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Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) to make first investment this quarter

January 15, 2025January 7, 2025carlocarrasco

The Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) – the entity responsible for making investments on behalf of the Philippines – will be making its first investment within the first quarter of 2025, according to a BusinessWorld news report. Take note that it has been over eighteen months since the Maharlika Investment Fund was formally signed into law. The IRR (implementing rules and regulations) has already been finalized.

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

THE MAHARLIKA Investment Corp. (MIC) is expected to make its first investment this quarter, most likely in the energy sector, its top official said.

“Definitely the first quarter. I think we had a year to set up. We had a year to basically put our governance in place. We obtained our formal approval to begin hiring last end of July,” MIC President and Chief Executive Officer Rafael D. Consing, Jr. said in an interview with BusinessWorld on Jan. 2.

The MIC has yet to make any investments since President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed the law creating the country’s first wealth fund in July 2023. The Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) had initially committed to make its first investments before the end of 2024.

Mr. Consing said sovereign wealth fund is “ready” and backed with funding and the needed workforce, but will not invest “without the benefit of due diligence.”

MIC earned P2.3 billion in interest income in 2024, Mr. Consing said.

Under the law, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the Land Bank of the Philippines were mandated to contribute P25 billion and P50 billion, respectively, as the initial seed capital for the MIF. The two state lenders have remitted the funds to the Bureau of the Treasury in September 2023.

Mr. Consing said the MIC’s strategic plan will be up for board approval on Jan. 9. This after it made some changes after meeting with the Governance Commission for Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GCG) before the holidays, he added.

The MIC is looking into investing in energy, food security, healthcare, and resource development, particularly mining.

“In the first quarter, that would be the energy sector. Healthcare, if it turns out okay, if our due diligence results turn out okay, first half. I would say early second quarter for the latter two,” Mr. Consing said.

Mr. Consing said he believes that investments in the energy sector, particularly transmission lines, would be “most impactful.”

“That’s why ideally, we’d like to be able to buy into the national grid, if we’re able to. Or number two, we have also separately signed MOUs (memoranda of understanding) with the likes of Mindoro and Palawan, which fall under the SPUGS [small power utilities group] category,” he said.

In 2024, the MIC signed an agreement with Occidental and Oriental Mindoro to support investments in critical energy infrastructure.

“There are about 34 SPUGS in the country. The two biggest are Mindoro and Palawan. And we believe that given the contribution of Palawan when it comes to tourism, and also the population that lives in there, and the potential contribution of Mindoro in respect to the entire electricity sector in the Philippines, we felt that these are two priority areas where we can help, in fact, build transmission lines,” he said.

However, Mr. Consing declined to comment on the MIC’s plan to invest in the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

He said the National Power Corp. is currently doing an inventory of all its assets in Mindoro and MIC “will have to sit down and determine which part of those assets it would need as part of the expansion of these lines.”

“Where we are now is we’re procuring the services of the technical consultant and the team that will be putting together the whole feasibility study. Because all of these will require regulatory approval by the Energy Regulatory Commission,” he added.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think that the MIC will be able to make smart decisions with regards to making the investments? Do you think the Maharlika Investment Fund will make positive impact on the market and encourage others to invest?

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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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 athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines inflation hit 2.9% in December 2024, 3.2% for the entire year

January 14, 2025January 16, 2025carlocarrasco

In recent times, the inflation rate of the Philippines increased by 2.9% during the month of December 2024 which contributed to a final inflation result of 3.2% for the entire year, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

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

Inflation settled at 2.9 percent in December last year, bringing the 2024 average inflation rate to 3.2 percent, well within the government’s 2 percent to 4 percent target, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

In a briefing on Tuesday, National Statistician Dennis Mapa attributed the downtrend in the annual average inflation to the lower increase in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.4 percent in 2024 from 7.9 percent in 2023. Food inflation, in particular, decelerated from 8 percent in 2023 to 4.5 percent last year.

According to Mapa, rice inflation also slowed to 0.8 percent, the lowest since January 2022.

“Iyong inflation rate sa bigas ay bumababa na. In fact, baka mayroon tayong expectation na maging negative na ‘yong inflation sa rice sa January (The rice inflation rate is going down. In fact, we expect negative rice inflation in January). That’s part of the good news,” he said.

The lower annual average inflation of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 1.7 percent in 2024 from 4.9 percent in 2023, also contributed to the downtrend in 2024’s overall inflation.

Except for education services, the indices of other commodity groups recorded a downtrend in their annual average inflation in 2024 compared with 2023, with financial services recording an average decline of 0.6 percent in 2024 from a zero percent average inflation in 2023.

“The 3.2 percent average inflation rate in 2024 is a significant improvement from the 6 percent figure in 2023. Despite the risks we encountered throughout the year, our combined efforts to temper inflation have largely been successful. We will build upon this momentum as we commit to keep the inflation rate within our target range in 2025,” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a separate statement.

“In pursuit of price stability, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas maintains a calibrated approach to its monetary policy easing while the relevant agencies continue to pursue measures to ensure adequate food supply and affordable prices.“

NEDA noted that the government would continue to ramp up efforts to ensure water and food security amid climate risks.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are managing a business, did inflation have any severe impact on the finances of your business? Do you think inflation all over the Philippines will somewhat ease 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.

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DILG will ask Parañaque City Government to explain scam hub operation with hundreds of workers

January 12, 2025January 10, 2025carlocarrasco

In relation to the big raid in Parañaque City that resulted hundreds of suspects arrested, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will ask the City Government for an explanation, according to a GMA Network news report.

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

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will ask the Parañaque government for an explanation over the raided company in the city that was allegedly involved in scam hub operations, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday.

The raid took place only a few days after the December 31, 2024 deadline for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country.

“Magsusulat kami sa LGU para… manghihingi kami ng paliwanag kung ano talaga ang nangyari,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

(We will write to the LGU so we can ask for an explanation on what really happened.)

This came after authorities raided a company in the city on Wednesday and arrested 400 foreigners.

Remulla, however, said he believes that the local government was unaware of the presence of the company as it has yet to inspect the area where the raid took place.

“Hindi pa alam ng Parañaque ‘yan kasi hindi pa nag re-renew ng business permit. Doon lang naman pumapasok ‘yan, basta nag re-renew ng business permit ‘yan,” he said.

(Parañaque does not know about that because they have yet to renew their business permit. That’s the only way they can inspect, as long as they renew their business permit.)

The official said it seems that the hub was previously operating as a POGO under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

“They supposedly shut down [on] December 15 pero nag resume kaagad sila right after ng December 31. Chineck natin ‘yung mga buildings na ‘yun wala na sila doon pero bumalik at bumalik sila,” Remulla said.

(They supposedly shut down on December 15 but resumed immediately after December 31. We checked those buildings and they were no longer there, but they went back.)

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could still be a lot more POGOs or scam hubs secretly operating? Do you think the City Government could be aware of such illegal operations happening within their jurisdiction?

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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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

Bureau of Immigration says harboring foreign workers of POGOs means prosecution

January 11, 2025January 8, 2025carlocarrasco

As there are still over eleven thousand foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) who failed to follow the December 31, 2024 deadline (for departure) and remained in the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned the public that harboring them is a crime and it will lead to prosecution under the Philippine Immigration Act, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

Persons harboring foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will be prosecuted, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

“Harboring illegal aliens is a serious offense, and we will pursue violations with utmost resolve,” said Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.

He stressed that “the BI will not hesitate to file charges against anyone found violating Section 46 of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940.“

Section 46 of the Philippine Immigration Act prohibits the “bringing of alien in the Philippines who is not lawfully entitled to enter or reside there, concealing or harboring an alien who is not lawfully entitled to enter or reside there, and attempting, conspiring with, or aiding another to commit any of the prohibited acts.”

Viado issued the warning after the BI revealed that over 11,000 foreign workers of POGOs failed to leave the Philippines on the Dec. 31, 2024 deadline.

For continuing to remain in the Philippines, the bureau said these aliens will be arrested and will face deportation proceedings, he said.

“Anyone who enables these individuals to remain in the Philippines illegally will face the consequences, and the law is clear, and there will be no exceptions,” he stressed.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are there many foreign workers of POGOs secretly living within your local community right now? Do you think there are still POGOs secretly operating in your city?

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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Local authorities raid facility in Parañaque City, hundreds of suspects arrested

January 11, 2025January 10, 2025carlocarrasco

Very recently in the city of Parañaque, local law enforcers composed of the police, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) raided a corporate facility and arrested hundreds of people suspected of engaging in online scams and violating immigration laws, 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…

More than 400 individuals allegedly engaged in online scams were arrested by law enforcement agencies in Parañaque City on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

Southern Police District director Brig. Gen. Manuel Abrugena said the Parañaque City Police rendered assistance to the joint operation conducted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Abrugena said the 400 individuals, composed of foreign nationals and Filipinos, were arrested at around 4:00 p.m. in two units of a corporate center on Asiana Avenue in Barangay Tambo, Parañaque City.

He said the operation was conducted as part of a BI mission order targeting foreign nationals involved in illegal activities in the country.

The SPD chief said the arrested persons were engaged in various unlawful activities, including operating online scams and violating immigration laws.

Abrugena said the arrested persons, including one alias “Liang,” are now (under) investigation. They were brought to the BI facility for documentation and legal action.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you convinced that a lot of foreigners who were previously employed by POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) are secretly hiding in your city doing further illegal activities like online scamming?

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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Cebu’s Remolino and Alcoseba the heavy favorites in 2025 NAGT-Subic Bay race

January 10, 2025January 10, 2025carlocarrasco

As the 2025 season opener of the National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) series is set to take place on January 25 and 26 at the Subic Bay Boardwalk inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Cebu’s very own Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) medalists Andrew Kim Remolino and Raven Faith Alcoseba are seen as the heavy favorites in their respective categories, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) sports article.

In addition, there are several triathletes from Cebu who will be joining the Subic Bay triathlon across different categories. For the Philippines triathlon team, this event is crucial as it serves as a qualifying race for this year’s SEA Games which will be hosted by Thailand.

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

Cebu will be sending a big delegation to the 2025 National Age Group Triathlon (NAGT) tournament scheduled Jan. 25 and 26 at Subic Bay Freeport.

Leading the contingent is Andrew Kim Remolino, the defending men’s elite titlist in the competition organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines.

“It’s gonna be a hard race to start the season since everyone’s really getting ready for it,” Remolino said in an interview on Sunday.

“The NAGT is the first qualifying race to get a slot for the SEA (Southeast) Games in Thailand, so for now, we are just preparing for the things we could improve before the race day,” added the 23-year-old who hails from Talisay.

He bagged an aquathlon silver at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.

The Thailand SEA Games is set in December this year.

Remolino won the 2024 NAAT, with an Olympic distance 1.5-kilometer swim, 40K bike and 10K run, in 56 minutes and 56 seconds, beating fellow Cebuano Matthew Justine Hermosa who registered a personal best 56:57 and Baguio City’s Dayshaun Ramos (57:31).

Also back this year is Raven Faith Alcoseba, who clocked 1:03:55 to rule the women’s division over Erika Nicole Burgos of Tanauan, Batangas (1:05:39) and Kira Ellis (1:06:16).

Hermosa, Burgos, Ellis and Iñaki Emil Lorbes bagged the mixed team gold medal at the Cambodia SEA Games.

Other Cebuanos in the lineup are Renz Wynn Corbin (men’s elite); John Michael Lalimos (men’s junior elite); Nicole Marie Del Rosario (women’s elite); Alex Niño Silverio and Cedei Abellana (para triathlon); Zackary Angelo Da Silva and Henry Ezekiel Go (youth male); Christy Ann Perez, Niala Kyrzl Limas and Henia Ethania Go (youth female); John Wayne Ybañez (age group men); Venice Herbias (age group women); Kian Manabat (16-19); Mika Natural (13-15); Zia Angel Da Silva (8-under); Theodore Son and John Luigi Remolino II (9-10); Safficka Son and Zoe Angel Da Silva (11-12); and Althea Arciaga (9-10).

For local triathlon updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/TriPhil.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 51

January 8, 2025January 7, 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 topics and the related videos I found.

#1 The dirty business behind Caffeine – Have you been drinking coffee, or sodas or energy drinks a lot over the past twelve months? Chances are, you are dependent on caffeine for your livelihood and your own lifestyle. Sadly, a lot of people out there are not even aware about the subject of caffeine in American history, in business and health studies. YouTuber fern has this in-depth look at caffeine and why there dirty business behind it. Watch and learn.

#2 You, Me and the Movies react to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective – Despite being negatively received by movie critics in 1994, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective still went on to become a surprise hit in the cinemas grossing over $107 million worldwide and establishing Jim Carrey as an effective cinematic comedian. The film has an effective formula on making viewers laugh with Carrey’s performance, the jokes, the unfortunate turn of events, the funny one-liners and the like. I saw the film on home video in 1995 and I revisited it by watching the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies. If you have not seen Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, go watch it first. Otherwise, the reaction video below is entertaining to watch.

#3 The hunt for Ted Bundy explained by fern – Way back in 1989, I saw The Deliberate Stranger on local TV here in the Philippines. It was an engaging portrayal of the very notorious serial killer Ted Bundy (executed in 1989) who was responsible for the kidnapping, rape and murders of several young women and girls. While a lot of documentaries about Bundy have been released, fern’s visual presentation and explanatory observation of the killer’s story is a must-see.

#4 A look at the history of the Ikari Warriors trilogy – Back in the mid-1980s, I played Ikari Warriors (Japanese title: Ikari) on the Nintendo Family Computer (Famicom) and it was a fun game and even relatable. Why relatable? Because at the time of its release, the fictional character Rambo (played by Sylvester Stallone) and the Cold War were still present in our minds. As it turned out, Ikari Warriors was originally intended to be an official video game adaptation of Rambo: First Blood Part II but no agreement was made. Regardless, the game still had Rambo-inspired designs for the playable characters, an obvious Vietnam-inspired environment and lots of shooting-oriented action. It became so successful commercially, it eventually spawned two sequels. To know more about the history of the Ikari Warriors trilogy, watch PatmanQC’s video below.

#5 A look at 50 underrated arcade games from the 1990s – The 1990s was a wild time for people who love playing games in the arcades. While the decade was often perceived to be all about fighting games defining the arcade experience, there still was a greater variety of arcade games of different genres or game designs. This retro gaming video from Marvelous Gamers is a fun look back at the 1990s arcade games that got overlooked.

#6 Ashleigh Burton reacts to National Lampoon’s Vacation – If you are looking for a 1980s comedic viewing experience with a theme about going on holiday, then you should focus on National Lampoon’s Vacation directed by the late Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase. Released in cinemas in 1983, the movie became a box office hit grossing over $60 million in the American box office and it won a lot of rave reviews from the critics. If you have seen the movie and want to revisit it without the need to spend time watching it all over again, you should watch the reaction video by the jolly YouTuber Ashleigh Burton.

#7 Popcorn in Bed reacts to Quantum of Solace – I will say it clearly – Quantum of Solace was a very disappointing follow-up to Casino Royale (2006) as it was so negatively impacted by the strike of the Writers Guild of America as well as the lack of focus within the production. By the time I left the cinema, Quantum of Solace left me feeling numb and unsatisfied. That being said, I encourage you to see the reaction video of Popcorn in Bed (who also reacted to Casino Royale) and witness how the 2008 James Bond movie affected their viewing experience.

#8 Justin Trudeau officially resigns from office – I really do not like Justin Trudeau. As Prime Minister of Canada, he has been very out of touch with his people and does not seem concerned with them. Under the super woke and feminist Trudeau, the costs of living in Canada has gone way up, housing is too expensive and crime has gone up. There is also division and infighting within his Liberal Party which is not helping Canadians at all. Trudeau’s failed leadership should be a lesson to everyone that woke nuts, Satanic Leftists and outrageous liberals should not be voted to lead the government. Liberals do not care about common sense at all. Watch and learn from the videos below.

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Man arrested in Parañaque City for stabbing a woman

January 8, 2025December 31, 2024carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, the police apprehended a man in response to a complaint about the alleged stabbing of a woman, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

A construction worker was arrested by members of the Parañaque City Police who immediately responded after a report was made for stabbing a female victim on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

The Southern Police District (SPD) said the suspect was identified as alias “John,” 27 and a resident of Tondo, Manila. He was arrested at around 1:30 a.m. in Barangay Marcelo Green, Parañaque City.

According to the report, the suspect barged into the house of a 32 year-old graphic artist victim who was resting due to fever and stabbed her several times.

Police said patrolling barangay watchmen who heard the commotion immediately responded and brought the victim to the Makati Medical Center for treatment.

Police also said the suspect was arrested after a witness saw the suspect walking along West Service Road. Recovered from the possession of the suspect was a 10-inch kitchen knife used in the crime.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, when was the last time a stabbing incident happened in your local community?

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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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 50

January 6, 2025January 1, 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 topics and the related videos I found.

#1 HolyLandSite’s examination of Kursi and Lord Jesus’ power over the demonic realm – Kursi is a place in the east side of the Sea of Galilee in the region of Gerasenes (or Gadarenes) in Israel where two men possessed by demons stayed at. HolyLandSite produced this video to emphasize the biblical relevance of the place, what happened and, most of all, the immense power Lord Jesus had over the demonic forces that caused huge problems for people back then. This is a biblical examination of the place and a lively reminder of the light and authority of Lord Jesus, the Savior and Hope of ALL nations. Grab a copy of the Holy Bible and then watch the video from start to finish.

#2 GTV Japan examines Nintendo’s crisis – Remember back in the late 1980s when a shortage of ROM chips prevented Nintendo from releasing games on time? Back in those days, microchips were essential for manufacturing cartridges of games for consoles. A lot of people believed that Nintendo, which already had several restrictions on game publishing and business with 3^rd party game companies, deliberately created the shortage for their advantage. There is a lot more details and developments that happened beyond the perceived shortage and the video by GTV Japan has a very in-depth look at it in the video below.

#3 What the hard drive of terrorist Bin Laden contained – Remember when America found and eliminated the mass murderer and terrorist Osama Bin Laden in 2011? YouTuber fern published a video focused on one particular aspect related to the operation that took Bin Laden down – the sensitive information contained in his hard drive. The video also has a key analyst interviewed who provided a lot of insight. Watch the video now.

#4 Wokeness in Japan exposed – Believe it or not, there definitely is wokeness in Japan and it was exposed a lot during their news media coverage of the 2024 US Presidential Election which Donald Trump won. In fact, a certain Japanese professor who was included in the media outlet’s coverage (being in the studio with others) was so liberal, he got frustrated as Commie Kamala Harris lost and he even reiterated the Democrats’ buzz words like “threat to democracy”. Think about it very carefully. The Democrats and their Satanic Left pawns have been spreading their distorted views in Japan and influenced some people there. The woke-minded in Japan may not realize it but they are looking and sounding awkward (if not pathetic). Perhaps some woke nuts of Japan love Islamic terrorists and I know they have pro-Palestine zealots. Watch and learn from the video below.

#5 Controversial Alice Guo featured in episode of Dark Asia with Megan – Alice Guo (AKA Guo Hua Ping), the controversial former mayor of Bamban who has been detained for various charges, is now the subject of a new episode of Dark Asia with Megan. For the newcomers reading this, Alice Guo is notorious in the Philippines not only for her links with POGOs (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators) but also for her very questionable background with regards to citizenship, family and origin. She even escaped the Philippines temporarily before getting brought back. In fact, Alice Guo’s case raises a lot of questions about national security, espionage and foreign infiltration into the systems of governance in the Philippines. Watch and learn from the Dark Asia with Megan video.

#6 PatmanQC examines Donkey Kong – Long before Donkey Kong Country became a massive critical and commercial hit with gamers around the world, there was the original Donkey Kong in 1981. I never played the arcade version but I played Donkey Kong on the Atari 2600 back in the early 1980s and it was a fun game. A short time later, I played the ColecoVision version and was impressed to see the graphical improvements. The production history of Donkey Kong is really interesting and PatmanQC produced not just one but two documentary videos about the game.

#7 Popcorn in Bed and You, Me and the Movies react to Vertigo – Vertigo, the classic film directed by Alfred Hichcock, was one of the first twenty-five films selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. That being said, it is not surprising that it has been the subject of several movie reaction videos on YouTube. If you have not seen it, I encourage you to watch it entirely first when you have the chance. Otherwise, I encourage you to watch the reaction videos of Popcorn in Bed, and You, Me and the Movies below.

#8 Ashleigh Burton reacts to Signs – Back in 2002, I saw Signs inside a packed local cinema during the evening. The film directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Mel Gibson kept moviegoers in suspense and occasionally pulled off some sudden scary moments. That being said, you have to see Ashleigh Burton react to it.

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A Look Back at Superman #385 (1983)

January 3, 2025December 22, 2024carlocarrasco

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, 20^th century pop culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1983 to take a close look at one of the many tales published through the original Superman monthly series (first launched in 1939).

Back in 1983, DC Comics published Action Comics #544 which marked the 45^th anniversary of Superman and celebrated it by executing things very differently – introducing the new look of Lex Luthor in battle armor and showing Brainiac in a more robotic body. I really loved reading Action Comics #544 for its very rich storytelling and modernizing the two classic super villains. With regards to what happened in Lex Luthor’s story in the comic book, his tale actually continued with the Superman monthly series afterwards.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Superman #385, published in 1983 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.

Early story

The story begins with the armored Lex Luthor alone and grieving in deep space surrounded by floating rocks. His world Lexor just got destroyed and his wife and child are gone. He blames Superman for being responsible of the massive destruction. He remembers the moment when he fired an energy blast at Superman which got deflected towards the neutrarod (a device Luthor made to shoot a steady stream of stabilizing neutrons into the planet’s unstable core) which started a chain reaction transmitted directly into the core. Lexor detonated but Superman and Luthor survived.

Using the intense power and technologies of his armor, Luthor moves an island-sized rock (a remaining piece of Lexor) towards planet Earth. He is determined to have his revenge against Superman and will stop at nothing to make it happen…

Quality

*This is a great visualization of Lex Luthor (in his warsuit) by Curt Swan.*

Through the decades, I have read lots of Superman comic books that involved Lex Luthor as the main antagonist. This particular story of good-versus-evil is actually very unique thanks to the approach taken by the Bates-Swan duo. To be clear, this is actually a build-up type of story done with the next conflict between Superman and Luthor in mind.

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that Luthor – following the events of Action Comics #544 which really hurt him deeply – got a nice share of the spotlight and deservedly so. He is determined to get back at Superman whom he holds responsible for the destruction of Lexor and its many inhabitants (including Luthor’s wife and child). Luthor does not rush things as he is very focused on preparing himself first which reminds me of Batman’s approach to preparations. In some ways, Luthor has his own principles and he is not just being evil for the sake of it. There is this very human portrayal of him and Bates’ writing could make you even forget that he is a madman.

As for the Man of Steel himself, Bates wrote him to be really burdened by having his share of the responsibility of the billions of deaths of the people of Lexor. Instead of the focused Superman dedicated to doing good, you will see him feeling really uneasy and even distracted. He even commits huge blunders! This is a Superman who is showing signs of internal weakness and not even his civilian life as journalist Clark Kent could relieve the tension he is experiencing. I really like this portrayal of DC Comics’ icon.

But there is more! There is the sub-plot of Lois Lane taking a much-needed break from work to relieve herself and it sure is a really interesting portrayal of her. Even Perry White has his own share of the spotlight. There is also the spotlight on some obscure DC villains which actually added to the plot.

Conclusion

Superman #385 (1983) is clearly a very engaging read and it is a worthy follow-up to what happened in Action Comics #544. I really like the way the armored Lex Luthor is portrayed here and the build-up for his upcoming conflict with Superman is really powerful. I’m really glad to have read this particular Superman-Luthor story and I can say that I am looking forward to the next issue to see what will happen.

Overall, Superman #385 (1983) is highly recommended.

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	Craig B. on America Points At Corruption A…
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