Let's Do The News! (February 15, 2016)

- Davao City Mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte didn't show up at a scheduled rally in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, according to his running mate Senator Allan Peter Cayetano, due to mechanical failures on his plane.

- Philippine President Benigno Aquino III is scheduled to declare his resolve for the peace process during his attendance to the ASEAN-US Summit. This will be the last summit he'll visit as president as he seeks to strengthen the strategic partnership between the ASEAN and the US.

- The Philippine Navy didn't specify a timeline to restart the resupply mission to the Philippine-controlled maritime features in the disputed West Philippine Sea after problems were encountered with the delivery ship.

- A military helicopter crash landed in a field near an army base in Gangwon Province, Chuncheon, South Korea, killing three crew members onboard and leaving one badly injured. The helicopter crashed at around 1010 hours KST while on a test flight.

- A year has passed since the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists signed a ceasefire agreement and the two sides agree to revise Ukraine's constitution to grant more autonomy to pro-Russians in the east, and to hand over border control of areas bordering Russia to the government to Kiev.

- Australian prosecutors seized mass amounts of methamphetamine worth over 900 million dollars. They confiscated 720 litres of the said illegal drug at numerous locations in Sydney, including a shipping container sent from Hong Kong.

- Since its showing in theaters last week, the movie adaptation of the Marvel cult phenomenon Deadpool killed the box office records after scoring $135 million in the opening weekend. It was the biggest R-rated film opening of all-time, biggest February opening, and biggest opening for 20th Century Fox.

- Here's the first look of the 2016 reboot of the hit Carton Network show, The Powerpuff Girls, coming this spring 2016.

- The title of the 2016 Pokemon XYZ film is revealed as ボルケニオンと機巧（からくり）のマギアナ and apart from the mythical Pokemon Volcanion, there's a new Pokemon making its special appearance in the upcoming Summer 2016 film. Meet Magiarna! (Pronounced Mah-Gee-Ah-Nah)

Magiarna

And here's the synopsis of the upcoming Pokemon XYZ film, served as the 20th anniversary offering for the franchise, which will hit theaters on the 16th of July, 2016, across Japan;

"In this latest cinematic adventure, Ash meets the Mythical Pokémon Volcanion when it crashes down from the sky, creating a cloud of dust —and a mysterious force binds the two of them together! Volcanion despises humans and tries to get away, but it's forced to drag Ash along as it continues its rescue mission. They arrive in a city of cogs and gears, where a corrupt minister has stolen the ultimate invention: the Artificial Pokémon Magearna, created 500 years ago. He plans to use its mysterious power to take control of this mechanical kingdom! Can Ash and Volcanion work together to rescue Magearna? One of the greatest battles in Pokémon history is about to unfold!"

TTFN!!!

Jubilee of Mercy: Missionaries of Mercy

Jubilee of Mercy logo

On February 10, 2016, Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis commissioned hundreds of "Missionaries of Mercy" at Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, which is part of the ongoing celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, which started last year and ends in the 13th of November this year. 

During the Ash Wednesday Mass, Pope Francis focused on the theme of mercy as the Lenten season draws near. The Holy Father states the day's readings present two invitations; to be reconciled to God and to return to Him with their whole heart. The Missionaries of Mercy "would be a sign of the Church's maternal solicitude for the People of God, enabling them to enter the profound richness of this mystery so fundamental to the faith" according to the Holy Father.

Full Report: http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/02/10/pope_commissions_missionaries_of_mercy_on_ash_wednesday/1207414

The next event for the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will commence on the 22nd of February for the Jubilee for the Roman Curia, the Governorate and the Institutions connected with the Holy See.

Six Nations 2016: Round 2

The second round of the 2016 season of RBS Six Nations sees a much rougher action between six of the best rugby teams from England, Wales, Scotland, Italy, France, and Ireland as they're vying to gain the title. Right now, time to take aim on the match between WRU and Scotland.

WRU's George North never once scored a try since last year's Rugby World Cup qualifiers but his superb late solo at the second half led the WRU to victory against Scotland at the score of 27-23. However, it was Dan Biggar who did very well in the match following his consecutive penalties and conversions.

Under cover of the match, the FFR defeated the IRFU at the score of 10-9 while the England Rugby defeated FIR at the score of 40-9. Such score is giving the England Rugby a big lead.

Highlights:

The next match starts with WRU taking on the FFR on Friday, 26th of February, at 2005 hours GMT while the FIR taking on Scotland on the 27th of February at 1525 hours and England Rugby taking on the IRFU at the same day at 1650 hours.

Meet the new and expanded TG gang

The new Top Gear gang

Following the announcement of Friends actor Matt LeBlanc joining radio DJ Chris Evans as the host of the newly rebooted Top Gear, due on May 2016, the BBC announced the newest and finalized members that will be joining the hit motoring TV show.

Joining Matt and Chris are Nurburgring queen Sabine Schmitz, YouTube motoring journalist Chris Harris, Formula One expert Eddie Jordan, and motoring journalist Rory Reid. Of course, Top Gear's mascot racer, The Stig, still remains and always will be.

Top Gear returns on BBC2 and BBC2 HD this May 2016.

Report: http://www.topgear.com/car-news/top-gear-tv/meet-your-new-top-gear-presenters

Deadpool (2016 film)

One of the most anticipated films of 2016 is none other than everyone's favorite "Merc with the Mouth" who is good to be bad at being the good guy. Enter Deadpool.

Sadly, I can't explain what's what about this film because Deadpool's here to explain what's what about his film because if I can explain about this myself Deadpool's going to blow my house down with some explosives rigged under my bed.

Deadpool

Hello! Privet! Namaste! Ahoj! Merhaba! Hola! Salut! Yia sou! Selam! Guten Tag! Ni Hao! Konnichiwa! Witaj! Shalom! Saluton! Annyeong! People of the world! Yes, it's me. The merc with the mouth they called me Deadpool and how it's great to have a movie about myself. If by myself, I mean REALLY. Myself.

If you don't know who I really am. Lemme tell you a story and don't worry, I won't put you to sleep like what your mama, papa, nana, and pepop do when you're little. Once upon a time, there was a mercenary named Wade Wilson and he was diagnosed with the little C-word that everyone's afraid to have one in their life, but then, a secret experiment lured Mr. Wilson to a choice to live a second chance or face his imminent death. However, the experiment didn't healed his cancer but gained mutant genes to regenerate himself. Wilson's cancer left him disfigured but incapable of death. This is where Deadpool is born. Yep. That's me! We're you surprised?

My good friend Ryan Reynolds did a great job of being me and to be honest, both Ryan and I can make a perfect combination because he's so good at being me in this film. Also, my other good friend, director Tim Miller, did a great job of perfecting a film about me everybody in the world would love. I just want to be with those guys for the rest of my life, if you know what I mean?

Some people heard about my film is a total wreck compared to those low-life Marvel films and I said I disagree because my film "kills" all of the other films from the Marvel universe! Avengers, Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Guardians of the Galaxy, you name every stuff from the Marvel universe and I can top them all thanks to my...um...what some might call fighting style as well as my charisma that pleases the viewers.

I want all of you, fellow supporters of me, Deadpool, to enjoy my film made by the people who knew better about me, the Merc with the Mouth, because this is why my dream of having a movie about me came true thanks to my new friends Ryan Reynolds and director Tim Miller and before you're getting all emotional, you'd better wipe off your tears with your bare hands. Got it?! Good.

P.S. Don't have a date for Valentines? Spend a date with me, Deadpool.

Thank you Deadpool for your rhetorical message and for that, I'll give you a 3.9 out of 5 on the rating scale. Happy now that you got your own film?!

The AlDub Valentines Date

Valentine's Day comes early on the latest Kalyeserye segment on GMA's Eat Bulaga as Alden and Yaya Dub travelled to Taal Vista Hotel to spend their Valentines Date between them. This is becoming the perfect date to end all dates that AlDub done before since last year.

During the date, Yaya Dub had a surprise just for Alden and that's none other than another love poem that pleased not just Alden but also Lola Nidora as well even though they're miles aways between Broadway and the Taal Vista Hotel.

With the perfect date complete, what comes next for AlDub? Tune in on Eat Bulaga every weekdays for more Kalyeserye antics. 

In the meantime, congratulations to the top four AlDub songs that made it to the final round of the first-ever AlDub Songwriting Contest. The songs are Ta Pa by Maria Nuevo and Karlo Zabala, Sana Naman by Nicanor Gatchalian Jr., ALDUB YOU (MAALDEN KITA) by Ritchi Ramos and Richie Austria, and Tamang Panahon by TJ Paeldon. Which of the songs will be the grand winner? Find out soon!

#BGAntoniettaMeetsJeanG

On the February 12, 2016 episode of Bubble Gang...

- "Magpapaalam po" gags

- Hugot Lines in the beauty store

- What are these lovers dreaming about?

- Mamaw takes advantage of his son's departure to despise Erlinda!

- A prosecutor conducts a survey regarding the recent police raid.

- More news reversed in Opposite News!

- Antonietta meets Jean Garcia!

- Taxi driver's handling a desperate delivery!

The ending of the modernized Pangako Sa Yo

The Pangako Sa Yo ending

In the final episode of the modernized take on the classic ABS-CBN drama, Pangako Sa Yo, we saw Yna (Kathryn Bernardo) and Amor Powers (Jodi Sta. Maria) trapped in an abandoned building by Claudia Buenavista (Angelica Panganiban) while Mark ensues that these two won't get away and be soaked in cement for good. Meanwhile, Eduardo (Ian Veneracion) and Angelo (Daniel Padilla) are on the race against time to save the two women they've loved. As the search gets more desperate, the lives between Yna and Amor are no doubt are at risk of having Claudia execute her deadly plan to kill them both.

With Angelo finally spotted Claudia, Angelo pleads his mom to stop her heinous plot until the key to open the cage has landed on Amor and Mark released the cement. With Amor freed, it has turned into a gruesome series of misfortunes as one of the keys to free Yna are scattered and the cement is dropping on Yna's cage. Fortunately, Angelo rescued Yna. They are escaping but Claudia caught off-guarded. Angelo managed to persuade his mother to stop her madness and he did. However, Mark shot Angelo, Claudia shot down Mark, and Mark shot down Claudia.

With Angelo's life is critical, Angelo told Yna how much he loved her until he became unconscious and a few seconds later, Angelo's safe. He's not willing to die because of Yna. Moments later, Claudia confessed all of her wrongdoings to everyone in the court and apologized.

The story ends with Angelo and Yna as well as Eduardo and Amor finally reconcile in peace and this concludes the story of the modernized Pangako Sa Yo.

Let's Do The News! (February 12, 2016)

- United Nations Secretary Ban Ki Moon warned security officials of member nations over Islamic State sympathy in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. According to the the report from the UNSC, Ban said that the Islamic State has rapidly spread their influence in just 18 months across West and North Africa, the Middle East, South, and Southeast Asia. He noted other terrorist groups in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including Ansar al-Khalifah in the Philippines, have sworn allegiance to the ISIS.

- Japan and South Korea are heavily interested in research and exploration of the underwater volcanic ridge in the Philippine Sea east of Isabela known as the Benham Rise. The Department of Science and Technology said yesterday that the Asian nations are happy to collaborate in the vital resource mapping over the mineral resource-rich ridge.

- The draft executive order that would implement SSL 2015 or Salary Standardization Law 2015 is under review within the office of President Benigno Aquino III, according to officials.

- Over one billion pesos worth of jewelry confiscated from the family of former President Ferdinand Marcos has been approved for auction by the Privatization Council. According to the statement, the Council - headed by the Department of Finance - has approved for international auction the so-called Hawaii Collection, comprising of 300 pieces of jewelry and other luxury items.

- Memorial services are held for the victims of last weekend's Taiwan quake that killed 94 people while leaving hundreds remained unaccounted for. About 300 mourners, including relatives of the victims, attended the service on Friday at a funeral hall in the southern city of Tainan.

- Scientists discovered they have succeeded in directly detecting gravitational waves in history. The ripples that travel in the fabric of space and time had been predicted by physicist Albert Einstein about 100 years ago. Gravitational waves are said to be produced in the curvature of space and time caused by black holes and other massive objects. The group observed the waves last year at each of the twin laser detectors located in the western state of Washington and the southern state of Louisiana, about 3,000km apart. The recent discovery confirms Einstein's prediction about the existence of gravitational waves in his general theory of relativity.

- The M760i/M760Li, served as the flagship range of the new BMW 7-Series, has been unveiled and it's been loaded with a new 6.6L V12 engine which delivers over 600hp of power and 590lb-ft of torque.

- The Chevrolet Bolt EV will be sold to the European market as the new Opel/Vauxhall Ampera-e. Sales will commence in 2017.

2017 Opel Ampera-e

- Hideo Kojima launched the first webisode of his new Hideo Tube web series and the pilot webisode is listing down the ten best films of 2015.

TTFN!!!

Six Nations 2016: Round 1

Last week, the annual RBS Six Nations kicked off their 2016 season and the best from Italy, France, Wales, Scotland, England, and Ireland face off in one of rugby's greatest championship known not just for Europe but by the rest of the world.

Saturday's matches involved a battle between the FFR and the FIR and the match between Scotland and England Rugby. France;s FFR won the match against Italy's FIR at the score of 23-21 while England Rugby beats Scotland at the score of 15-9.

Now, let's focus on the match between the IRFU and the WRU held last Sunday at the Aviva Stadium and it was one of the most dramatic matches to start the 2016 season because due to the late penalty done by IRFU's Jonathan Sexton, which led them a 13-0 lead, the match ended in a draw with both teams scored 16 points.

Highlights from Round 1:

The second round of the 2016 RBS Six Nations will commence with the FFR versus the IRFU on the 13th of February at 1525 hours GMT while the WRU takes on Scotland in the same day at 1650 hours GMT and on the next day, it's FIR versus England Rugby.

Mitsubishi Mirage (A03A) Minor Change

2016 Mitsubishi Mirage

Ever since Mitsubishi revived the Mirage in 2012 as a compact, Mitsubishi wanted a compact car that can match the likes of the Nissan March, even though both of these compacts were fully imported from Thailand. While the fuel efficiency is the main topic in this Thai-import eco car, the design remains to be somewhat stagnant by some. It maybe cheap to own but its not cheerful as what you think.

To resolve this, there's a minor change to the current Mirage and while the new exterior design is somewhat promising to look at, it's been given some added tech to keep this compact car imported from Thailand more premium than the pre-facelifted Mirage. On the outside view, the new look gives the Mirage a more sleek and sporty feel but don't be alarmed because even though it's now sleeker than the previous model, it's not as surprisingly fun to drive with. On the inside, it still remains that cheap flavor which is as cheap as buying a dirty ice cream from a street vendor, even when you're opting for optional extras such as a sat-nav.

The old 3A90 MIVEC 1.0L engine has been thrown away and in return, the only engine available for the facelifted Mirage is a 3A92 MIVEC 1.2L engine, which produces 78PS of power and 100Nm of torque, while mated with the INVECS-III CVT. Fuel economy is expected at around 25.4km/L and when compared to the Nissan March K13's, it's around 2.4km/L more, meaning that it's more fuel-efficient.

Anyway, there is now tech included in the new Mirage and this new tech is called the FCM-City. FCM is Forward Collision Mitigation system and this new feature detects ongoing vehicles as well as taking advantage autonomous braking system. Safety wise, the new Mirage even comes with anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution, active stability control, emergency stop signal system, and many more.

The new Mirage starts from 1,380,240 Yen for the M model and up to 1,485,000 for the top-of-the-line G model. Should you buy it? The rest is up to you.

Available colors: Wine Red Pearl, Sunrise Orange Metallic, White Pearl, Red Metallic, Cerulean Blue Mica, Cool Silver Metallic, Titanium Grey Metallic, and Black Mica.

Photo: Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea shuts down Kaesong complex

Once again, the Kaesong complex is facing a shutdown as the North Korea announced that they will rid the complex of workers from South Korea.

The North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea issued a statement via the state media, saying they are closing down the complex and designate it as a military control zone following the South's suspension of all operations in the factory zone in response to last week's rocket launch by the North.

The North says that the recent shutdown announcement was a dangerous declaration of war that would bring the situation on the Korean Peninsula to the brink of confrontation and cannot be tolerated.

Source: NHK World