Let's Do The News! (December 14, 2015)

- Typhoon Nona (Melor) made a landfall in Samar and PAGASA is expecting another landfall in Sorsogon tonight. At 1000 hours, Philippine Time, Nona was located 85km east of Catarman, Northern Sama with max winds of 150kph near the center and gusts of up to 185kph. It is likely to move west at 17kph.

- Due to the persistent reports of the Abu Sayyaf Group and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters' plan to attack and engage in kidnap-for-ransom activities, several places in the Philippines including tourist spots were placed in terrorism threat level 3 or high terrorism threat category. It includes Palawan, Boracay, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Kidapawan, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Marawi. Metro Manila was placed in level 2 due to the convergence of people during the holiday season.

- Turkey reacts calmly to a Russian warship's firing of so-called "warning shots" at a Turkish fishing boat in the Aegean sea. According to the Turkish foreign minister, the Turkish boat targeted by the Russian vessel has been confirmed and the Turkish government is investigating the matter and would make an announced if further info is obtained.

- About twenty female candidates won municipal council seats in Saturday's elections in Saudi Arabia. For the first time in the nation's history. women were allowed to vote and run in the elections. Over 2,100 seats on 284 municipal councils nationwide were opened for the chosen candidates and some say, about 900 female candidates stood up.

- Back to the French elections, the far-right anti-immigration National Front has failed to win a region. None of the parties gained over 50% of the votes in the first vote on the 6th of December. So those that won over 10% fielded candidates for the second round on Sunday. The emerged party in this round is none other than the Republican Party, led by former president Nicolas Sarkozy, which gained 8 regions. The left-win governing coalition led by president Francois Hollande's Socialist Party is expected to win five regions.

- The members of Burma's National League for Democracy began their clean-up campaign in the streets across the country. Last month, the party led by Aung Sang Suu Kyi won a landslide victory over the military-led government and it will form a new government led by pro-democracy forces next March.

- Citroen unveiled the e-Mehari and this electric car is amazingly the production version of the Cactus M Concept as seen on the Frankfurt Motor Show. It is the first electric car produced and developed by Citroen and it's set to be available this Spring 2016. It's powered by a 50kW electric motor capable of top speed up to 110mph and boasting 200km of city-driving range.

Citroen e-Mehari

- As anyone who enjoyed last weekend's Wake Up, Girls second movie titled Beyond the Bottom as well as the Beyond the Bottom Extend live event, we heard that new projects in the world of WUG is underway. First up, the show's rival idol group, the I-1 Club will take over Wake Up, Girls. We don't know what but anyway, I-1 Club's new single, 止まらない未来, will hit record stores on the 13th of January alongside Next Storm's new single, Resurrection. Meanwhile, the Wake Up, Girls will be performing alongside i☆Ris (the group behind the songs from the Pripara anime as you know) in a special Valentine's Day concert held at the Maihama Amphitheater on the 14th of February, 2016.

- Actress Denise Laurel was named as the grand winner on the second season of ABS-CBN's celebrity impersonating TV show, Your Face Sounds Familiar

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye; the Kalye's Angels and Yaya Dub began their life being broke in the aftermath of losing their beloved mansion. Luckily for Lola Nidora and Yaya Dub, they found a place to stay but the place they'll be staying for the night looks abandoned. Even though the place they'll be staying for the night looks abandoned, the girls decided to spending their lunch here until Alden Richards comes in to help them. Minutes later, Lola Nidora received a letter but what does the letter said? Tune in next time and find out!

TTFN!!!

Second-Generation Jaguar XF

Once served as the replacement for the lackluster S-Type, the Jaguar XF was designed to take on the likes of BMW's 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class, and the Audi A6, and for this all-new second-generation model, the new Jaguar XF promises to be quite a seducing take on the premium midsize saloon craze while delivering its intimidating character that Jaguar promises to be "Good to be Bad".

2016 Jaguar XF

Looks more promising, isn't it? For this new model, it looks like an enlarged version of its baby brother, the recently-launched XE, but while the XE is made to intimidate the smaller luxury cars in its caliber, the new XF is made to bewilder its rivals in terms of style and performance. One look at the XF and you can't tell how seducing this new model is and then, the interior...

2016 Jaguar XF interior

Well, it somewhat resembles to the inside of the XE but the XF's well-lavished interior really brings the shame on uniformal interiors of today's German saloons, although the JLR-trademark rotating shift knob remains quite an annoyance for some car enthusiasts. Despite being shorter than the previous model, the wheelbase is surprisingly longer, meaning it's well spacious in the back as well. Although the interior of the new XF is well-tailored in its own right, perhaps there's one missing in terms of evaluating it and I have a clever way. First get a girl with red hair to be seating in the front passenger seat and then do a fake out make out on her. You know what I'm saying?

2016 Jaguar XF

Anyway, time for the performance side and thanks to extensive use of aluminum, the new XF is surprisingly 190kg lighter than the previous model, and because it is lighter, you will be surprise how the new XF performs. In terms of comfort, it's as warm as a music box playing a beautiful song, but when you let it all out, its dynamic character can intimidate its opposition like a wild jackal hunting down its prey. If this new XF sticks to its "Good to be Bad" motto, then this is worth the try to scare the Germans into fruition.

Engine choices include a healthy dose of a 2.0L GTDi, 3.0L Supercharged V6, 2.0 diesel, and a 3.0 diesel engine. Most of these engines are Euro 6 compliant. The most powerful in the lineup is the 3.0L Supercharged V6 on the XF-S. This engine produces 381PS of power and 450Nm of torque. In rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive alike, it will do 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds, which sounds reasonably quick for a sports saloon. Depending on the model, the transmission can either be a six-speed or an eight-speed automatic gearbox respectively.

2016 Jaguar XF

Even though the new XF is as intimidating as Jaguars can get, it's surprisingly technological as well. It comes with All Surface Progress Control, HUD Display with laser technology, virtual instrument display similar to Audis of today have, InControl services, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and of course, an available Meridian Sound System.

The new XF starts from 32,300 to 49,945 GBP and while this sounds like a lot for a luxury car of that size, the new XF promises to be quite a worthy contender in the premium midsize saloon stakes and with everything loaded in its latest regeneration, the new XF is a well-proven starting point for Jaguar and in the future, we can expect great things to come in the new XF, including a more high-performance model coming soon. In the meantime, let's see how far and how exciting the new XF goes and it takes some modern ways to convince anyone to get their hands on it.

Available Colors: Ebony Black, Polaris White, Ammonite Grey, Aurora Red, British Racing Green, Dark Sapphire, Glacier White, Italian Racing Red, Odyssey Red, Quartzite, Rhodium Silver, Ultimate Black.Black Berry, Storm Grey, Tempest Grey, Celestial Black, and Ingot.

Photo: Jaguar Land Rover

Jubilee of Mercy: More Holy Doors opened

Jubilee of Mercy logo

Continuing on the ongoing Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy which began on the 8th of December and onwards until the Feast of Christ the King in November 20th, 2016, the Holy Doors of the Basilicas of St. John Lateran, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, and of the Cathedrals of the World.

During the opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, a mass occurred and Pope Francis stressed that despite concerns in light of recent violence that engulfed the world, we must not give into sadness. He spoke of the Holy Door not just here but for the Cathedrals of the World.

Following the opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls was opened by Cardinal James Harvey, the Archpriest of the Basilica. It was a simultaneous opening of the Holy Doors as part of the Extraordinary Jubilee.

With the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls opened, Pope Francis is expected to enter during the ecumenical service on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on the 25th of January next year.

The next Holy Door will be opened at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major on New Year's Day.

Further Reading:

1) Pope opens Holy Door in John Lateran Basilica - Vatican Radio

2) Opening of Holy Door at St. Paul Outside the Walls

COP21 concludes with the Paris treaty

After weeks of negotiations from the world's top leaders at the COP21 Climate Conference in Paris, they have managed to conclude the climate conference by adopting a new global framework known as the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement is a global framework that will commit all nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, be it economic superpower or emerging country alike.

This agreement calls for the world to make efforts to keep the global temperature rising to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-Industrial Revolution levels. It also promises nations to bring global emissions to none within the year 2050.

For every five years, all nations must submit their reduction targets to the UN for a reevaluation.

The Paris Agreement marks the first time all nations are expected to reduce emissions since the 1997 Kyoto Protocol that required developed countries to do so, except for emerging ones.

Further reading:

1) COP21: Climate deal 'final draft' reached in Paris - BBC News
2) Final draft of climate deal unveiled in Paris - CNN.com
3) Global Climate Change Pact Approved at COP 21 Conference in Paris
4) COP21 ends with adoption of Paris Agreement - News - NHK WORLD - English

Forza Motorsport 6: Smells like Calais

Continuing on Forza Motorsport 6's tribute to Australian motoring, there is another classic Australian muscle car added to the roster courtesy of the Mobil 1 Car Pack. It's another Holden and this time, it's a VL Commodore Group A SV, the car that signalled the birth of Holden Special Vehicles division.



Ever since the collaboration between Holden and racing driver Peter Brock ended, Holden needed someone to create a new performance division and that's what Tom Walkinshaw Racing turned in and with that, Holden Special Vehicles was established, succeeding where the Holden Dealer Team left off.

Based on the VL Commodore saloon, the SV is a special model featuring a special bodykit courtesy of TWR, which reduces drag by over 25% over the previous HDT SS Group A. The 5.0L V8 engine, producing 241HP of power, has been improved to withstand racing conditions.

It was limited to 500 units, due to homologation regulations, and it's only available in Panorama Silver exterior color, but due to demand, an additional 250 units were made.

After many failed attempts in racing since its 1988 motorsport debut, a race-spec VL scored a win in the 1990 Tooheys 1000 by Win Percy and Allan Grice, as well as the 1990 Nissan Sydney 500 by Perkins and Tomas Mezera in a privately entered car.



Although I am not familiar with the VL Commodore, I had an unquestionable feeling that I'm starting to enjoy the VL Commodore when I spent so much time driving one. Although this is a road-going touring car heavily inspired from its motorsports involvement, driving one smells and feels like I'm in Calais. Yes, and some might say there was such thing as a VL Calais in the real world, this hardcore VL Commodore feels like I'm as close as I can get to Calais but this isn't Calais though because I'm in Bathurst and while in Bathurst, its dynamic character makes it very tricky to handle but at the hands of skilled drivers, driving one of these is as enjoyable as reminiscing its motorsports past and its remarkable feats that the legendary Tom Walkinshaw invested in spawning these machines and give birth to the HSV as we knew it.

Speaking of which, I need to compare it to a modern equivalent to the car I'm driving and find out just how close are these two Aussie saloons.



To some people who may have noticed that this is just an American saloon known as the Chevrolet SS, you haven't seen the rest of it because the fact is, the Chevrolet SS is basically a Holden VF Commodore rebadged and sold in the USA in the same way the deceased Pontiac G8 did to the Holden VE Commodore. Let's remember though, this is built in Australia so that matches the qualifications of a comparo I set up with. Without further ado, let's compare the classic Aussie muscle versus its modern-day equivalent.


Look at those Australian-born cars, feeling at home at their home ground and since they're having the best time of their lives, these Aussie cars think that the Land Down Under never felt so alive for them. Anyway, no time for being sentimental because it's onto the results. The SS did it in 02:46.983 while the VL Commodore Group A SV did it in 02:57.726. So there's an eleven second gap between them but never mind though because even though the VL Commodore did it eleven seconds slower than the modern-day VF Commodore....errr....Chevy SS, I am glad that I have driven another Aussie greats in FM6 and I'd expect more like these because with Australian car production is nearing its end, there's nothing like a better time than paying tribute to Australian motoring.

Mmmm....This VL Commodore smells like Calais...

Things we learned from the 2015 Tekken Finals

Photo: Official Bandai Namco US Instagram (@bandainamcous)

With the latest installment of the hard-hitting Tekken franchise, Tekken 7, is in full swing in the arcades and while we're still waiting for the PS4 version to arrive soon (yes, really), the best of Tekken gamers from around the globe sharpen their skills on playing Tekken 7 and then work their way up to this year's Tekken World Finals, where the grand winner will receive 3,000,000 Japanese Yen in cash and more.

We have learned that a gamer named Nobi from Japan has named as the grand champion of this year's Tekken finals after winning the final round against South Korean Tekken player knee, but that win is more than just experiencing the best of Tekken veterans blowing the competition on Tekken 7. There are some huge announcements happened in the World Finals and get this; Bandai Namco announced a major update on the Tekken 7 arcade game called FATED RETRIBUTION.

In the FATED RETRIBUTION update, not only new characters, outfits, and graphic updates are added to the mix but there is one special guest appearing on the latest update on Tekken 7. Yep, it's Akuma (Gouki) from the Street Fighter games and this ultimate baddie is raising hell on Tekken 7. You have been warned.

It's coming soon at your local arcades near you. Most Tekken fans can't contain their excitement over the major update on Bandai Namco's hard-hitting fighting franchise ever made and so are we.

So, GET READY FOR THE NEXT BATTLE, ladies and gentlemen.

Kalyeserye's aftermath of losing the mansion

Photo: Official Eat Bulaga
Facebook page

It was a sad day for Lola Nidora and her sisters as well as Yaya Dub because on the recent Kalyeserye segment on Eat Bulaga, the girls got evicted from their beloved mansion because of the dreadful court order. They packed themselves up alongside the Rogelios and they have left the mansion for good. With the mansion no longer part of Lola Nidora's life for now, the Kalye's Angels have ventured out to find a new home. Of course, even though Alden Richards' very busy in the Broadway Centrum, he remains faithful and trustworthy to Lola Nidora, her sisters, and Yaya Dub.

So, what will the lolas and Yaya Dub do now? Will they be able to find a new place called home? Will they be able to recover themselves after series of setbacks that dragged them down to their knees? Keep watching Eat Bulaga every weekdays for more Kalyeserye antics.

#BubbleGang - December 11, 2015

On the December 11, 2015 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Frankenstein gags

- Doing double.

- More Patok Taktiks are examined.

- Juancho Trivino takes on TSUGI O CHORVA!

- Staying outside? He will see about that...

- Every good star has a great stage-cousin.

- The not-so-ideal couple arrived at the reunion.

- Battle of the NGOs.

Driving Music (What is the name of the song on car commercial?) Vol. 72

Hi, person who's busy searching for commercial songs,

Due to a copyright claim, your search query has been blocked in some countries. This means it's time now for another round of DRIVING MUSIC, but it will be limited to my choosing.


Search query: hyundai tucson 2016 commercial song, jaguar commercial song, jeep renegade commercial song 2015, mercedes benz advert song 2015, mini cooper commercial song, nissan x trail advert song 2015, volvo commercial song freedom, 2015 ford fusion commercial song, acura commercial song wild horses
Includes: Audio content
Claimed by: the commercial itself

Why this can happen:
 - Your search query might contain copyrighted content.
 - Copyright owners can choose to block your query that contain their content.

10) SHE ~SENIOR DREAMS by 阿川泰子 - from the Isuzu Piazza Japanese commercial

9) Feeling Good by Avicii - from the Volvo USA XC90 "Our Idea of Luxury" commercial

8) Wild Horses by Bishop - from the Acura TLX commercial

7) Melody Fair by Bee Gees - from a 1995 Suzuki Alto Japanese commercial

6) Come Prima by Tony Dallara - from a 1991 Mitsubishi Minica Japanese commercial

5) Where Does My Heart Beat Now by Celine Dion - from a Mitsubishi Eterna commercial

4) The One and Only by Chesney Hawkes - from a Honda Integra Japanese commercial

3) Private Sunday by Casiopea - from a Daihatsu Charade Japanese commercial

2) Lost It To Trying by Son Lux - from a Nissan UK X-TRAIL "Your Story Starts Here" commercial

1) 愛にこだわれ  by 平井堅 - from a Toyo Tires Japanese commercial

Driving Music from Leopaul's Blog is the segment where solves every car enthusiasts' questions about the title of the song of car commercials...with the risk of MATCHED THIRD PARTY CONTENT on their status. Acknowledge or dispute, it's your choice.

Let's Do The News! (December 11, 2015)

- PAGASA said that the low pressure area monitored outside the PAR has been strengthened into a tropical depression, which will the Philippines this Saturday. To be called Nonoy, the tropical depression was located 1,440km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur with max sustained winds of 55kph. It is likely to move west northwest at 20kph. PAGASA is expecting one more typhoon hitting the country before the year ends.

- The National Bureau of Investigation said that there is really a tanim-bala scam at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport but those behind it are not organized as a syndicate. The NBI's findings contained in its report was submitted to the Department of Justice as well as filing charges against six airport personnel, two Office for Transportation Security personnel, and four officers of the police Aviation Security Group in connection with the extortion scams.

- At the COP21 climate conference in PAris, the French Foreign Minister has presented a new draft agreement which requires most nations to submit reductions targets for greenhouse gas emissions once every five years and adopt measured to achieve their goals. It also allows developing nations to contribute resources voluntarily as well as financial assistance.

- To support the US-led airstrikes against the Islamic State militants in Syria, the German military sent two Panavia Tornado fighter jets, a tanker jet, and a transport aircraft with 40 advance troops on board at a Turkish air base near Syria.

- An American Islamic group in Washington received an envelope containing white powder, forcing most of the employees to evacuate temporarily from the group's headquarters. According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, about 10 employees evacuated the office while police examined the powder, which found out to be harmless. The envelope even comes with a hate letter. Since the Paris attacks and the San Bernardino shootings, hatred on Muslims in America is becoming belligerent, even more belligerent is presidential candidate Donald Trump's anti-Islam remarks that sparked outrage.

- A British BMW dealer has sold a defective BMW M3 which is broadly similar to the one that Jeremy Clarkson used on the 22nd season of Top Gear several months ago.

- The last McLaren P1 hybrid hypercar has been produced. The 375th and the final P1 has roled of the production line.

- Shortly after the Return of the Roar TV special last month, Disney officially confirmed that The Lion Guard TV series will premiere this January 15th with the first episode where main character Kion faces off against a villainous crocodile Makuu, voiced by Blair Underwood.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye, the day of reckoning in Lola Nidora's mansion is here...and it struck on the dinner table where Lola Nidora, Tidora, Tinidora, Alden, and Yaya Dub spent their last lunch at. According to Lola Nidora, the court order revealed that...they're officially evicted from this mansion! Gulp... So, tune in tomorrow on Eat Bulaga and find out the aftermath of Lola Nidora, AlDub, and the gang's eviction from their mansion!

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (December 10, 2015)

- US President Barack Obama indirectly criticizes Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for proposing a ban on Muslims entering the United States. Ever since the San Bernardino shootout last week, Americans are becoming weary about terrorism. A recent poll found out that 65% of likely Republican votes support Trump's proposal for banning Muslims. The Obama administration warned that repeated remarks against Muslims could deepen the divide in US society.

- Meanwhile, over 300,000 people in Great Britain have signed a petition to ban US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump from visiting the country ever since his anti-Muslim remarks that grew more criticisms.

- Meanwhile, back to the San Bernardino shootings, an FBI official said that the couple behind the shootout last week was influenced by extremism years ago. It is revealed that Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik were radicalized before they started dating each other online. Before they were engaged, the suspect couple were talking about jihad and martyrdom as early as the end of 2013.

- French authorities have identified the third suspect who died in the Parisian attacks last month. Based on the DNA test, the third attacker identified as Foued Mohamed-Aggad from the eastern city of Strasbourg. Aggad went to Syria with his brother and a group of friend in 2013. Most members of the group were arrested last year after returning to France.

- The Malacanang Palace is positive that most of the solons will approve the dormant Bangsamoro Basic Law before their December 16 Christmas break.

- The US Government turned over to the Philippines the first of over a hundred armored personnel carriers to boost the nation's poorly-armed forces. According to the US Embassy, the APC are being given at no charged following a request by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The first 77 vehicles arrived Wednesday in Subic Bay while the remaining will arrive later this month.

- The Forest Pokemon Sceptile joins the roster in the latest update for Pokken Tournament. With its combination of speed and offense, Sceptile can launch an array of devastating attacks both physical and long-range. When its Mega Evolution's engaged, this is one heck of a Pokemon you'd really shouldn't mess with.

- Lovelivers, rejoice! Two new Love Live figures have been unveiled by Good Smile Company! First off, completing the range of μ's in their training outfit, here's a Nendoroid of Nico Yazawa in her training outfit. Order books are now open for her with her pricing starts at 3,241 Yen plus tax. She will arrive this June. Also, there's a figma of Maki Nishikino now open for pre-orders. She's priced at 5,370 Yen plus tax and arriving this June.

figma Maki Nishikino

Nendoroid Nico Yazawa
(Training outfit)

- A more lightweight Lotus Exige Sport 350 was unveiled with 112lbs of weight lost, resulting to a 0-60mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 170mph.

2016 Lotus Exige Sport 350

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye, today marks the 21st weeksary of AlDub and what's the gift for AlDub? Of course, couple jackets! One for Alden and one for Yaya Dub! Sounds wonderful but doubts still ensue for Lola Nidora regarding yesterday's fiasco about getting evicted from her mansion this week. Lola Nidora has something to say tomorrow at her mansion but what important announcement we will expect? Tune in next time and find out!

TTFN!!!

There's something hidden in the Mona Lisa portrait

Looks like the world got shocked over the shocking discovery by a French scientist regarding what's hidden underneath the legendary Leonardo da Vinci painting of Mona Lisa.

An expert known as Pascal Cotte has spent the decade observing the hidden mystery behind the legendary Mona Lisa painting using science and technology, well, reflective light technology to be fairly exact. A reconstruction shows there was an hidden image of a sitter looking off to the side, which shows no trace of her enigmatic smile, which puzzled most art lovers for over five centuries.

The Louvre Museum, where the legendary painting was portrayed, have no comments as of now because his claims was not part of the scientific team. His claims regarding what's hidden behind the painting are controversial and have divided opinion among experts.

Comments? Well, it maybe as mysterious as the one we saw on The Da Vinci Code but it's even more bizarre than the City of Death arc of Classic Doctor Who. Anyone remember that?  Well, you get the idea.

Report: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35031997