Let's Do The News! (May 28, 2025)

                     

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The Philippine Department of Justice is awaiting the return of former Congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. from Timor-Leste. In a press statement, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said the government will await Timor-Leste's final decision on Teves' return. The former congressman faces murder charges including the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

- PAG-IBIG Fund assets have reached 1.1 trillion pesos as of Q1 2025.

- An estimated P11 billion in unpaid obligations have been committed by the Manila city government. According to incoming Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Manila City Hall has between P8 billion and P11 billion in unpaid commercial obligations.

- About 8 volcanic quakes were recorded around the Bulusan Volcano, according to PHIVOLCS.

- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appealed to member countries of the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit to abide by international law amid the ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip. At the second ASEAN-GCC Summit, President Marcos expressed his concern over Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza that have resulted in a large number of civilian casualties, including women and children.

- The Office of Civil Defense clarified that the Magnitude 4.6 earthquake that shook parts of Quezon and neighboring provinces yesterday, May 27, has nothing to do with or is not connected to the West Valley Fault. In an emergency meeting held yesterday by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center, following the earthquake, with the regional offices of the Office of Civil Defense from NCR, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA, it was learned that the earthquake originated from a local fault in the Sierra Madre Range.

- The US Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) anti-ship missile will undergo a live fire test in Northern Luzon amid the Kamandag Exercise by the Philippine and US Marines. According to Philippine Navy Spokesperson Capt. JP Alcos, the missile launch is part of the ninth Kamandag Exercise that the allied forces have begun. This is part of a maritime strike operation with a target that has not yet been made public, as well as the exact location of the missile test.

- The BMW M2 CS was unveiled. Along with extensive aero updates, the 3.0L straight-six turbo engine was boosted to produce 526 bhp of power. 

2026 BMW M2 CS

- Alpine's first 4WD vehicle, the A390, was unveiled.

2026 Alpine A390

- The Bovensiepen Zagato was unveiled.

2026 Bovensiepen Zagato

- The Defender lineup was updated for the 2026 model year with new headlights and a new screen.

- Supercars veteran Will Brown will make his NASCAR cameo appearance. Brown will drive a third entry for Kaulig Racing on the Chicago street course. This marks Brown's second NASCAR appearance since Sonoma last year.

- PEPSICO becomes the newest F1 sponsor until 2030.

- Veteran actor Choi Jung Woo passed away at the age of 68.

- The remains of the late OPM legend Freddie Aguilar were laid to rest following Islamic rites.

TTFN.

Let's Do The News! (May 27, 2025)

                    

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- A magnitude 5.1 quake hits General Nakar, Quezon Province. The recent quake was felt in parts of Metro Manila as well.

- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has closed the civilian mission of the “Atin Ito Coalition” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This was after two Chinese Coast Guard ships tailed the MV Kapitan Felix Oca carrying volunteers participating in the third civilian mission of the Atin Ito Coalition.

- According to PH President Bongbong Marcos, the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in ASEAN countries and other sectors of society can greatly contribute to long-term and people-centered development. That is why he said the Philippines and other ASEAN states support the ASEAN Centre of Excellence for AI to be established under innovation, ethical standards, and transparency.

- The Unified 911 Emergency System will commence this July, according to the DILG.

- South Korea will hold its 3rd round of the Presidential Election Candidates Debates tonight.

- The US envoy rejects Hamas' claim that it has agreed to American terms for a Gaza ceasefire.

- A car rammed through crowds at a Liverpool Premier League parade. Dozens were hurt, including children. The police say the collision is not an act of terrorism.

- Nacon will make a new WRC game in 2027, the first time since 2022's WRC Generations.

- SEGA and Red Bull team up for the Racing Around the World campaign.

- Cristiano Ronaldo hints at leaving Al Nassr after the Saudi Pro League season finale.

- OPM legend Freddie Aguilar passed away at the age of 72. Aguliar is hailed as a true icon of Filipino music, and he performed iconic songs such as Anak.

- The Maalaala Mo Kaya production team issued a statement on the airing of "The Maguad Family Story" episode.

- Celebrity couple Julia Barretto and Gerald Anderson quashed breakup rumors, calling it fake news.

TTFN.

My FH5 Log: Parting Shot

Forza Horizon 5 has delivered its final update, which is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PC via STEAM, and, for the first time in Forza history, on PlayStation 5. Welcome to Horizon Realms!

What is Horizon Realms? This new feature allows players to revisit areas from past updates, such as:

- The Retrowave Highway from the Horizon Retrowave update

- The Oval Track from the High Performance update

- The Cars and Coffee venue

- The Summer Party location

- The Midnight Neon Airstrip

- The Lunar Drift Arena

- Dia De Muertos

- The Stadium Maze from Hidden Horizons

- Winter Wonderland

- The Stunt Park

- The Ice Rink

- The Stadium Track, which debuted in the last-ever FH5 update

With Horizon Realms, you can relive these exciting locations!

Each realm offers two gameplay modes: Free Mode and Skill Mode. In Free Mode, players can explore the realm solo or with friends. In contrast, Skill Mode lets players compete to set skill score records on their chosen realm. There is a new set of accolades to beat as well as four new prize cars.

Win the new Stadium Track race to unlock the Lamborghini Revuelto, the newest hypercar packed with a 6.5L V12 PHEV powertrain and the first Lamborghini to break the thousand horsepower barrier.

Complete Skill Mode in one Realm to unlock the Hennessey Mammoth 1000 6x6 TRX. Based on the RAM 1500 TRX, it's the ultimate V8 six-wheeler that can rip through all kinds of roads, even if they're rough.

Complete Skill Mode in six Realms to unlock the Lotus Exige Cup 430, the ultimate swansong for the Exige, powered by an improved 3.5L V6 supercharged engine producing 430HP of power.

Complete Skill Mode in all Realms to unlock the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato, an off-road special limited to 1,499 units. It's powered by a 610PS 5.2L V10 engine mated to a 7-speed DCT, sprinting from 0-100kph in 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 260kph.

Having obtained the four new accolade cars, it's time for me to have a go with these four masters of realms, just to get a taste of their performance.

So, what do you think? Well, the fun doesn't stop with these four because there's one final Forza Horizon 5 DLC car pack, the Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack. It features four Nissan cars that came straight from the legendary Pike factory. These iconic Nissan Pike cars are...

The Nissan Be-1

The Nissan PAO

The Nissan S-Cargo

And the cream of the crop, the Nissan Figaro.

These four Nissan cars that came out of the Pike Factory are well known for their rarity and uniqueness, worthy of being called a collector's item. Now...

I got the chance to drive these four Pike cars to show their worth. Roll the tape.

No kidding. The Figaro is the peak of the Nissan Pike Factory car roster. No wonder Sarah Jane Smith drove one in The Sarah Jane Adventures.

With the addition of Horizon Realms and the Nissan Retro Rides car pack, Forza Horizon 5 has officially reached a final car total of 899. This includes all 899 cars from purchasable items, prize cars, Forza Edition cars, and DLCs.

As I said before, let's enjoy the final days of Forza Horizon 5. Let's make the final moments of Horizon Mexico special, for this will be the final stop of the Forza Horizon saga. It's a shame there won't be another Forza Horizon after this.

Whether you've been playing this game on your Xbox Series consoles since Day 1 or starting Forza Horizon 5 for the first time on your PlayStation5, it's good to know that you have enjoyed the best Forza Horizon game ever made. Come on, let's make the final days count.

My FM Log: Spirit of Forza Motorsport - Audi R8 V10

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the Forza Motorsport series. To commemorate this milestone, let’s take a look back at the cover cars from the Forza Motorsport franchise, starting with the very first game released in 2005 and continuing through to the final installment launched in 2023.

Let's continue with the Audi R8 5.2 V10 FSi quattro, the supercar that graced the cover of 2009's Forza Motorsport 3 video game.

Named after a winning Le Mans Prototype race car, inspired by the Le Mans quattro concept, and running on the same components as the Lamborghini Gallardo, the Audi R8 served as the company's image leader when it made its debut in 2007.

When it was launched, it was initially available only with the 420HP V8 FSi engine, but two years later, the V10 variant of the Audi R8 was added. It features the same 5.2L V10 engine from the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, but it only produces 518bhp of power, sprinting from 0-100kph in less than four seconds. Aside from the engine, the R8 is armed with a quattro all-wheel-drive system and an Audi Space Frame aluminum body.

The Audi R8 V10 is offered with a choice of a coupe and an open-top roadster. There's even a limited-edition GT model that shaved 100kg of weight and improved its V10 engine to produce 560HP of power.

Let's have a commemorative drive around Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe, the place where the Audi R8 was inspired by. Roll the tape.

Although it doesn't live up to its namesake, it proved its worth.

The Audi R8 cemented its status as the brand's image leader, and its presence as the cover car of Forza Motorsport 3 showcased its “vorsprung durch technik” philosophy to both worlds.

WHERE DREAMS ARE DRIVEN

Next time, let's take a look at the Ferrari 458 Italia, the cover car of Forza Motorsport 4.

Let's Do The News! (May 26, 2025)

                   

Your daily round-up of today's news...

- The COMELEC targets the resolution of all disqualification and cancellation cases by June 30.

- More government officials and appointees to be targeted in Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s ongoing evaluation.

- Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte is en route to the Middle East and the Netherlands for ten days. She will first meet the Filipino community in Qatar tomorrow, followed by her visit to the Netherlands on May 30th to check on her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

- Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal counsel insists that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the ‘real prosecutor’ in the former president’s case at the ICC. Meanwhile, the DILG is coordinating with the ICC to allow former President Rodrigo Duterte to be sworn in as Davao City mayor.

- The Philippine National Police (PNP) has assured that they will further tighten the security of the Korean community in the country. This follows several incidents in which several Korean nationals were victimized.

- Senator Jinggoy Estrada confirms that his son and his nephew were hurt in the Boracay attack.

- The 46th ASEAN Summit has commenced. Southeast Asian leaders have been gathering in Malaysia for talks about how to deal with the economy amid the US tariff situation, the ongoing war in Gaza, China's activities in the Pacific, and so on.

- The US State Department travel advisory states that it is dangerous for the safety of its citizens to travel to the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Re-elected Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has condemned the advisory issued by the United States advising its citizens not to travel to the Philippines. Rodriguez said this is unfair and should not be done to us by the United States as its number one ally, especially since many places in the Philippines are safe for tourists to visit.

- BMW unveiled the Speedtop Concept in Villa d'Este, which previews another limited-production special model coming soon with a limited run of 50 units.

BMW Speedtop Concept

- The Glickenhaus 007s was unveiled. It is a road-legal version of the race car powered by a 6.2L dry-sumped V8 engine with 1000bhp of power.

Glickenhaus 007s

- The next two seasons of Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender TV series cast Dolly de Leon and Jon Jon Briones.

TTFN.

2025 NASCAR Cup Series - Coca-Cola 600

Wrapping up The Greatest Day in Motorsports is NASCAR's colossal oval race, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. For the first time ever, this race was streamed on Amazon Prime Video. Amazingly, despite his accident at the INDY 500, Kyle Larson managed to show up in Charlotte, proving to the world that he's still in his fighting form.

As the green flag waved, the longest NASCAR race ever, streaming live for the first time ever on Prime Video, has commenced. The first stage saw Kyle Larson, reeling from his Indy 500 accident, sliding through but managing to avoid a collision, followed by Alex Bowman colliding with the wall and spinning. As William Byron wins Stage 1, Stage 2 saw Jimmie Johnson's chain reaction that caught Cole Custer and Connor Zilisch in this mess. 

With Byron nabbing Stage 2, the race got paused for their Memorial Day tradition. When Stage 3 commenced, Zane Smith got crashed on the backstretch, followed by a big one that got Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Daniel Suarez out of the race. As Stage 3 wrapped up with Byron, the finale saw Carson Hocevar's spinning disaster, followed by Tyler Reddick's dramatic crash, and a surprise attack by Ross Chastain that snagged Byron's lead with 10 laps to go.

Screengrab from NASCAR

The Greatest Day in Motorsports ends with Ross Chastain, the winner of the Coca-Cola 600 of the NASCAR Cup Series!

Mission accomplished for NASCAR's first race to be streamed on Prime Video. The next race will be in Nashville for the Cracker Barrel 400 this June 1, 2025.

NTT IndyCar Series 2025 - INDY 500

Every Memorial Day weekend, the Greatest Spectacle in Racing comes to life in Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's called the INDY 500, and for this year, it's going to be a lot different than previous INDY 500 races. Alex Palou may be this season's current leader, but will he win his first INDY 500 race in his career? Time to find out.

Due to the weather conditions that caused a delay to the race start, the track conditions were cool, and this spelled disaster for Scott McLaughlin in the middle of pace laps. As the green flag waved, Marco Andretti crashed out of the race. Come Lap 19, the weather conditions placed the race on the yellow flag for 11 laps before resuming.

40 laps down with Alexander Rossi leading, misfortune strikes on the pit lane as Rossi's car caught fire. Lap 87 saw Rinus Veekay spinning on the pit lane, followed by Kyle Larson's accident on Lap 92 that caught Kyffin Simpson and Sting Ray Robb, gutting the NASCAR driver out of the race.

Image: IndyCar

Behind Nolan Siegel's last-lap crash, Alex Palou made headlines in Indianapolis. Alex Palou trumped Marcus Ericsson and David Malukas to become the first Spaniard to win the Indy 500. At long last, a Spanish driver will have his face marked on the legendary Borg-Warner Trophy.

The Indy 500 is over, but the 2025 NTT IndyCar Series rages on with the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix this June 1, 2025.