Tag: United States

Philippines Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Sector and Government React To Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025

Philippines Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Sector and Government React To Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025

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It is not surprising that both the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector of the Philippines and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) reacted to the filing of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 which was filed in the United States Senate, as reported separately by BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror and the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For the newcomers reading this, the Philippines BPO sector (sometimes referred to simply as the call center industry even though many local firms have gone beyond taking calls) is now a major part of the national economy with more than 1.7 million Filipinos employed, $35 billion in annual export revenues and the United States of America (USA) alone is the single largest market with 2024 export revenues reported at $25 billion (reported by BusinessMirror).

In the Filipino perspective, call centers are very important because they offer a lot of high-paying jobs for Filipinos who badly need employment. The so-called call center effect on local society and economics includes new stores and food vendors opening up nearby, the opening of new convenience stores operating 24/7, the established restaurants nearby serving customers around-the-clock, and the opening of new branches of banks. Of course, the income Filipinos earned from their BPO jobs enabled them to acquire new things, pay their bills, subscribed to digital services, and move into better residences while helping their families make ends meet.

Having been a call center agent myself a very long time ago, I have witnessed such socio-economic developments happen whenever a call center is present and I was in Cebu province.

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

Diversification will help cushion the possible impact of the proposed “Keep Call Centers in America Act,” aimed to protect local jobs by removing federal grants to companies that have call centers outside the United States.

The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry contributes a big part to the Philippine economy, with employment of around 1.4 million in 2024 and revenues of about USD38 billion. Around 70 percent of clients are based in the US.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque said there are no discussions yet with officials of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) but expressed openness to talk about possible measures to help the sector.

“But for us, (the) DTI, of course, we’ll continue to help the IT-BPO (and) IBPAP businesses in whatever they need from us. Of course, we’ll assist the same way we’ve assisted in the past,” she said.

“We can’t just look at the US as the only market. The world is the market. If you look at their population as compared to the world, it will show you that we should really find other avenues to explore.”

Next, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) confirmed it is still evaluating the potential impact of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025. For insight, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld report. Some parts in boldface…

THE IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said it is still evaluating the potential impact of the proposed Keep Call Centers in America act.

“It talks about US call centers so I really do not know who that will affect with the way that it is worded,” IBPAP President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan R. Madrid said on the sidelines of an ECCP AI Forum.

“We need to understand it a little bit more. I think I know what their intention is. But I don’t know the likelihood of this passing. Obviously it is something we are monitoring, and with the way that it is worded, we need to study it more,” he added.

Introduced in the US Senate last month, the bill aims to impose restrictions on US firms outsourcing their call center operations.

In particular, the bill, if signed into law, will render employers outsource call center work overseas ineligible for new federal grants or guaranteed loans.

“I am speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce; we are discussing it and we will see. But we are all aligned on how we will manage this,” he said.

“While the bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process, we remain committed to keeping our stakeholders informed, providing timely guidance, and ensuring that the Philippine IT-BPM industry is well-positioned to adapt and thrive in a changing regulatory environment,” he said.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera said that the proposed bill poses a “clear risk to the Philippine IT-BPM industry, especially in the call center segment.”

“By restricting access to US federal grants, contracts, and loans for companies that offshore customer service jobs or do not properly disclose them, the bill raises the regulatory and reputational costs for offshore operations,” he said via Viber .

He said the Philippine industry has been evolving beyond voice-based call centers, which are less exposed to call center-specific legislation.

“We now see strong growth in high-value services such as finance, healthcare information management, legal process outsourcing, software development, and data analytics,” he said.

With the US Senate’s proposal to bring back call centers to the US, he said that the Philippines must continue to move up the value chain to reduce exposure to such policies.

“While the bill underscores vulnerabilities in our call center export model, it also reinforces the importance of accelerating investment in high-value, tech-enabled services where the Philippines can maintain global competitiveness,” he added.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the bill could be “a potential drag on future growth of the industry.”

For this year, the IT-BPM industry is expected to generate $40 billion in export revenue and increase its workforce to 1.9 million.

To examine the details of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025, click here and here.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think the IT-BPM sector of the Philippines has what it takes to protect itself from whatever effects the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 could create if ever it gets signed into law? Do you personally know anyone who is working in a BPO firm or a call center here in the Philippines? What kind of assistance do you think the national government will offer to the IT-BPM sector? Do you think the existing call centers should search for English-speaking clients in England, Ireland, Scotland, Israel and the like?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Independence Day #0 (1996)

A Look Back at Independence Day #0 (1996)

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book, watching the 1996 movie 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 science fiction enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1996 to take a close look at one of the licensed comic books Marvel Comics published which was part of the release of the movie Independence Day (also referred to as ID4).

Back in 1996, there was a considerable amount of hype and anticipation for Independence Day’s release in cinemas not just in America but also in other parts of the world. Following the success they achieved together in Stargate (1994), producer Dean Devlin and director Roland Emmerich teamed up again to make Independence Day which was back then the most modern cinematic portrayal of aliens invading Earth causing the people to fight back. The film creatively was also a disaster movie of its own backed with science fiction concepts and the latest special effects of the era. Independence Day went on to gross almost $820 million worldwide and I myself saw it in a fully packed cinema here in the Philippines.

As I saw the movie, I noticed details about events that took place sometime in the past and they were presented not as flashbacks but only as spoken words. There is that verbal reference about Jeff Goldblum’s character punching Bill Pullman’s character some time before the latter became US President. There are also spoken words about Randy Quaid’s character being previously abducted by aliens. As part of the marketing and publicity of the movie, Marvel Comics was licensed to publish not only a 2-part comic book adaptation but also a prequel comic book.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Independence Day #0, published in 1996 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Phil Crain (based on ideas by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerih) and drawn by Terry Pallot, Steve Erwin, Rod Whigham and Gabriel Gecko.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins on July 4, 1947 in Roswell, New Mexico. A thunderstorm took place in the evening compelling residents to stay inside their respective homes. As the storm went on, an unidentified flying object (UFO) of alien origin got struck by thunder causing it to crash on the field of someone’s property with a huge impact that disturbed local residents. The alien ship opens and one of its passengers (alien) ventures out into the stormy night. Injured and still in shock, the passenger slowly moves away from the ship.

The next evening, the property owner arrives and finds several pieces of debris of the crashed ship scattered on the field. He notices the metal are lighter than anything he touched, and he could see the writings were not man-made. The property owner informed the local sheriff of what he found which led to the American army sending troops to the field. The American military plane flies over them and finds the crashed alien ship.  

Quality

When Whitmore was still a US Senator and candidate for US President, he got punched by David Levinson who thought that he was having an affair with his wife Constance “Connie” Spano. This later led to the “You punched the President,” line in the movie.

As described above, this prequel comic book visually dramatizes the past events that were only mentioned in the movie particularly with regards to the Roswell UFO incident as well as Area 51 and how the government handled findings about aliens from outer space. In fact, the story here was scripted to move from one significant event to the next through the decades, and the good news here is that the exposition is not too heavy (when compared to Jurassic Park comic books of 1993) and the pacing moved at a medium pace. The result is a reading experience that is intriguing and entertaining.

The creators really went all in with their fictional portrayal of the movie’s aliens being involved in Roswell and Area 51, and the notable thing is that they really took the presentation seriously. It’s as if they were trying to tell a factual story which smoothly connects with the movie.

When it comes to the characters from the movie, you will find them in this comic book depending on the stage of the narrative and the time setting. While the characters of Pullman, Goldblum, Robert Loggia, Will Smith, Brent Spiner, James Rebhorn, Viveca A. Fox and Margaret Colin are dramatized in the 1990s scenes, you will see the younger versions of a few of them set in the 1960s scenes. The abduction scene of Randy Quaid’s character is set in the 1980s.

The Area 51 scene set in the 1960s.

As for the script written by Phil Crain, the narrative of this comic book surprisingly has a more serious and dramatic tone when compared to what was expressed in the movie. There were even a few horror elements and no comedic stuff at all. Again, this should not be surprising because this comic book was meant to dramatize past events to not only connect with the movie’s core concept but also show why certain characters acted the way they did in the film.

As this comic book involved multiple artists, it should not be a surprise that the result is of varying quality from one scene to another. In fairness, the illustrator (or illustrators) who drew the Area 51 scenes and the crashed alien ship did a good job with the details. As for the characters, pilot Steven Hiller resembled Will Smith enough, and the same can be said about Thomas Whitmore somewhat looking like Bill Pullman, David Levinson looking somewhat like Jeff Goldblum, and General Grey slightly looking like Robert Loggia. Meanwhile, Constance Pano resembled Margaret Colin more while the 1990s Dr. Okun resembled Brent Spiner in a few shots.

Conclusion

The creators went all-in to make the 1947 Roswell UFO incident a history of Independence Day.

To get straight to the point, Independence Day #0 (1996) succeeded with its main objective of establishing visually the past and emphasizing developments connecting with the blockbuster movie of 1996. It was made with a strong appeal to fans of Independence Day as well as people who simply are fond of UFOs and conspiracy theories regarding Roswell and Area 51. People who are not too interested in the movie and UFOs might not be impressed with this comic book. In my view, this prequel comic book has good enough qualities that make it worth reading and its serious narrative is both surprising and enjoyable. Ultimately, it is a worthy companion piece to the movie.

Overall, Independence Day #0 (1996) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 Causes Disturbance on Philippines Information Technology and Business Process Sector

Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 Causes Disturbance on Philippines Information Technology and Business Process Sector

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More than twenty years ago, I had a job at an American call center in Mandaue City, Cebu Province here in the Philippines. Back then, the call center industry of the nation was very young and yet quickly growing in terms of revenues, new foreign investments and new jobs. Today, the Philippines has a large information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector.

That being said, America today is quickly reforming under the leadership of President Donald Trump and already business ties and trade relationships have quickly been changing. In the United States Senate (US Senate), a bipartisan bill was formally filed – the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025.

Already, the proposal is already disturbing the information technology and business process management sector of the Philippines as revealed by the Manila Bulletin in its business news report.

To make things clear, I am not taking sides here. I am a citizen of the Philippines who worked for a few months in an American call center a very long time ago and at my age, I have no intention to return to call center work. I am already engaging in a new business that has nothing to do with call centers and business process management. As for how America’s leaders deal with call centers and business processing centers located in different parts of the world, that is their decision to make. It would be interesting, perhaps intriguing, to see how the Philippines IT-BPM sector will adjust if ever the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 becomes a law someday.

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

The Philippine information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector is bracing for the potential impact of a bill in the United States (US) Senate that seeks to end the practice of offshoring among American call centers.

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), the country’s leading IT-BPM group, said the industry is currently monitoring the progress of this proposed legislation.

“At this stage, we are continuing to track developments,” IBPAP told Manila Bulletin.

The proposed Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025, filed as a bipartisan bill in the US Senate, is aiming to curb offshoring or relocation of business operations from one country to another as it pertains to call center jobs.

In a statement by Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat, he said the bill looks to reverse the continued decline of call center operations in America, driven by the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) offshoring.

Citing data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Gallego noted that the American call center industry will lose approximately 150,000 workers by 2033 if such practices persist.

“The Keep Call Centers in America Act would work to reverse this trend by limiting federal benefits to companies that ship call center jobs overseas,” said Gallego, who filed the bill with West Virginia Senator Jim Justice, a Republican.

Under the proposed bill, companies are required to notify the US Department of Labor (DOL) at least 120 days before relocating operations overseas or contracting out call center work to another entity that relocates abroad.

The DOL, meanwhile, will be mandated to maintain a public list of employers that have relocated operations. Companies will remain on the list for five years “unless they return an equal or greater number of call center jobs in the US.”

Call center firms on this list will be ineligible for new federal grants and guaranteed loans and will not be given preference when awarding contracts.

In a CBS News report, Gallego said that aside from supporting the return of domestic jobs, the bill will likewise address consumer concerns when it comes to “security around their private information.”

The bill, if enacted, will cover businesses with either 50 or more full-time employees, or 50 or more employees whose combined work hours total at least 1,500 per week. As such, the measure will impact large-scale call center operations such as those that are currently operating in the Philippines.

Based on a 2023 report by the Ateneo Policy Center, more than 200 US-based firms have invested approximately $7.8 billion to set up operations in the Philippines since 2003.

The proposed Keep Call Centers in America Act could not have come at a worse time, given that the Philippines’ services exports are slowing down.

In a report, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) lead economist Emilio Neri Jr. noted that services exports shrank by 4.2 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).  This followed a 6.3-percent growth rate in the first quarter, which decelerated from a 13.2-percent expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Neri said the services export sector is weighed down by a sharp drop in travel and signs of weakness in the IT-BPM sector.

To examine the details of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025, click here and here.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you know a lot of people here in the Philippines who work in American call centers? Do you seriously believe that if ever the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 becomes a law, it will someday compel American companies to close down its call centers here in the Philippines and create a wave of new job losses? Without American companies and clients, do you think the Philippines IT-BPM sector will shrink dramatically? Do you think the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 will be passed by US Congress and get signed into law by US President Trump?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 96

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 96

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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 Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky Scandal Remembered – Remember how wild the news and opinions were back in 1998 over the scandal of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky? Even though there was no social media and people’s access to the Internet was not so massive at the time, there was no escaping the media buzz about the scandal which is arguably the most defining scandal of the 1990s. It also made Clinton not only look even more immoral, it damaged the reputation of the Democrats as well. I encourage you all to watch the video below.

#2 The Democrats Who Destroyed Themselves as They Tried to Destroy Donald Trump – By today’s standards, the Democrats of America are the Satanic Left, the Islamo-Leftists, the woke mob, the DEI nuts and also the most foolish group of politicians. That being said, take a close look at the Democrats who tried to destroy Donald Trump only to end up ruining themselves. Watch the video below.

#3 Independence Day Revisited – Way back in 1996, I saw Independence Day in a fully packed cinema here in the Philippines, and almost everyone enjoyed it for the thrills and the so-called ride experience. While it was the highest grossing movie of the world during its year of release, Independence Day clearly had flaws and it did not age well in my view. I have no intention to buy a Blu-ray or a 4K Blu-ray copy of it. Still, a lot of YouTubers made videos of the movie and you can see how it impacts them or what they learned about it by watching the selected videos below.

#4 Poltergeist a Cursed Movie? – If you have seen the 1982 film Poltergeist (directed by Tobe Hooper and produced by Steven Spielberg), chances are you got scared and startled while watching it. That being said, do you believe the claims and reports that the production of Poltergeist was cursed and haunted? To find out, go watch Minty Comedic Arts’ detailed video below. Then decide for yourselves after completing it.

#5 Foreign Tourists Enjoying Eels in Japan – Have you ever tasted eel with your meal? In Japan, it is a tradition for people to eat eels as those have a place in Japanese cuisine. I’m referring to unagi (Japanese for freshwater eel) which is served as part of unadon which is the popular meal consisting of a donburi type bowl (large size) filled with steamed white rice topped with eel fillets. It is not surprising that as Japan is attracted a high number of visitors from around the world, more foreign tourists there are consuming and enjoying it. Watch and learn from the video below.

6. Woke Hollywood Pathetically Freaks Out Over Dean Cain’s Decision to Join ICE – I can say it out loud that actor John Leguizamo – who is very woke and allied with illegal aliens and illegal immigrants – is pathetic with his response to Superman Dean Cain’s decision to join United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to serve the nation in getting rid of illegal immigrants. This goes the same with other woke nuts of Hollywood (Commiewood) who reacted the same way. Watch and learn the details from RK Outpost’s video below. I also want to state again the illegal immigrants are criminals, not refugees.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 95

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 95

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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 PatmanQC examines Popeye video games – Were you able to play the classic Popeye arcade game from Nintendo in the early 1980s? How about the other video games that featured Popeye the Sailor Man? Indeed, the American icon Elzie Crisler Segar had a presence in video games and I was fortunate enough to play a Popeye game on Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) a long time ago. To find out more about how Popeye went from cartoons and literature to video games, and what led to the production of the arcade game by Nintendo, watch the in-depth retrospective video below by the late PatmanQC.

#2 You, Me and the Movies react to Suburban Commando – In recent times, the famous Hulk Hogan passed away at age 71. Apart from being very famous as a wrestler, he also made his presence felt in movies with such films like Rocky III, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando and more. Recently, You, Me and the Movies posted its reaction video about Suburban Commando and it is entertaining to watch.  

#3 Foreigners love all-you-can-eat in Japan – If you will visit Japan as a tourist, how much food do you plan to eat? Recently there is a trend in which foreigners, specifically tourists from different countries, visiting the all-you-can-eat restaurants in Japan and it is not surprising that such images or details are spreading over social media. If you are interested in food and where to eat in Japan, watch the video below.

#4 Superman Dean Cain joins ICE – Immigration matters, particularly the presence of illegal immigrants, are still hot topics in American society. In recent times, the famous television Superman Dean Cain made the crucial to join the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and help in the effort to apprehend illegal immigrants (who are always supported by Democrats, the terrorists, the criminals, the woke and Satanic Leftists) and deport them. To learn the details about the latest move of the star of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, watch the Sky News Australia video below. I also added Minty Comedic Arts trivia video of Lois & Clark for those who want to learn more about the series and Dean Cain’s work.

#5 Twilight Zone: The Movie revisited – When I was a young boy, I saw a preview of Twilight Zone: The Movie on TV before it opened in local cinemas. I only got to watch it on cable TV in the 1990s and replayed it on DVD some years later. The 1983 movie, which had short stories crafted by different directors (including Steven Spielberg and George Miller), is indeed flawed yet a focused attempt by the filmmakers to get people involved with the decades-old Twilight Zone franchise as a whole. That being said, I encourage you to watch the selected Twilight Zone: The Movie videos below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

USAID closure felt by minority group in Nepal

USAID closure felt by minority group in Nepal

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Nepal, a nation of more than 30 million people and with a Hindu majority, has a certain group of minority people whose reliance on the scandalous U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) ended months ago and they event went on to celebrate pride recently, according to a news report by the Leftist Associated Press (AP) magnified by the Manila Bulletin.

For the newcomers reading this, the USAID global scandal happened months ago and there was a list of overseas projects of questionable and wrongful purposes that were funded with American taxpayers’ money. USAID has formally shut down and was incorporated into the State Department.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from AP story published through the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface.

Members of the Nepal’s LGBTQ+ community and supporters rallied in the capital Sunday in the annual pride rally, which was the first since a major cut in funding after the U.S. government ceased financial aid.

Hundreds of people took part in the rally through the heart of Kathmandu, playing music and dancing in the Gai Jatra festival, which is celebrated to remember family members who have passed away during the year. But it has long drawn colorful parades by bringing in sexual minorities to join in on the festivities.

Nepal’s LGBTQ+ campaign has been hit after U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration began dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, which was responsible for humanitarian aid.

Most of the support centers for Nepal’s LGBTQ+ community have been closed because of a lack of funds.

In the past few years, Nepal’s LGBTQ+ community made rapid advancements in securing their rights. The nation became one of the first in Asia to allow same sex-sex marriage. The constitution adopted in 2015 explicitly stated there can be no discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The U.S. was among the biggest donors for the LGBTQ+ rights campaign.

Over the years, USAID and others stepped in and partnered with help centers to support initiatives like HIV prevention and care, and safe-sex counselling. The U.S. funds were vital for running the centers and clinics that helped with distributing free condoms, screenings and follow-up treatment for people with HIV. Now the USAID office in Nepal is closed.

Even though they don’t have funds anymore from USAID, the minority group in Nepal still went on to spend time and money on celebrating pride. Here in the Philippines, the local LGBTQIA+ organizations depended on USAID funding. The USAID funding for the LGBTQ people in Nepal looks similar to what was funded to their Filipino counterparts. Going further, there was even an LGBTQ comic book project in Peru that got funded with $32,000 American taxpayers’ money. Very clearly, USAID was very abused and funded wrongful and questionable projects around the world.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Are you glad that the Trump administration ended USAID? Are you still upset over the fact that American taxpayers’ money funding LGBTQ projects, contraceptives, DEI (diversity-equity-inclusion) causes, and sex change procedures around the world through USAID? What do you wish to say to LGBTQ groups overseas who benefited from USAID support? Do you think that the LGBTQ projects funded by USAID might have involved bribery? Do you think US Congress should pass a proposal to prevent USAID from ever being revived?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 94

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 94

carlocarrasco

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 Popcorn in Bed react to Man of Steel – It has been over twelve years since I first saw Man of Steel in the cinema. Directed by Zack Snyder, the 2013 Superman movie had a mixed reception but managed to gross $670 million worldwide and led Warner Bros. to releasing more DC Comics superhero movies in a shared universe (ended in 2023). Recently, Popcorn in Bed finally posted its reaction video of Man of Steel and I can say it is worth the wait. Watch it now.

#2 Where to buy onigiri in Tokyo – Have you tried eating onigiri lately? Onigiri is a rice ball (rice wrapped in nori) popular in Japan and it is eaten by hand. While there is a growing number of convenience stores selling onigiri, there is still nothing like buying freshly made onigiri in dedicated stores or restaurants in Tokyo. Watch and learn from the video below.

#3 Faked presentation of starvation in Gaza exposed! – You might have seen all the news and images about starvation in Gaza through mainstream news outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, The Washington Post and more. Countless reports and images were published showing Gaza residents (Palestinians) desperate for food made gullible people sympathetic for the hungry while also becoming angry towards Israel. The truth of the matter is that the portrayal of Palestinian starvation is fake, staged and deliberately crafted by the Islamic terrorists who have lots of mainstream news media partners-in-crime with them. There is no real famine in Gaza at all and it is undeniable that Palestinian terrorist group Hamas (loved by the Islamo-Leftist media) stole humanitarian aid to feed themselves leaving nothing for their fellow Gaza residents. Watch and learn from the videos below.

#4 Full Metal Jacket reaction videos – Released in 1987, Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket succeeded in intriguing or even shocking moviegoers whose perception of the Vietnam War got shaken. To be clear, the movie (which starred Matthew Modine, R. Lee Ermey, Vincent D’Onofrio, Adam Baldwin, and Arliss Howard) was more than just about war. It also showed the dehumanizing effects of war preparation, the dark humor that happens during war time and how people react when their emotional limits and sanity were really pushed hard. That being said, you should see how the movie draws reactions from the following YouTubers through their respective reaction videos.

#5 Slope’s Game Room examines Castlevania game franchise – Since the 1980s, Konami and its talented developers produced a whole lot of Castlevania video games ranging from 2D side-scrolling adventures into 3D polygonal escapades. Considering how significant Castlevania is as a game franchise, now is a good time to examine the history of Castlevania through the in-depth videos of Slope’s Game Room below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Philippines attracts 3.47 million international visitors as of July 30, 2025

Philippines attracts 3.47 million international visitors as of July 30, 2025

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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.

For the newcomers reading this, the DOT confirmed early this year that the nation attracted less than 6 million foreign tourists in 2024 (note: the declared target was 7.7 million) and quickly pointed to all-time high revenue for success and the tourism industry as a whole contributed 8.9% to the 2024 Philippines gross domestic product (GDP).

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?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Action Comics #550 (1983)

A Look Back at Action Comics #550 (1983)

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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.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Economic study finds Starbucks and Dunkin’ leading Philippines coffee market while local brands are gaining

Economic study finds Starbucks and Dunkin’ leading Philippines coffee market while local brands are gaining

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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?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco