Tumblr – Page 58 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Better than Streaming: Limited Screenings of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in the Philippines Begin Today

September 10, 2025September 9, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors, anime enthusiasts and movie buffs!

The 1984 classic anime feature film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (directed by Hayao Miyazaki) will have limited screenings on specific branches of SM Cinema starting today and will last until September 16, 2025, according to SM Cinema’s recent Facebook announcement and GMA Network’s lifestyle news article.

To make things clear, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is just one of many Studio Ghibli feature films that will be playing through SM Cinema branches with the Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 launching today. Other Studio Ghibli feature films include My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, The Wind Rises and Ponyo. All of those anime productions were directed by Miyazaki but in my personal anime viewing experience, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind remains the most memorable one.

*A captivating piece of art from the 1984 anime feature film of Hayao Miyazaki.*

To put things in perspective regarding the Studio Ghibli Fest 2025, posted below is an excerpt from the lifestyle news article of GMA Network. Some parts in boldface…

The Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 is happening this month, and six films from the highly acclaimed Japanese animation studio will be screened in select local cinemas.

SM Cinema announced the happy news on its social media pages last August 31.

“Six worlds. Endless wonder. One big screen. From Totoro’s forest to Chihiro’s spirit world, journey back into the imagination of Hayao Miyazaki and experience the timeless magic of Studio Ghibli,” it said.

Several classic Studio Ghibli films will be screened in select SM Cinemas nationwide from September 10 to 16.

Here is a list of the films part of the Studio Ghibli Fest 2025: Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, The Wind Rises, Ponyo, (and) Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.

*These are the SM Cinema branches around the country showcasing the Studio Ghibli anime feature films. (source – SM Cinema)*

Why Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is significant

Among the works of Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is the one that resonates with me the most and I have a long history of viewing the anime feature film. The first time I saw it was in its mid-1980s, butchered English-dubbed version titles Warriors of the Wind on home video. Being so young back then, I was not aware of the original Japanese version and I simply enjoyed what was presented in English. The leading lady Nausicaä was renamed as Princess Zandra while the Ohm were referred to as gorgons.

For the newcomers reading this, the 1980s was not exactly a good time of anime productions being released in the West in English and alterations for the Western market was the norm. Warriors of the Wind was more than 20 minutes shorter than the original Japanese version.

In the early 2000s, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was released uncut with a new English-dubbed version (plus English subtitles with the original Japanese audio) involving the talents of Patrick Stewart, Uma Thurman and Alison Lohman. The footage that was missing in Warriors of the Wind easily made the new version – released on DVD in 2005, Disney Blu-ray in 2011, GKIDS and Shout! Factory Blu-ray in 2017, and limited edition steelbook Blu-ray in 2020 – a must-buy for both fans and anime enthusiasts who enjoy classics.

I myself acquired the 2005 DVD of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind by trading an old video game for it and enjoyed it a lot. I saw both the English-dubbed and English-subtitled versions in different times, and the complete footage added to my enjoyment of it. If I were to make comparisons, I prefer the 1984 film over Princess Mononoke (I had a Blu-ray copy of it).

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on Blu-ray disc format (limited edition steelbook version) is still available for purchasing online and you only need to click here. I wonder when will a 4K Blu-ray version of it be announced.

What it is lacking for me is the experience of watching Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on the big screen inside the movie theater. This is why I am personally interested in replaying it at an SM Cinema branch during the week-long Studio Ghibli Fest 2025. At the same time, it is rare for anime classics to be screened in movie theaters here in the Philippines. As much as I love watching movies on Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray format in the comfort of home, the cinema experience is still the best way to watch a movie. Definitely better than streaming!

To learn more details about the limited screenings of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and other Studio Ghibli films, click https://www2.smcinema.com/movies/HO00001266

If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, cinematic trends, Blu-ray releases and more relevant stuff, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576

+++++

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

Parañaque Congressman Yamsuan Encourages Use of Technology With Transparency In Mind

September 9, 2025September 9, 2025carlocarrasco

In this age of social media and smartphones, achieving transparency is more crucial than ever. Recently, Parañaque City’s 2^nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan reached out to his fellow lawmakers to use digital tools to establish bridges of transparency and close the gap between people and their government, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan has called on fellow lawmakers to leverage digital tools to build “bridges of transparency” that will heighten awareness about state-funded services, strengthen public trust, and bring government closer to the people.

Instead of relying on traditional and often tedious modes of delivering public services, Yamsuan said government officials should learn to adapt and take advantage of digital solutions to make such processes simple, fair, and convenient for potential beneficiaries.

“In this digital age, information is no longer confined to the halls of government or the pages of textbooks –it flows through the screens and smartphones of every Filipino. And with that flow comes an opportunity: an opportunity to connect, to inform, to empower, and above all, to build trust,” Yamsuan said in a privilege speech on Monday.

He said the Philippines’ distinction as the world’s social media capital with 97.5 million internet users illustrates how Filipinos have become heavily reliant on online platforms in getting information, which the government can capitalize on to connect with citizens and make them aware of its various programs and projects.

“The government, and we public servants, are often criticized for not doing enough to address problems or bridge gaps. But sometimes the issue is not the lack of programs, but the lack of awareness,” the vice-chairperson of the House Committee on Public Information said.

“As representatives of our respective districts and sectors, we are in a prime position to be part of the solution. We can take the lead in providing information that is easily digestible and understandable, and most importantly, information that is relevant to the needs of our constituents.”

He said delivering the “right information and the right services” to Filipinos can help regain public trust and confidence in “our institutions because people would be able to see and feel that they have a government they can rely on.”

Pointing out the lack of public awareness about government support programs, Yamsuan cited a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed that while over 93 percent of Filipinos know about the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), only 34 percent were aware of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

A nationwide survey conducted in 2023 by the research firm Capstone-Intel also showed a lack of knowledge about the various initiatives of the Department of Health (DOH), with only 45 percent of the survey participants being aware of the Universal Health Care program, he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you like what Congressman Yamsuan has been doing since he took office? Do you think there is hope that social media will be used for transparency and cooperation instead of tribalism-related division?

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

+++++

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

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 99

September 8, 2025September 2, 2025carlocarrasco

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 Close Encounters of the Third Kind Revisited – The first time I ever saw Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind was not in the cinema but on home video in the early 1980s. Being so young, I was not aware that the movie I saw was the director’s cut version (which showed the interior of the alien space ship). In 1998, the movie regained spotlight with the release of its 3^rd and final version. That being said, it is not surprising that Spielberg’s film became the popular subject of YouTube movie reaction videos. I can only wonder what exact versions are the YouTubers reacting to. Watch the selected videos below (including a trivia video by Minty Comedic Arts and a Dan Monroe retrospective).

#2 The Rise, The Fall and Scandals of E3 – I love playing video games and there was a time when the annual E3 became the one video game convention I wanted to attend. I never had the opportunity to attend it and E3 came to an inevitable demise due to many factors like the high costs of event organizing, irrelevance with game industry players, and a variety of scandals. To know more about E3 and why it has a terrible history despite being an entertaining event for gamers, watch the video below.

#3 Greta Thunberg Is Back (Again) – Climate change zealot and Islamic terrorist supporter Greta Thunberg is back yet again. After failing to reach the Gaza Strip with her activist pals, Thunberg is trying to do the same thing again and Israel is watching. She clearly has no respect for authority, continues to be allied with evil elements of the world (she refused to condemn Palestinian terrorist group Hamas) and she is living with a very distorted perception of reality. Watch and learn from the Sky News Australia videos below.

#4 SPAM’s Impact On Food In Japan – Like many others out there, I enjoy eating SPAM lunch meat from Hormel from time to time. It is a great addition for making sandwiches or rice meals. When I had a solo holiday in Hawaii, I saw SPAM on ready-to-eat food items there. SPAM also had impact on certain food of Okinawa in Japan and you can learn more by watching the video below.

#5 Are You Aware Of The History Of Comico? – Have you ever read any comic book from Comico: The Comic Company? I did and they were direct adaptations of episodes of Robotech in the 1980s. I know they published many other titles during their years of business but I never got to see any more Comico releases at retail here in the Philippines. As it turned out, Comico closed down in 1997. You can learn more about the beginning, rise and closure of Comico by watching the video below.

+++++

US State Department Will End Anti-Christian Practices

September 8, 2025September 7, 2025carlocarrasco

Thank the Lord for United States President Donald Trump as the State Department officially announced it will put an end to the anti-Christian practices that went into effect by the previous administration, according to a Newsmax report.

For the newcomers reading this, when Joe Biden took office in January 2021, the State Department became hostile towards Christians in various ways while favoring Satanic Leftist ideology and causes (example: LGBT). In other words, the State Department under Biden and the Democrats became discriminating towards Christians. Let us not forget the Democrats’ love for unholy causes like abortion, same-sex marriage, critical race theory (CRT), and more.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface.

The State Department said Friday that it will “eradicate” anti-Christian practices that were in place under the Biden administration, as directed by the Trump administration.

“Our nation was founded on the recognition that moral virtue and a steadfast faith in God are necessary preconditions of freedom,” the department said on its official X account. “Yet under the Biden Administration, U.S. foreign policy belittled Christianity and weaponized government against faith.

“That era has ended,” the post continued. “Under @POTUS’s leadership, the State Department will eradicate practices that devalue and demean the Christian faith.”

In its initial assessment, the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias found that under the Biden administration, the State Department “stigmatized employees for religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate” and cast “blame for disease on the unvaccinated.”

“The Department of State empowered employees to publicly shame and demean their colleagues with religious objections, even calling them ‘plague rats’ and ‘murderers,‘” the report said. “In one instance, an ambassador directly accused an unvaccinated subordinate of ‘wanting to kill’ the ambassador’s mother. The process used for determining religious exemptions involved an invasive questionnaire demanding highly personal information, reportedly far exceeding the legal requirements.

“Those who received religious accommodations were further shamed and humiliated as they were required to test for COVID weekly in view of others; disclose their accommodations to colleagues; and wear masks essentially marking them with a scarlet letter,” the document said.

In the State Department under Biden, Christian homeschool parents who were federal employees were harassed because of their religious beliefs, and their “commonsense parental choice” was likened to “child abuse.”

These parents were targeted with “Inspector General investigations, IRS referrals, and threats of criminal charges and disciplinary action,” according to the report.

The State Department’s foreign policy “disfavored Christians” and imposed “ideologically driven LGBT policies and programming on foreign governments” while offering “only muted responses to brutal attacks on, and the repression of, Christians overseas.”

The department also limited “humanitarian relief to Christians.”

According to the report, overseas leave policies under Biden “discriminatorily disfavored Christian State Department employees, instilling a culture of bias in which Catholics and other Christians reported being mocked for their religious beliefs by their colleagues.”

“In some cases, State Department employees were given leave for Muslim holidays, even as operations continued on Passover, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday and Monday,” the document stated.

Now, I want to share with you the following verses from the Holy Bible.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

And their righteousness is from Me,”

Says the Lord.

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 24:9-13 (NKJV)

For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2:5 (AMPC)

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you like the major changes being done in government under President Trump’s leadership? Were you a victim of discrimination by the Biden administration?

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

+++++

Moody’s Predicts 5.7% Growth for Philippine Economy in 2025

September 7, 2025September 1, 2025carlocarrasco

Based on its latest economy research, Moody’s Ratings announced that the economy of the Philippines will achieve 5.7% growth for the year 2025, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY is on track to grow by 5.7% this year on the back of strong household spending, steady remittances and sustained public investments, Moody’s Ratings said.

“We expect the Philippines to maintain strong economic growth relative to regional and rating peers,” Moody’s said after the completion of a periodic review of Philippines’ credit rating.

“Growth will be supported by resilient household consumption, stable remittance inflows from overseas workers, and public investment spending, and ongoing structural reforms,” it said in a report.

Moody’s forecast is within the government’s revised 5.5-6.5% gross domestic product (GDP) growth target for this year.

In the second quarter, GDP expanded by an annual 5.5%, up from 5.4% in the first quarter but slower than the 6.5% in the same period last year. For the first half, GDP growth averaged 5.4%, slower than the 6.2% a year ago.

Moody’s flagged downside risks to the outlook arising from the US tariff policies.

“Although the Philippines’ exposure to trade and global value chains is relatively low, uncertainty around US trade policy and tariffs presents some downside risks to domestic consumption and investment,” it said.

Since Aug. 7, the United States has been imposing a 19% tariff on Philippine goods entering the US. The US is one of the top destinations for Philippine-made goods.

Growth will also be supported by its fiscal consolidation efforts, but Moody’s flagged the government’s high debt stock and interest burden.

“Fiscal consolidation efforts are on track to meet the government’s revised Medium-Term Fiscal Framework of reducing the deficit to 4.3% of GDP by 2028, supported by the implementation of reform measures at enhancing revenue collection and spending efficiency,” Moody’s said.

While this will help temper Philippines’ debt burden, Moody’s said debt will remain “above pre-pandemic levels.”

As of June, the Philippines’ sovereign debt hit a fresh high of P17.27 trillion, up 11.5% from P15.48 trillion in the same month in 2024.

This brought the debt-to-GDP ratio to 63.1% at the end of June, the highest ratio since 2005. This is above the 60% debt-to-GDP threshold considered by multilateral lenders to be manageable for developing economies.

“Debt affordability, measured by the ratio of interest payments to revenue, is expected to weaken over the next two years, before gradually normalizing as global refinancing rates decline and economic growth returns to its long-term trend,” the debt watcher said.

“Despite rate cuts by the central bank since the second half of 2024, elevated government funding costs and a lag in the monetary policy transmission will keep interest burden higher,” it added.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think Moody’s Ratings of a 5.7% economic growth for 2025 will turn out true? What do you think it will take for the Philippine economy to reach 6% growth this year?

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

+++++

Tren de Aragua Gang Eliminated By America At Sea

September 5, 2025September 4, 2025carlocarrasco

United States President Donald Trump really means business when it comes to protecting his nation and citizens as America eliminated a vessel from Venezuela operated by the Tren de Aragua gang carrying illegal drugs, according to a Newsmax news report. Already the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago praised the strike.

For the newcomers reading this, Tren de Aragua is a transnational criminal organization from Venezuela and its members has spread throughout Latin America and even in the United States. Tren de Aragua is officially a terrorist organization.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang.

The president said 11 were killed in the operation.

“The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,” Trump said in a social media posting. “No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier on X that the vessel was being operated by a “designated narco-terrorist organization.” He described the operation as a lethal strike.

Rubio addressed the strike on Tuesday shortly before he was scheduled to depart for Mexico and Ecuador for talks on drug cartels, security, tariffs and more.

The U.S. recently announced plans to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels.

The U.S. has not signaled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed. Still, President Nicolás Maduro’s government has responded by deploying troops along Venezuela’s coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia.

For clarity, posted below is the entire social media post by President Trump regarding the strike. Pay close attention to the details:

Earlier this morning, on my Orders, U.S. Military Forces conducted a kinetic strike against positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility. TDA is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, operating under the control of Nicolas Maduro, responsible for mass murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and acts of violence and terror across the United States and Western Hemisphere. The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States. The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action. No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE! Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you like what the Trump administration is doing with regards to combatting terrorists and the wave of illegal drugs coming from Latin America? What will it take to apprehend all the remaining Tren de Aragua members in the United States? Do you think bringing down the Maduro regime in Venezuela can be achieved during Trump’s 2^nd term?

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

+++++

Trump’s America Is a Shining Example of Solving The Illegal Immigration Crisis

September 4, 2025August 29, 2025carlocarrasco

There is no doubt that United States President Donald Trump and his administration have successfully secured their borders as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed during a recent cabinet meeting that absolutely zero illegals entered their country over the past three months, according to a Newsmax news report.

Trump’s America not only succeeded in securing the borders, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues to apprehend and deport illegal immigrants with criminal records, other illegal immigrants volunteered to be deported back to where they came from, the safety of the citizens has improved and more citizens have gotten employed this year. Homeland security is working in tandem with the other departments of the government such as Defense, Justice and Immigration. These developments are indeed change that Americans and Trump supports can believe in.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface.

The U.S. has gone three straight months without an illegal immigrant entering the country and 1.6 million inside the country have self-deported, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Tuesday.

Noem, speaking during a Cabinet meeting that aired live on Newsmax and the Newsmax2 free online streaming platform, thanked President Donald Trump for his support and said that her department is following through on his campaign promise to make America safe again.

“Today, the average family and individual that lives in this country is safer than they’ve been in years because of what you’ve done,” Noem said. “We’ve gone three months in a row now with zero illegal aliens coming into this country.“

Noem also thanked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for helping her agency with border enforcement.

“They’re down at the border with us, still helping us keep that border secure and make sure we know who’s coming into this country,” she said. “You’ve arrested and brought to justice hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens, criminals that have perpetuated violence against American people. Sir, you’ve had 1.6 million people voluntarily go home to their home countries that were here in this country illegally. Because of your strong message and you enforcing the law, they decided to go home on their own so that they could come back the right way someday and be American citizens.

“But what I think is one of the most remarkable statistics is that under Joe Biden’s administration, 88% of new jobs went to foreign born individuals. Under your administration, 2.5 [million] Americans have jobs today that they didn’t under the previous administration. And they have those jobs because you created opportunities.

“You made this country safe. You opened up the economy. You enforced the law. Now people can get up and provide for their families and go to work every day and be confident in that.“

Noem also talked about the savings made on the president’s immigration crackdown, noting it cost American taxpayers between $8,000 and $9,000 to support each illegal immigrant “in what they were taking out of our social programs, out of Social Security.”

“You saved this country billions of dollars, about $15 billion just in what those illegal aliens were costing us in social programs,” Noem said. “I’ve cut over 450 different contracts at the Department of Homeland Security. We’re getting rid of corrupt ones, ones that were not efficient for taxpayers, weren’t focused on our mission of keeping us safe. And we’ve also renegotiated and brought in our biggest vendors and said, you have to do better.

“And we’ve saved the taxpayers over $13 billion doing that, as well. So, we’re continuing to be accountable with taxpayer dollars [and] focused on doing the mission of what you’ve committed, and that’s to keep us safe and to make sure we put Americans first.”

Trump appeared pleased to hear Noem’s report, thanking Noem, Hegseth and Tom Homan, his point man for mass deportations and border security.

Wow! What was revealed during the cabinet meeting was indeed a bunch of breakthroughs. The Trump administration is truly progressing with its immigration policies, economic efforts and putting Americans first. 2025 still has a few months left and already the United States is blossoming and has established itself as the shining example of solving the illegal immigration crisis and preventing foreigners from trespassing into the country.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you like what the Trump administration is doing with regards to border security, illegal immigration, job creation and the wellbeing of American citizens? Are you still surrounded by people who love illegal immigrants while they keep on attacking the Trump administration for serving the American people? How many people in your local community still follow the Democrats and the Islamo-Leftists?

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

+++++

Two Vietnamese Nationals Arrested in Parañaque For Operating Illegal Cosmetic Clinic

September 4, 2025August 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Parañaque, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested two Vietnamese nationals for the operation of an illegal cosmetic clinic, according to a news report by the Daily Tribune. This development is similar with what happened to an abortion clinic that was raided in Parañaque in 2023.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Daily Tribune. Some parts in boldface…

Personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation–Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) arrested two Vietnamese nationals in Parañaque City on 15 August for illegally practicing medicine and offering unauthorized cosmetic procedures.

NBI Director Jaime Santiago identified the suspects as Nguyen The Thang and Mai Quy Loc, who also used the alias “Dr. Do Thi Binh.” They operated a beauty clinic where they performed procedures such as chin fillers, liposuction, rhinoplasty, and facelifts without proper authorization. The NBI acted on a tip about their activities, which violated the Medical Act of 1959 (R.A. No. 2382) and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (R.A. No. 10175).

Agents posed as clients and confirmed the suspects were advertising their services online. Verification with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) revealed that “Dr. Do Thi Binh” had no Special Temporary Permit (STP) or Special Permit (SP) to practice medicine in the Philippines.

During the entrapment operation, the NBI seized medical equipment and supplies used in their illegal clinic. The suspects now face multiple charges, including: Illegal practice of medicine (under R.A. No. 2382 and R.A. No. 10175), Sale of unregistered and misbranded health products (under the FDA Act, R.A. No. 9711), Unauthorized dispensing of pharmaceutical products (under the Philippine Pharmacy Act, R.A. No. 10918)

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think there could still be a lot more illegal operations being done by foreigners? What do you think makes Parañaque an attractive place for foreign criminals to put up illegal operations?

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

+++++

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 98

September 3, 2025August 28, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 The Fly Revisited – In 1986, The Fly was released in cinemas and it impacted the science fiction genre, the horror genre and pop culture with body horror presentation under the direction of David Cronenberg. The film, which was a remake of the 1958 original, established Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum as cinematic artists. The movie even became an allegory about AIDS and how people care about those who are living with diseases. That being said, it is not surprising that The Fly became the subject of many YouTube videos in the form of retro reviews, reaction videos and trivia videos. To enjoy The Fly, watch the selected videos below…

#2 Steve Ditko Remembered – Are you familiar with the late illustrator Steve Ditko? He was the co-creator of Spider-Man and he illustrated the first 38 issues of The Amazing Spider-Man comic book series. Unlike the other Spider-Man co-creator Stan Lee (who went on to be famous and celebrated a lot), Ditko had a low-key profile and did not want to be interviewed. If you want to learn more about the late illustrator, watch the video below.

#3 Pro-Palestine Activist Riddhi Patel Bashes City Officials And Threatens Them With Violence – I have seen a lot of Islamo-Leftist activists and zealots. Most of the time, they hate Israel and took sides with Palestinians and the Islamic terrorists. Also many of them activists are so extreme, they became entitled, arrogant and disrespectful to higher authorities. In the Communist state of California, the pro-Palestine activist Riddhi Patel spoke to city officials of Bakersfield and went as far as threatening them with violence. She even misused the name of Jesus. In her own words, Patel said “We’ll murder you.” To find out more, watch the video from SaharTV below.

#4 Wood-Fired Rice Balls Served By Store in Japan – Have you eaten any freshly cooked onigiri (Japanese rice ball) lately? I live here in the Philippines and because onigiri is not a common food, my only options are to buy them from the convenience store or from a foreign food vendor. In Japan, onigiri is widely available and customers can avail of them freshly cooked. There is this store in Japan that sells onigiri which are prepared with rice (cooked by wood fire) and fresh ingredients. Watch and learn from the video below.

#5 Meet The Programmer Behind The Classic Game Centipede – While I never had the chance to play the classic Atari game Centipede in the arcades in the 1980s, I played the Atari 2600 port a lot and enjoy it. Because I have a copy of the Atari 50 collection on my Xbox Series X, I am able to play the Centipede arcade version in the comfort of home. For the newcomers reading this, Centipede is a tremendous success in the arcades ending up as one of the Top 4 arcade games of 1982 in America. It was also ported to many consoles and home computers years later. Recently, I found a YouTube video featuring Dona Bailey, one of the programmers behind Centipede.

+++++

Free HIV Self-Test Kits Offered by Muntinlupa City Government

September 2, 2025August 26, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced that it is offering free HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) self-test kits to the public, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Registration for the kits is ongoing.

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

The Muntinlupa City government is offering free HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) self-test kits to the public.

The HIV self-test kits are available at the Muntinlupa Reproductive Health and Wellness Clinic located at the Laguerta Health Center on Centennial Avenue in Laguerta, Tunasan.

To avail of the free HIV self-test kit, people need to register at https://tinyurl.com/sfr3yz2. They need to wait for the call or text from the clinic staff to verify their request. They will receive a confirmation text for the delivery of the kit.

“Ang pag-sumite ng iyong resulta ay mahalaga upang ikaw ay higit na matulungan. Bisitahin ang https://tinyurl.com/3yurw32m upang i-report ang iyong resulta (Submitting your results is important so that we can help you further. Visit https://tinyurl.com/3yurw32m to report your results),” the clinic posted on Facebook.

The instruction on how to use to the HIV self-test kit is available at https://alere.wistia.com/medias/guyym62w5j.

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 need an HIV test kit? Are there many members in your local community who need the kits?

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

+++++

	PurpleGengar on What To Watch On YouTube Right…
	#LGBTQ on What To Watch On YouTube Right…
	#sciencefiction on What To Watch On YouTube Right…
	#wordpresscom on What To Watch On YouTube Right…
	#youtuber on What To Watch On YouTube Right…

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: