As the Department of Tourism (DOT) gave the press updates about the state and direction of tourism, it was revealed that the international visitors who arrived in the Philippines this year reached less than 3.5 million as of July 30, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
By attracting 3.47 million international visitors as of July 30, 2025, it looks like the Philippines will barely reach the 6 million mark by the end of the year, and there is no denying the fact that not enough foreign tourists are visiting the country. Keep in mind that in the Philippine perspective, international visitors include both foreign tourists and overseas Filipinos.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine tourism sector has so far generated USD4.2 billion (PHP242 billion) in visitor receipts from Jan. 1 to June 18, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Thursday. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the figure is up 0.48 percent, year on year.
As of July 30, the agency recorded 3,473,726 international visitors – 3.15 million foreigners and 317,536 overseas Filipinos.
In a media briefing in Makati City, Frasco said the DOT is planning to recalibrate its targets for 2025 to take into consideration the challenges the sector is currently facing.
Despite this, aggressive promotions will continue in the Philippines’ top markets, including South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
The DOT, Frasco said, would also increase Philippine exposure in Canada to capture more Canadian visitors with the recent launch of direct flights from Air Canada.
With recalibration underway, Manila is likewise looking at emerging markets to boost arrivals, among them Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and India, Frasco said.
“We’re taking a very close look at these exciting markets, especially India, which now has visa-free access and forthcoming direct flights to Manila,” she said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT right now cannot come up with effective solutions to make the Philippines a more attractive tourist destination? Do you think Congress should increase the annual budget of the DOT so that it can execute its tourism plans? Does the DOT need a new leader right now?
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 arts and culture enthusiasts, DC Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1983 to take a close look at a part of the DC Comics universe through a tale of the Action Comics monthly series.
If there is anything notable about the presentation of superhero elements in Superman stories, it is the occasional use of science fiction. From time to time, DC Comics published tales of Superman going deep into space, encounter alien species and visit far-away civilizations. Sometimes, sci-fi is used on major disasters that Superman has to solve.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #550, published in 1983 by DC Comics with a story written by E. Nelson Bridwell and Bob Rozakis, and drawn by George Tuska.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins with Clark Kent and Lana Lang presenting television news at the WGBS station telling viewers about The Exploder who attacked a large jumbo jet full of people. As the program continues, breaking news about an enormous underwater eruption north of New Guinea came in.
Shortly after, Clark quickly and discreetly left the station to fly overseas as Superman. By visiting the site of the reported underwater eruption, he notices the entire New Guinea drifting southward. Superman is compelled to go deep underwater to prevent the nation from drifting further and he also realized there is no volcano that caused the blast.
Quality
Superman goes to outer space to find answers behind the events that took place on Earth.
This is a Superman tale that does not have the traditional good-versus-evil element of conflict. Instead, it is a sci-fi story that started with solid mystery causing the Man of Steel to do research and detective work to find answers.
The comic book writers behind this were really good in pushing Superman hard on his search for answers to solve mysteries that were really out of this world. Lana Lang’s father appears here as a long-time archaeologist who successfully discovered an ancient artifact described as a so-called disk. The plot turned intense when The Exploder suddenly emerged to take the disk away which unsurprisingly pushed Superman to not only react but also get answers.
I like the fact that as Superman does detective work, Lana Lang and Jimmy Olsen contributed nicely to the plot. At the same time, the mystery and tension really built up as the story went along and the payoff the comic book creators came up with is surprising and also worth it.
Without spoiling the plot, I can say that this Superman tale has its own twists on the concept of UFOs and alien that happen to have special interest on Earth. At the same time, you will realize how dedicated Superman is to protecting the people of Earth and why he would not tolerate aliens who actions would jeopardize billions of lives.
Conclusion
I liked the interactions Clark had with Lana Lang as he tries to solve mysteries.
While Action Comics #550 (1983) does not have a super villain for Superman to battle, you will still see him doing good, solving mysteries and prioritizing Earth’s people. The sci-fi concept the creators came up with looked outlandish on face value but when you read the story and pay close attention to all the details, you will realize that the story is actually believable. I also like the mystery aspect which gave the plot a good amount of depth.
Overall, Action Comics #550 (1983) is recommended.
Are you fond of buying drinks at a local coffee shop or at a small stall that sells coffee? Recently the University of Asia and the Pacific-Center for Food and Agri Business (UA&P-CFA) announced the results of its research revealing that the local coffee market (cafés and small sellers specifically) of the Philippines are being dominated by Starbucks Coffee and Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) while several local brands are gradually gaining market share, according to a Philippine Star business news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the business news report of the Philippine Star. Some parts in boldface…
Global brands continue to dominate the country’s coffee industry, but homegrown brands are gaining traction, helping to diversify and enrich Filipinos’ caffeine options, according to the University of Asia and the Pacific-Center for Food and Agri Business (UA&P-CFA).
In a policy brief, UA&P-CFA said the local café market is led by a “few dominant” global brands, based on a Euromonitor report.
These global brands, the UA&P-CFA noted, maintain their strong presence through solid branding, extensive branch networks and loyal customer base.
The policy brief indicated that Starbucks Corp. remains as the industry leader, accounting for almost 54 percent of total value share among chain café and bar operators.
It was followed by Dunkin’, a foreign brand under Inspire Brands Inc., with a 12.1-percent market share, according to the policy brief authored by Cy Reyes, a research assistant at UA&P-CFA.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s Corp. held a market share of 5.8 percent while Jollibee Foods Corp., which operates The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, accounted for 5.6 percent.
“In addition to global chains, the Philippine café scene is vibrant and diverse, featuring several strong homegrown brands that continue to gain traction and shape local consumer habits,” UA&P-CFA said.
UA&P-CFA said one of the most prominent local cafés is Mary Grace Food Inc., noting that it is known for its “cozy, sit-down atmosphere” and its handcrafted baked goods. The other notable local players, according to the policy paper, are Bo’s Coffee, Figaro Coffee, Coffee Project and But First, Coffee.
The local coffee industry has also been enriched by the growth of specially and so called third-wave coffee shops like Yardstick, % Arabica and El Union, the UA&P-CFA said.
These coffee shops focus on artisanal brewing methods, single-origin beans and minimalist shop designs, it added.
Furthermore, coffee kiosks like Big Brew, Pickup Coffee and various regional iced coffee stalls catering to the fast-growing market for convenient, budget-friendly caffeine options contribute to the vibrant coffee industry.
The emergence of various coffee brands outside the traditional, huge global names indicate the “rich” and “expanding” influence of local café innovators, UA&P-CFA said.
“Though these smaller and niche players hold modest individual shares of the market, collectively they play a vital role in the evolution of the industry,” it said.
“They offer localized flavors, elevate coffee standards, and respond to the preferences of a wide and increasingly discerning customer base,” it added.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the coffee market and coffee sellers industry of the Philippines will keep modernizing as more people keep on buying coffee? Do you think the recent study should focus more on convenience stores selling coffee? What is your favorite coffee shop here in the Philippines?
In the middle of mixed reactions towards the United States’ 19% tariff on Philippine exports, Nomura Global Markets Research stated that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth could be cut by 0.4%, according to a BusinessWorld news report. Recently, US President Donald Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., met in the White House which resulted in the new tariff.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…
THE United States’ 19% tariff on Philippine goods could cut the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) growth by 0.4 percentage point (ppt), Nomura Global Markets Research said.
In a report, Nomura said the US tariff of 19% on Philippine goods is “fairly high” and poses downside risks to growth.
“We estimate the direct effects could reduce our baseline GDP growth forecasts by a still-substantial 0.4 ppt in the Philippines.”
Nomura said this projection is “relatively substantial” compared to its baseline growth forecasts of 5.3% and 5.6% for this year and 2026, respectively.
“This is partly because we assigned 10% as the level where the reciprocal tariff rate could settle, on the assumption that the Philippines is a strong ally of the US and is not a third country for transshipments,” Nomura said.
“As it turns out, despite the visit to Washington by President Marcos and both sides reiterating the need for a strong partnership, the tariff was still set at 19%, which is even higher than the ‘Liberation Day’ level of 17%.”
Last week, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. met with US President Donald J. Trump at the White House in Washington, DC. Mr. Trump announced a 19% tariff would be imposed on Philippine goods, which will take effect starting Aug. 1.
“The trade ‘deals’ therefore represent upside surprises in terms of tariff rates, especially for the Philippines,” Nomura said.
“As a result, if implemented and these tariff rates are sustained, these will likely further weigh on growth in both countries relative to our current baseline forecasts.”
The government expects GDP to grow by 5.5-6.5% this year, lower than its previous target of 6-8%.
“While these ballpark estimates make sense to us, uncertainty remains high and these are ‘only’ taking into account the direct effects on these ASEAN countries’ exports to the US,” Nomura said.
These estimates do not account for sectoral tariffs, such as in semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, which are currently exempted, it added.
“But as our US team highlights, the risk is these could be set higher, though some countries could be exempted, adding to the uncertainty. As mentioned above, the details of the trade deals with Indonesia and the Philippines are still limited.”
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines is in a serious disadvantage with the American tariff of 19% imposed on the nation’s exports? Do you think the Philippine economy still has strong momentum to reach 6% GDP growth by the end of this year?
While a lot of economists stated that the economy of the Philippines is unlikely to achieve 6% growth this year, the New York-based investment firm Cerberus Capital Management is investing an additional P15 billion in the country, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article. For the newcomers reading this, Cerberus is the operator behind the Agila Subic Shipyard.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the first PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
New York-based alternative investment firm Cerberus Capital Management is investing an additional PHP15 billion in the Philippines within a year, as it sees progress in its existing operations and government support for foreign investors.
The company, which operates the 300-hectare Agila Subic Shipyard, the former Hanjin Shipyard in Subic Bay that it acquired in 2022, disclosed the plan during a meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Washington, DC earlier this week.
In a press release Friday, the company said the additional investments will be used to update the shipyard and introduce new projects in logistics, energy, and transport infrastructure.
Cerberus managing director Alexander Benard said they are “encouraged by the progress we’ve seen and by the strong support from the Philippine government.”
“We believe the Philippines holds significant long-term potential as a regional hub for industrial and logistics activity. We look forward to building on this momentum and supporting the development of our key strategic assets in the Philippines,” he said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines will experience a breakthrough of additional foreign investments over the next six months?
The uncertainty about this year’s economic growth for the Philippines has gotten stronger as the Department of Finance (DOF) admitted that achieving 6% growth is quite difficult, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The DOF pointed to external shocks that are affecting the national economy.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
While the Philippine economy has already been recovering from its deep recession during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, hitting its growth potential of six percent would be challenging given the global uncertainties spilling over domestically, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
“We do think that the potential of the Philippines is at the minimum six-percent growth. But of course, it’s quite difficult, especially knowing some of the challenges that we’re seeing,” DOF Undersecretary and Chief Economist Domini Velasquez told reporters during the Philippine thrift banks’ annual convention on Tuesday, July 15.
Just before the initial three-month pause on reciprocal tariffs ended on July 9, United States (US) President Donald Trump had stretched it to Aug. 1, but hiked the rates for Philippine exports to 20 percent from 17 percent previously, repeatedly citing the “significant and persistent trade deficit” that the trade giant has with its former colony.
Velasquez noted that the tariff hike was among the uncertainties that the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) had considered in downscaling its growth target for the year, through 2028.
Last month, the economic team slashed its 2025 GDP growth target to between 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent from six- to 6.5-percent previously. Cited as factors were heightened external uncertainties, especially the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the imposition of US tariffs.
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto told reporters during an informal press chat on Wednesday, July 16, that he expects the economy to accelerate “significantly” in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter.
“In effect, the target is still six percent for the year,” Recto noted, taking off from the recently revised growth goal. “Realistically, it’s probably around 5.7 percent or 5.8 percent for the year. It depends, because there’s a lot of uncertainty—uncertainty with trade policy.”
“But I think the second quarter will definitely be better than the first,” Recto said, noting that the improvement will be driven by both government and household consumption.
The DBCC had also narrowed the growth target range for 2026 to 2028 to six to seven percent, from the previously more ambitious six to eight percent.
“We did recognize those [tariffs]. When we dialed down on our growth target in 2025, it’s really because of the external factors that we were seeing,” Velasquez said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the national economy is not strong enough to achieve 6% GDP growth by the end of this year? What do you think the national government should do to strengthen economic growth and make the Philippines more attractive to foreign investors? Do you think the Philippines still has a chance to convince America to lower its planned tariff on Philippine-made goods?
Months after initial communications were made (click here and here), Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. finally met with US President Donald Trump in the White House and this ultimately resulted in a 19% tariff on Philippine goods by America, according to two related news articles (click here and here) by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
For the newcomers reading this, America initially announced a 17% tariff on products from the Philippines last April and it was recently revised to 20% which surprised many here in the Philippines. Now that the American tariff for Philippine goods has been settled at 19%, President Marcos called the reduction significant. It should be noted that America generated more than $100 billion in new revenue from tariffs under Trump this year.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the first PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Philippine exports to the United States (US) will now be subject to a 19 percent tariff, down from the 20 percent Washington initially planned to impose, US President Donald Trump announced following what he called a “beautiful visit” by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the White House.
Part of the new deal includes granting zero tariffs for American products bound for the Philippines.
Philippine President Marcos with US President Trump at the White House. (photo source – the White House)
“It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account early Wednesday (Manila time).
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt tweet of President Trump’s TRUTH Social post about the meeting with President Marcos and new trade deal.
He also described Marcos as a “very good and tough negotiator.”
Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the US comprised the highest export value amounting to USD1.115 billion, or 15.3 percent of the country’s total exports in May this year.
Posted below is an excerpt from the other PNA news article related to Marcos’ description of the 1% reduction of tariff by America as well as his clarification about Philippines’ zero tariff approach on certain American products coming to the country. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. defended the Philippines’ new trade arrangement with the United States (US), saying the reduced 19 percent tariff on Philippine exports—down from the proposed 20 percent—is a “significant achievement,” amid questions over its fairness.
“One percent might seem like a very small concession. However, when you put it in real terms, it is a significant achievement,” Marcos said in a press briefing following his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday (Manila time).
The President acknowledged that the new deal also opens key Philippine markets to American products—particularly vehicles, agricultural goods, and pharmaceuticals—but said the arrangement will benefit Filipinos through lower prices and stronger bilateral trade.
“We will open that market and no longer charge tariffs on that… para makamura naman ‘yung mga – maging mas mura ‘yung gamot natin (so we can lower the cost of medicines),” he said.
Marcos said while the 19 percent tariff on Philippine goods is still substantial, it reflects a step forward in trade engagement with Washington D.C. and lays the groundwork for future negotiations.
For transparency, posted below is the official video from the White House YouTube channel.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you realize that there is a lot more about US and Philippines relations that go beyond the newly agreed trade agreement? Do you think America’s 19% tariff on exports from the Philippines will add challenged to the Philippine economy? What do you think about the Trump-Marcos meeting? Did you pay attention to the planned Subic Bay ammunition manufacturing plant that was mentioned? If you are based in the Philippines, do you look forward to importing American-made vehicles, agricultural products and pharmaceutical products once they enter the country without any tariffs imposed on them? Do you think the newest exchange between Trump and Marcos will make Communist China concerned or worried?
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, 1970s arts and culture enthusiasts, DC Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1979 to take a close look at a part of the DC Comics universe through a tale of the Action Comics monthly series.
Do you enjoy following stories with the “make-a-wish” concept as a key element? Or do you prefer seeing major events happen because someone else has the power to alter reality? I for one don’t enjoy those concepts very much and the element of wish-making really ruined the story of the glossy cinematic failure Wonder Woman 1984 (written and co-directed by Patty Jenkins). When it comes to Superman, the wish-making or the ability to seriously alter reality could be effect in storytelling when the right creators are involved.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at Action Comics #497, published in 1979 by DC Comics with a story written by Cary Bates and drawn by Curt Swan.
The cover.
Early story
The story begins inside a shed on a lot with three boys who have their own Superman club and support the Man of Steel’s never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way. Arthur, who is up for drawing something for the next club newsletter, shared his idea (inspired by what he saw in a movie) about a gigantic meteor from outer space heading towards Metropolis which would compel Superman to save the city. Near the three boys is an empty chair reserved for a particular someone.
Many miles away deep within Metropolis, Clark Kent attends a conference in which Lana Lang delivers remarks to an audience of GBS affiliates. As Lana tells the audience that their news team is determined to maintain high standards of broadcasting, a uniformed door man causes a disturbance by telling everyone that a blackout has plunged the entire city into darkness.
Suddenly, the audience exited the venue and Lana notices that Clark is gone. Elsewhere, Superman quickly flies high and sees a giant meteor (the size of a stadium) on a collision course with Metropolis…
Quality
Do you wish you have the power to make superheroes do something as you wish?
Starting with the concept of reality getting seriously altered by someone with tremendous power, the said concept really brought the fantasy aspect of this Superman tale to a very high level. The Man of Steel ends up getting into unbelievable situations and do things that are amazing or shocking. In order words, the concept of altered reality (related to wishful thinking and intense imagination) actually works well in this tale thanks to the Bates-Swan duo.
Of course, this is not simply a Superman story about wild events that compelled him to react. There are character-driven scenes that emphasize how Superman analyzes what has been going on and why he seems to be controlled or guided to do things that he had no intent of doing. This particular element of the story raises questions about the ethics of having so much power at hand and being able to command a more powerful person to do something (as a wish is made by the one who wields a lot of power).
Considering the wild events that happened throughout the story, I can say that the Bates-Swan duo successfully pulled off a worthy pay-off at the conclusion.
Conclusion
Superman saves Metropolis and many people once again. Lana Lang is among the people on the street.
Action Comics #497 (1979) is an old Superman tale that is worth reading. While you won’t see Superman encountering any super villain, the fantasy elements and wild events more than made up for it. More importantly, the Bates-Swan duo was really careful with using the make-a-wish and reality altering concepts to make the plot believable while preventing it from becoming too outlandish. The result is a Superman tale that is entertaining to read.
Overall, Action Comics #497 (1979) is recommended.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the video game 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 retro gaming enthusiasts, Atari fans, geeks and others who are passionate about video games!
Today we go all the way back to the year 1980 when Atari released in arcades a game that strongly resonated with people who were concerned about a potential nuclear conflict between the United States and Russia during the Cold War…Missile Command.
Designed by Dave Theurer and programmed by Rich Adam with Theurer, Missile Command is a 2-dimension shoot ‘em up arcade game that had a trackball to allow players to control a crosshair to defend six existing cities. The arcade also had three buttons players could use to launch surface-to-air missiles from the three missile bases to protect the cities from incoming ballistic missiles that came from an unseen enemy.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at the Missile Command arcade game of 1980 developed and published by Atari.
The arcade flyer with a great looking painted artwork. This one really resonated with gamers who lived during the Cold War.
Game design
As the commander of three missile bases (each armed with 10 defense missiles), the player is tasked to protect six existing cities from waves of ballistic missiles (launched by an unnamed enemy) coming down. From time to time, the enemy deploys bombers, satellites/drones and smart bombs to overwhelm your defense and test your precision and decision making.
You have three missile bases that each has its own supply of defense missiles. There are cities between each base which you have to defend from the endless assault of enemy missiles, smart bombs, war planes and satellites/drones.
When your defense missile detonates in the air, it creates an explosion which serve as a shield to destroy enemy missiles, war planes and satellite/drones when contact is made. If any projectiles from the enemy manages to get through the aerial explosion, you will have to quickly launch more defense missiles from the near base you have.
Players use a single crosshair which designates which part of the sky a defense missile can be fired at. Once the defense missile reaches its destination (placed by the crosshair) in the sky, it will explode and cause a growing flame lasting seconds. The said flame serves as a shield that can destroy the enemy’s ballistic missiles, smart bombs, war planes and satellites/drones upon contact. Defense missiles can be launched consecutively into selected spots in the sky in anticipation of the incoming weapons of the enemy.
To proceed from one level to another, the player must have at least one city remaining intact. Once all the six cities have been destroyed and the player no longer has any unused missiles (and no new cities earned by reaching certain high scores that justify rewards), the game will end with a “Game Over” screen with an explosion in the background.
Quality
In this screenshot, the enemy’s satellite/drone is floating while a smart bomb is about to hit the missile base at the lower-right. Smart bombs can be challenging to intercept because it reacts by avoiding the aerial explosion of defense missiles.
This arcade game – which is currently available for modern console owners to play via the Atari 50: The Anniversary Collection – remains very engaging and a lot of fun to play with after all these decades. As a player, my only objective was to defend the six existing cities and three missile bases from the waves of enemy ballistic missiles (and smart bombs in later levels) coming from the sky. Given the way the game was designed, this is strongly emphasized and the only times I could attack the enemy is by launching my own missiles towards the enemy’s bombers and satellites/drones (note: both of these are capable of launching more missiles at you).
If any of the enemy’s weapons hits one of your missile bases, it and the remaining supply of defensive missiles will be wiped out. Enemy missiles that hit a city will result in total destruction. Considering the intentional increase in challenge with each new level of play started, the enemy’s ballistic missiles move faster, the warplanes and/or satellite/drones appear more and the smart bomb – which is the most difficult to intercept as it deliberately avoids the aerial flames caused by your defense missiles – get launched against you.
When intercepting enemy missiles, you have to think quick where to aim (ahead of incoming missiles), which missile base to use to launch defense missiles and remember how much missiles do you have left per base.
That being said, the game deliberately becomes harder which compelled me to be more watchful of enemy weapon movements, and to be more strategic using my defense missiles while keeping a quick eye on the remaining supply of missiles per base. While the in-game difficulty intensifies per level, the game never became frustrating to play nor did it ever turn into a chore on my part. I just keep playing because I found the increasing challenges actually fun to take on.
The game’s visuals are still good to look at. It’s still engaging to see streaks of missile trails (both your defense missiles and the enemy’s ballistic missiles) fill the air above the cities and the flashing light effects that simulate explosions are still effective as eye candy. Along the way, the game’s sound effects worked perfectly with the visuals and they added a lot to the immersion.
When you score enough points, the game will reward you with a bonus city.
Me putting my initials after achieving a great score in Missile Command.
Considering its simplicity and the way it was designed, there clearly is no way for players to win at all. Rather, the game will challenge your precision, decision-making and ability to defend your cities and bases. That being said, the greater challenge is to survive and be able to move on to the next level with missile bases and whatever cities remaining you still have to defend. As with other games of the past, achieving the high possible score – which reflects your endurance, skill and progress – is a goal here. Achieving certain high scores also result in an extra city for you.
Cultural relevance
Missile Command’s legacy as one of the greatest arcade games ever released is undeniably real. Not only that, this game resulted in a lot of ports for consoles, portable gaming devices and home computers through the decades. This classic was re-released in several compilations from Atari and the Xbox-listed Missile Command contains the arcade version. In 2020, a remake called Missile Command: Recharged was released as part of the Atari Recharged series of games.
The different Missile Command arcade machines.
Missile Command even appeared for a few seconds in Terminator 2: Judgment Day which added more to the film’s concept of nuclear war.
With regards to arcade gaming, Missile Command is notable for having a trackball on its machine as a way for arcade players to control the crosshair during game sessions.
Conclusion
Apart from being the commander of missile defense, try imagining yourself being on of the citizens living in one of those cities. Can you imagine watching real-life missiles get intercepted in sky above you?
The Missile Command (1980) arcade game is a true video game classic and it remains compelling and enjoyable at the same time. It can also be an intriguing game experience since it does not let players complete the game by winning. All players can do is perform the best defense they could, survive to the next round and keep playing until their defense gets overwhelmed by the enemy and the rising in-game difficulty.
As a result of the game design, playing Missile Command is actually moral because the concept of defending your people using powerful yet limited resources is very strong all the time. Even with progressive difficulty, the game never became frustrating to play and I actually enjoyed the challenges knowing that defense and survival are main goals. Achieving the highest possible score is the other goal as reflected by video gaming of the era. Missile Command simply delivers bouts of fun and you cannot go wrong with playing it. It is not surprising that this game became a massive hit and established itself as a true classic among video games.
Overall, Missile Command (1980) highly recommended and the best way to play it on console today is to avail of Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration compilation.
They finally did it! The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) –the independent agency of the American government responsible for administering civilian and foreign aid – was formally shut down by the Trump administration and has been incorporated into the State Department, according to a news report by Breitbart.
It should be remembered that USAID was heavily abused for a long time and a lot of taxpayers’ money was abused for questionable and wrongful purposes around the world such as funding LGBTQ projects, pushing abortion overseas, overseas tourism promotions, terrorist funding, creating a Sesame Street in Iraq, creating a mural in Parañaque City, and more.
As expected, there are high-profile figures who still want USAID to continue even though the abuses have been exposed. This new development with USAID is undeniably a major change decades in the making and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued statements defending the move.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Breitbart news report. Some parts in boldface.
The US foreign aid agency formally closed down Tuesday, with President Donald Trump’s administration trumpeting the end of the “charity-based model” despite predictions that millions of lives will be lost.
Founded in 1961 as John F. Kennedy sought to leverage aid to win over the developing world in the Cold War, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has now been incorporated into the State Department — after Secretary of State Marco Rubio slashed 85 percent of its programming.
In a farewell to remaining staff on Monday, former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama — as well as U2 frontman Bono — saluted their work and said it was still needed.
Bush pointed to PEPFAR, the massive US effort to fight HIV/AIDS that he considers one of the top achievements of his 2001-2009 Republican presidency.
“This program shows a fundamental question facing our country — is it in our nation’s interest that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is,” Bush said in a video message seen by AFP.
Obama, who like Bush has been sparing in openly criticizing Trump, said that ending USAID was “inexplicable” and “will go down as a colossal mistake.”
“Gutting USAID is a travesty and it is a tragedy because it’s some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world,” the Democrat said.
A study published in the medical journal The Lancet predicted that more than 14 million people would die, a third of them small children, by 2030 due to the foreign aid cuts.
‘Little to show’ – Rubio painted a drastically different picture of USAID, which was an early target of a sweeping government cost-cutting drive led for Trump by billionaire Elon Musk.
Rubio said that USAID’s “charity-based model” fueled “addiction” by developing nations’ leaders and that trade was more effective.
“Beyond creating a globe-spanning NGO industrial complex at taxpayer expense, USAID has little to show since the end of the Cold War,” Rubio wrote in an essay.
He also complained that many recipients of US aid do not vote with the United States at the United Nations and that rival China often enjoys higher favorability among the public.
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that The Lancet study relied on “incorrect assumptions” and said the United States will continue aid but in a “more efficient” way.
He said that PEPFAR will remain, with a priority on stopping HIV transmission from mothers to children.
But he acknowledged the United States was no longer funding PrEP medication, which significantly reduces the rate of HIV transmission and has been encouraged by high-risk communities.
“No one is saying that gay men in Africa shouldn’t be on PrEP. That’s wonderful. It doesn’t mean that the United States has to pay for every single thing,” the official said.
He said the Trump administration was looking at “new and innovative solutions” and pointed to food deliveries in war-battered Gaza staffed by US military contractors and surrounded by Israeli troops.
Witnesses, the United Nations and local Gaza officials have reported that Israeli troops have repeatedly opened fire and killed Palestinians waiting for aid — although the US-backed initiative, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, denies any deadly incidents.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you satisfied with the formal end of USAID and its incorporation into the State Department? Do you think a lot of people’s lives around the world will suffer from the shutdown of assistance from USAID?
Author Carlo Carrasco 