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

- President Rodrigo Duterte's first Executive Order was issued on Monday in which seeks to reengineer the Office of the President. Duterte cited Presidential Decree 1416 which provides that the president shall have continuing authority to reorganize the administrative structure of the national government. The 12 agencies are tasked to evaluate existing poverty reduction programs and formulate project that seek to improve people's lives of the most important sectors of the society.

- Vice President Leni Robredo made a courtesy visit to President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang Palace on Monday afternoon. This is the second time the two new top officials met together since the AFP turnover ceremony last week.

- The Federal Bureau of Investigation have interviewed presumptive Democratic presidentiable Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server while she was Secretary of State. The 3-and-a-half hour interview took place on Saturday at the FBI HQ in Washington. Later, in a telephone interview with US media, Clinton is welcomed to do the FBI interview, which her side described as voluntary,

- The terrorist attack at a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is drawing condemnation from the international community. Last Friday, an armed group attacked the restaurant and about 20 bodies were found at the site, including seven Japanese people, nine Italians, an American, and an Indian, reports told. An organization claiming as an affiliate of ISIS claimed responsibility.

- French police have used an explosive to blow up a car parked illegally near a stadium where France and Iceland met for the Euro 2016 quarterfinals. The officers searched the car after the blast but nothing found. The blast near Paris caused jitters among fans arriving at the Stade de France stadium for the key game on Sunday.

- Turkish authorities have decided to hold 13 suspects in connection with the Istanbul airport attack last week. The suspects include three foreigners, who were among the 29 people captured after the bombing and shooting that killed 44.

- 125 people died at a car bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq. The bomb exploded on Sunday morning in the Karrada district, where many Shia Muslims live. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

- Russia's Olympic Committee has appealed a ban on its athletics team from the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics over doping. The legal department head of the committee told Russia's state-run news agency on Sunday that her organization and 68 athletes filed the appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

- 2013's hit anime series, Attack on Titan, returns for a brand new season this Spring 2017.

- D3Publisher announced a new and rather bizarre game titled Idol Death Game TV. Why not? Because this PSVita game, slated for its October 20 release, is an action adventure game about idols ended on a battle royale for the center position.

TTFN!!!

Disney's The BFG

Forged by the collaborative efforts of Roald Dahl, Walt Disney, and Steven Spielberg, the classic tale of "The BFG" has come to life in this whimsical mix of live-action and CGI effects that will captivate the whole family in the long summer weekend.

Disney's The BFG

Starring Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, and Rebecca Hall, The BFG is about a little orphan girl named Sophie who had a chance encounter with a giant and then set off to an adventure that is far beyond our imagination. Throughout their adventure, their newly found friendship are tested when she heard that giants like him are flush-bunking off to her world to devour a few nice children and it's up to the unlikely duo to stop them once and for all.

Because The BFG is based on the works of children's books author Roald Dahl, the man behind other fantasy greats like James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Matilda, fantasy is the forte of this film as this film wants to capture young children with some unforgettable moments that will touch the hearts of many. It's like they're living in a fairy tale but it's beyond a grander scale for the whole family to witness it. With the combination of Disney and Steven Spielberg, this one-of-a-kind collaborative movie brings "movie magic" to a whole new meaning and The BFG never fails to impress as a family-friendly movie big enough to become one of the most heart-warming family movies of the summer. Watch this film until the very end and you will never deny just how beautiful this fantasy movie is.

Thanks to such a unique collaboration, Disney's The BFG is going to be an instant classic for those who have witnessed the story of a little girl and a big friendly giant setting off to humongous adventures big enough to be captivated by kids and by kids once upon a time.

My rating: 4.3 out of 5.

Cadillac CT6 and XT5

With Cadillac now taking a bold new approach with thanks to the man who used to shaped Nissan's Infiniti to its former glory, General Motors' luxury brand introduced us with two new machines that signals the rebirth that erases our minds from thinking that they're made only for senior citizens since...well, you know.

2016 Cadillac CT6

I'll begin with Cadillac's brand new flagship saloon, the CT6, and if the name takes a beating on you, that's because Cadillac's using a brand new naming structure similar to Renault-Samsung's. They'll be using the CT-prefix for saloons and XT-prefix for crossovers, but let's not talk long about it because let's focus onto the new CT6, the new flagship saloon from Cadillac. From the start, it looks closely similar to either a E-Class fighting CTS or a lackluster fleet-capable XTS but what this car looks like, it would be both because all that Art & Science philosophy is pouring into this saloon and from every angle, the CT6 rethinks the way Cadillac is meant to be, as an American flagship capable to tackle the likes of BMW's 7-Series, Audi's A8, Benz's S-Class, even Lexus's LS and Genesis' EQ900 as well.

One thing that sets them apart is the price because the CT6 starts at 53,495 US Dollars, which makes it a BMW 7-Series in 5-Series money. Now, that's a bargain but what do you get for a flagship saloon that is less expensive than the luxury flagships from Europe and Asia?

2016 Cadillac CT6 interior

Outside, the CT6 is a well-shaped saloon that balances style and performance at the same pace despite its big size. On the inside, you will notice the new Cadillac interior that will soon to apply in upcoming models within the end of the decade and it combines craftsmanship with technology that sets its class apart from the opposition. In my mind, the new Cadillac interior looks gorgeous by detail but it's not just the design that shaped the interior. It's the tech that revolutionized it and with the CT6, every nook and cranny has been well-shaped to give owners a much office-like feel on the road. Getting accommodated with the CT6's interior sounds nice but trying to learn more about the high-tech stuff is going to be a challenge, especially if you're not a big fan of technology.

2016 Cadillac CT6

What about driving? Since this is an entirely new car, the CT6 features a brand new platform as seen on the Chevrolet Camaro. Called the Omega platform, this platform uses a combination of steel and aluminum materials, resulting to a car that weighs less than BMW's 5-Series. That sounds great, as are the dynamics that feel great to drive but it's a bit tad old-fashioned if you know what I'm saying.

Then, there's the choice of engines. The CT6 comes with a choice of three engines; a 2.0L turbo, a 3.6L V6, and a powerful 3.0L V6 Twin-Turbo engine producing 404HP of power and 542Nm of torque. all mated with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Word from the mouth is that there's going to be a turbocharged V8 model coming soon but don't expect this to be a more exciting addition to it because even though it packs more oomph, the turbo's main purpose of better fuel economy might get the drop out of you.

And there's more because while the CT6 promises tech for a luxury saloon of this size, it comes with a rather bizarre feature called the Super Cruise autonomous driving feature which allows hands-free lane following, braking, and speed control. That feels scary but this is the future we're living it and autonomous driving tech will be all over even before the end of the decade, which sounds not so bad but would will be the end of fun driving as we knew it? It's too early to tell but in the meantime, hope you're not so stupid about taking advantage of its autonomous driving feature because while this is the future, this feature has a big fine print that drivers like you should be aware of. If things get wrong, it's no one's guess.

The CT6 is the first of the eight new models Cadillac will be launched before the end of the decade and the second of what I mentioned will be a crossover called the XT5.

2017 Cadillac XT5

2017 Cadillac XT5

2017 Cadillac XT5 interior

Served as the replacement of the SRX, the new XT5 features similar looks as the CT6 as well as its 3.6L V6 natural aspiration engine mated to an 8-speed gearbox. This engine is good for having 310HP of power and 367Nm of torque so that sounds sporty for a good V6 engine that has been around in most Cadillac models in its portfolio but don't get too confident on its power because this comes with the platform used on the China-made Buick Envision, so you may have high doubts about how it performs not just on the city centers but also on the open roads if you have a schedule to go to the country club to play golf.

Speaking of golf, because this is a crossover, the XT5 features a much spacious cabin that can accommodate various lifestyles you see fit because the XT5 isn't just a crossover, it's a lifestyle that deserves to have a lifestyle check before setting off.

So, with Cadillac's new CT6 flagship saloon and the new XT5 crossover, the luxury division of General Motors has started its major overhaul and how will Cadillac fare better against the opposition from Europe and Asia is all up to its customer satisfaction that requires clear thinking and clear judgment to settle things once and for all.

Photo: General Motors

Let's Do The News! (July 2, 2016)

- President Rodrigo Duterte decided to have the gates of the Palace open to the underprivileged and people can cal the hotline 8888 for complaints or to seek government help. He also told to the Philippine National Police that he will protect the policemen if they can kill a thousand criminals in the line of duty.

- The Federal Bureau of Investigation wants to talk to presumptive Democratic presidentiable Hillary Clinton about her alleged use of her private e-mail address while she was Secretary of State, adding fuel to the recent scandal that might affect her road to presidency.

- Vote counting has begun in the Australian general election. Based on exit polls, the race between governing coalition of the Liberal and National Parties and the opposition Labour Party are too close to call.

- See how the second-generation Porsche Panamera handle the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

- Psst. Additional info of new Pokemon in the upcoming Pokemon Sun and Moon games is now on the radar with a new video showcasing Grubbin's evolved forms, Zygarde's 10% and Complete Forme, and new Pokemon such as Tapu Koko, Drampa, Cutiefly, Bruxish, Rockruff, Komala, and the ultra-adorable Togedemaru.



- A sequel to Disney's 2012 animated movie Wreck-It Ralph was announced and it's coming this 2018. Are you game?

TTFN!!!

#BGHuliKaGags

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

- Huli Ka Gags

- This guy shows that he really moved on...

- More poolside fun with the Pool Senorita gals

- The President makes a fateful encounter...

- The Spoken-Neneng Song!

- Everybody's facing one problem after another...

- Istambay, Istambay Sa Looban, Kung Mahilig Kayo Sa Swertihan, 'Wag Ito Ang Inyong Papakinggan, Ito Ay Kwento Ng...KAMALASAN!?

- Picture Taking

- Basa-Basa-Pik!

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

- President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo met for the first time on Friday after assuming office as the Philippines' top two government officials. Both attended the Armed Forces of the Philippines turnover ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Duterte acknowledge the presence of Robredo in his speech after new AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya took command of the military.

- Following his departure from office, former president Benigno Aquino III is set to face criminal charges for the death of 44 PNP-SAF units during the Mamasapano clash on January 25 last year. Families of the so-called SAF 44 will file a complaint for multiple homicide against Aquino, former PNP chief Alan Purisima and former SAF director Getulio Napenas before the Office of the Ombudsman, according to Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.

- Returning to the Brexit aftermath, former London mayor Boris Johnson, one of the spearheaders of the campaign to make UK "leave" the EU, says he will not enter the leadership race of the ruling Conservative Party. Johnson faced multiple criticisms with his party for switching to the Leave camp. He was initially believed to have a pro-EU stance and the switch was a ruse in order to succeed David Cameron.

- Turkish reports say authorities knew that Islamic State militants were plotting a terror attack on the airport in Istanbul, 20 days before the attack. Suicide bombings and shootings at Ataturk Airport on Tuesday killed 44 people and injured over 200.

- In science news, researchers say that the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica has shrunk over the last 15 years. The ozone layer shields the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays but CFCs and other gases have been damaging the layer since the late 80's. Countries signed the Montreal Protocol in 1987 to boost measures to preserve the ozone layer. The researchers found that the ozone hole has shrunk by about 4-million square kilometers in September 2015 from 2000, meaning that Earth is recovering.

- The NHTSA began their preliminary investigation on the Tesla Autopilot system after a motorist was killed in a Model S while the Autopilot was engaged. It is believed the first known fatality using an autonomous driving tech. Reports told that the Tesla's windshield struck the tractor trailer as it passed under. The trailer's white paint set against a bright sky were the cause of the Autopilot failure.

- To celebrate the upcoming Ghostbusters movie, they collaborated with ride-sharing service Lyft to offer Ecto-1 rides in select US cities.

- The sequel to 2013's Pacific Rim giant robot movie is set to hit theaters by early 2018, according to reports.

TTFN!!!

How to dress as one of Aqours

In honor of the upcoming premiere of the much-awaited Love Live! Sunshine!! TV series, this is the perfect opportunity to explain any Lovelivers around the world how to dress as one of the Aqours members. If you need a quick refresher, Love Live! Sunshine!! centers on nine teenage girls on how they formed Aqours and become Uranohoshi Girls High School's finest school idol group ever formed.

Love Live! Sunshine!!

Since this is an idol anime packed with idol girls, the girls will have a wide array of wardrobe they'll be wearing throughout the course of Love Live! Sunshine!! and while you'll be worrying about the outfits later, the target will be hairstyles based on Aqours members. I'll be detailing it so pay attention.

As Chika - Chika Takami is the leader of Aqours and the youngest of the three sisters. She's a second year student and her family runs an inn. She's a fan of μ's. To start being Chika, it may take a orange wig with a just-size (not too short, not too long) to do the job but notice the hair accessories Chika wore? She had a big yellow ribbon on her left and a small green one on her right but I don't think that's the half of it because there's a small braided portion of the left of Chika's hair. If you can manage to replicate Chika's hairdo, you're free to do whatever outfit you like.

As Riko - Formerly from Tokyo, Riko Sakurauchi now resides to Uchiura. A second year student who loves to draw and likes to stay indoors. Judging from her hairdo, Riko has a crimson-colored long hair with a few specks on her right. If being Riko is an easy task, the choice of outfits will not be easy but I'll leave it all to you.

As Kanan - Kanan Matsuura is a senior-year student who runs a diving shop with her grandmother on a nearby island. Just a simple long blue hair should do the trick but don't forget the ponytail look that Kanan had. Once settled, the outfits are up to you but for the record, you better don't let anyone's guard down while you're on a wet suit because diving is one of Kanan's pastime.

As Dia - Dia Kurosawa is the senior-year student and she's Uranohoshi Girls High School's student council president. As I believed, Dia's behavior will be similar to her predecessor, Eli Ayase from μ's. She rejected the idea of having a school idol group in the first place but she'll be reluctant to be part of it if things get dirty. If you maintained your long black hair, disregard this notice but if you cut it by mistake, best to have an emergency long black hair wig ready and spec out with some minor hair accessories to complete the Dia look.

As You - You Watanabe is a second year student and an excellent diver fit for a swim club. Oh dear, fans expect that they're going to wet themselves in bedtime upon remembering this idol swimmer in her speedo, but for the ladies who are reluctant to become You, a sand-colored wig should do the trick but keep the wig just the right shortness. Once settled, feel free to do whatever outfits as you please. Be warned though because there are worse things than running through a You Watanabe cosplayer wearing a tight one-piece speedo.

As Yoshiko - Yoshiko Tsushima is a first year student who considered to be unlucky. She prefers to be called Yohanne instead of her real name. She dislikes mikan fruits. Yoshiko's hair is somewhat royal blue-ish, and it's long, so it would be a super tricky approach to find the right blue color for the wig. Also, the round part on the right of Yoshiko's hair would be less rewarding but once done, you're free to do whatever outfits you like.

As Hanamaru - Hanamaru Kunikida is a first year student and a daughter of a family of shrine keepers. Although she's a member of a local choir, she loves to read and gets dizzy easily. To become Hanamaru, a simple toffee colored hairdo should do the trick and the rest is up to you.

As Mari - Mari Ohara is a half-Japanese senior student who is a daughter of an Italian-American father who had his hands full with the hotel businesses. She likes to do things at her own pace. Yes. a blonde hairdo should do the trick but this going to be fairly difficult to replicate Mari's hairdo due to the odd-looking style at the top of Mari's. It's a very challenging task but if you managed to sort it out, the outfits are yours for the choosing.

As Ruby - Ruby Kurosawa is a first year student and a good friend of Hanamaru. She maybe prone to crying but she's good at sewing. This is a very easy task for those who want to be Ruby because all you need is a red wig and pigtails just to complete the look. Once settled, good luck on your outfit hunting out there.

And there you have it. If you can choose which Aqours member will you be, sorting out the costumes is now the next objective for you all and once done, it's showtime! With the help of your buddies, you'll be able to show what Aqours is all about! I have high hopes that there will be a plethora of Aqours cosplay around the corner post-premiere so good luck, Lovelivers!

Let's Do The News! (June 30, 2016)

- Rodrigo Roa Duterte has officially began his first day as President of the Philippines. In his inauguration at the Malacanang Palace, Duterte took his oath after former President Benigno Aquino III was given departure honors at the Palace grounds. Supreme Court Associate Justice Bienvenido Reyes administered Duterte's oath at the Palaces' Rizal Ceremonial Hall, which was attended by 627 guests.

- Separately, former Camarines Sur representative Leni Robredo outlines her agenda as the new Vice President of the Philippines. In her six-year term, Robredo will address hunger and food security, universal health care, rural development, education, and people empowerment. Robredo's vice presidency is an opportunity to include those in the periphery in the journey towards development.

- The Department of Education Secretary Armin Luistro has officially stepped down from his position Thursday. He is the only DepEd secretary to serve a full six-year term following the fall of the dictatorship.

- Onto the Brexit aftermath, Britain faces tough negotiations with the European Union over its withdrawal from the bloc. EU leaders have discussed in Brussels how to proceed after Britain voted to leave in a national referendum last week. Britain hopes to maintain its access to the EU's tariff-free common market.

- Back at the Istanbul airport attack, Turkish media has identified the three suicide bombers behind the attack at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. The attackers came from North Caucasus in southern Russia and elsewhere. The death toll is now 42 and authorities accused the Islamic State behind the attacks.

- The third-generation Citroen C3 has been unveiled featuring a much racy design inspired from the C4 Cactus crossover, new ConnectedCAM feature, new interior, and a range of new PureTech petrol and BlueHDI diesel engines.

2017 Citroen C3

- See how the McLaren P1 LM broke the road car record at last weekend's Goodwood Festival of Speed in a record time of 47.07 seconds.

- 007 actor Daniel Craig to star alongside Halle Berry in L.A. Riots Movie. That news seems interesting because Halle Berry was a Bond girl in the 2002 Bond movie, Die Another Day.

- Today marks the 50th Weeksary of AlDub and at that time of the celebration, a music video of the theme song of the upcoming movie Imagine You & Me made its premiere!



TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: China does not accept N. Korea as a nuclear state

South Korea and China have strongly reaffirmed their stance against North Korea's recent missile provocations and its ongoing nuclear program. During the meeting with South Korean PM Hwang Kyo-an in Beijing, Chinese president Xi Jinping reaffirms stance that China does not accept N. Korea as a nuclear state, nor its so-called Byungjin policy, which is developing its economy and nuclear arms at the same time. He added that China is fully abiding by the latest UN Security Council resolution and has submitted a report on how they are implementing sanctions on the North.

Later, a top US official has warned that without US protection of Asian allies, even advanced countries like Japan and South Korea would seek their own nuclear weapons. US Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken said such scenario would trigger "regional nuclear arms races", which the US government has been pouring efforts into preventing for decades. Blinken insists the world would be safer for Americans by having South Korea and Japan under the US nuclear umbrella.

Meanwhile, the 2016 Rimpac naval exercise has begun on Hawaii. Over 27 nations are taking part in the largest exercise to date. South Korea has deployed 700 navy personnel's along with warships. The exercises will run through the 4th of August.

Source: Arirang News

List of Philippine Presidents

Image: RTVM

As the Philippines brace themselves for the historic inauguration of the country's new leader, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the once infamous Davao City Mayor who inspired both fear and admiration by others, at the Malacañang Palace today, it would be an ideal time to do a quick sibika lesson about the people who run this country since the Philippines declared independence on the 12th of June, 1898.

• Emilio Aguinaldo - The 1st Philippine President from 1899 to 1901. Known as the president of the Revolutionary Government, Aguinaldo signed the Biak-na-Bato Pact to declare ceasefire between the Filipinos and Spaniards. At age 28, he was the youngest to take over the Philippines and after his term was finished in 1901, where the Philippines got caught in the war against the Americans, he was the longest-lived president in history, upon his death in 1964 at the age of 94. The face of Aguinaldo can be commonly seen on the five peso coin.
• Manuel Luis Quezon - The 2nd Philippine President from 1935 to 1944. He is the first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and the first Senate president elected as the President of the Philippines through a national election. Dubbed as the "father of national language", he established the National Council of Education and made Tagalog the nation's national language. In the 1st of August, 1944, during the Second World War, Manuel L. Quezon died of tuberculosis at Sarawak Lake, New York City, and his body was buried in what was known as the Quezon Memorial Circle. Because Manuel L. Quezon is part of the Philippine history, he can be seen commonly at the twenty peso bill and aside from that, there was a province, a city, a bridge and a university in Manila named after him.
• Jose P. Laurel - The 3rd Philippine President from 1943 to 1945. During the Second World War, Laurel established a provisional government called KALIBAPI or Organization of Serving the new Philippines. In 1944, he declared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the allied forces (US and Great Britain).  Although his leadership during the Second World War was questionable, Laurel was considered a legitimate president of the Philippines since the early 1960's and he and his family founded the university known as Lyceum.
• Sergio Osmeña - The 4th Philippine President since 1944 to 1946. He was the first Visayan to become president at the old age of 65, which also makes him the oldest person to became president. During the Second World War, Osmeña joined with US General Douglas McArthur in Leyte on October 20, 1944 to restore Philippine freedom after occupation by the Japanese Imperial Army. Osmeña rehabilitated the Philippine National Bank and made Philippines part of the International Monetary Fund. He made the Bell Trade Act approved by US Congress during his term. He can be commonly seen in the fifty peso bill.
• Manuel Roxas - The 5th Philippine President since 1946 to 1948. He is the third and last president under the Commonwealth and the first president of the Third Republic of the Philippines after the Second World War. Under his term, Roxas commenced reconstruction from war damage and life without foreign rule, all thanks to the Philippine Rehabilitation Act and Philippine Trade Act laws accepted by Congress. He can be commonly seen on the 100 peso bill.
• Elpidio Quirino - The 6th Philippine President since 1948 to 1953. He was served as the replacement for Manuel Roxas following his death on the 15th of April, 1948 and in his time, the established Social Security Commission and the Integrity Board to monitor graft and corruption. He made Quezon as the capital of the Philippines. During his term, the Hukbalahap guerrilla movement became active, causing havoc in some parts of the Philippines.
• Ramon Magsaysay - The 7th Philippine President since 1953 to 1957. At his term, he suppressed the Hukbalahap militants and became chairman of the Committee on Guerrilla Affairs. Apart from that, the Philippines was ranked second in Asia's clean and well-governed countries thanks to its lack of corruption. Magsaysay was killed in an accident while boarding his presidential plane.
• Carlos P. Garcia - The 8th Philippine President since 1957 to 1961.  He was once a vice president under Ramon Magsaysay and as secretary of Foreign Affairs for four years. Following Magsaysay's tragic death, Garcia steps into the leadership role. He was known for his policy which heavily favored Filipino businesses over foreign investors and established the Austerity Program focusing on Filipino trade and commerce. As a native of Bohol, he is responsible for reviving cultural arts in the Philippines and since his death in 1971, he was the first president to have his remains buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
• Diosdado Macapagal - The 9th Philippine President since 1961 to 1965 and the father of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. During his term, he established the first Land Reform Law, allowing for the purchase of private farmland to be distributed in affordable lots to those who don't have a land to manage. He is responsible for putting the Philippine peso on the currency exchange market and made June 12, 1898 Independence Day. Diosdado Macapagal established the Philippine Veteran's Bank.
• Ferdinand Marcos - The 10th Philippine President since 1965 to 1986. He is known to be the most infamous dictator the Philippines has ever produce since the declaration of Martial Law on September 22, 1972. Long before his declaration of Martial Law, Marcos made more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, and other infrastructure than any other former president, and in the aftermath of Martial Law, the Philippine's GNP was four times greater than 1972 and made one of the most indebted countries in Asia by 1986. Following the 1986 People Power Revolution, Marcos was ousted from power by Corazon Aquino. The whole story on what to do on the remains of Ferdinand Marcos remains a mystery for now.
• Corazon Aquino - The 11th Philippine President since 1986 to 1992. She is the first female president to run the Asian country following Marcos' departure in the aftermath of the People Power Revolution. In her term, she restored democracy in the Philippines and nullified the 1973 Marcos Constitution, paving way to her new Constitution of the Philippines. Thanks to her accomplishments, she became Time magazine's Woman of the Year in 1986. Since her death in August 1, 2009, she is now seen in the new 500-peso bill alongside her husband Benigno Aquino. One of her children was well-known to the public as Kris Aquino was known to be a media personality while Benigno "Nonoy" Aquino III became leader of the country since 2010.
• Fidel V. Ramos - The 12th Philippine President since 1992 to 1998. He became the president of the Philippines after his win at the 1992 elections. He was once the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines before he became leader of this nation. Because of being the first non-Catholic president of the Philippines, he reinstated the infamous death penalty sentence as well as signing a peace agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front. Even during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, Ramos restored economic growth and stability in the country and he was awarded British Knighthood from the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II.
• Joseph Ejercito Estrada - The 13th Philippine President since 1998 to 2001. He became president after winning the May 1998 elections against the likes of Fidel V. Ramos and Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Although his main purpose is to restore strength and stability to the nation, his term was short lived following his allegations through plunder. He was ousted from power in January 2001 after the historic impeachment trial and he was replaced by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Now, Estrada is the mayor of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines upon winning his second term at the recent elections.
• Gloria Macapagal Arroyo - The 14th Philippine President since 2001 to 2010 and the 2nd female president. She is the daughter of the late Diosdado Macapagal and she was once a vice-president before she served as the replacement of the ousted Estrada. Believe it or not, Arroyo was the ex-classmate of her former American counterpart, Bill Clinton, at Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she maintained her Dean's list status. During her term, she placed the Philippines on a state of emergency following the Oakwood Mutiny and she was alleged in cheating the 2004 elections. She is now currently a representative of Pampanga and she's embattled with a disease.
• Benigno Aquino III - The 15th Philippine President since 2010 to today and the only son of the late Corazon Aquino. Since his May 2010 election victory, Aquino initiated the "Daang Matuwid" plan to restore strength and stability of the nation, although his leadership was put to test following series of events such as the August 2010 hostage taking incident that killed numerous Hong Kong tourists as well as 2013's Superstorm Yolanda. Aquino got caught up on the tensions between the Philippines and China over the islands of the South China Sea, which most ASEAN nations, Japan, and the US got mixed into them.
• Rodrigo Roa Duterte - Now it's the time to introduce the 16th President to take over the Philippines. Hailed from Visayas and once mayor in Davao City for over two decades, Duterte originally never want to be part of the 2016 elections until he became part of it. Ever since Duterte became part of the election campaign, he was heavily criticized by media over his expletive dialogue against Pope Francis during his January 2015 visit as well as his rape joke over the death of an Australian missionary. He was once allegedly part of the Davao Death Squad, which killed thousands of people in Davao, most of them are criminals, although the investigation find it nothing to put Duterte liable to his involvement with vigilantes. Criticisms aside, apart from fears of reverting the Philippines back to the Marcos era, Duterte inspired both fear and admiration among Filipinos and because of his promises of "changes" to the Philippines, he won the May 2016 elections and he's going to be inaugurated for the first time at Malacañang Palace today.

As Duterte finally starts his first day as the 16th President of the Philippines, Filipinos are witnessing a great change Duterte will commence but what changes will Duterte do for the sake of the public? As a powerful politician who will bring fear against criminals and corrupted individuals as well as admiration for people who want to rely on Digong, fear and admiration is what we can REALLY expect for the iron man who witnesses a great change.

Whatever it is, we're counting on you, Digong.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Supreme People's Assembly begins

The Supreme People's Assembly has begun today, a process widely seen as cementing Kim Jong-un's grip on power. The session comes 50 days after a rare Workers' Party Congress last month. South Korea's Unification Ministry says today's convention will address the legislation and revision issues of its party's structure and constitution among other things. Experts predict Kim Jong-un will take the title of chairman of the Central People's Committee, a position once held by his late grandfather and North Korea's founder Kim Il-Sung.

Meanwhile, the US, South Korea, and Japan conducted their first joint-missile-tracking exercise off Hawaii on Tuesday local time in an effort to better defend against threats from North Korea. The Pacific Dragon exercise came as the North has been carrying out numerous test firings of the Musudan missile, which the second one claimed it was successful.

Source: Arirang News

Let's Do The News! (June 29, 2016)

- President Benigno Aquino III will be given departure honors before he will pass over his leadership duty to president-elect Rodrigo Duterte tomorrow. Aquino will have a one-on-one meeting with Duterte before the final departure honors by the Armed Forces of the Philippines at the Palace grounds, according to officials.

- An analyst said that US Secretary of State John Kerry should meet President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to secure the Philippines-US relationship. John Schaus from the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that Kerry should be the first cabinet official to meet with Duterte when he assumes office and directly hear his objectives.

- Musical artists, who are also supporters of VP-elect Leni Robredo are expected to perform at her thanksgiving celebration tomorrow, the day of the inauguration. Robredo;s post-inaugural celebration will be held at the Quezon City Memorial Park from 5PM to 8PM local time on the day of her oath taking in the city.

- Earlier, a bomb attack occurred at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport in Istanbul Turkey, with reports of near 50 people had already died but later said the death toll is expected to rise to close to 50. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for these attacks. Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that there are no Filipino casualties in the recent Turkish airport attack.

- Onto the Brexit aftermath, over a thousand young Brits held a rally in London to protest their country's decision to leave the European Union. The demonstrators gathered at Trafalgar Square in the center of the British capital, waving EU flags, toted placards, and chanted slogans calling for UK to retain in the EU.

- Presumed Republican presidentiable Donald Trump wants the United States to be withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pack, calling it a death blow to American manufacturing. He stressed his opposition to expanding free trade and said he would give priority to securing jobs for workers in the US.

- On the 29th of June, 2014, the terrorist organization called the Islamic State was established for the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria. The establishment of the rogue terrorist organization came after the militants controlled Mosul, Iraq. In its two year timeline, the Islamic State unleashed wave of terrorist attacks from the Middle East and inspiring attacks from across the globe, including France, Belgium, and Turkey, among many others.

- Good Smile Company's THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls Crystal Night Party range adds Rin Shibuya to the mix. This figure is now available to order for 11,852 Yen (plus tax) and deliveries will commence this February.

- "Look At Our Shiny New Logo". A new logo for Amazon Original Series, The Grand Tour, hosted by former Top Gear trio Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, has unveiled.

- The second-generation Porsche Panamera saloon has been unveiled, featuring a brand new exterior, high-tech interior, and new V6 and V8 Biturbo engines.

TTFN!!!