Recently in the City of Muntinlupa, local police officers arrested an e-bike (electric bike) driver after he was caught selling an illegal firearm, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The suspect is a resident of Parañaque City.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
A 32-year-old e-bike driver was arrested by the police after he was caught selling an illegal firearm in Muntinlupa on Feb. 20.
Brig. Gen. Manuel Abrugena, district director of the Southern Police District (SPD), identified the suspect as alias Paul, a resident of Barangay Baclaran, Parañaque, who was arrested in a police buy-bust operation on Biazon Road in Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa at about 1:55 a.m.
The operation was carried out by the District Special Operations Unit of the Southern Police District (SPD) in cooperation with the District Intelligence Division, Intelligence Section, District Mobile Force Battalion, and Muntinlupa Police.
Seized from the suspect were a .45-caliber pistol, a .45-caliber magazine loaded with three live rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade, a genuine P1,000 bill used as marked money, a cell phone, and a sling bag. The arrested suspect is now under police custody for investigation.
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, are you concerned that there could be more individuals from other cities who could be secretly selling illegal firearms in the city? Are you thankful to the local police for the successful buy-bust operation?
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
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, 1980s culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1980s to explore a part of the DC Comics shared universe through a tale of the iconic Superman.
Shortly after the end of the original multiverse of DC Comics, the publisher organized a massive reboot of its superhero franchises and universe. To reboot and modernize the iconic Superman, DC hired John Byrne and backed him up with a solid creative team. The result was the 6-part comic book mini-series The Man of Steel. Previously, I reviewed The Man of Steel #1 and #2 which collectively established Superman and Lois Lane as the iconic superhero and the definitive supporting character of the post-Crisis age respectively. Of course, the super villain opposite the post-Crisis Superman had to be established.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Man of Steel #4, published in 1986 by DC Comics with a story written and illustrated by John Byrne.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins when a daringly dressed Lois Lane arrives at the apartment of Clark Kent who has not even fully prepared himself for their trip to an extravagant gathering. It turns out, Lois’ ride picked her up earlier than expected which explains her early arrival.
After entering Clark’s apartment, she slowly begins to discover what he looked like in school and who his parents are. By this time, it has been almost eighteen months since Clark beat her to the first-ever Superman news story at the Daily Planet.
Afterwards, Lois and Clark took a surprising helicopter ride going to the luxurious ship of the powerful tycoon Lex Luthor…
Quality
Superman intervenes to protect Lois Lane from one of the terrorists.
To make things clear, this issue is all about John Byrne presenting a new version of Superman’s definitive rival Lex Luthor with the 1980s in mind. Instead of a mad scientist, the post-Crisis Luthor is a billionaire whose corporation (Lexcorp) has an interest in virtually every business in Metropolis and his immense wealth makes him a very powerful figure. This new version of Luthor was clearly done to be more grounded with reality, specifically with regards to the rise of tycoons in America in the 1980s. In short, Luthor was the ruthless and powerful businessman before Michael Douglas even got to play Gordon Gekko in 1987’s Wall Street.
While the effort of making a really new version of Superman’s arch-rival is clear, Luthor here does not appear too menacing at first. The story and impact of Luthor’s evil really started to materialize as soon as the South American terrorists appeared, but not in a way that you might expect. As mentioned above, Luthor here is more grounded with reality and that means you won’t see him oppose Superman with science and technology. Instead, Luthor simply has wealth, the power and resources to go against the Man of Steel. The tycoon also knows that the American-born Kryptonian would not dare attack him as laws already exist.
Having read lots of Superman’s encounters with Luthor in the pre-Crisis era – particularly the 1970s up to the mid-1980s – it is clear to me that their first post-Crisis encounter turned out underwhelming and never dynamic. In fairness, I really enjoyed reading the 2nd encounter between Superman and Luthor as the words of the latter were filled with anger and tension. It should be noted that Byrne’s visual approach on showing the city and the people as Luthor’s dialogue went on was a great touch.
When it comes to the storytelling, it is quite simple which is not surprising because it was crafted to make way for post-Crisis Luthor to be introduced and dramatized. As for the character development, there is indeed progress with regards to the chemistry between Clark Kent and Lois Lane who are portrayed as friends living with a journalistic competition between them. It was also in this comic book where you will see Superman follow the law and the command of Metropolis’ highest official.
Speaking of law, you will notice what kind of impact Luthor has on others when he really does things his own way. This is something you should read in this comic book.
Conclusion
This is John Byrne’s version of Lex Luthor in the form of a powerful tycoon. A complete departure from the mad scientist Luthor of the pre-Crisis era of DC Comics.
While the first-ever conflict between Superman and Luthor in the post-Crisis age was indeed underwhelming, it was John Byrne’s in-depth writing and portrayal of events that made The Man of Steel #4 (1986) a worthy read. Don’t expect to see a lot of action here nor anything spectacular with Superman. Clearly, the tycoon Lex Luthor is the feature character of this tale and the start of his hatred towards Superman is really worth reading. In retrospect, Luthor’s ruthlessness and evil got stronger and clearer after the end of this comic book (for reference, click here).
Overall, The Man of Steel #4 (1986) is recommended.
In connection with the recent signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act, a director of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) expects more investors to come in, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…
Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga is expecting more investors to put up their businesses in economic zones across the country following the signing of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act.
Panga said the IRR provides clarity for the smooth implementation of the law.
“It is a product of conjoined efforts that will surely attract more interest in the Philippines and paves the way for future investment growth,” Panga said in a statement Wednesday.
On Feb. 17, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque led the signing of the CREATE MORE’s IRR.
The IRR supports PEZA’s mandate of driving investment growth into the country, promote sustainable development in the countryside, and create more jobs.
“The CREATE MORE Act refines the investment landscape of the Philippines to be at parity with other countries,” he said.
“With these new policies in place, coupled with the positive attributes already presented by our country and the various advantages like a communications-ready skilled workforce, a conducive business environment and a whole-of-government approach, it is without doubt that new investors will come in and old investors will choose to stay for the long haul,” he added.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the newly signed IRR of CREATE MORE will result in more investors to come into the Philippines and put up businesses in economic zones?
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, around one thousand and two hundred residents of Barangay BF International – CAA availed of the varied services when the Health and Wellness Caravan happened in their local community, the City Government announced via social media.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media post of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…
The City of Las Piñas, through the City Health Office, conducted another Health and Wellness Caravan on Thursday, February 13, at the CAA Elementary School Main in BF International / CAA. Nearly 1,200 residents availed themselves of free health services during the event.
The caravan provided a range of medical services, including consultations, FBS/RBS screening, cholesterol examination, chest X-rays, ECG, dental services, and nutrition counseling. Additional services included risk assessments for non-communicable diseases, pneumococcal vaccination for senior citizens, mobile birth registration, and assistance with Green Card and PhilHealth registration.
City Vice Mayor April Aguilar and City Councilor Mark Anthony Santos graced the event, along with Alelee Aguilar and other local leaders. Their presence underscored the city’s dedication to providing accessible and quality healthcare for all residents. As an early celebration of Valentine’s Day, supporters of Vice Mayor Aguilar also presented her with roses to express their appreciation for her continued service.
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? How many people in your local community want to avail of the services of the Health and Wellness Caravan? Are you satisfied with the way the City Government is serving 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
STI Education Services Group, Inc. (STI ESG) formally broke ground of their ambitious P950 million campus in Alabang (the STI Academic Center Alabang) which was designed to accommodate ten thousand students and start operating in 2026, 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…
Tanco-led STI Education Services Group, Inc. (STI ESG) is investing P950 million for the construction of a new state-of-the-art campus in Alabang designed to meet the evolving needs of students in the 21st century.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm said it has broken ground for the new STI Academic Center Alabang located on a 3,266 square-meter property in South Park District. The campus is set to be operational in 2026.
The new campus is designed to accommodate up to 10,000 senior high school and college students. The 8-storey building will feature top-of-the-line facilities and equipment to ensure a world-class learning environment.
“For years, we have been expanding and improving our facilities to keep up with the demands and challenges of the modern world,” said STI President and COO Peter K. Fernandez.
He added that, “This new campus in Alabang reflects our commitment to creating a conducive learning environment that empowers students with relevant skills, knowledge, and character.”
STI Academic Center Alabang will be equipped with modern facilities, including air-conditioned classrooms with flat-screen TVs, student activity centers with internet connectivity, industry-grade laboratories, and recreational spaces such as a basketball court.
The campus will offer senior high school programs and bachelor’s degree programs in high-demand fields such as Information Technology, Business & Management, Hospitality Management, and Tourism Management.
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 upcoming STI Academic Center Alabang will make a positive impact on local society as well as on families looking for schools to have their children enrolled in?
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 progressive City of Muntinlupa, the permanent Consular of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was formally opened inside Festival Mall in Filinvest City, Alabang, and it was commended by Mayor Ruffy Biazon as the facility’s many services will be helpful for the local residents and those from other cities, 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…
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon commended the opening of the permanent Consular Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at Festival Mall in Alabang.
Biazon attended the opening of the DFA Consular Office National Capital Region-South located at the third floor of the mall’s east wing.
Also present during the opening ceremony were Ambassador Joseph Yap, DFA Office of Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Adelio Angelito Cruz, and Filinvest Land president and CEO Tristan Las Marias.
“Available dito ang primary services tulad ng document verification and authentication at passport issuance, among others. Spacious, bright, at convenient din ang bagong office—hindi lang para sa Muntinlupeños kundi pati sa ating mga kababayan from nearby cities and provinces (Primary services such as document verification and authentication and passport issuance, among others, are available here. The new office is spacious, bright, and convenient—not only for Muntinlupeños but also for our countrymen from nearby cities and provinces),” the mayor posted on Facebook.
Biazon said, “this office is more than just a facility. It’s a gateway of dreams para sa lahat ng Pilipinong nagnanais makabisita, makapag-aral, o makapagtrabaho sa ibang bansa (It’s a gateway of dreams for all Filipinos who wish to visit, study, or work abroad).”
Cruz said the DFA-NCR South Consular Office will serve “as the mini-OCA Aseana and DFA outpost.”
He said the Alabang office will provide “consular services that cover first time passport applications, passport renewals, authentication, and Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN).”
The first passport applicant at the DFA-NCR South office was a 67-year-old man who applied for his very first Philippine passport. He said he applied for a passport so he can visit his child in California.
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 upcoming STI Academic Center Alabang will make a positive impact on local society as well as on families looking for schools to have their children enrolled in?
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
New Life Community Care Foundation International, Inc. (NLCOM) – the compassion arm of New Life Philippines located inside Alabang Hills Village in Muntinlupa City – presented its official report for the year 2024 during the February 9, 2025 worship service in Alabang.
In 2024, NLCOM did the following for the many victims and the affected communities: serving 598,833 hot meals, distributed 5,457 relief goods, rebuilt 1,200 homes, reached 49 communities and trained 447 individuals.
Compassion knows no boundaries, and our mission has no limits. In 2024, we witnessed this truth once again as NLCOM’s reach expanded even further, and the unwavering support and contributions of our donors, partners, and volunteers have been pivotal to that success. Thanks to their supply, we’ve been able to bring light, hope, and transformation to even more lives, making a profound impact on our community.
NLCOM presented its 2024 report on February 9, 2025, at New Life Alabang.
Beyond immediate relief, NLCOM remains committed to fostering long-term community resilience. In 2024, they conducted onsite and online resilience training and Psychological First Aid (PFA) workshops for city employees, volunteers and network churches in Manila and Catbalogan, Samar.
NLCOM also revealed that it has partnered with New Life Kathmandu to support 350 families in Nepal who were devastated by landslides on September 28, 2024.
In his message to the partners and friends, NLCOM Executive Director and Pastor Paul Giague stated:
As we reflect on the past year, we’re reminded of the numerous challenges we faced together – from devastating fires to powerful typhoons. Yet through every disaster, our collective resilience shone even brighter. We stood united, responding with compassion, reaching out with kindness, and rebuilding hope. We’re deeply grateful for your unwavering support, which has been instrumental in our efforts. Our Community Ready campaign embodies this spirt of unity and action, empowering everyone to make a lasting difference.
Through your contributions, we’ve been able to provide hot meals, distribute relief, and equip communities with vital resilience training. These tangible expressions of God’s love have brought comfort to those in need. Togther, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus, ensuring that no one faces hardship alone by providing aid, training and community support. We invite you to continue partnering with us, and if you’re new, we welcome you to join us. Let’s build stronger, more resilient communities through Community Ready.
Because of you, lives are being changed. Thank you for your compassion, generosity, and commitment to serving others.
For the newcomers reading this, I previously blogged about NLCOM back in 2020 which you can read by clicking here and my recent blog posts can viewed by clicking here, here, here, here and here. NLCOM has an established record of providing relief to disaster victims and helping them rebuild their lives and communities as they recover.
NLCOM is committed to organizing activities from disaster preparedness trainings, relief goods distribution, mobile kitchen feeding operations, Psychological First Aid to kids and adults traumatized by a disaster, and rebuilding of damaged houses. To get to know NLCOM better, I recommend you watch their official YouTube video below…
If you have decided to help people through NLCOM, be aware that New Life’s compassion arm is accepting donations. You may send your monetary donations to:
For more information about NLCOM, visit https://nlcom.org.ph/ or visit their office at 2 Don Manolo Boulevard, Alabang Hills Village, Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Contact them at landline 88091542 extension 426.
In ending post, let me share with you a few holy scriptures that should remind you that God is our source, our provider and the blessedness of giving is absolutely true. Be remind that Lord Jesus is the hope of all nations.
Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.
Proverbs 19:17 (MSG)
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
In case you missed the news, direct loading to e-wallet services GCash and Maya using the app of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has been disabled recently as the bank made changes, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news reported of Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is phasing out its direct e-wallet loading feature for GCash and Maya on Feb. 13, 2025.
After this date, BPI customers will no longer be able to use the “Load E-Wallet” option within the BPI mobile app to fund their GCash or Maya accounts.
Instead, BPI is advising users to transfer funds via InstaPay and PesoNet using the “Transfer to other banks” function. Within this feature, customers can select “G-Xchange” for GCash or “Maya Philippines Inc/Maya Wallet” for Maya.
BPI explained that this shift is in line with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular 980, which outlines the National Retail Payment System Framework, and complies with recommendations from the Philippine Payments Management, Inc. (PPMI) as detailed in Advisory No. 2024-1104-020.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a BPI user who also has a GCash or Maya account, were you deeply affected by the recent changes? Do you find transferring money from BPI to an e-wallet service more inconvenient to do today?
When compared to the National and Local Elections of 2022, the voting population of the Philippines for this year is significantly higher with almost 76 million and voters aged 18 to 44-years-old combined for a majority, according to a GMA Network news report. It should be noted that the number of registered voters for 2025 is short of 70 million.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…
Filipinos from the ages of 18 to 44 make up the majority of voters for Eleksyon 2025, data compiled by GMA Integrated News Research showed.
According to a report on 24 Oras Weekend, the Philippines’ voting population—or those who are of age to vote—increased by a little over 10 million to 75,940,535 for the 2025 national and local midterm elections, from 65,745,512 in 2022.
Of the 2025 total, Comelec data as of Jan. 23, 2025 shows that 69,673,655 are registered voters.
And of this number, the breakdown by generation is as follows, according to GMA Integrated News Research:
* 25.94 million are Millennials, born in the period from 1981 to 1996, making up 34.15% of the voting-age population
* 21.87 million are Gen Z, born in the period from 1997 to 2007, making up 28.79% of the voting-age population
* 17.64 million are Gen X, born in the period from 1965 to 1980, making up 23.22% of the voting-age population
* 10.50 million are from the Baby Boom and Silent Generations, born in the 1946–1964 and 1928–1945 periods respectively, making up 13.83% of the voting-age population
This means Millennials and Gen Z voters make up about 63% of the voting-age population and 68% of the registered voters for Eleksyon 2025.
In 2022, millennials were still the biggest group of voters, followed by Gen X-ers at 16.78 million. Gen Z-ers saw the biggest increase in voters, from 13.11 million in 2022 to 21.87 million three years later.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do Millennials and Gen Z voters of your local community form a majority of the local voting population? Are the registered voters of your local community willing to vote in this May’s national and local elections?
Welcome back Xbox fans, geeks, RPG enthusiasts and other gamers!
The long wait for the next Xbox-exclusive fantasy role-playing game (RPG) experience is finally over as Avowed has officially been released for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Xbox Game Pass (XGP Ultimate) today. Five days ago, the game developed by Obsidian Entertainment was released on early access for those who paid the premium for the privilege.
For the newcomers reading this, Avowed is the newest game from RPG specialist Obsidian Entertainment and it has a fantasy setting and a unique concept for gamers who enjoy in-depth exploration, intense action, consequential decision-making, engaging role-play and strong storytelling. Avowed is set in the fictional world called Eora and is also part of the same universe as seen in Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity.
To get oriented, watch the launch trailer below.
Is it really great? Is it worth purchasing at all?
As of this writing, the critical reception remains questionable even though a lot of gaming publications posted their respective reviews resulting in a collective average that keeps on changing. As of now, the collective critical average for Avowed is mostly positive but additional reviews could change that.
For some insight, watch the video reviews of Avowed from MrMattyPlays, Colteastwood, GameSpot, XboxEra and Pure Xbox.
If you want to watch some extensive gameplay footage of Avowed that could help you decide to go for the game or not, watch the videos below.
Having waited more than four years to play Avowed (read my previous posts by clicking here, here and here), I will play it on my Xbox Series X console but not immediately. I’d rather wait for Obsidian to patch the game first to fix the bugs and other technical problems. I’d rather play an improved version over its launch version. Here is hoping that Obsidian will be listening to gamers’ feedback and improve the game accordingly.
I should mention that Obsidian is also working on its other high-profile video game The Outer Worlds 2 which is actually a multi-platform release (including PlayStation 5).
Author Carlo Carrasco 