Jubilee of Mercy: Opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica

Jubilee of Mercy logo

The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy is the first Extraordinary Jubilee year since "The Great Jubilee" of the year 2000 under the rule of Blessed John Pope II and this Holy Year of Mercy, which expresses God's mercy for all, has commenced with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St.
Peter's Basilica (Screencap courtesy of CTV)

Tens of thousands of Catholic pilgrims have been gathered in Rome as they witness Pope Francis opening the Holy Door in the walls of St. Peter's Basilica, The Pope pronounced the words "Aperite mihi Porta lustitae", which is Latin for the words "open to me the gates of justice" and the doors are open.

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI was present in the opening ceremony as well.

By Tuesday night, the exterior of St. Peter's Basilica will be projected with images by some of the world's environmental photographers in an initiative linked to the ongoing COP21 climate conference in Paris, France.

The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will continue until the 20th of November, 2016 and this Jubilee was called by the pontiff with the ultimate goal of allowing the Catholic Church to become the witness of mercy.

The next Holy Doors will be opened at the Basilicas of St. John Lateran and of the Cathedrals of the World as well as the Holy Doors of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls on the 13th of December, 2015. The Holy Door of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major will be opened on New Year's Day 2016.

Video: https://youtu.be/OFxS2bRRoMg

Let's Do The News! (December 8, 2015)

- The Senate has lowered their conditional cash transfer funds from 64 billion to 56 billion pesos. The Malacanang asked the Senate to reconsider its decision to slash funds for the CCT program next year. The Presidential Communication Office Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr. said that the Palace trust that their legislators will consider the implications of their decisions on the CCT beneficiaries who are the most important stakeholders in their efforts to achieve inclusive growth.

- The Office of the Ombudsman said it found probable cause to indict Senator JV Ejercito and other San Juan City officials over their questionable firearms deal.

- As the run-off voting for the French council elections will reach the second round on Sunday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls urged the governing party supporters to block the anti-immigrant National Front far-right party from winning the elections. His message came Monday night after the National Front won the most ballots in the first-round voting for 17 regional elections. He warned that the National Front will divide France by trying to pit people against each other.

- According to the FBI, the couple behind the San Bernardino shooting last week had practiced target shooting just days before the attack. Reports told that Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, had visited a shooting range in LA. 

- Eagles of Death Metal, a rock band that was onstage at the Bataclan Hall last month during the Parisian attacks has given its first performance in the French capital since the attacks. The band appeared at a concert alongside U2 on Monday evening in Paris.

- Hyundai teases their first ever hybrid model called the Ioniq, which is set to be launched next year with a choice of hybrid, electric, or PHEV powertrains.

- Fans of the KanColle anime series will be happy that the figma of Fubuki, as seen on the TV series, is now open for pre-orders! This figma is priced at 5,833 Yen (plus tax) and she'll be arriving to you this May. Those who pre-ordered at the GOOD SMILE ONLINE SHOP will receive a special facial expression just for her.

figma Fubuki Animation ver.

- A yukata version of Chris Yukine from STEINS;GATE series has been unveiled by Good Smile Company and orders are now open for booking for 10,000 Yen plus tax. She'll be arriving to your doorsteps this May.

Chris Yukine yukata version

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye, after moments of shopping, Tidora and Tinidora bought some magnifying glasses to help decode the hidden message written on the ring. With Alden, Yaya Dub, and Lola Nidora present, the use of magnifying glasses decoded what the ring said. It says... "Forever. Bawal Ibenta/Isangla". Yep, this ring cannot be sold elsewhere and be taken to the pawnshops, which is a shame that the De Explorer sisters are concerned that they're still broke and couldn't afford to repay the debt for their mansion. Just then, the riding in tanders arrived with the letter for Lola Nidora. Lola Nidora read it but what it's said on the letter? Tune in next time and find out!

TTFN!!!

BMW 2-Series Gran Tourer vs. VW Touran II

Last year, BMW shocked the world with their first-ever front-wheel drive recreational vehicle, the 2-Series Active Tourer, and while this front-wheel drive BMW shocked us because its dynamics are not what you expect for a BMW, this MPV is made for breadwinners and soccer moms in mind. Be warned though that this MPV is just getting started because BMW will soon plague the lineup with some front-wheel drive cars soon and now, there's another front-wheel drive Bimmer spawned to the mix.

2016 BMW 2-Series Gran Tourer

At first glance, this is just like the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer but now, it's longer and added two more seats on the inside. This is the new 2-Series Gran Tourer and this seven-seater version feels...hmmm...so all right for a family mover. When people drove the Active Tourer last year, most of the comments seem to be all right because even though it's a front-wheel drive BMW that every fan in the world wouldn't want one in their collection, it's a well-behaved, well-mannered multipurpose passenger vehicle that is well suited for family use. One clever joke I read from the pages of history that with cars like these, you can carry more girls than your Lamborghini, and the case is true for the Gran Tourer because this is a seven-seater MPV that has decent legroom, decent space at the boot, and decent choice of engines.

Engine choices include a turbocharged 1.5L petrol engine, turbocharged 2.0L petrol engine, 1.5L turbo diesel engine, and a 2.0L turbo diesel engine, and depending on engine choices, it can be mated with either a 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic, and an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Sure, like the Active Tourer, the Gran Tourer is utilized he same UKL1 platform as the new Mini, and thanks to the fact of being a front-wheel drive MPV, the handling is pretty much like this...

2016 Volkswagen Touran

The handling of the BMW Gran Tourer has about a similar handling characteristic as this MPV in store; the all-new VW Touran. Yes, this is just a VW Golf underneath but the Touran, like the Gran Tourer, is a seven-seater MPV with a choice of either a 1.4 TSi or a 1.6 TDi engine but let's keep it short about the handling because this is definitely how the new BMW Gran Tourer behaves because just like that, it's a front-wheel drive MPV that tends to handle like a granny holding a grocery cart for a few hours now. They don't feel sporty even with clever suspension design, they feel comfortable in the feels of passengers, and above all, they're well behaved to be people's cars for everyday use.

Both the new Gran Tourer and the new Touran are behaved to be good cars that not to be thrashed around the streets but what differentiates them both is the pricing because the Gran Tourer starts at 26,950 Euros while the new Touran starts at 23,350 Euros, three grand more, but either way, you sure you wouldn't want to drive either of those unless you are trapped in the world of married couples growing up with kids. If you did, sorry to say, you have to resort driving in either of those soccer mom cars.

Let's Do The News! (December 7, 2015)

- US President Barack Obama made a speech to the Oval Office regarding the issues of terrorism. He said that terrorism has evolved into a new phase attacks hatched at home by extremists poisoning the minds of killers already on American soil. This recent speech came three weeks after the Parisian attacks that killed 130 people and four days after the deadly shootout at San Bernardino, California.

- The recent French regional elections shown that a far right party known as the National Front, is showing a strong presence, although no party has secured a majority in any of electoral districts. It was the first elections occurred since the Parisian attacks last month. The second round of the elections will occur this Sunday. According to the Interior Ministry, the National Front anti-immigration, far right party, gained 28% of the total votes while the center-right Republicans led by former president Nicolas Sarkozy had 27% of the votes and the coalition led by President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party scored 23% of the votes.

- The eastern secular government and the western Islamic government of Libya have agreed to form a unified government, bringing an end to divisions in the country. The two factions announced a basic agreement at a news conference in Tunisia after two days of negotiations mediated by the Tunisian government. A committee of five representatives from each faction will be set up to select a prime minister and that a unified government will be formed within two weeks. An election will be held every two years but it requires both of the factions' approvals.

- Senator Grace Poe filed a motion for reconsideration to COMELEC to reverse the decision of its Second Division to disqualify her in the May 2016 elections.

- The COMELEC warned the public about a possible cancellation of next year's elections if the Supreme Court fails to lift the temporary restraining order on their "No Bio, No Boto" campaign.

- Huge announcements in the world of PlayStation had been made during the PlayStation Experience 2015 including a beta for next year's Uncharted 4: A Thief's End as well as the addition of new character in the upcoming Street Fighter V, and many other good news. With the imminent launch of the PlayStation VR next year, new titles with VR compatibility have been announced such as Eagle Flight, The Modern Zombie Taxi Co., 100ft Robot Golf, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, Rez Infinite, Ace Combat 7, and Golem.

- General Motors' Buick has confirmed that their upcoming Envision midsize crossover will be US-bound next year and made in China.

- The new Mazda Roadster (MX-5) ND has been named as 2015-2016 Japan Car of the Year. That's another win for Mazda thanks to their revolutionary SKYACTIV Technology that scored numerous JCOTY wins since the CX-5 crossover in 2012 and the Demio (Mazda 2) compact hatchback in 2014.

2016 Mazda Roadster

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye, oh no! Looks like the ring that was once lost is missing again. Now, where did Yaya Dub put the ring that Alden gave it to her since their rendezvous at Enchanted Kingdom last Saturday? Happily, however, it's Doktora de Explorer to the rescue as she gave Yaya Dub a special medicine that will help her remember where did she put her ring. The result...she hid the ring on her left ear! Case closed...but, there's a hidden message written on the ring? What does it said? Tune in next time and find out!

TTFN!!!

Doctor Who S09 Finale

Doctor Who S09 Finale

Well, it had to happened. The finale of the current season of Doctor Who, titled Hell Bent, sees The Doctor in his home planet of Gallifrey as he tries to set things right, figure out the Hybrid presence, and in due course, avert the death of Clara Oswald. Of course, since he summoned the Clara Oswald that she was going to die, he stirred some chaos against The General and the other Gallifreyan soldiers, while making their way to the database.

As they make it to the database loaded with numerous enemies chained in wires, The Doctor managed to hijacked a working TARDIS and travelled alongside Clara to the end of time itself where he made a fateful encounter with Ashildr, or better known to her as Me.

With The Doctor confronting Ashildr...errr...Me, it is revealed that the Hybrid that was once prophesied was none other than, well, you guessed, The Doctor himself! Now, how come he didn't realized in the very beginning?

As truths come by, he wanted to save Clara by erasing her memories using the neuron block he obtained from the depths of Gallifrey but the only person who lost the memories at the flick of the block was The Doctor. He passed out and zapped into a mysterious place.

Of course, you may remember that the American diner we saw in the episode looks fairly familiar to the one we saw at the start of the sixth season four years ago but for an even bigger treat in store in the finale, the original TARDIS interior as seen when the first Doctor Who began in 1963 makes an appearance when The Doctor hijacked one to save Clara.

Now, the TARDIS that was recently hijacked by The Doctor is now under Ashildr and Clara's hands and as for The Doctor, back to the real police box-shaped TARDIS he truly set foot and in the end of the episode, a brand new sonic screwdriver was unveiled. Yes. it's brand new and very bluish.

Check out the BTS clip on how the Twelfth Doctor's new Sonic Screwdriver is made:

This new look makes us extremely jealous but how will that new look perform? We'll just have to wait till Christmas Day 2015 when The Husbands of River Song takes place. Oh and expect another sonic gadget in the Christmas special as well!



Now, some more BTS from the Season 9 ender with Maisie Williams, who played Ashildr...errr...Me in the show.



Of course, with Jenna Coleman's time as Clara is well and truly over, some BTS clips highlighting Jenna's life in the TARDIS.



That's it for Season 9 of BBC's Doctor Who but The Doctor will return in The Husbands of River Song this Christmas season. We are getting extremely jealous over the new look of The Twelfth Doctor's sonic screwdriver but for now, time for some well-deserved rest.

μ's Final Love Live event has announced

μ's Final Love Live

If any of you managed to watch the whole Love Live! The School Idol Movie last summer, chances are this would be the last time to see the ever-famous school idol unit that saved Otonokizaka High from imminent closure, μ's, but we were wrong. There's still more μ's fun left for us, Love Livers, to enjoy and now, we come to this; the Final Love Live for μ's. This is kinda sad for us, Love Livers, to see it but that's okay because their last hurrah will the best μ's experience to remember forever.

First off, select theaters across Japan will feature the best of Love Live School Idol Project from the 10th of January to the 26th of March, 2016. From their live performances, the two anime seasons, and The School Idol Movie, they're going to showcase the best of Love Live at select cinemas.

On the 12th of December to the 30th of January, 2016, Bandai Channel and Nicovideo will stream the best of μ's live concerts from their First LoveLive! 2011 concert up to μ's Go→Go! LoveLive! 2015 ～Dream Sensation!～ concert.

In the 2nd of March, 2016, μ's final single will be released and while we don't know what's going to be the name of the final μ's song, it's going to be the ultimate that will end all μ's songs in the catalog.

Then, three new novelizations are coming at bookstores from February to March 2016, such as Love Live! School Idol Memories, Love Live! The School Idol Movie Dream Days★, and Love Live! School Idol Diary featuring Honoka Kousaka and Kotori Minami.

And it all ends with μ's Final Love Live concert held at the 31st of March to the 1st of April, 2016 in the Tokyo Dome. This is going to be the last hurrah every Love Livers will be remembered for.

With the story of μ's well and truly over, the Love Livers are glad that they have experienced the best of μ's since this project began five years ago and catapulted its way to becoming one of the most successful franchises in the world that led everyone fighting to get their products be known to μ's.

URL: http://www.lovelive-anime.jp/otonokizaka/sp_arigatou.html

Angelia Ong from the PH wins Miss Earth 2015

Image: The Philippine Star

When it comes to the world of beauty pageants, seems that only a handful of Filipinas make it to the summit and for this year's Miss Earth, one Filipina stood out from the rest as Angelia Ong, Miss Earth Philippines, won the coveted title in a beauty pageant held at the Marx Halle in Vienna, Austria. She defeated most of the competitors including Dayanna Grageda from Australia, Brittany Payne from the USA, and Thiessa Sickert from Brazil.

This isn't the first time this Filipina won Miss Earth, though. In 2008, Karla Henry won the title while last year, Jamie Herrell was the winner.

Report: http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2015/12/06/1529713/philippiness-angelia-ong-miss-earth-2015