Let's Do The News! (January 26, 2016)

- The Commission of Elections announced that they're moving the start of ballot printing from the 1st to the eighth of February for the upcoming May 2016 elections. The poll body is eyeing to finish the ballot printing by the 25th of April.

- Davao City mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte will not attend at the presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro City on the 21st of February unless his disqualification case is dropped.

- According to the lawyer of the presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe, there is no evidence that she is a foreigner. Legal counsel Alex Poblador shown no proof that she's a foreigner during the second round of the oral arguments on the disqualification cases against Poe.

- Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani begins his first post-sanctions trip to across Europe in Italy. Rouhani met Italian PM Matteo Renzi on Monday, nine days after international sanctions against Iran were lifted after it achieved goals of limiting its nuclear development. Italy was among Iran's top trade partners before the sanctions but trade between the two nations has been lowered to less than a quarter of pre-sanction levels.

- The World Health Organization warns that the mosquito-borne Zika virus is likely to spread to all but to countries in the Americas. The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitos (similar to the dengue) and is believed to cause serious birth defects.

- The European Union has opened a new center for counter-terrorism among member states. Known as the European Counter Terrorism Centre, it was opened on Monday within the European Police Office based in The Hague, Holland.

- Ford Motor Company announced that they will stop selling cars in Japan and Indonesia due to poor market shares.

- Things are not looking so well in the making of a rebooted Top Gear show as incoming presenter Chris Evans threatens to leave the show after some arguments with the top officials of the BBC.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye; back to the 1945-ish surreal post-war love story of Anselmo and Nidora, Mama Ariana Miley imprisoned Nidora to her mansion but Anselmo managed to rescue her. However, Mama Ariana and her men caught the two lovers off-guard. What happens next? Tune in next time and find out!

TTFN!!!

Second-Generation Kia K7

Since its launch in 2009, the K7 introduced Kia Motors a new naming scheme where all good saloons will have a K at the beginning. Don't know why but they want to sound their cars like they're the kings on the road...um...really? Anyway, the K7 (known as the Cadenza in the global left-hand markets) has now regenerated and we can expect more tech and more performance than the previous model.

2017 Kia K7

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, and at first glance the new look for the new generation is somewhat very sharp as a rapier indeed and when gazing through its reworked Tiger Nose grille and the Z-shaped headlamps and taillights, it sure knows where it starts and where it ends in terms of design flow and between you and this car, it's like winning a game of checkers every time you say "king me".

2017 Kia K7 interior

2017 Kia K7 interior

Inside the new K7, it's all neatly organized according to plan and it's very reminiscent to a posh European saloon if you carefully examine the details. From its well-tailored upholstery, high-tech center console that manages stuff in your car including its sat-nav, the new side-by-side center armrest, the device that adjusts the front passenger seat, the new Krell Premium Sound system, and the HUD that doesn't point things out in the sunshine, you could really tell that the new K7 feels like a luxury saloon and spacing wise, it's an improvement over the previous model in terms of rear legroom and the trunk spacing. Of course, there's now a smart trunk offered on the new K7 and with the smart key in your pocket, you can open its trunk automatically without pressing the button from your keys. Ain't science grand?

The science doesn't stop there because while this new K7 promises to be technologically advanced, it's been given a host of safety features such as Smart BSD, Emergency Auto Brake, Advanced Smart Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning System, Around View Monitor, and many others. Those tech features sounds so good for a Korean car but some skeptics felt unsure on how all of these tech features work while driving the new K7 on the road.

2017 Kia K7

So, what's under the hood for the new K7, per se? Well, it comes with three different engine choices; a powerful Lambda II 3.3L GDi producing 290PS of power, a well-balanced Theta II 2.4 GDi, and the first-ever R 2.2 e-VGT engine with a fuel consumption of 14.3km/L. All three engines are mated with an all-new 8-speed automatic gearbox.

In terms of dynamics, the new K7 feels hardly improved at all especially when its now reinforced by its ultra high-strength steel frame as well as being fitted with front MacPherson Struts and rear multilink suspension. Feels classy and as comfortable as a European business saloon but it doesn't had the fun factor to keep its sports saloon status afloat. Overall, it's far average for a car who just can't wait to be king.

The new K7 starts at 30,900,000 Korean Won, which is somewhat more than the previous model and when you look that up to the pricing of its rival, the Hyundai Grandeur, you will be shocked that this is a million Won more. Sounds costly, but the new K7 feels like a cut price solution if you can't afford a Mercedes C-Class or an Audi A4, or a BMW 3-Series, because above all, this car can't wait to shout "King Me" to the Europeans...well, the handling feels a bit kinky compared to the Europeans.

Available Colors: Snow White Pearl, Silky Silver, Platinum Graphite, Gravity Blue, Aurora Black Pearl, and Pluto Brown.

Photo: Kia Motors

Forza Motorsport 6: First of the "Event Cars"

See this unique looking racing classic from Ferrari? If you're asking how in Thinking Out Loud did I get that unique looking 1971 Ferrari #2 Ferrari Automobili 312 P, I just wanna know you still have plenty of time left to take on a very special Can-Am Connection multiplayer league because those who ranked in the 50% through the weeks of January gets this car. Of course, I'm a bit late to say it but this is the final week to take on a special League in FM6 and place in the rankings to score this vintage racing machine.

This is the first of Forza Motorsport 6's "Event Cars", which is broadly similar to unicorns in the past Forza games but unlike those "unicorns" in the past, these "event cars" can only won by placing through the ranks of a certain League you're on in FM6. I'm sure this is the first time I had my hands on this event car but there's more every month so keep playing for more.



To honor my recently acquired Ferrari 314P, I decided to have a go round the whole Indianapolis Motor Speedway and have a quick comparison against McLaren's legendary M8B Can-Am racer, the legend responsible for its six wins in the Can-Am racing in 1969, pushing Bruce McLaren and his team to become one of the most competitive teams in the championship. Believe it or not, I once had a go on this legendary machine during the limited-time multiplayer league involving Can-Am racers and while I'm not concerned about results, I am gunning for a spot at the league rankings until I reached the target ranking percentage. Anyway, while this is no time for sentimental thoughts or rather putting it in my so-called Hobonichi Techo, let's compare these two and see who makes it to the top.


The 312P or specifically the 312PB by some is powered by the flat-12 engine with twin overhead cams, developing 440bhp of power and 258lb-ft of torque, mated with a race-developed 5-speed manual gearbox. Apart from the low centre of gravity benefitted from its engine layout, it features front double wishbones and a rear single top-link, reversed lower wishbone, bolted to its aluminum central monocoque with steel spaceframe. The M8B, on the other hand, comes with the  Chevrolet-derived, 7.0L V8 engine, with a much shorter stroke and a larger bore built by George Bolthoff, producing 635HP of power and 575lb-ft of torque while mated with a 4-speed Hewland manual gearbox. It comes with a massive rear wing mounted high on pylons, allowing this machine to run on softer springs.

Both of these cars are amazingly one-sided in terms of performance and handling thanks to its clever aerodynamics unique to these bewitching racing classics but in the end, there's only one who came out to the top.  The 312 P did it in 1:32.328 while the M8B did it in 1:33.614, meaning that despite the power difference, the Ferrari's low centre of gravity thanks to its boxer-12 engine mounted in the middle really slips through the corners with ease. I was amazed that I won this kind of car.

Anyway, this is your final week to place in the rankings at the Can-Am Connection Multiplayer League in FM6 and stand a chance to win this Ferrari. Enter now.

Let's Do The News! (January 25, 2016)

- A year has passed since the brutal Mamasapano clash that killed 44 of the PNP Special Action Force members and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III admitted that he is unhappy with the slow progress of the nation's justice system. He, however, vowed justice for the slain SAF members who were killed during an encounter against Moro rebels. Aquino called on the Congress to look into the PNP Law and determine the provisions preventing the immediate imposition of sanctions for leaders who fail in their duties.

- The top officials of the House of Representatives had their fingers crossed as they only got two weeks to vote on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law before Congress adjourns for the electoral campaign.

- 29 people are killed in one of the most historic snowfalls ever to hit the East Coast of the United States. The blizzard occurred last weekend and some areas have seen over one meter of snow. Residents of New York City found themselves beneath 68 centimeters of snow. It's the second-most recorded since 1869.

- Great Britain has reported three cases of Zika virus infection among travelers who returned from South America where the infection is spreading. They were diagnosed with the mosquito-borne diseases on Sunday after visiting Colombia, Suriname, and Guyana. The Central and South American countries last year saw an outbreak. Symptoms include fever, headaches, and muscle-aches that last up to a week and according to Brazilian health authorities, about an estimated 1.5 million people have been infected.

- The Islamic State released video messages that the group claims its terrorists made before the Paris attacks last November 2015. In this video, there are images from last year's attacks that killed 130 people followed by the so-called final messages of the nine militants, most speak in French or Arabic.

- The international meeting aimed for counter-terrorism opened in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur on Monday. Ministers and officials from 18 nations, especially from ASEAN, Japan, and the US, are discussing ways to counter the Islamic State militants, among other measures.

- After years of waiting, the American version of the hit motoring TV show Top Gear is returning to History Channel soon with a special episode where the presenters; namely Tanner Foust, Adam Ferrera, and Rutledge Wood, landed on Cuba on their first ever road trip ever since the US lifted the sanctions against Cuba.

- Independent British car company Morgan plans to offer a full range of hybrid vehicles by 2020 following a consortium formed with other British automotive engineering consultancies experienced in developing high-performance electric powertrains and a grant from the British government's Advanced Propulsion Centre.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye, one entry of Lola Nidora's diary takes us back to 1945 (sadly, it's a diary way out of its time presumably) where she talked about her first true love of her life named Anselmo and why did her Mama Ariana Miley got furious about her love affair with Anselmo. Betcha didn't know that even in post-war era, Dubsmash was invented every time when someone hears a transistor playing music.

- While Star Wars fans are still reeling from last year's successful "The Force Awakens" film, Disney announced that the next Star Wars film is due in the 2017 Holiday Season while an anthology film, tentatively titled Rogue One, is slated for this year's holiday season.

TTFN!!!

At the 2016 Sherlock Seattle Mini-Convention

Over the weekend, I went to the Broadway Performance Hall, which is a few yards near the Seattle Central College, the educational institution where I was graduated on a few years ago, to attend the annual Sherlock Seattle Mini-Convention. The mini-convention turned out to be "good" but not as great and as perfect as the other Sherlock Seattle mini-conventions occurred over the past years but I think it was a good success for those who share the love for all things Sherlock Holmes.

Of course, with the debate over what just happened at the near climax of "The Abominable Bride" special, which aired earlier this month, a group of men known as SCEME appeared on the stage to demonstrate the different fighting techniques that could have been the alternate perspective in the Sherlock-Moriarty fight at the Reichenbach Falls.

Take a look at some of the pics I took and be sure to hop in my Facebook page for the full scoops I took.

Alden shows off his musical instrument skils

In the recent Eat Bulaga's Kalyeserye, AlDub and the lolas are cordially invited for the pre-wedding special of celebrities Pauleen Luna and one of EB long-time presenters Vic Sotto. This special is the ideal moment where Alden Richards shows off his musical instrument skills in front of the live studio audience...or rather it was. From the ukulele to the piano, Alden has thrown everything he got to fulfill one of Yaya Dub's three conditions in order to give the answer to Alden's question.

After their performance, the bridal shower kicked off with the arrival of Pauleen Luna onstage and almost all of the EB presenters are celebrating the pre-wedding special. Anyway, best that we should leave it here but be sure to keep watching Eat Bulaga every weekdays for more Kalyeserye antics and congratulations to Bossing and Pauleen for your upcoming wedding!

Speaking of which, what will be the second condition for Alden from Yaya Dub?

Photo: Official Eat Bulaga Facebook Page

The 5th Wave

Movie adaptations of best-selling books, especially young adult dystopian ones, are becoming more common even post-Hunger Games times because while these stories feature a much dystopian taste, strong female characters are becoming all the rage now since the Hunger Games and the Divergent series. Now, 2016 welcomes another movie adaptation of the best selling novels, this time, it's the first of Rick Yancey's best-selling young adult dystopian series called The 5th Wave.

The 5th Wave

This 2016 film, The 5th Wave, is the first of the trilogy. It stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Ron Livingston, Maggie Siff, and Alex Roe, among many others. The film, like the books, highlights in the story of a young girl named Cassie. What was once an ordinary day becomes a series of cataclysms as an alien invasion unleashed four waves of deadly attacks. The power outages, the natural calamities, the plague, and the invasion from within. As she's on the run to save her little brother, Cassie encounters a young man named Evan Walker, who could be the key to her salvation. Throughout her journey, Cassie must face the inevitable choice while preparing for the worst.

This film is very frightening at first. It's like a blend of Independence Day, 2012, Hunger Games, and Divergent, at the same pace, but for a young adult dystopian flick depicting strong female characters, this film takes the cake and it's worth empowering for the viewers to discover that no matter how darkness falls, light will always prevail. Watching through the rest of the film is like slipping through the pages fast enough because viewers will never know what twists and turns The 5th Wave may face with, even with the dystopic characters featured.

The 5th Wave maybe intimidating and terrifying to watch but for stories depicting strong females, it's a powerful message that needs to be delivered.

Don't think you'll stop here on this 5th Wave because pretty soon, the story of The 5th Wave will continue in The Infinite Sea and The Last Star, which may get adapted very very soon but in the meantime, feel free to savor the thrills and spills in the first chapter of The 5th Wave trilogy.

My rating: 3.9 out of 5.

Broadchurch creator to take over Doctor Who in 2018

Ever since Steven Moffat took over BBC's longest-running sci-fi series Doctor Who during the Matt Smith years (2010-2013), he has propelled the show to greater success and introduced us some of the most memorable characters and villains during his rule. From the previous Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith to the current Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi, most of the Doctor Who episodes run by under Moffat's rule are truly memorable in each and every way.

Doctor Who

The tenth series, due in Spring 2017, will be the last series under Moffat's rule and after that, the show will be now under the rule of the new head writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall, responsible for the BAFTA-winning crime drama Broadchurch (which starred Tenth Doctor David Tennant) as well as other shows such as The Great Train Robbery, United, Law & Order UK, Life on Mars, and the Doctor Who spinoff action drama Torchwood.

Sure, it's going to be a very very long wait for us, Whovians, to wait before Doctor Who returns to the TV screens but fear not because there's going to be a 2016 Christmas special as well as Class, another bonafide Doctor Who spinoff since Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures coming this year.

URL: http://www.bbcamerica.com/blog/2016/01/broadchurch-creator-to-helm-doctor-who-following-steven-moffats-final-season

Photo: BBC

Let's Do The News! (January 22, 2016)

- Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has appointed Department of Justice Chief Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa as the 174th associate justice of the Supreme Court. Caguioa not only replaces Leila del Lima as DOJ head last year but also Associate Justice Martin Villarama Jr., who retired from the high court.

- Vice presidentiable and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano called on his fellow senators running for president and vice president on the upcoming May 2016 elections to inhibit themselves from the reopened investigation into the Mamasapano clash that killed forty four PNP Special Action Force members last year.

- Ousted Iglesia Ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca, who was arrested for libel earlier this week, claimed that some members of the religious sect asked him to leave the country. Menorca claimed that the cased filed against him was just an attempt to scare him off.

- An American university student was detained by North Korea due to an alleged hostile act. The state-run news agency reported that the student, named as Otto Frederick Warmbier, entered the country as a tourist and committed a hostile act with the intention of undermining unity among North Koreans.

-South Korean leader Park Geun-hye proposed a five-nation talks to address the nuclear situation in North Korea. She stressed that the international community should send a clear message against North Korea's nuclear test staged early this month.

- Ford is offering the hardcore Shelby GT350R a new rear seat option for $999. Say what?

- Dreaming of having the Aston Martin DB10 as seen on 007: SPECTRE? Guess what? Now's the perfect chance to bid on this Bond car aside from numerous Bond memorabilia as seen on the film as most of the stuff from last year's Bond film are heading to the auctions courtesy of Christie's from the 16th to the 23rd of February. Proceeds will go to charity.

Aston Martin DB10

- The Citroen DS3 is now renamed as DS Automobiles DS3 as the range features new signature DS design and tons of new extras in store.

DS Automobiles DS3

- More news from the world of THE IDOLM@STER as Eriko Nakamura (who played Haruka Amami), Asami Shimoda (who played Ami and Mami Futami) and the producer Yozo Sakagami will be attending the 2016 Taipei Game Show. There will be lots of memorabilia straight from last year's 10th live concert in store in this event.

TTFN!!!

Jubilee of Mercy: Jubilee for those Engaged in Pilgrimage Work

Jubilee of Mercy logo

The Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy, which is ongoing until the 13th of November, 2016, continues with the three-day Jubilee for those Engaged in Pilgrimage Work, which ran from the 19th to the 21st of January, 2016. 

In the last day of the three-day Jubilee for those Engaged in Pilgrimage Work, Pope Francis leads the Jubilee at the Paul VI Hall in Vatican City. The Pope told the participants that making pilgrimages to shrines is one of the most eloquent expressions of the faith of God's people, and is a form of evangelization that needs to be promoted and valued.

URL: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/pope-francis-lead-the-jubilee-for-those-engaged-in-news-photo/506028690

The next event for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will be on the 10th of February, 2016, for the Missionaries of Mercy.

Let's Do The News! (January 21, 2016)

- The House of Representatives sets voting for the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law for next week, which seeks the creation of a new autonomous region in Mindanao. According to the Cagayan de Oro representative Rufus Rodriguez, the chamber has entered the period of amendments. They will set the voting on Wednesday as long as they have the quorum.

- The Commission of Elections has released the initial list of presidentiables, vice presidentiables, and senatorial candidates for the May 2016 elections.

- According to the Department of Defense official, several nations are interested to sell their military equipment to the Philippines. The official noted that the nations have to follow R.A. 9184 or Act Providing For The Modernization, Standardization And Regulation Of The Procurement Activities Of The Government And For Other Purposes. Nations like the US, Russia, Australia, and South Korea are heavily interested to bring their defense equipment to the Philippines.

- A British investigation points out that Russian leader Vladimir Putin likely authorized the murder of a former British agent in London. An agent, named Alexander Litvinenko, was poisoned to death ten years ago using a radioactive isotope. He had been publicly criticizing the Putin administration and was living in exile at the time of his death.

- Yesterday, there was a terrorist attack on a university in the northwestern town of Charsadda in Pakistan, killing twenty people after a group of four attackers stormed the campus. A man who claimed to be from the Taliban claimed responsibility. Now, students have gathered to mourn the victims of the attack. They held a prayer of silence while a verse from the Koran was recited to mourn the victims.

- Onto the Jakarta attacks, Indonesian authorities believed that the network of the Islamic State supporters has been formed in the country.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga kalyeserye; for their 27th weeksary, AlDub and the lolas visited the Lumban Central Elementary School for the grand opening of their first ever AlDub Library. This is one of the libraries that resulted from the biggest proceeds claimed from last year's Sa Tamang Panahon live event.

- One of PC's most respected sim racing games, Assetto Corsa, is heading to the PS4 and XBOX One on the 22nd of April, 2016.

- For the January update of the PS3-exclusive free-to-play Ace Combat Infinity, a hard difficulty on the Moscow Battle and an expert-level Excalibur Onslaught IV has been added. Coming soon, a brand new team deathmatch called Ring Battle will be added. To make it more interesting, four new planes have been added such as the MiG-35D Super Fulcrum, F-14B Tomcat, EA-6B Prowler, and the ultra-mysterious ADA-01B Adler.



- The special James Bond exhibition, called Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style, will open in the Grande Halle De La Villette in Paris on the 16th of April to the 4th of September, 2016. It will feature some of the finest Bond stuff from Dr. No to the latest SPECTRE.

TTFN!!!

Suzuki Ignis (FF21S)

Last year, at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, Suzuki once showcased one of the most bizarre models ever made that will be available to the motoring public this year. It's called the Ignis and while this name sounds familiar to anyone who used to own one under the "Chevrolet Cruze" banner (not to be confused with the saloon we are familiar with), it's now a car with different personalities.

2016 Suzuki Ignis

Is it a sedan? Is it a hatchback? Is it a crossover? Is it a coupe? You can't really tell which is which because the Ignis looks like most of it above. It can look like a sedan, a hatchback, a coupe, and a crossover, but above all, the Ignis looks like it's the best of all worlds.

2016 Suzuki Ignis interior

2016 Suzuki Ignis interior

On the inside, the Ignis looks more like a European hatchback, except it isn't European because the Ignis is strictly Japanese and you know how Japanese people look over small cars. It's got seating for four people, some concessions for comfort, and a nifty touch screen featuring satellite navigation, Aha Radio, and the first for a Japanese car sold in the Japanese market, Apple CarPlay connectivity. This means, the Ignis, despite its small sizing and its confusing body style, is surprisingly high-tech inside out.

2016 Suzuki Ignis

Here's a little heads-up about the new Suzuki Ignis because the powerplant is highly similar to the latest Suzuki Solio. Yep, it comes with Suzuki's Mild Hybrid technology that works in tandem with SUZUKI GREEN TECHNOLOGY. It's powered by a K12C Dual Jet engine producing 91PS of power and 118Nm of torque, while coupled with an Integrated Starter Generator, Lithium-ion Battery, an updated idling stop system, and CVT, resulting in 28.8kmpl of fuel consumption based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards.

As for dynamics, the Ignis stays true to its simplicity thanks to its front MacPherson struts, rear Torsion beams, and of course the Rack and Pinion Steering, meaning it doesn't feel as comfortable and as sporty as any other hatchbacks are known today and it doesn't feel as rugged as any offroad-capable crossovers, which isn't a case for those if you may ask.

In terms of being a tech-savvy compact, the Ignis comes with numerous safety features in store such as a dual camera brake support system, Lane Departure Warning, Stagger Alarm Function, Preceding Vehicle Start Alert, Emergency Stop Signal that warns drivers at the back, ESP, and 4-wheel ABS. This car sure knows some tough love to the drivers owning one.

Should you buy one? The Ignis starts at 1,382,400 Japanese Yen, which sounds very reasonable for a compact car with a rather confusing category to begin with but with all that tech loaded in a small car, the Ignis fits well not just as a city car but a car fit for your next weekend getaway.

Available colors: Flame Orange Pearl Metallic, Pure White Pearl, Premium Silver Metallic, Super Black Pearl, Neon Blue Metallic, Helios Gold Pearl Metallic, Fervent Red, Boost Blue Pearl Metallic, Flame Orange Pearl Metallic Black 2 Tone Roof, Neon Blue Metallic Black 2 Tone Roof, , Helios Gold Pearl Metallic Black 2 Tone Roof, , Pure White Pearl Black 2 Tone Roof, and Fervent Red Black 2 Tone Roof, 

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation