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Muntinlupa City Government Continues Support Of Over 110,000 Local Students

February 25, 2026February 20, 2026carlocarrasco

In a serious effort to support the education of over one hundred ten thousand students of Muntinlupa City, the City Government continues to make scholarships and school supplies accessible to them through the established programs, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

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

Amid the rising cost of living, the Muntinlupa City government is supporting the education of more than 110,000 students through scholarships and free school supplies.

One of them is Jaspher Nherie Elviña, a beneficiary under the city government’s Muntinlupa Scholarship Program. For him, it was never just about the allowance but staying in school.

Now a cum laude graduate of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Colegio de Muntinlupa, Jasper recalled being a city scholar.

“Nagsimula ako maging iskolar ng Muntinlupa… simula pa noong 1st year high school, noong nagkaroon ng scholarship program ang Muntinlupa o MSP. Ang allowance na nakukuha ko sa Muntinlupa ay malaki ang naitutulong para sa pandagdag baon at gastusin sa araw-araw na pagpasok at requirements sa iba’t ibang subject ko dati (I started being a Muntinlupa scholar… since my 1st year of high school, when the Muntinlupa or MSP scholarship program was established. The allowance I get from Muntinlupa is a great help for supplementing my pocket money and expenses for daily attendance and requirements for my various subjects),” he said.

The cost of education is not just about tuition fees. There are daily transportation expenses, project materials, printing fees, laboratory contributions, and the small but constant costs of staying enrolled.

Elviña said the allowance he received from the Muntinlupa City government was a symbol of reassurance that allowed him to focus on his studies instead of worrying about daily expenses.

Elviña said the allowance he received from the Muntinlupa City government was a symbol of reassurance that allowed him to focus on his studies instead of worrying about daily expenses.

He is one of the more than 110,000 scholars supported by the Muntinlupa City government in 2025, a scholarship system that started from about 5,000 beneficiaries during its early years.

Today, it has become one of the most expansive local government-funded education programs in Metro Manila.

In 2025, the city government spent P587.8 million in educational assistance or about seven percent of its P8.8-billion annual budget.

In proportional terms, officials said this placed Muntinlupa among the highest in the National Capital Region when it comes to allocating funds for scholarships, even compared with cities that operate on larger overall budgets.

The scholarship program started in 1989 when a scholarship trust fund was established to assist financially struggling students. At the time, only around 5,000 scholars were covered. Under former mayor Jimmy Fresnedi, now Muntinlupa representative, the system was institutionalized and expanded across educational levels.

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 approve of the way the City Government is supporting local students?

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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Deals Worth $4.2 Million Signed To Expand Nuclear Cooperation

February 24, 2026February 18, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently the effort to integrate nuclear power into the energy mix of the Philippines moved a few steps forward as deals with American companies worth $4.2 million were formally signed, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

THE PHILIPPINES is gaining more support from the United States in its goal of integrating nuclear power into the national energy mix in the next six years as it sealed $4.2 million worth of deals with US companies.

Government agencies and private companies from the Philippines and the US on Monday entered into memoranda of understanding which are aimed at exploring deployment of nuclear technology and supporting nuclear workforce development in the country.

“The Philippine Energy Plan sets clear direction for an energy future — 1,200 megawatts (MW)by 2032. And that is not moving until somebody tells us that it’s impossible,” Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said in her speech during the signing ceremony in Makati City on Monday.

“These targets demand preparation, anchored in discipline, safety, and capacity. As we pursue energy security and a responsible transition, we must invest in our people as deliberately as we invest in infrastructure,” she added.

Under the Philippine Energy Plan, the country aims to integrate nuclear energy into the power mix with at least 1,200 MW of capacity by 2032, rising to 2,400 MW by 2045 and to 4,800 MW by 2050.

“We want to work together to get the Philippines to the finish line on nuclear energy,” Ann K. Ganzer, principal deputy assistant secretary at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, said.

“Beyond acquiring the technology and establishing robust regulations, to achieve that 2032 goal, the most vital elements will be assessing sites for commercial reactor and developing the skilled workforce needed to design, construct, operate, regulate and sustain advanced nuclear plants for generations to come,” she added.

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest private electric distribution utility, secured a $2.7-million grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency to help the company assess and deploy US-designed small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Philippines.

Meralco will pursue a feasibility study which involves an evaluation of leading US technologies, identification of viable sites, and delivery of a high-level implementation roadmap.

SMRs, each capable of generating up to 300 MW, can be constructed more quickly than traditional nuclear power plants.

Meralco Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel V. Pangilinan described the grant as “the beginning of a long but necessary journey.”

“Meralco is also looking actually at not only SMRs. It depends on the horizon by which we are able to deploy, but also, perhaps a bit sooner, conventional nuclear plants for this country,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

“It simply is right for the country and for Meralco to take nuclear, and we are prepared to act as thought leaders in this regard,” he added.

The US State Department’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Reactor Technology Program involves the installation of a $1.5-million nuclear reactor control room simulator at a technical institution within the planned Luzon Economic Corridor.

The simulator will provide hands-on realistic training for future reactor operators, which is aimed at positioning the Philippines as an SMR regional training hub.

Meanwhile, several private companies and government agencies also contributed $2.5 million to bring US nuclear experts to the Philippines to develop specialized vocational and higher education curricula focused on the civil nuclear industry.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines still has a lot of work to do and many challenges to resolve before it could convince foreign investors to come in? Do you think the national government is doing good enough to make the country attractive to foreign investors again?

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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18-Year-Old Man Arrested In Parañaque City Over Rape Charge

February 22, 2026February 17, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, local police officers armed with a warrant of arrest apprehended an 18-year-old man at his residence for the charge of statutory rape, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.

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

Authorities arrested an 18-year-old senior high school graduate for statutory rape at his residence in Parañaque City on Feb. 11.

The Southern Police District (SPD) identified the suspect as Renato. He was arrested at his home in Sampaloc Site 2, BF Homes, Parañaque City.

Police said members of the SPD Special Operations Unit (SOU), together with the District Intelligence Division and the Intelligence Section of the District Mobile Force Battalion, coordinated with the Parañaque City Police to carry out the arrest.

Operatives served the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Ma. Christina De Pio Lim, presiding judge of the Parañaque Regional Trial Court, National Capital Judicial Region, Branch 260. The warrant was issued on Feb. 4, with no bail recommended.

The suspect was brought to the District Special Operations Unit (DSOU) office for documentation and proper legal proceedings.

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 suspect? Are you concerned there could be more rapists out there who have yet to arrested by the police?

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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Department of Education And Local Government Units To Expedite Construction Of Classrooms

February 21, 2026February 16, 2026carlocarrasco

In what could be the most serious attempt to solve the nation’s constant lack of classrooms, the Department of Education (DepEd) formally partnered with the local government units (LGUs) to expedite the construction of classrooms, according to a news article of the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

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

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday partnered with local government units (LGUs) to expedite classroom construction.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA), backed by 90 percent of provinces nationwide, formalized a nationwide framework to accelerate the delivery of school infrastructure, marking a decisive shift toward coordinated action to address the classroom backlog.

The signatories include representatives of local government leagues, including the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), as well as the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP).

“These signatures mark the end of working in silos. They mark the beginning of shared responsibility,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.

The education chief said the partnership with LGUs will hasten direct actions to address the classroom shortage in the country, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The country has a backlog of 165,000 classrooms to date.

“Ang kasunduang ito ang malinaw naming pangako na wala nang classroom na maaantala dahil sa pag-aalinlangan, at wala nang edukasyong mapuputol dahil sa kakulangan ng ugnayan (This partnership is our clear promise that no more classroom construction will be delayed due to uncertainty, and no education will be hampered due to the lack of coordination),” Angara added.

Under the MOA, LGUs are tasked to lead the construction, replacement, rehabilitation, and improvement of classrooms within their jurisdictions, including the conduct of procurement, supervision of contractors, and day-to-day project implementation, in accordance with national procurement and building regulations.

For its part, the DepEd will identify priority schools, provide standard classroom designs and technical specifications, and exercise oversight by reviewing plans, validating completed works, and ensuring that projects meet national safety, accessibility, and quality standards.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the partnership between the DepEd and LGUs will effectively solve the nation’s constant lack of classrooms? If the partnership succeeds, do you think the quality of education as well as the comfort of the students will improve over time? Do you think LGUs are capable of doing its part on the construction of new classrooms?

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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Man Dies In Parañaque City Trying To Steal Electric Cables

February 20, 2026February 16, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the city of Parañaque, a man who attempted to steal electric cables high above ground got electrocuted and died and barangay officials confirmed the victim had records related to theft, according to a GMA Network news report.

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

A 39-year-old man died after being electrocuted while allegedly attempting to steal electric cables in Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City, early Sunday.

According to a report by Darlene Cay on “24 Oras Weekend,” authorities found the man already on fire atop an electrical post.

“May tumawag po sa amin na mayroon daw sumabog diyan sa may Lopez Footbridge around mga 1:50 a.m. So pagpunta namin doon, may mga kapulisan na rin po. Nakita nga po na may nasusunog na tao,” barangay desk officer Ryan Fernandez said.

(Someone called us saying something exploded near the Lopez Footbridge around 1:50 a.m. When we arrived, police were already there, and we saw a person on fire.)

Personnel from the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) later retrieved the body from the post.

Initial investigation showed the man had been cutting electrical cables when he was electrocuted. The incident caused a circuit trip that disrupted power supply to several households in the area.

Barangay officials said it was not the first time the man had climbed an electrical post and noted he had prior blotter records related to theft.

“Mayroon siyang mga record, mga blotter na ano siya sa nakawan,” Fernandez said.

(He has records and police blotters related to theft.)

The victim’s family lit candles beneath the electrical post and appealed to the public not to judge him hastily.

“Panawagan ko sa publiko, hindi naman nila nakita yung totoo,” the man’s brother said.

(My plea to the public is that they did not see the whole truth.)

For its part, Meralco warned that stealing, selling, or buying electrical cables is prohibited by law and poses serious safety risks.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, did your household lose electricity during the day the incident? Why do you think people would attempt to

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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Philippine Peso Could Land At P59.70 To The US Dollar By End Of 2026

February 19, 2026February 12, 2026carlocarrasco

With its own analysis of varied economic factors, Metrobank stated that the Philippine Peso could end up at a rate of P59.70 to the US Dollar by the end of this year, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

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

THE PESO may settle at P59.70 against the dollar by end-2026 on expectations of an economic rebound driven by improved investor confidence, Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) said.

In a commentary dated Feb. 10, Metrobank trimmed its peso forecast for end-2026 to P59.70 a dollar from P60.80 previously. It likewise projects the peso to end 2027 at P58.50 versus the greenback, from its earlier estimate of P58.90.

“(A)n anticipated economic growth rebound and improved investor confidence, thanks to better government spending, could support the peso,” it said.

If the bank’s 2026 forecast holds true, the local unit would end the year weaker than its P58.79 finish against the dollar on the last trading day of 2025.

The lingering effects of the flood control corruption scandal and uncertainties in the global market pushed the peso to test new lows at the start of the year.

On Jan. 15, it closed at P59.46 per dollar, breaking the previous all-time low of P59.44 recorded just the day prior.

However, it has recently strengthened amid a weak dollar. On Wednesday, the local unit hit a near four-month high after closing at P58.29 versus the greenback, up 24 centavos from its P58.53 finish on Tuesday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

Meanwhile, Metrobank noted that the peso could struggle to regain further strength as the country’s current account is projected to remain at a shortfall this year.

“Still, the projected current account deficit this year — although narrower than last year’s — would cap the peso’s strength,” it said.

Based on the latest central bank data, the current account balance stood at a $12.5-billion deficit by the end of the third quarter. This was equivalent to -3.6% of gross domestic product (GDP).

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Peso could perform better against the US Dollar and end up better than what Metrobank estimated? Do you think a weaker Peso would be very helpful to the exporters?

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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2025 Foreign Investments Fall Down 50.1%

February 19, 2026February 13, 2026carlocarrasco

With the final economic numbers of 2025 counted, it has been confirmed that approved foreign investments in the Philippines fell down by more than 50%, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.

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

APPROVED foreign investments in the Philippines plunged by 50.1% year on year to P272.38 billion in 2025, its sharpest fall in five years, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Thursday.

Preliminary data from the PSA showed that the value of foreign commitments approved by the country’s investment promotion agencies (IPA) in 2025 was lower than P546.19 billion in 2024.

This was the steepest drop in foreign investments since the 71.3% drop recorded during the pandemic in 2020. By value, this was the lowest amount of approved foreign investments since the P241.89 billion recorded in 2022.

Singapore was the top source of investment pledges for 2025 after committing P92.78 billion, or 34.1% of the total. It was followed by the Netherlands with P35.98 billion (13.2% share) and Japan with P34.03 billion (12.5%).

Analysts attributed the sharp drop in foreign investment pledges to the sluggish investor confidence in the Philippines arising from global trade uncertainties, natural disasters and the flood control corruption scandal.

“In a nutshell, the decline in approved foreign investment pledges in 2025 was driven by a mix of weaker investor confidence due to governance and corruption issues, global economic uncertainties, cautious corporate behavior, and an unusually high base of comparison from the previous year,” said Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes, director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.

Marco Antonio C. Agonia, an economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific, said uncertainty over the US tariffs may have also dissuaded foreign investors from setting up operations in the Philippines.

The United States imposed a 19% tariff on most Philippine goods beginning Aug. 7, 2025.

“Similarly, weaker growth prospects from repeated natural disasters and the flood control scandal may have encouraged foreign companies to scrap or defer their investment plans in the country,” Mr. Agonia said in an e-mail.

The Board of Investments (BoI) approved P150.34 billion worth of investment pledges in 2025, accounting for 55.2% of the total. It was followed by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) with investment pledges worth P107.06 billion (39.3% share), and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) with P7.01 billion (2.6%).

For 2025, about 45% or P122.48 billion of the total approved foreign investments will go to the energy sector, followed by manufacturing with P81.41 billion (29.9% share) and real-estate activities with P26.31 billion (9.7%).

In 2025, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) cornered around P100.43 billion worth of these investment pledges. Central Luzon will get P70.74 billion while the Bicol Region got P50.76 billion.

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 124

February 18, 2026February 15, 2026carlocarrasco

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 Tremors Revisited And Explained – By today’s standards, Tremors is a classic among monster movies (AKA creature features) Hollywood released. With the way it was written and presented, Tremors is always fun to watch again. I have seen it many times and yet it is worth repeating from start to finish. Behind the scenes, there were a lot of stuff, adjustments and unexpected developments that happened during production. If you wish to see such stuff, watch and learn from the Tremors videos of Represent This below.

#2 A Look At Excalibur In Las Vegas –I never had the opportunity to visit Excalibur in Las Vegas. During its first several years of operation, Excalibur welcomed countless tourists with its fantasy-themed atmosphere, designs, facilities and entertainment. Imagine having a meal while watching two knights riding horses and performing a joust in front of you. Imagine seeing members of the hotel staff wearing fantasy costumes. Like Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, Excalibur was a fine hotel that catered to families while still having casinos for gamblers. To learn more about what Excalibur was and what made it stand out among the hotels of Las Vegas, watch the video below.

#3 Meals At The Expressway In Japan – How often do you stop for a meal when traveling along a major highway? In many parts of the world, highways or expressways have clusters of gas stations, convenience stores, groceries and restaurants for travelers who need some relief from the stress of long travel. For many travelers, traveling far while being hungry can be a problem. In recent times, Nippon TV posted a video about meals and food items that travelers can find along expressways and the variety is interesting to see. Watch and learn from the video below.

#4 Cleopatra Movie Revisited – Way back in 1963, the movie Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was released. The historical epic was made at a staggering cost of $44 million which was almost three times more expensive than 1959’s Ben-Hur. Behind the scenes, 20^th Century Fox was in very deep financial trouble and many hard business risks were taken to make Cleopatra. Elizabeth Taylor, who signed a record-setting $1 million contract for the film, had health problems that added to the delay of the production. The film even lost its original movie director. To learn more about the history and the behind-the-scenes intrigue of Cleopatra, watch the video below.

#5 Innerspace Revisited – Innerspace (stylized as InnerSpace) from 1987 is a fun movie to watch and it has fine performances from Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan and Martin Short. That said, it is not surprising to see Innerspace featured in reaction videos and retrospective videos by YouTubers. For your enjoyment, watch the videos below.

#6 Breath Of Fire Retrospective – When Breath of Fire was first released in 1993, it was a surprising Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) as it had a somewhat fresh concept and it was released by Capcom (already famous for fighting games). The first game was successful enough to convince Capcom to make sequels (released on other game consoles as technology evolved) achieving varying degrees of critical and commercial success. Going back to the original game, some wondered what made it notable and how the game came to be. To find out the history of Breath of Fire and what its story was about, watch the video below.

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Indian Restaurant In Alabang Hit By Fire

February 18, 2026February 17, 2026carlocarrasco

The Royal Indian Curry House, an in Indian restaurant located in Filinvest City, was hit by a fire in the early morning of February 16 and the estimated amount of damage is at P16 million, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The said restaurant is just steps away from Wildflour and South Supermarket in Alabang.

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

Fire damaged an Indian curry restaurant in Alabang, Muntinlupa, shortly before 5 a.m. on Feb. 16.

The Muntinlupa City Fire Station reported that the fire hit the Royal Indian Curry House in Filinvest Alabang at 4:48 a.m. The first alarm was raised at 4:53 a.m. before the blaze was put out by firefighters at 6:08 a.m.

The fire destroyed the second floor of the establishment, damaging P16 million worth of properties. The origin and cause of the fire are under investigation.

*Visible damage of the 2nd floor of the restaurant.*

*The other side of Royal Indian Curry House of Alabang with visible damage at the 2nd floor.*

*The restaurant in Filinvest City, Alabang.*

For the location of Royal Indian Curry House in Filinvest City, Alabang, click https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZzYMnP2y1xo6wmZs6

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, have you dined at Royal Indian Curry House already? What do you think caused the fire?

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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Muntinlupa City Government Teams Up With UP NOAH Center For City Drainage Strategy

February 17, 2026February 11, 2026carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government formally teamed up with the University of the Philippines’ (UP) NOAH Center to develop the master plan for the city drainage, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

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

The Muntinlupa City government has tapped the University of the Philippines’ NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) Center to develop a drainage master plan.

Mayor Ruffy Biazon endorsed a proposed memorandum of agreement with UP NOAH Center to the Muntinlupa City Council for review and approval.

Biazon said partnering with UP NOAH Center is an important step to have a science-based and long-term solution to flooding in Muntinlupa.

The UP NOAH Center is a research and development center of UP specializing in disaster risk reduction and climate science.

It provides advanced hazard mapping, flood modeling, and risk assessment using scientific research and cutting-edge technology, and works closely with local governments to develop data-driven solutions that strengthen resilience against natural hazards.

The project covers the formulation of a comprehensive drainage master plan that will guide future infrastructure development and improve stormwater management in Muntinlupa.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you think the City Government made a wise move to have UP NOAH Center as its partner on developing the city drainage master plan? Do you hope there will be big improvements in the years to come?

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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