A Very Happy Christmas to All!!!

Kanon Nakagawa and Elsie

Well, this is that time of the year again...

It's Christmas!

This is the time of giving and the time of opening gifts. Look at the little kids now, waking up from their beds and rushing through the Christmas Tree, found out that there are stockpile of gifts waiting for them to open and those came from Santa Claus! It's sure to see kids happy opening their gifts. But for the kid in them, those gifts are belong to the hard-worked parents. Not sure about it but hey, you should say thank you to them for the presents you've obtained!

For some, most families are roaming around the neighborhood, claiming their presents to their loved ones, mostly cash and everything else. It seems common for a Muntinlupa boy like me to experience it. Every year, I roam around the neighborhood for some presents with a little help from someone name "Ate Glo" and no, I'm not referring to the former Philippine president kind of thing. Seems that it turned into an adventure while it lasted. Ah, the memories...

This year, this would be different. Here in the Philippines, things has changed. Remember the nightmare happened in places like Cagayan De Oro and Iligan? Yes, the flooding nightmare caused by Tropical Depression Washi. Most people here will never spend Christmas because of the recent nightmare but there is hope. We can still cheer them up with more donations. For the list of where to donate to our friends at Mindanao go to http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/how-to-help-our-brothers-and-sisters-in-mindanao and help them!

Here in Japan, Christmas will be different, very different. Since the March 11 Earthquake and Tsunami, the Fukushima Dai-ichi crisis, and the Strong Yen, Christmas is going to be very difficult for the average Japanese family today, as most of the survivors still living at their temporary housings while struggling to keep their lives normal despite being suffered from the nightmare 9 years ago. However, energy saving measures are on effect because this is the winter season. Expect most lights at Tokyo not to shine to conserve energy. Better plan when to use the heater guys and make sure to wear warm clothing!

In a country like Thailand, this is different too because most Thais are trying to recover from the recent Thai flood since October and we're hoping that the Japanese firms in Thailand will recover fast. As we know, most of the Japanese cars sold from the Philippines are from Thailand and we wish them a speedy recovery.

We wish them a very happy Christmas, a peaceful New Year, and I'm very sorry on your own. Yes, very sorry on your own.

After Christmas, I'm planning to do the list of the top 40 cars of 2011. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Photo: Shogakukan

Dodge Caliber dies...

2007 Dodge Caliber

Because of its poor sales, production of the Dodge Caliber compact has come to an complete end. It doesn't matter to us because Chrysler Group will replace the Caliber with the Giulietta-based Dodge Dart compact sedan next year.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/24/dodge-caliber-euthanized/

BANANA SPLIT CLOWN IN A MILLION UPDATE 12/24/11

In the spirit of Christmas, the December 24, 2011 episode of Banana Split's Clown in a Million provides the selected three ousted contestants a "Second Chance" in this WILD CARD EDITION. To gain the 4th spot, the ousted contestants; Leo Priscilla, James Caraan, and Onse, are performing some monologues.

First up, ousted contestant Leo Priscilla does the Chinese Feng Shui artist mock-up. Then, Onse shows up as the psychic. And then, James Caraan made it simple.

Guess who made a comeback at the Top 4 spot? Welcome back LEO PRISCILLA!!!

So, Leo Priscilla deserved a second chance but can he keep up?

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: Hoodlums kidnapping kids for organs...

When I was an elementary student, during recess, I've encountered a "Wanted" poster somewhere at the school lobby and as I read through the poster, this criminal is lurking around and seeing little kids as his prey just that he can get their internal organs. I was thinking that it was too creepy and why did that wandering criminal really want the kids' organs for?

This is what parents always said to their kids that they should be careful while playing outside and their number one rule is "Don't talk to strangers". You know what they meant. If only such rubbish pedophiles only targeting little kids for internal organs, I'd say that this is truly somewhat ridiculous to tell but most people say that some reports are true or just urban legends. Besides, I always stay indoors because it is safe but if I was still an elementary student at some school in Putatan, Muntinlupa City, I should just roaming around and ask people who the heck is that criminal who roams around for the little kids' internal organs.

Just the rule of thumb; always keep the doors locked at all times and never ever talk to strangers.

Happy Christmas! From Top Gear!

Just before the upcoming Top Gear India Special, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, greeted us a "Very Happy Christmas" and "They're Sorry on our own" on this Top Gear online exclusive.

Really? Did they did some good deeds? Uh...

Check it out:

IDOLM@STER 7th Anniversary coming this June 2012!

THE IDOLM@STER (Animation) Finale

Announced during the commercial break of THE IDOLM@STER finale, the 7th anniversary concert takes place at the Yokohama Arena, this June 23 to June 24, 2012. For a bigger treat, there's a bonus ticket hidden at THE IDOLM@STER DVD and Blu-Ray Volume 5. Well, details for this concert remain slim for now, but best to save some before THE IDOLM@STER DVD and Blu-Ray Volume 5 comes out next year and yes, it will be a "Limited Quantity" offer so first come, first serve, OK?

Filipinos poke fun at Siri with Vangie!

Vangie: The Pinoy Virtual Assistant

When the iPhone 4S came in the Philippines in mid-December 2011, most Filipinos just can't get enough with the Siri feature. Unfortunately, most of the Siri features are not available in the Philippines and worse, it can't understand Pinoy English, like for instance, you are asking Siri where is the nearby C.R. (Comfort Room) but Siri said it can't find maps in Costa Rica (?).

A video pokes fun at Siri's inaccessibility in the Philippines by showing the so-called Macapuno Systems their Pinoy version of Siri called Vangie. Whoa, Vangie sounds more like the name of your middle-aged neighbor but indeed it understands you more than Siri. What's so funny is that it can detect a snatcher by saying that "bakit iba ang boses mo?" when the snatcher asks Vangie.

If that come true, most Pinoy iPhone 4S users will take advantage of Vangie for sure and..this would be fun. Watch the video!