Toyota Hiace/Regius Ace Type-III

Toyota Hiace/Regius Ace 2011MY

As a favorite among Philippine families, tycoons, celebrities, politicians, and the rest of the people, the Toyota Hiace (also sold in Japan as this or Regius Ace) shows that this Japanese-built commuter van does it all aside from being a limousine, a school service, a taxi, or everything else we, Filipinos, do with this Toyota van.

Now, in 2010, the fifth-generation Toyota Hiace/Regius Ace received a second facelift, calling this the Type III version of the fifth generation Hiace. Since its Japanese debut in August 2004, and entered Type II since August 2007, this Hiace keeps getting better and better and I cannot help myself getting a hold of this latest minor change.

The only thing that changed in the Type-III version of the Toyota Hiace is the new front bumper and the redesigned headlamps. The new front look truly brings the new Hiace a good stance, but still too redundant to tell if this new face suits every Philippine entrepreneur among its rival vans, including the Foton View, the Toyota Hiace clone with the Alphard's front face.

While the Regius Ace only offers in van form, the Hiace comes in three forms, the van variant for family use, the wagon variant that is perfect as a taxi, and the commuter variant that makes it a perfect school service, good enough to bring the kids heading to school. Choosing which Hiace variant suitable for you depends on your outcome of your perception and if that goes well, the Hiace makes it your perfect companion for your business.

Both the new Hiace and the new Regius Ace comes with the new 1KD-FTV engine. This 3.0L diesel turbo engine has a power output of 144PS/3,400r.p.m. and a torque output of 30.6kgf・m//1,200～3,200r.p.m. Both of these vans also offer with either a 2.0L DOHC VVT-i or a 2.7L DOHC VVT-i gasoline engine. As for the transmission, either the 4-speed automatic or the 5-speed manual transmission is available for the Hiace and Regius Ace.

My thoughts about the Hiace/Regius Ace:
With Japan offering the latest facelift of the fastest-selling Hiace van, I guess we cannot wait if Toyota Motor Philippines, Inc., would bring the revised Hiace to our shores soon. With its facelift, can the new 3.0L diesel turbo engine succeed from its commercial van rivals? I hope that this new engine is good enough against the Nissan Urvan Escapade for sure.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Trick X Logic

A cunning mystery game for the PSP that leaves players spend 100 hours of game play solving the most out of the mystery novels unsolved by many. In this game, you will read one mystery novel, then what you will notice that you may use the mystery novel's storyline to solve by choosing a sentence that somewhat connects to this mystery novel. You can carry up to five sentences to carry your thesis. If one sentence relates to the sentence carrying the same reason, thought, and feeling, you will be able to combine these two related sentences into one complete thought or thesis. This trick is somewhat to be called the "Hirameki System". It is not going to be easy mastering the Hirameki system because it takes a few hours to read the entire mystery novel and create complete thesis statements. It looks challenging for a newbie, but for those who are interested in mystery novels might find "Trick X Logic" challenging but fun.

Trick X Logic divides this mystery-solving game into two seasons sold separately. Season One (Now On Sale) features the first four mystery novels ranging from the expensive figure case to a trespassing case. Season Two (Debut this September) features novels 5 - 10 with added difficulty and challenge, ranging from the Hamlet case to the alibi. Your brain is the only weapon to master the world of "Trick X Logic", do whatever it takes to read the whole mystery novel, and find a complete thought, statement, and thesis of this mystery novel with the "Hirameki System". I know it is not easy, but do whatever it takes to solve it.

Cadillac CTS Coupe

Since 2002, Cadillac launched the CTS to replace the Opel-sourced Catera sports sedan, and then in 2007, the CTS gained a full model change incorporating Cadillac's new design language from concepts to production cars. Last year, the CTS gained a new member, which is the CTS Sport Wagon targeted for those who had it with their European tourers. Today, a new sporty addition to the CTS range, from the sedan, the high-performance V, and the Sports Wagon, appeared that makes it a first of its kind since the Eldorado was eliminated a few years back.

Surprisingly, the new CTS Coupe is surely a prize fighter for Cadillac after General Motors reborn from last year's bankruptcy due to the Lehman Shock (a formal term for the world economic crisis), that is when General Motors is now focusing on the four surviving brands, Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac. Now for the main aspect of the coupe version of the CTS, the design remains stale from the concept version as seen from the 2008 North American International Auto Show, except for the interior, which is somewhat out with the ordinary and in with the extraordinary. Judging from Cadillac's design philosophy, the CTS Coupe matches an aggressive stance and a keen sense of style, providing this luxury sports car an unmatchable finesse and judgmental personality that is truly a target among men with high I.Q.

Under the hood, the CTS Coupe is powered with the standard 3.6L LLT V6 engine that delivers a sportscar-class power of 304 horsepower with the torque output of 273 lb-ft. It also comes with the optional AWD drive train so you can experience more fun to drive anytime. To add fun to it, the new CTS Coupe comes with the sport suspension tuned for the punishing Nurburgring Nordschleife, to bring out the CTS Coupe's full potential in cornering tight spots, including mountain passes. What disappoints the CTS Coupe is the standard 6-speed automatic transmission, which makes this coupe somewhat sluggish to move further. However, for the Performance variant, an optional 6-speed manual transmission is available for those who are seeking some fun to drive experience. What makes the CTS Coupe special is the standard StabiliTrak for a safer feeling while cornering. No one says this CTS Coupe is not the kind of Cadillac you have expected from its European enemies.

The CTS-V Coupe


In addition to the CTS Coupe is the ultimate white-knuckle ride that is surely a huge threat to the Audi RS5 is the new CTS-V Coupe. The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe is a field-upgrade version of the Cadillac CTS Coupe, and the V marque attached to this Cadillac coupe is the "V for victory" in the eyes of a true American car enthusiast. With the supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, Recaro seats, high-performance exhaust pipes, Nurburgring-tuned suspension, Brembo disk brakes, and a choice of a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, your I.Q. will sure be dropped from one to nothing if you are willing to be thrown to the excitement done by the new CTS-V Coupe. Despite the performance, I can assume that the CTS-V Coupe will not stand up against the newly launched Subaru WRX STi 4-door because of the Nurburgring lap time, but these two sports cars can become decent rivals in the eyes of a sports car aficionado.

My thoughts about the CTS Coupe:
There are so many reasons how this new CTS Coupe is now ready for action, it is because it will target the likes of the BMW 3-Series Coupe and the MB E-Class Coupe, it will bring out its striking beauty among Cadillac fanatics, and it with numerous options, this car would shine on the highway. If Top Gear Philippines place this car on the "Price This Car" segment, I would price it 5 million pesos for the base coupe and 8.5 Million for the CTS-V Coupe. The results can be obvious and in my honest opinions, both the CTS Coupe and the CTS-V Coupe are targeted by most celebrities, politicians, basketball players, and the rich kids trying to step up among the rest.

What to do with the useless "Wang-wangs"

Since we are now living in the age of "P-noy", the Philippines are now free of the noisy "wang-wangs" (we call them for sirens used by cops). The question remains in the eyes of a Pinoy with brain is, what can you do with all these useless wang-wangs or sirens to be specific?

Just ask Pooh from Banana Split. On the sketch called "Iba't ibang gamit ng isang gamit na walang gamit" (Several uses for useless things), Pooh, as Dr. RRR, shows us the many uses of the wang-wang now vanquished under the rule of the new Philippine President.

1) Can be used as a moving lights on parties, such as nightclubs, dance clubs, etc.

2) As a night lamp on the bedroom

3) As a buzzer on game shows

4) And also as an alarm clock for waking up

Guess this siren now removed on Philippine roads can have so many uses. ROFL

Misspelling Gee returns!

Another Friday night, another Bubble Gang episode.

With gags having parents telling their kids where did they get such a large money, massage, girls and gays fight in all-out hip-hop war, hunter vs. hunter, debating on...um...TV should never air such debates, another "Sabi-Sabi" episode, more IyoTube entertainment with our favorite Moymoy Palaboy and Roadfill, and that episode marks the return of the hilarious spelling quiz part called, the MISSPELLING GEE!

Think you know words? If Ogie Alcasid hosting this kind of spelling bee sketch, and have two students played by Maureen Larrazabal and Michael V, better start chuckling! The easiest words often misspell a lot by those two! ROFL...

And hey, on that IyoTube segment, that song you heard, was a remixed version of Charice's song titled Pyramid. Sounds enjoyable and fun with Moymoy Palaboy lip-syncing around Bubble Gang.

On Saturday, GMA will air a new kind of sitcom about a family of superheroes who are trying their best to hide their truth from the neighbors. It's called Kaya Ng Powers, and airs after 24 Oras Weekend.

Volkswagen Sharan II

While most of the European families readying themselves for their long summer getaway, it is not surprising that the brand behind the Beetles, Golfs, and Polos has just launched the second-generation Sharan just in time to prepare themselves for their long getaway.

Launched at the Geneva Motor Show since March and sales start this August, the new VW Sharan is mainly the target of small-sized minivans such as the second-generation Opel Meriva, Honda Freed, and the new Honda Freed Spike. With its trademark Volkswagen design, spacious seating arrangements, and good for seven people, especially the kids, this VW-made minivan is the main choice for the European families, even when the previous model made a milestone of having more than 600,000 Sharans sold worldwide.

Under the hood, the new Sharan covers 2 available engines such as the 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Technology engine, and the 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Engine. Both of these engines combine the aesthetics of being clean, powerful, and fuel-efficient engines, and henceforth the new Volkswagen Sharan dubbed as the perfect European eco-car for the masses. In addition, there are two available transmissions available for the new Sharan such as the 6-speed manual transmission and the 6-speed DSG.

The new Sharan's EasyFold seating system with EasyEntry function allows passengers to gain access to the third row seats without hassles. It can be folded for various seating arrangements available for multiple uses. These arrangements look perfect to bring more stuff around the average European family before beginning their big European summer break.

My thoughts about the Sharan:
While it may not seem to be a fun-to-drive minivan, this best-seller is now evolved to be a fuel-efficient eco-car targeted for European families readying themselves for summer break, from camping trips, wild adventures, tailgate parties, entrapment operations, or just for fun. Its downsize was the pricing because the Sharan's introductory price of 28,875 Euros is somewhat higher than the new Opel Meriva's introductory price of 15,900 Euros. However, the base 1.4L variant of the new Sharan's power output is 150PS, is higher than 100PS power output of the new Meriva's base 1.4L variant, which brings the new Sharan closer to its performance core. In my highest expectations, when Volkswagen returns to the Philippines, the new Sharan would be a hard-to-get among high-class Philippine people, especially the celebrities, because the pricing would reach to a Mercedes-Benz level.

Something's odd....

Every time when I switched the TV on to watch Hole In The Wall Season 2 on GMA, it shuffles me to some question why Ogie Alcasid often keeps his Kim Min-Yung role while Michael V switching roles week by week from Bianca, Min-Yung's die-hard fan, from week one, then he became as Kim Min-Yung's mom from week 2, and for this week, um, I think he dressed like Kim Min-Yung, only different, I wonder....

And if someone realized that did Bubble Gang made some sketch involved in fan service, hmmm, if you rewind your minds back at the May 21 episode (there was a Jejemon sketch) and if you saw the "Clothes Out" sketch, I think this is fan service.

Also, did you stay all afternoon long to see Banana Split Daily Servings? There is a mini-drama with the title so gross, you'll end up laughing and crying. It's titled "Ang Babaeng Hindi Maitaas Ang Kili-kili" (The girl who can't raise her underarm) and it makes me laugh and cry on Banana Split's mini-drama involving on the heroine named Josephina (Nina Jose) who struggles to fit in as the girl who can't raise her underarm. At first, we find out that whoever saw her shining underarm will end up being out of control, or even killing themselves, later, that shining part on her underarm was a monster inside Josephina vowing revenge on the death of Josephina's father who was killed by the cops, including her childhood friend Tonyo (Zanjoe Marudo), also, she was targeted by the enemies who can't show their bellies. Now, it seems that the underarm that made everyone idiots became a miracle. Whoever swallows the sweat of Josephina's underarm will cure themselves. Hmmm... scary but funny at first, and miraculous at later.

Oh well, an apple a day "melf me all da way" ROFL.

A very special font....

Last I heard, there was a very special font designed from the likes of popular K-On character Mio Akiyama.

It's called the "Mio Font" and here's the link:

http://www.flopdesign.com/font2/mio.html

To download this special Mio Font, scroll down and click the yellow square to download it. Whatever floats your boat....

Crissy's back! YAY!

That night's episode of Banana Split marks the return of our favorite Banana Split-gagged version of Kris Aquino, Crissy (played by Angelica Panginiban) in Banana Split's NNNN (Ntertainment News Na Naman)! Wow, seems we missed her, um you guessed it, her back, and now she's really back. She's really really really back.. With Crissy back to mess some with Bhoy (Jayson Gainza's take on Boy Abunda) and some showbiz news, Banana Split's NNNN is complete.

After NNNN, there's some Egyptian Fashion Show jokes where there's some part where, um, I don't know how to say it, but it's darn funny. Later on, some crazy tips from Melai from M3: Melai Mo Magwork, some dances, and another Mutanglawin episode where we learn about magic lamps and genies.

Think you can outsmart the third wish with another wishes? Think so!

Busou Shinki or Loveplus?

Cuteness is in the eye of a Japanese otaku. In the hands of the troops from Konami, the words "Buso Shinki" and "Loveplus" seems to be differ depending on which Konami fan decide on those two. Could an otaku choose a "take-everywhere virtual girlfriend" or figures with movable parts most Konami fans love especially the PSP game where they show who's Busou Shinki is the boss?

CASE ONE:

Konami's not all things Metal Gear, DDR, Silent Hill, and Castlevania. These troops also specialize in all things "moe" and cute, especially animes with their own Konami-branded games, goods, and others.

About Busou Shinki, these were the figures that were cute and customizable. It uses MMS (Multi Movable System) to move the figure's parts freely as the customer wishes to do with it. It debuted since fall 2006 with the introduction of the very first two Busou Shinki figures, Arnval and Strarf, following with different Busou Shinki variants in the following years.

The Busou Shinki shock in Japan is not just the success of these figures, but also online (http://www.shinki-net.konami.jp/) and now on the PSP video game Busou Shinki Battle Masters. From the net to the PSP game, most Busou Shinki enthusiasts in Japan can customize their Busou Shinki the way they want, and pit them to battles. Reputation is the key in the eyes of the Busou Shinki owner and his/her Busou Shinki, and the only way to gain reputation is to win battles. If they win battles, the Busou Shinki will gain experience based on their performance. A key reminder is its respect, if his/her Busou Shinki wins more, it will respect more on the owner. Talk about a part-dating sim, part fighting-game....

CASE 2:

Since its debut from fall 2009, Loveplus is a real-time dating sim game that pits lonely male Japanese players to choose either Manaka Takane, Rinko Kobayakawa, or Nene Anegasaki. What the player do to the selected virtual girlfriend is spend time together any way a player wants.

Since the Loveplus shock that made this game successful in Japan, the R&D of Konami decided to give Loveplus some minor changes and the Loveplus's facelift, called Loveplus Plus, debuted just in time for the long Japanese summer vacation.

Fast fact: Some Japanese guy tied a knot with the choses Loveplus gal, Nene. Read the scoop: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10404956-71.html

My Comment: Seems the Konami name is not just a "Militaires Sans Frontieres", the R&D of Konami also specializes in all things "moe" and cute, especially the wide success of either the Busou Shinki figures and the Loveplus game. Hope I can find one of those in selected Comic Alley stores...

Kia K5 to be featured in IRIS Spin-off

Back in late 2009, with IRIS making a huge success thanks to actor Lee Byung-hun and others, Taewon Entertainment made tie-ups with Kia Motors for the vehicles shown in this Korean action drama, including the K7 premium sedan.

Coming late 2010, Taewon Entertainment is planning a spin-off from the successful IRIS action drama, titled Athena.

Read the article:

http://www.dongdrama.com/action-spy-korean-drama-athena-releases-teaser-poster.html

And also according to the Korean car enthusiast site, Megaauto, the Kia K5 will be making an appearance in this IRIS spin-off drama.

Last they heard, they've seen the K5 during the Athena shooting, as far as I know. It seems to be a cold principle, but the K5 is a hard-hitting blockbuster car, defeating the Hyundai Sonata as the top-selling car of this category.

Thumbs up to Taewon Entertainment and good luck for this project, and thumbs up for Kia Motors for making the K5 successful.

Trick DS -Kakushigami no Sumu Yakata-

With the success from the 2000 mystery J-drama series and movies especially the latest Rei Noryoku Sha Battle Royal movie, Konami (famous for its flagship titles such as Metal Gear, DDR, Silent Hill, and Akumajo No Dracula, otherwise known as Castlevania) has decided to bring the mystery drama straight to Nintendo DS, as a direct alternative to PSP's Misshitsu No Sacrifice.

This Trick game made exclusively for the DS is far more to be a mixture of visual novel that covers the new adventures of talented magician Naoko Yamada and eccentric professor Jiro Ueda and as a searching game to look for items and puzzles that proceed you to different aspects.

It might seem rough to do it but this game is much more like the PSP game called Misshitsu No Sacrifice, but the storyline is original, showing not only characters from the TV drama but in-game characters as well. I think this game is rather more primitive than other games that were visual novels at first but its a puzzle-solving game that requires the player's mind to solve puzzles for a very long time.

My point: The TV drama seems to be OK in the eyes of a J-dorama addict but fans are going to be frustrated when they're playing this DS game. It's worth attempting...