Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers pulled off a successful buy-bust operation that resulted in the apprehension of two suspects and the seizure of marijuana kush worth P112,000, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Authorities arrested two drug suspects and seized P112,000 worth of marijuana kush during a buy-bust operation conducted by the Parañaque City Police Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU).
The suspects were identified as Dagul, 23, and Joshua, 20, both residents of Barangay Baclaran, Parañaque City.
Police said the operation was launched after the SDEU received intelligence reports regarding the suspects’ alleged involvement in illegal drug activities. The two were apprehended after selling marijuana kush to an undercover police operative.
Recovered from the suspects were 76 grams of marijuana kush valued at P112,000, marked buy-bust money, a cellular phone, and a black pouch.
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 glad the local police officers succeeded in arresting the suspects? Has the illegal drug trade affected your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government received a certificate of recognition for the advancement of animal welfare, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. Mayor April Aguilar formally received the certificate.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The city government of Las Piñas has been recognized as one of the first local government units (LGUs) in the country to receive a Certificate of Recognition for Advancing Animal Welfare in the Philippines.
Mayor April Aguilar said the award was conferred by the Animal Health and Welfare Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on the Las Piñas City Veterinary Services Office, headed by Dr. August Michael Basangan, in acknowledgment of its significant contributions to promoting and protecting animal welfare in the city.
Aguilar said the city was cited for its strong and consistent implementation of Republic Act 8485, also known as the Animal Welfare Act.
She added that Las Piñas continues to roll out various animal welfare programs, including free spay and neuter services, anti-rabies vaccination, monthly pet adoption events, pet registration, and pet microchipping.
The mayor also highlighted the City Animal Shelter as a key component of the city’s animal welfare initiatives. The facility serves as a haven for abandoned, rescued, and neglected animals, providing them with proper care and protection.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you delighted that the city was recognized for advancing animal welfare? Should more animal shelters be built and opened in the city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Timecop Revisited – I am not a fan of Jean-Claude Van Damme but his 1994 movie Timecop managed to entertain me when I first saw it on home video. After watching it, I learned that it was based on the Timecop literary property and stories published by Dark Horse Comics. Directed by Peter Hyams, Timecop ended up as one of the better movies of JCVD and it even has its own fanbase. If you want to discover more about the cinematic Timecop, watch the videos posted below.
#2 Inhumanoids Revisited –I remember seeing some episodes of the animated TV series Inhumanoids on local TV and I can say it was easily the most bizarre and even shocking thing to watch. Inhumanoid has a very dark and even cynical tone, and it had gruesome scenes which were really disturbing to see. Behind the scenes, Inhumanoids was animated by Japan-based Toei and involved Hasbro, Sunbro and even Marvel Productions. To find out what made Inhumanoids so disturbing, watch the video below and pay attention to the details.
#3 Luxurious Breakfast Spots In Tokyo – Have you ever thought about having a luxurious breakfast while traveling overseas? In Tokyo, Japan’s most famous city, there are indeed places where visitors can have breakfast with the premium experience. These luxurious places have something unique to offer to customers who have more than enough money to spend for the morning meal. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.
#4 Remember The Rotoscoped Lord Of The Rings – Decades before Peter Jackson and his team rocked the world of moviegoers with memorable Lord of the Rings film trilogy, an animated LOTR was actually made. I am talking about the 1978 rotoscoped animated film The Lord of The Rings directed by Ralph Bakshi which I first saw on home video after seeing Peter Jackson’s LOTR. I found the 1978 LOTR a really unique animated viewing experience and it definitely involved a lot of production work without any use of computers. To find out more about the animated LOTR film, watch the video below.
#5 You, Me and The Movies React To Can’t Hardly Wait – When Can’t Hardly Wait was shown in cinemas in 1998, it faded away as not enough moviegoers were attracted watch it. However, the movie did not fade into obscurity and it actually got new fans as it was discovered on home video, cable TV, pay-per-view and streaming. More importantly, the movie itself was pretty funny the cast led by Jennifer Love Hewitt delivered fine performances as teenagers. Slowly but surely, new retrospective videos about Can’t Hardly Wait are emerging on YouTube and the most entertaining video is the reaction by You, Me and The Movies which I encourage you to watch right now.
#6 Square Enix In The 2000s – Back in the 1990s, Squaresoft and Enix were separate Japanese gaming companies that released a lot of Japanese role-playing games (KRPGs) which entertained many millions of gamers. Square was famous for the best-selling Final Fantasy games while Enix had the wildly popular Dragon Quest franchise. In the 2000s, a series of changes happened in the video game industry and the two companies merged into Square Enix. Since then, a lot of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games with evolved designs and styles of presentation were released under a single publisher. There is a lot more to discover what happened behind the scenes as documented in the in-depth video below from Gaming Broductions.
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, local police officers arrested a construction worker who has been wanted for some time, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Police arrested a construction worker, listed as the No. 8 Most Wanted Person at the station level, in Las Piñas City on Feb. 2
Las Piñas City Police chief Col. Wilson Delos Santos said the suspect, identified as alias DJ, 39, was nabbed at his residence on Gen. Luna Street, Barangay Manuyo Uno, Las Piñas City.
Delos Santos said the arrest was carried out by members of the Warrant and Subpoena Section for violation of Republic Act No. 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The warrant of arrest for the service of sentence was issued by Judge Mildred Jacinto Marquez of the Las Piñas City Family Court, Branch 2. He is currently detained at the custodial facility of the Las Piñas City Police Station.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you thankful to the local police for arresting the suspect? Does this development make you feel safer?
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
Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers arrested a 21-year-old over the possession of marijuana kush, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. The estimated value of the seized marijuana is P280,000.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Police arrested a 21-year-old man for possession of 199 grams of marijuana kush during a buy-bust operation launched by the Parañaque City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit on Feb. 4.
The suspect, identified as Paolo, a resident of Pasay City, was apprehended around 8:55 a.m. at Queensway, Pascor Drive, Barangay Sto. Nino, Parañaque City.
The Southern Police District (SPD) said the suspect was held after selling one sachet of marijuana kush worth P1,400 to an undercover police operative.
Confiscated from the suspect were 199 grams of marijuana kush worth P280,000, one black belt bag, one black cellular phone, and the buy-bust money.
Paolo was detained at the Parañaque City Police custodial facility and charged with violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) under Article II of Republic Act 9165 (The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).
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 be more people possessing and transporting marijuana around?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!
If you are very fond of the iconic Jackie Chan and if you enjoy adventures and 1980s entertainment, then you should watch out for the 4K Blu-ray of the 1986 film Armour of God which will be released later this year. A firm release date for June 2026 has yet to be announced and there is no listing of it on Amazon as of this writing.
One of the many movie posters of Armour of God. (source – IMDB.com)
The Armour of God 4K Blu-ray will be handled by 88 Films, the same company behind the 4K Blu-ray of Police Story 3: Supercop. To see what Armour of God has to offer, watch the YouTube clip below.
Posted below are the technical details of Armour of God 4K Blu-ray from its Blu-ray.com page.
Video
Codec: HEVC / H.265
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audio – TBA
Subtitles – English, English SDH
Discs– 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Disc, Two-disc set (1 BD-100, 1 BD-50)
Packaging – Slipbox, Reversible cover, Booklet, Figure/replica/props/memorabilia included
Playback – 4K Blu-ray: Region free, 2K Blu-ray: Region B
The first time I saw Armour of God was on home video sometime in 1987. Having seen some Jackie Chan films already at the time, I noticed that Armour of God was distinct as it has much stronger adventure elements clearly inspired by the Indiana Jones movies. The movie was also memorable for having extensive on-location shooting in different parts of Europe. As seen in the above YouTube video, dangerous stunts and action sequences were also filmed on-location with the involvement of many extras. That said, it was a notable change from seeing Jackie Chan in a movie with an urban setting or in an ancient Asian setting.
As it is filled with a lot of action, thrilling chases and dangerous stunts, Armour of God is widely remembered for the painful accident in which Jackie Chan fell down several meters from a tree (after grabbing a branch that broke) resulting in a cracked skull for the actor. This accident happened during the 2nd attempt of a risky stunt. The footage of the accident was actually shown during the end credits of the movie.
This is one of the many dangerous stunts of the movie.
Ultimately, I had a lot of fun watching Armour of God and even replayed the movie many years later on cable TV by chance. Believe it or not, Jackie Chan and Eric Tsang were the directors of the film and clearly their crew worked hard to deliver the thrills. This is the kind of movie that nobody in Hollywood can make!
If the 4K Blu-ray of Armour of God turns out with high quality, I just might consider it for a potential purchase. Here is hoping 88 Films will make a high-quality 4K Blu-ray of the movie.
If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts from around the world 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
Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers armed with a warrant of arrest apprehended a 20-year-old man who has been wanted for the charge of rape, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. The arrest happened within the premises of a shopping mall.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Police arrested a 20-year-old man ranked as the No. 2 most wanted person (station level) in Parañaque City on Jan. 28.
The Southern Police District (SPD) identified the suspect as Ckant, who was classified as a high-value fugitive. He was arrested at around 5:18 p.m. within the premises of SM City Sucat in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City.
The SPD said the arrest was carried out by members of the Parañaque City Police Warrant and Subpoena Section through the service of a warrant of arrest.
The warrant was issued on Jan. 22 by Judge Moises Domingo De Castro, presiding judge of the Parañaque Family Court Branch 10, with no bail recommended.
SPD Director Brig. Gen. Randy Arceo said the arrest of the suspect, who ranked second on the police priority list for February, demonstrates the district’s unwavering resolve to pursue those who commit crimes against the public.
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 be a lot more wanted criminal suspects within your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
This year will mark the 28th anniversary of Parañaque’s status as a city and recently a Malacañang declared February 13, 2026 a special non-working day in connection with it. Check out the copy of the official document below sourced from the Facebook page of Congressman Brian Yamsuan.
Proclamation Number 1158 declared February 13, 2026 a special non-working day in Parañaque City.
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 believe the city is truly progressive or is still in need of vast improvements in terms of infrastructure, public services and flood control? Do you often attend the so-called special events held during the week of the cityhood in Parañaque? Do you consider Parañaque a hot spot of criminal activities involving Chinese nationals?
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
In its latest economic analysis, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says that the economy of the Philippines could grow by about 6% in 2027 provided that investments – both public and private – would regain strength, according to a BusinessWorld news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…
THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY could return to around 6% growth by 2027 if public and private investments rebound, according to Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries.
“I think (the drivers are a) kind of a little of everything, but return to high investment, public and private, I think would be, to me, the key driver,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an event on Jan. 23.
Last December, the ADB slashed its Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to 5% for 2025, from 5.6% previously. For 2026, the ADB trimmed its GDP projection to 5.3% from 5.7% previously.
This comes after a corruption scandal dampened government spending, household consumption, investor confidence and economic activity last year.
The ADB will release its updated economic outlook in April, which will include a 2027 growth forecast.
Mr. Jeffries warned that the cut in Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget this year, could trigger a “big slowdown” in locally funded projects.
“I guess the main variable for 2026 was how fast does the public investment recover? We were thinking maybe two quarters, so it’ll start reviving,” he said.
In a meeting with Public Works Secretary Vivencio “Vince” B. Dizon in December, Mr. Jeffries said they raised concerns about “paralysis,” where key projects risked getting stuck.
“What we’ve heard is they’re trying to make sure the priority projects are not stuck and keep moving forward quickly. I think it’s a twofold exercise,” he said. “It’s cleaning up the problem while full steam ahead on some of the other projects that weren’t a problem.”
Mr. Dizon earlier said the DPWH aims to boost spending while ensuring funds are used wisely and focus on prioritizing the “basics” such as road and bridge maintenance and unfinished projects. The agency’s target spend is set between P200 billion and P250 billion for the first quarter, he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jeffries said the Philippines must raise the share of exports in the economy to support long-term growth, as well as diversify its base, and boost resilience.
“It’s not something that happens overnight. It’ll be a combination of policies and attracting investment and improving the business environment and all of those things combined,” Mr. Jeffries said. “But neighbors have done it and the Philippines can do that.”
He noted the Philippines was shielded from external shocks, largely because exports remain a relatively small part of the economy.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the ADB’s analysis for the Philippines is correct? Do you think the economy of the Philippines has enough strength to grow by at least 6% in 2027?
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 fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Ultraverse fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine one of the many tales of the Ultraverse through the Elven mini-series.
When I grabbed a copy of Elven #1, I did not expect much entertainment and surprise. But as I started reading it and witnessed Elven’s interactions with Prime, the narrative became even more engaging to read. In addition, Len Strazewski’s writing clearly defined the personality of fantasy fanatic and confused girl Elvia Swanson and established Elven as a twisted female parallel to Prime. Along the way, Aaron Lopresti’s art showed a lot of details, emotions and dynamism (on the action).
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Elven #2, published by Malibu Comics in 1995 with a story written by Len Strazewski and illustrated by Aaron Lopresti (Sludge).
The cover.
Early story
The story begins inside the office of a psychiatrist where Elven encounters a demon which just came out of the teenage boy Bruno. As the two fight each other violently, the psychiatrist watches them obsessively and writes down the notable details for a potential advancement in his career. Bruno, who carried the demon in him some time prior, watches the fight from a distance marveling at Elven while also observing how chaotic the demon is.
Elven fights the demon hard while maintaining a mindset of pride and even being superior. The demon reveals his link with Boneyard (for reference, click here) confirming he came from a distant world.
After getting hit by Elven’s elf-fire, the demon begins to laugh at her. Elven gets triggered and starts hitting the demon more…
Quality
By giving in to her impulses, Elven commits a very violent move on a man. This also shows her inability to restrain herself.
While issue #1 established Elvia Swenson personality and her super-powered, fantasy inspired Elven identity who has a genetic connection with Prime, this comic book emphasizes the deeper fantasy aspects of the Ultraverse while expanding the lore within Elven’s part of the shared comic book universe.
Similar to Prime (Kevin Green in disguise), Elven gets triggered emotionally which is the result of the youth and obvious lack of maturity of Elvia. That being said, the moments of Elven getting more violent and shedding a few tears after getting laughed at by the demon deserve any reader’s attention.
Len Strazewski’s writing is pretty rich here and he pulled of some clever moves with the narrative. As the battle between Elven and the demon intensified, there were signs that the conflict would turn into an even bigger and more destructive battle. Instead, there were these deep revelations that happened (note: for relevance, you will have to read Prime #5 which I reviewed some time ago) and even the arrogant boy Bruno has his own share of what has been going on. Even the psychiatrist turned out to be a pretty significant bystander during the battle which suggests a build-up for a sub-plot.
As such, Strazewski wrote the story to be very intriguing and the plot threads are not limited to Elven and the demon. The way I see it, something is being built up and to grasp the relevance, you will have to read some issues of the Prime and Mantra comic book series.
If there is any weakness in the storytelling, it is the fact that the psychiatrist and his office assistant very easily forgot the moments of Bruno turning evil during the late part of issue #1. The way they reacted in this comic book after the end of the battle between Elven and the demon, they did not make any moves to hold Bruno accountable nor did they question Elven’s way of handling matters (which includes the eventual ruining of the office).
Conclusion
After getting triggered (being laughed at by the demon), Elven acted move violently and impulsively.
While there were a few weak spots in certain parts of the story, Elven #2 (1995) is another solid read from the Strazewski-Lopresti duo. Elven got developed even more through conflict with the demon, and her own search for the truth about her origin. Aside from that, the fantasy elements implemented in the story expanded the lore of the Ultraverse in a very unique way. Ultimately, I am looking forward to reading the next chapter of this mini-series.
Author Carlo Carrasco 