Let's Do The News! (January 5, 2016)

- COMELEC asked the Supreme Court for a five-day extension to comment on the petitions of Senator Grace Poe regarding her disqualification cases. They cited the refusal of the Office of the Solicitor General to represent it in the case before the high court.

- The Senate panel reopens the probe on last year's Mamasapano clash for additional hearing. Last November, Senators Juan Ponce ENrile and Tito Sotto filed a motion to reopen the investigation of the Mamasapano incident.

- The House of Representatives will do everything they got to have the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law passed when Congress resumes session on the 19th of January. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., issued the statement yesterday after the Third Party Monitoring Team urged the government to prepare a fallback position in case Congress fails to pass the BBL.

- The special edition cover of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo featuring a cover cartoon of a god-like image draws controversy. A year has passed since Islamic State militants attacked the Charlie Hebdo offices and shot 12 people dead, including the editor-in-chief.

- The Arab League plans to hold an emergency meeting regarding the recently deteriorating ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The top Arabian foreign ministers will meet up on Sunday in Cairo, Egypt.

- Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian UN Ambassador defended his country's execution of 47 people convicted of terrorism, including a prominent Shia cleric from Iran. The Ambassador states the majority of the convicts punished by death were Sunni and the move does not fuel sectarian conflicts.

- A museum commemorating the historic Thailand-Burma Railway has opened in Burma. Built during the Second World War in order to ship supplies to the Japanese Imperial Army, it is often nicknamed as the Death Railway because thousands of POWs and local workers died during its construction. The railway was the setting for the movie "The Bridge on the River Kwai". The new museum opened at Thanbyuzayat, the first stop on the Burma side of the border.

- For the 2016 Consumer Electronics Showcase, the newly established Faraday Future unveiled their maiden vehicle; a single-seater EV racecar called the FFZERO1.

- Italian hypercar maker Pagani is teasing an upcoming hardcore version of the Huayra, set to be revealed this year.

- Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach understands why Colombians are upset after the controversy that surrounded the pageant. The situation of her having bashers are nothing new to her. Her message to the Colombians as well as Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez? She states that with these things, she understands that mistakes often happen.

- Philippine TV network ABS-CBN responds on the complaint of alleged humiliations of former talents posted against director Cathy Garcia-Molina.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (January 4, 2016)

- Three Supreme Court justices who were members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal, will be inhibited from Senator Grace Poe's disqualification case. The three Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, and Arturo Brion, decided not to take part in the review. According to report, a petitioner, who earlier asked the high court to reverse her case, received the copy of the notice.

- The Department of Defense has allotted a 106.138 million peso budget for the ammunition for the nation's newly acquired FA-50 fighter jets. This budget will be used for the acquisition of 93,600 20mm rounds for the Korean-made fighter jets' machine gun.

- Four big-ticket items for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines such as radars for territorial defense and drones for combat operations, are awaiting implementations by the Defense Department.

- Numerous jeepney drivers and operators held protest in front of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to oppose the proposal to phase out old jeep units. The proposed phaseout is part of the modernization program of the government but it's not yet finalized according to Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez.

- Saudi Arabia's decision to cut ties with Iran sparked concerns over further instability in the Middle East. The decision to cut ties came after the execution of a prominent Shia cleric by the Saudi Arabian government, which led protesters in Iran to attack the nation's embassy.

- An Islamic extremist group in Somalia used a clip of US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in a recruitment video, where Trump calls for banning all Muslims from entering the United States. The extremist group, Al-Shabab, is an Al-Qaeda affiliate.

- A M6.7 quake struck the northeastern region of India, killing six people and injuring 50. The quake, according to the USGS, happened around 0430 hours on Monday. It's focus was 29km west of the city of Imphal at 55km deep.

- Wine production in Japan is expanding as wines made exclusively from domestically-grown grapes are becoming more popular. One example is major beer producer Sapporo Breweries opened a bar specializing in Japanese wines in Tokyo's Ginza district last month. The firm's shipments have tripled in half a decade and plans to develop more high-end products.

- Actress Liza Soberano celebrated her 19th birthday with a boho glamping party at Club Balai Isabel in Batangas last night.

- Pauleen Luna is ready to send out invitations for her wedding with Eat Bulaga presenter Vic Sotto this month. Recently, the coupe led the house blessing rites for their new Laguna home.

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 6: First taste of the new C63 Coupe

In a bold surprise move, the Mobil 1 Car Pack in Forza Motorsport 6 featured one of the hottest Mercedes-AMG models car enthusiasts are looking forward this 2016. It's the coupe version of Mercedes-AMG's all-new C63. So, what's it all about the new C63?




The arrival of Mercedes-AMG's new C63 not only sees the departure from its previous naming but for the first time in a C-Class, a turbocharged V8 engine is offered, only this time a 4.0L Twin Turbo V8 engine sourced from the Mercedes-AMG GT.

Following the four-door saloon and the estate model, the coupe version of the Mercedes-AMG C63 is added on the range and sales will be commenced in the first quarter of 2016 in Europe. It made its world premier at the Frankfurt International Motor Show last September 2015.

The base C63's 4.0L V8 engine produces 469HP of power and 479  lb-ft of torque but in the high-end S model, it produces 503HP of power and 516 lb-ft of torque, around four less than the previous limited-edition C63 Edition 507. Mated with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed gearbox, the C63 S Coupé accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and top speed electronically limited to 250kph or 290 km/h with the optional AMG Driver's Package.

Aside from the engine, the new C63 Coupe offers improved dynamics such as the AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers, AMG DYNAMIC SELECT transmission modes, the rear-axle limited-slip differential or the dynamic engine mounts.



Although this is essentially the coupe model, I am more than happy to be one of the lucky people to experience what's like behind the wheel of the all new Mercedes-AMG C63. So, what's it like to drive? Well, like all good idols, a good sportscar needs to excel in three traits; Visuals, Vocals, and Dance. In the Visual side, it looks striking to look at and overall, it's surprisingly sexy as a dead man who shot himself at the head but amazingly survived. In the vocals, well because it has a similar engine output as the Mercedes-AMG GT sportscar, you might think that this downsized V8 will produce a much weaker noise compared to the old C63's 6.2L V8 but to my amazement, it sounds rougher than ever before. As the way this car dances, well, I guess it will be the ideal time to compare this to the BMW M4.



The venue for the deadly rivalry between the two super two-door saloons is Hockenheimring but I've gone to the National Circuit layout because they're essentially road cars. In short observation, I might think that the new C63 has the upper hand against the M4 because it's much more powerful but the M4 weighs less than the M4, meaning that this duel will be very one-sided. Without further ado, let battle commence...


After one hot lap later, the results are in. The M4 did it in 1:54.970 while the new Mercedes-AMG C63 did it in 1:53.356, which means that despite the added weight, the new C63 performed better than the M4 thanks to its clever dynamics, powerful engine, and its motorsport knowhow  Looks like Mercedes knows how to fight back against the opposition.

Alden's Birthday Celebration in EB Kalyeserye!

Pambansang BAE, Alden Richards, turns 24 this year and to help celebrate his birthday, or should they say BAEDay, GMA's noontime show Eat Bulaga has thrown him the biggest birthday celebration ever!

Even the Kalyeserye gals were present to celebrate his very celebration and as for Yaya Dub, she even made a very special birthday cake just for even.

Alden's friends and family appeared on his birthday and what's even more surprising is his dad's arrival.

It was one heck of a birthday bash to him! With all that, Happy BAE Day, Alden Richards!

#BubbleGang - January 1, 2016

On the January 1, 2016 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Jedi gags

- Hugot lines for New Year!

- Today's news gets reversed

- RJ Padilla takes on TSUGI O CHORVA!

- Mamaw makes a mess on the cleanup

- Taking a rap on the doctor, yo!

- Parenting problems with repeating words

- Questions at the meeting are answered

Jubilee of Mercy: Opening of the Holy Door at St. Mary Major

Jubilee of Mercy logo

The Catholic church celebrated the start of the year 2016 with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Mary Major, which is part of the ongoing Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, running now until November 2016.

Known as the Our Lady of the Snows, this is one of the oldest churches dedicated to the Mother of God, and the largest in the world, making it the perfect place for Pope Francis to choose the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God to open the Holy Door. When the Jubilee of Mercy began last November, the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica is opened to begin the very event and then followed by other cathedrals of the world a month later.

The Jubilee of Mercy continues with the Jubilee for those Engaged in Pilgrimage Work on the 19th of January, 2016.

Report: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-opens-holy-door-at-st-mary-major

Let's Do The News! (January 1, 2016)

- One of the Philippines, most influential religious organization, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, has set three Guinness World Records in welcoming the year 2016. It had broke the world record for the largest firework display with around 700,000 pieces lit up at the sky for almost an hour, a new world record for the largest number of sparklers lit in relay and the most sparkles lit simultaneously.

- The number of firework-related injuries in New Year's Day is recorded at 384 as of 0600 hours Philippine time.

- The free trade agreement between the European Union and Ukraine took effect on New Year's Day. Meanwhile, Russia suspended a free trade zone agreement with Ukraine. Under the agreement, tariffs involving bilateral trade will be gradually removed over the next decade.

- While the city of Dubai is celebrating New Year's Day in style, a fire was engulfed at a high-rise hotel, injuring 16 people inside. Authorities say the fire started on the 20th floor of the 63-story Address Downtown Dubai hotel and the flames mainly spread on the building's exterior. Firefighters are trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

- The French capital city of Paris welcomed the New Year with security at its maximum preparedness following the November terrorist attacks. Countdown festivities along the Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe drew massive crowds but the celebrations were cut short and the fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower are cancelled due to possible terror attacks.

- For Manny Pacquiao's final fight this April 9, 2016, he will face off against Timothy Bradley for the third time at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

- Mayako Nigo, the seiyuu behind THE IDOLM@STER's Yayoi Takatsuki, gave birth to a baby boy.

- Maserati kills off its Trofeo spec racing series next season, focusing more on the Pirelli World Challenge and European GT4 Championship.

- Ferrari told its dealers to temporarily stop selling their 488 GTB models over fire hazards following the recall of the California T.

- For the year 2016, TV5 will feature a new drama series titled Bakit Manipis ang Ulap?, starring Claudine Barretto and former Kapamilya hunk Diether Ocampo as well as the remake of FPJ's Ang Panday, starring former Kapuso star Richard Gutierrez and Bangs Garcia, proving that the Kapatid network has big things in store this year under the appointment of VIVA Entertainment's Vic Del Rosario Jr. as its chief strategist.

TTFN!!!