compatriot Jake Lacaba (1:41:18) in the men’s PTS2 category where they were the only entries.

Japan had the most number of gold medals at six, coming from Kimura Jumpei (men’s PTWC), Tsutomo Nagata (men’s PTS5), Satoru Yoneoka (men’s PTVI), Yukako Hata (women’s PTS2), Mami Tani (women’s PTS4), and Riyo Kogama (women’s PTS5).

The NTT Asia Triathlon ParaTriathlon Asian Championships 2024 was organized by organized by Triathlon Philippines (TriPhil) in partnership with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) with the support of Philippine Sports Commission, Pinay in Action, Asian Center for Insulation, Gatorade – the official hydration partner, Standard Insurance and Western Guaranty Inc, plus Subic Bay Travelers Hotel (hotel partner), CM Timing of Jay Cheng (timing partner) and Statmed (EMS partner).

For Philippine triathlon updates, click https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil

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Flavors of NCR 2024 was a blast of delicacies, discoveries and fun

April 23, 2024April 22, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently Muntinlupa City hosted the 2024 edition of the Flavors of NCR food festival at the Filinvest City Central Park in Alabang and I personally witnessed the formal opening ceremony which involved many high-level officials and special guests. A lot of people visited the food festival on April 19 and 20 which added to the credibility of Filinvest City Central Park as a suitable open-air venue for special events.

For the newcomers reading this, Flavors of NCR is a special event presented by the Association of Tourism Officers – NCR which collaborated with the City Government of Muntinlupa for this year’s event. It is a showcase of unique cuisine found in the sixteen cities and one municipality of the National Capital Region (NCR). The local government units (LGUs) that participated include: Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela, and the Municipality of Pateros.

Event launch

The ribbon cutting led by high officials that include Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano (3rd from left), Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon (3rd from right) and Department of Tourism-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin (2nd from left) to name a few.

The opening ceremony of Flavors of NCR 2024 was attended by Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, Department of Tourism-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin, Association of Tourism Officers-NCR headed by Manila City Tourism chief Charlie Dungo, and Pasay City chief of staff Peter Eric Pardo. Also present were Muntinlupa Vice Mayor Temy Simundac and Muntinlupa City Council Raul Corro.

“We are delighted to host the Flavors of NCR,” Mayor Biazon stated during his welcome remarks to all the guests. “(We acknowledge) the presence of other cities here so that their products will be showcased and we are proud to have you here.”

Biazon stressed that hosting the Flavors of NCR opens up opportunities for Metro Manila’s LGUs and their respective food-and-beverage stakeholders access to the Calabarzon region composed of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon with a collective population of over sixteen million people.

It should be noted that the Alabang area of Muntinlupa is a popular destination for Calabarzon residents as well as those from nearby cities who enjoy shopping and recreational activities during the weekend. That being said, Flavors of NCR fits nicely with the weekend vibe at Filinvest City.

After the formal ribbon-cutting was done, Flavors of NCR 2024 officially opened and a lot of people and photographers followed Biazon and the guests visit the different food booths of each city.

Each LGU and their best

I visited and explored the designated areas (also referred to as “booths”) of each LGU during the food festival. Each area had a different style of interiors and layouts of food, drinks and other products being offered to visitors. There were also chairs and tables present for those who need to seat down and eat. Check out my raw YouTube videos plus pictures below…

*Native delicacies on display for sale at the Las Piñas City booth.*

*Burger patties being cooked at the Mandaluyong City area.*

*Delicious halo-halo from Aling Consuelo Halo-Halo sa Ugbo. This was sold at P100 each.*

*Marikina City had four sellers that attracted customers during the food festival.*

*Drinks, dessert and other stuff offered to customers at the Las Piñas City booth.*

Flavors of NCR was indeed a true showcase of what local businesses per LGU has to offer. Manila had halo-halo sold by Aling Consuelo Halo-Halo Sa Ugbo, Las Piñas City had Bea’s Home of Quality Kakanin and Other Native Delicacies selling native delights, Quezon City had Papa Diddi’s Handcrafted Ice Cream for those wanting something cold and sweet, Mandaluyong City had Ben’s Burjer for customers who love hot burgers, Marikina City had Mang Ding’s BBQ and Nanay Ipang’s Everlasting, and so on.

As expected, the variety of food and drinks were really great. Offered to customers were chicken, beef, pork, siomai, barbeque, puto, bibingka, pansit, siopao, fried chicken, roasted pig, pastries, cakes, halo-halo and ice cream to name some. There were also non-food products being sold such as bags and accessories in some booths.

*Sea food and other food items being sold at the Parañaque City booth.*

*Fried chicken being prepared for customers.*

*The best of Muntinlupa City offered to customers.*

*Food and bags for sale inside the booth of Malabon City.*

It was really nice to see these small businesses represent their locality and offered their best products to visitors at Filinvest City Central Park. Adding zest to the food festival were some performances by different bands from the cities of NCR. There also was a modern dance activity that drew in lots of visitors which added to the customers at the food festival.

Conclusion

The 2024 edition of Flavors of NCR at Filinvest City Central Park was indeed a nice showcase of what each LGU had to offer for those who love food and drinks. In addition, this festival really emphasized unity between the local governments of NCR and it also promoted local tourism. The festival also attracted some residents of Filinvest City’s residential towers (plus others from Ayala Alabang, Palms Pointe Village and other residential communities) and some employees (who worked at offices near the park) whose shifts ended.

In the perspective of tourism, this event really boosted Filinvest City Central Park’s status as a venue for special events or activities. To date, the said park continues to be an attraction for visitors and already it has been used by organizers of sports events and musical events.

The successful staging of Flavors of NCR could inspire food festival organizers to have their events held within Filinvest City in the future.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: Were you able to attend Flavors of NCR at the central park in Filinvest City? If you did, how was your experience? Do you wish to see another food festival to be held at Filinvest City Central Park soon?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Flavors of NCR set for April 19-20, 2024 at Filinvest City Central Park in Muntinlupa

March 28, 2024April 1, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced via social media that prestigious Flavors of NCR will be hosted locally on April 19 and 20, 2024 at Filinvest City Central Park (the venue). There will be a wide variety of culinary delights from cooks representing the many cities of the National Capital Region (NCR) and there will also be some amusement for attendees to enjoy.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…

Savor the diverse culinary delights of the metro at Flavors of NCR! This exciting event, brought to you by the Association of Tourism Officers – NCR since 2022, invites you to join us on April 19-20, 2024, at the picturesque Filinvest City Central Park in Alabang, Muntinlupa. Get ready for a culinary extravaganza where you can explore and indulge in the best of local cuisines from across the National Capital Region.

*The visual announcement of Flavors of NCR for 2024. (photo source – City Government of Muntinlupa Facebook page)*

As you feast on delectable dishes, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere with captivating performances by cultural groups and brass bands representing various LGUs. It’s more than just a food festival; it’s a celebration of our rich culinary heritage and cultural diversity.

Mark your calendars for this unforgettable weekend filled with flavors, music, and fun!

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 intend to attend the Flavors of NCR at Filinvest City Central Park this month? When was the last time you attended a major food festival? Have you been to the Filinvest City Central Park lately?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Bazaar, Mayor’s Gallery and other activities at Las Piñas City Hall set for March 25 and 26, 2024

March 21, 2024March 21, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government announced that special activities related to the dual celebrations of Las Piñas’ founding and cityhood anniversaries will take place at City Hall on March 25 and 26, 2024, according to the social media post of March 6, 2024.

On March 25, a cultural dance presentation will happen at City Hall at 7AM.

On March 25 and 26, a bazaar will take place at the City Hall Quadrangle starting 8AM up to 5PM. There will be a variety of goods that visitors will find.

On March 26 at 3PM, the unveiling of the Las Piñas City Mayor’s Gallery will take place at the lobby of the Mayor’s Office inside City Hall. At the quadrangle just outside, the Bayan ng Las Piñas one-act play will start at 5PM and last until 7PM. At 6PM, the launch of “Tahanan” will commence.

March 27 is a special non-working day as previously announced by Malacañang Palace recognizing the dual celebrations of the city’s founding and cityhood anniversaries.

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 plan to attend the special activities at Las Piñas City Hall on March 25 and 26? What do you expect to see at the bazaar as well as at the Mayor’s Gallery?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines attracts 5.45 million international visitors and generates P482.54 billion in revenue in 2023

January 5, 2024January 2, 2024carlocarrasco

The success of the Philippines attracting visitors from overseas and generating the related revenue in 2023 has finally been confirmed by the newly released numbers from the Department of Tourism (DOT): 5,450,557 international visitors and P482.54 billion (US$8.7 billion according to the foreign exchange rate of January 2, 2024) in tourism revenue, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

For the newcomers reading this, the final 2023 statistics exceeded the declared targets of 4.8 million international tourists and US$5.8 billion revenue. For further comparison, the Philippines attracted 2.65 million international arrivals and over P200 billion in revenue for the year 2022. To say the least, 2023 is undeniably a successful year for Philippine tourism and it seems that the controversial blunder behind the “Love the Philippines” tourism campaign did not lead to a massive failure (which the enemies and haters of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., have been dreaming of).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Philippines welcomed a total of 5,450,557 international visitors in 2023, well above the 4.8 million target arrivals the Department of Tourism (DOT) earlier set for the entire year.

Of this number, 91.80 percent or 5,003,475 are foreigners while the remaining are 447,082 overseas Filipinos.

From January to Dec. 31, 2023, the country also generated an estimated PHP482.54 billion in international tourism revenue, more than double the receipts it recorded in 2022.

“My deepest appreciation goes to every tourism stakeholder, collaborative partner, and passionate contributor who propelled our shared aspirations forward. Under President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s guiding vision and leadership, tourism has become a pivotal force driving our nation’s economic resurgence,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in a statement Tuesday.

“These numbers speak very well of the performance of the tourism industry under the Marcos Administration,” she added.

She said the DOT will continue its work to “realize the vision of this administration to make tourism a catalyst for economic growth and resurgence.”

More than a quarter or 1,439,336 of the arrivals came from South Korea, retaining its spot as the country’s main source of international visitors.

This was followed by the United States with 903,299 tourists (16.57 percent) visiting the country; Japan with 305,580 (5.61 percent); Australia with 266,551 (4.89 percent); and China with 263,836 (4.84 percent). Ranking sixth was Canada followed by Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Frasco said the 2023 visitor receipts also show that the tourism industry is “recovering faster than expected.”

The country’s 2023 international tourism receipts grew by 124.87 percent compared with the PHP214.58 billion estimated visitor receipts from 2022.

Before the pandemic in 2019, the DOT recorded PHP482.15 billion in international tourism receipts.

In 2023, the DOT’s marketing arm the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) generated PHP6.317 billion in total sales leads both from international and local business-to-business and promotional events.

While reintroducing Filipino destinations before the global tourism arena, the Philippines represented by Frasco last year was also elected Vice President of the 25th General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a prestigious global position last held by the country more than two decades ago.

She was also elected as chair of the Commission for East Asia and the Pacific, allowing the country to host the Joint Regional Meetings of the Committee for East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia in Cebu in 2024.

The Philippines in 2023 bagged at least 15 travel and tourism honors from prestigious award-giving bodies in diving, beach, cruise, culinary, retirement, and Muslim-friendly tourism, “a testament that the Philippines is indeed an emerging tourism powerhouse.”

“The extraordinary journey of Philippine tourism in 2023 saw the world express its love for the Philippines with our country’s rise to global prominence as the World’s Leading Beach and Dive Destination, and Asia’s Best Cruise Destination, among many other accolades,” Frasco said.

“The indomitable spirit of the Filipino has been globally acclaimed with the Philippines receiving the Global Tourism Resilience Award with our country seen as a benchmark for innovation amidst trials and challenges,” she added.

By 2024, the DOT targets 7.7 million international visitors, around 500,000 lower than the country’s pre-pandemic arrivals of 8.2 million.

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 meet its declared 2024 target of 7.7 million international visitors and possibly generate between P600 billion to P700 billion in tourism revenue? Did anyone from the haters/critics of President Marcos and Secretary Frasco bother you to make you believe that Philippine tourism will fail because of the “Love the Philippines” campaign blunder that was so widely reported in the mainstream news media?

Going back to tourism, do you think the Philippines should have more international-level fashion shows, film festivals, worship conferences, food festivals, sports events and trade shows to make the nation more attractive to visitors from overseas?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Planetshakers’ next worship event here in the Philippines set for February 23, 2024 in Cebu

December 14, 2023December 14, 2023carlocarrasco

To all my fellow Christians based here in the Philippines. The Lord is blessing the nation once again as Planetshakers will return with a new worship event scheduled for February 23, 2024 at SM Seaside Cebu Concert Grounds in the island of Cebu. As of this writing, those of you who seek the Lord’s blessing through Planetshakers should start booking tickets online via SM Tickets and that means you should have your respective SM Tickets online accounts logged-in and credit cards prepared. If you live outside of Cebu province, then you will have to travel there by airplane and find a place to stay.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the official description of the Planetshakers Cebu worship event. Some parts in boldface…

Planetshakers is so excited to visit CEBU in (February) 2024!

It has always been our desire and our pursuit to run after God with the intent of seeing His glory. Just as Moses would not go anywhere unless God’s presence accompanied him we have that same heart’s cry, and this year, people from all over Asia will be coming together with that same common passion.

Show me Your Glory.

We cannot wait to encounter Him and sit back in wonder at all the incredible things that will take place. It’s going to be awe-inspiring!

According to SM Tickets’ website, the VIP ticket is priced at P2,680 each followed by Platinum at P1,300 each, Gold at P656 each, and Silver at P356 each. For your reference, posted below is the worship event’s venue plan. To buy tickets, click https://smtickets.com/Planetshakers2024

In my experience, I can say I was very blessed by the Lord when I attended Planetshakers’ September 2022 event in Pasay City. I can also share with you that Planetshakers’ church co-founder and pastor Sam Evans is a true prayer powerhouse as she leads the prayer straight from her heart (filled with the Holy Spirit) and clearly leads people to come to Lord Jesus and have unwavering faith in Him. If you have time and the money to go to Cebu for Planetshakers, the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus and God the Heavenly Father, then I encourage you do so. Attending the February 2024 worship event is not merely attending for great worship music alone…it is fellowship with the Lord. Seek the Lord through Planetshakers’ leading of worship.

If you want to discover and learn more about Planetshakers, I encourage you to click here (Facebook page), here (Instagram), here (Twitter) and here (YouTube). To know more about Planetshakers itself, visit https://www.planetshakers.com/

In ending this post, posted below are recent music videos of Planetshakers from their YouTube channel.

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Madison Galeries’ Mardi Gras Bazaar set for November 18 to December 31, 2023

November 10, 2023December 4, 2023carlocarrasco

NOTE: Shortly after the launch of Mardi Gras Bazaar, Madison Galeries renamed it into Mardi Gras Warehouse Sale which had its last sale on December 2 and 3, 2023. The previous announced schedule of Mardi Gras Bazaar set for November 18 to December 31, 2023, no longer matters.

Madison Galeries, the nice open-air shopping mall located along Don Jesus Boulevard in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, recently announced the return of their popular Mardi Gras Bazaar which is all set to take place from November 18 up to December 31, 2023 at the 3^rd floor.

*The official image and details that Madison Galeries posted through social media.*

For the newcomers reading this, the Mardi Gras Bazaar is a well-known special event of Madison Galeries’ with an emphasis on shopping as well as a wide variety of products that buyers can choose from for gift-giving or for the use of their respective households. It should be noted that several products will be offered at discounted rates which should easily attract bargain hunters as well.

In 2019, I published two posts about the Mardi Gras Bazaar which you can read by clicking here and here. My post-event article has some pictures which should you give an idea of what to expect at the next edition of the Mardi Gras Bazaar.

For the 2023 edition of the Mardi Gras Bazaar at Madison Galeries, the announced schedule of November 18-December 31 is pretty extensive and it should give people a lot of time and opportunities to shop. The schedule of the bazaar for each day is 10AM to 8:30 PM.

What to expect at this year’s bazaar? Based on the official image from Madison Galeries, there will be clothing, toys, appliances, electronics, hardware and other items that can be ideal for gift-giving this Christmas season. As with the past editions of the Mardi Gras Bazaar, a discount of up to 80% will be applied on certain items for sale.

Still on Madison Galeries, it should be noted that The Madison Events Place Facebook page shared the 2023 Mardi Gras Bazaar post which suggests that the 3^rd floor venue (The Madison Events Place itself) will be the place to go to. Going back to 2019, I personally attended the Mardi Gras Bazaar and the Village Food Fair 2 (click here) on separate occasions and both special events utilized The Madison Events Place as the main venue. The said venue is a really nice and spacious indoor facility that is also comfortable, secure and fully air-conditioned.

Personally, I am eager to attend this upcoming event. For those of you who have yet to visit Madison Galeries in Alabang, the mall has sufficient parking spaces (note: there are elevated indoor parking levels inside).

Watch out for Mardi Gras Bazaar at Madison Galeries on November 18 to December 31, 2023. Visit the mall along Don Jesus Boulevard in Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City. The said boulevard is accessible through Alabang Hills Village (for those who have AHVA car stickers) and the West Service Road. Visit Madison Galeries’ official FB page at https://www.facebook.com/MadisonGaleries

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