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

- President Rodrigo Duterte said that his Japanese visit will be a valuable opportunity to deepen and broaden the Philippines' relationship with Japan. Duterte leaves Tuesday for a three-day visit to Japan following PM Shinzo Abe extended the invitation on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Laos last month. He also mentioned that he will be paying a courtesy call on Japanese Emperor Akihito, saying the visit "imbued with great and special significance".

- The training squadron of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force arrived in Manila yesterday for a goodwill visit to the Philippines to enhance friendship with the Philippine Navy. The visit includes a series of engagements between the PN personnel and their counterparts such as ship tour, courtesy call to navy leadership, goodwill games and receptions for cultural exchanges.

- Former PAGCOR chairman Cristino Nagulat and 10 others were charged for plunder and graft over an alleged anomalous lease deal with a private company. The case stemmed from the disbursement of P234 million in public funds as payment to VMC for the lease of a property in Manila that would be used for a casino gaming facility.

- Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is on her trail at a rally Manchester, New Hampshire, alongside Senator Elizabeth Warren, to contrast her plans to confront the country's challenges with reckless remarks from her Republican rival Donald Trump. Both Democrats and Republicans in New Hampshire are uniting to reject Trump's statements while Clinton highlighted reports today of a suit against Trump's New Jersey golf club by a former employee, alleging a hostile workplace where he was harassed because he is gay.

- A shocking report told that soldiers are being told to repay thousands in old enlistment bonuses as the California National Guard tries to recoup money from soldiers who accepted bonuses a decade ago for enlisting to serve to the United States during times of war.

- Fisker returns with a teaser of its new electric vehicle.

- Hyundai Motor Company showcases some teaser sketches for their next-generation Grandeur saloon.

Sixth-generation Hyundai Grandeur teaser sketch

- The new BMW 5-Series goes action packed in a BMW Films movie called The Escape, featuring actor Clive Owen.

- HOLD IT! There's a Ryuichi Naruhodo (Phoenix Wright) figma added on the court record of Phat! The hero of the Gyakuten Saiban (Ace Attorney) franchise can be yours to order for 6,800 Yen plus tax and deliveries will commence this May. OBJECTION!

figma Phoenix Wright

TTFN!!!

Forza Horizon 3: Vulcan Raven

As everybody around the road are very busy doing things in Forza Horizon 3, there are new cars arrived in the game courtesy of its Smoking Tire Car Pack and what better way to honor the latest car pack by driving one of the cars offered such as this one; the most extreme Aston Martin ever made for track racing in mind called the Vulcan.

Weird for car that sounded like either a volcano or a kind of machine gun fit for heavy machinery or a video game villain holding a machine gun but anyway, the Aston Martin Vulcan. What is it, then?

Forged from Aston Martin's motorsport knowhow, the Vulcan is a track-only machine that incorporates most of its racing pedigree to create the most intense and exhilarating vehicle to date. Limited to just 24 examples worldwide, the Vulcan uses a 7.0L V12 engine producing over 800HP of power output, making it the most powerful Aston Martin ever made. It was mated to a 6-speed sequential shift gearbox from Xtrac.

Apart from its monstrous power output, the Vulcan's power-to-weight ratio is beyond compare to their GTE-class cars which compete in the FIA's World Endurance Championship, courtesy of its carbon fiber monocoque and body constructed by Multimatic. It even comes with integral LSD, magnesium torque tube with carbon fiber propeller shaft and Brembo racing calipers acting on carbon ceramic racing disc brakes.

Although it certifies most of the FIA's safety regulations, it wasn't made to compete in various motorsport activities but instead, customers are offered with exclusive track day events to demonstrate the Vulcan's driving potential on the track. They even offered simulators which was used to be reserved for Formula One use in order to help customers prepare for any race. All these packaging for the Vulcan is part of the "Q by Aston Martin" bespoke personalisation service, which comes with a special VIP service for clients.

Like all track-only cars, the Vulcan wasn't made to race on the track because it's too loud and it's too illegal to drive it on the road but because you're in Forza Horizon 3, no one's stopping you from driving the most extreme Aston Martin ever made and so am I.

Upon witnessing my first dibs on the Vulcan, I never realized that it was that tricky to master this machine because with all that power unleashed on the rear wheels, getting off the line is a challenging task and apart from that, the Vulcan requires precise driving skills to handle it with precision because there is a chance of understeer if you don't get your timing right on the tight corners. Worse, you could be missing a few checkpoints and you're going to redo the whole set over again.

Which reminds me of the shooting I made for this car...

As the famous Game of Thrones dialogue that goes "Brace Yourselves, Winter is Coming", the Vulcan has been vulcanized for its shooting at Surfers Paradise but one major make-up has been made before its filming day round the metropolis; it now gets themed after Lily Shirogane, a character who appears from the Aikatsu Stars anime series. Yep, there goes that "Winter is Coming" feeling everytime she appears. He he he...

Anyway, no time to have my phone ringing to the sound of PPAP, it's time to do some filming! Lights! Motor! Action!!!

After several takes later, it's a wrap! Cut! Good take!

Although the Vulcan is a very tricky car to master because of that monstrous power output that upsets your handling if you're not very careful, getting to know about Aston's extreme racing machine is a lot more fun if you put a lot of effort to it. Challenging it may be but it can be very rewarding.

See the Vulcan and the other cars at FH3's Smoking Car pack, available now.

Let's Do The News! (October 24, 2016)

- Despite everything happened, the United States supports the direct dialogue negotiations between the Philippines and China in settling the South China Sea dispute, according to US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel. Russel met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. to discuss various issues including President Rodrigo Duterte's China visit last week.

- The latest eruption on Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon yesterday lasted for 15 minutes, according to PHIVOLCS. The explosion, the fourth recorded in a week, produced a dirty white to grayish ash column that reached 2.5km high and drifted west-southwest.

- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed a resolution directing the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs to conduct an inquiry into the alleged involvement of some PNP members in extrajudicial killings. The Senate Resolution 201 seeks to revisit the PNP Reform Act to ensure that the mandate of the police to "Serve and Protect" remains upheld.

- The French government says it will demolish a migrant camp in northern France starting Monday, according to the French interior ministry. As many as 10,000 refugees and migrants are said to be living in a camp at Calais, a port town facing Great Britain. People from Africa and the Middle East began to gather there since summer of last year, hoping to reach England.

- Turkish ground forces in Iraq begun attacking Islamic State target in the ongoing offensive to recapture Mosul. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Sunday that Turkish tanks and artillery in the nearby city of Bashiqa are bombarding the militants at the request of Kurdish forces.

- Atieva has been renamed as Lucid Motors and they are prepping their first concept electric car within the end of this year. The startup company was behind their prototype electric van that overtook the Tesla Model S and a Ferrari last summer.

- Vancouver-based video game developer United Front Games has been recently shut down. The video game developer made games such as ModNation Racers, LittleBigPlanet Racing, open-world action game Sleeping Dogs, and the recent PC multiplayer game Smash+Grab.

- The teaser trailer for the third Wolverine film, Logan, is out. Check it out.

- The Guardians of the Galaxy will return for their Vol. 2 sequel movie, which will hit theaters this May 2017.

TTFN!!!

20 Years of Pokemon: 20 YEARS OF POKEMON TCG

Whoa, we thought we let that one slipped by. Anyway, on the 20th of October, 1996, about eight months after the first Pokemon games were launched on the Game Boy in Japan, the Pokemon Trading Card Game was launched and became the hallmark of the strategic card games we know and loved today. The year 2016 marks 20 years since it went out the market and this is just one of the stuff to honor the franchise' 20th anniversary.

20 Years of Pokemon Trading Card Game

For over twenty years, the Pokemon Trading Card Game has been one of the best-loved strategy card game of all time and when it became part of the Pokemon World Championship rules apart from the normal Video Game Championships, the Trading Card Championships put the elitist of the TCG players to test their intellectual strategy to overcome different opponents and aiming for the top spot at rankings. From the long list of Pokemon cards, Trainer cards, and energy cards needed to use a Pokemon's move, strategy has been a vital aspect of the game as a well-rounded deck of cards decide the fate of the players and the difference between a win and a loss is measured on the deck of cards. Of course, even if you got your hands to a more powerful and ultra-rare Pokemon card in your arsenal, you'll still be beaten by a pack of basic cards if you don't get your strategy right.

Apart from the strategy, people who turned up in a well-prepared and well-sorted deck will never know what kind of opponents they'll be facing on the table or what fate will throw on them such as the case of a coin toss that has one in two chances of making you win or lose, but whichever they'll be facing with, the Pokemon Trading Card Game really is an unpredictable game for the unprepared but it sure is a lot of fun getting to know how to play the game from the very start. Winning or losing, it's about having fun while learning a few tricks they will use on their next battle and that's how the game works for you and I.

Happy 20th anniversary to the Pokemon Trading Card Game and here's for more to collect, trade, and win on your next battles.

In the meantime, enjoy the Pokemon TCG TV commercial that looks like it was aired two decades ago.

Pokemon Card Game Art
Collection

Oh yeah, be sure to check out the Pokémon Card Game Art Collection, available now. It's an artbook highlighting twenty years of illustrations featured on the cards as well as special interviews from the ones behind it. The artbook is available for 2,500 Yen plus tax at your nearest bookstores across Japan.

Fifth-Generation Subaru Impreza (GK/GT)

For its fifth generation, the all-new Subaru Impreza, in Sport hatchback and G4 saloon, will rewrite how the iconic car behaves courtesy of its brand new platform that will redefine the future of Subaru's lineup for the next decade as well as some tech that will show its progress as a commoners' car for everyone but at what cost?

2017 Subaru Impreza Sport

2017 Subaru Impreza G4

In the tradition of turning cool concepts into bland production models much as what happened on the Legacy, the new Impreza's design shares almost no resemblance to last year's concept, and as keen observers suggest, it looks more like the previous model. See any resemblance? If there are, looks like they're going to be on a rough day on the job.

2017 Subaru Impreza Sport interior

2017 Subaru Impreza G4 interior

Disappointing the exterior can be, the new interior can be somewhat basic but it's good at every angle. From its new instrumental panel, multi-function display, push-button start, and the Panasonic built-in SD Navi, toying around the new Impreza's interior is just basic stuff but it's good to check it out before you drive, believe them. With the new Subaru Global Platform in place, the new Impreza is now roomier enough to accommodate, and spacious enough for your goods, and when your parents are driving one day by day, the Impreza is a family car done right.

2017 Subaru Impreza Sport

2017 Subaru Impreza G4

Speaking of being the family car done right, the new Subaru Global Platform chassis, combined with a choice of either a 1.6L or a 2.0L boxer engine, Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, and EyeSight Ver. 3 is what makes the new Impreza the template for future Subarus. The new platform makes it more stable, more agile, and more comfortable than the old one. It's 70% more rigid than the old one as well.

Although the way it behaves as a family car is welcomed by the commoners, speedo boys won't be going to like it because, for a choice of either a 1.6L or a 2.0L boxer engine, the only gearbox you'll be getting is a Lineartronic CVT. That's right. It's CVT or nothing. How sad because Imprezas of the past are enjoyable to drive when they got manuals but with the new model, the days of being a fun Impreza is well and truly over as its radical shift from sportiness to comfort doesn't sound like great news for the Subarists. Although the Lineartronic CVT gearbox comes with a Manual Mode when the Sport Mode in its SI-DRIVE was engaged, it's nowhere near as engaging as the past Imprezas. So, what we have here is an Impreza that doesn't feel like the fun-loving Imprezas of the past, and having one of these can be somewhat as regular as a regular show on TV. Oh, and did you know that some models will promise you up to 17.0kmpl of fuel efficiency? Thought I almost didn't say it but whatever.

The all-new, fifth-generation, Subaru Impreza starts at 1,922,400 Yen for the Sport hatchback and G4 saloon, making it a value-for-money car for first-timers so, the things we like about the new Impreza is its new platform, tech, interior, and pricing while the things we don't like about it was its redundant styling that has no resemblance from the concept and the loss of its fun factor that past Imprezas had in almost two and a half decade since the first Impreza launched in 1992. Need I say more?

Available colors: Crystal White Pearl, Ice Silver Metallic, Dark Grey Metallic, Crystal Black Silica, Pure Red, Dark Blue Pearl, and Quartz Blue Pearl.

Photo: Subaru

Audi Q2

If Mercedes had their own baby crossover called the GLA, then Audi had their own take on such thing by giving birth to a sport utility variation of the A1 called the new Audi Q2. As if the crossover trend continues to grow, altering its form, and strengthening perpetually through the years, the new Audi Q2 is just one of the basic examples of why crossovers, no matter how big or small they get, are still everywhere on the roads.

2017 Audi Q2

As stated, the Audi Q2 is basically an Audi A1 with some added ground clearance on it and while it looks more robust and as tough as a high school jock, what this car feels is no jock itch here because it feels more of a compact hatchback rather than being a crossover utility vehicle that was made to go through several trips to the thrift store later. It's more like a Nissan Juke in so many levels, if you ask anyone driving it.

2017 Audi Q2 interior

2017 Audi Q2 interior

The inside job is very similar to the Audi A1 which is based upon and while being small in size, it's still rather nice to sit upon and fiddle around with its toys while you're not moving about. Spacing-wise, the Q2's boot is big enough to fit a macho box and some other thrift store haul while the rear seats are folded. With the rear seats present, it's good enough to fit today's stuff you bought from the grocery or at the mall. Whichever comes first, the Q2 is a practical crossover that knows what the anyone's doing on their daily routine, be it going to work, hanging out with friends downtown, or taking a stroll on your day off.

If anyone's going for the Technology selection & Sound Paket, the Q2 will come equipped with some gadgets to fiddle around such as the Audi Virtual Cockpit instrumental panel, Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, MMI Navigation Plus with MMI touch, and smartphone interface that works with your iPhone (Apple Carplay) or Android phones (Android Auto), among many others. Now that's smart for a jock on the road.

2017 Audi Q2

What lies under the hood of the Audi Q2 is a choice of either a 1.4 TFSI, 1.6 TDI, or a 2.0 TDI engine. The quickest variant of the Q2 will be the 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic which gets up from 0 to 100kph in 7.3 seconds and the most economical variant will be the 1.6 TDI 6-speed manual that promises 120 - 114 g/km of CO2 emissions, although I should talk about that diesel stuff later on because of the ongoing fiasco happening on with the diesel engines from the VW family tree.

Anyway, because this is basically an Audi A1 underneath, the Q2 is more of a city car than an SUV and the way it behaves as a luxury compact crossover is comparable to the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class because they can be all-weather compacts for anyone who are feeling under the weather, they're both city cars that like to breathe around the metropolis, they're both luxury cars with a slightly luxury price which is unheard for both luxury car makers. And if you're willing to ask the price difference between those two, better prepare for some questions because the Q2 starts at 22,900 Euros, which is almost five grand less than the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Sounds like a bargain, right?

Yes, the pricing is what sets the Q2 apart but if you can dare to ask what to like about the Q2, chances are is its sizing, its value for money, its tech, and pretty much about it but if you're not afraid to ask what not to like, it could be the enjoyment that you can take it along on a trip and if you got kids, delete it from one of your choices for your next car because that might not be enough to be classified as a family car or two.

Available colors: Brillantschwarz, Ibisweiß, Vegasgelb, Quantumgrau, Florettsilber Metallic, Gletscherweiß Metallic, Korallenorange Metallic, Mythosschwarz Metallic, Nanograu Metallic, Tangorot Metallic, Daytonagrau Perleffekt, and Arablau Kristalleffekt.

Photo: Audi AG

Forza Horizon 3: Age before beauty, please.

I am now down to just one barn find left on my journey in Australia and the last barn find I discovered was none other than this...

It's the mythical Maserati A6GCS/53 Pininfarina Berlinetta and because it's mythical, there were about four of these ever made by the hands of Pininfarina. It was heavily based on the Maserati A6 chassis that spawned different lineages such as the A6 1500, A6G 2000, A6GCM, and this. Under the request of Roman representative of Maserati, Giuglielmo Dei, Pininfarina was behind the handcraft of this car from the inside out, just because they don't want to mess up with Ferrari at that moment in time since Pininfarina was Ferrari's exclusive coachbuilder of choice.

It uses the twin overhead camshaft version of the 2.0L six-cylinder engine used in the A6GCM racing machine, producing 170HP of power. Apart from that, this machine is fitted with a tubular chassis, double wishbones, live rear axle, and large hydraulic drum brakes, among many others bolted to its mythical machine.

Anyway, no time to explain more because you wanna see how I managed to hunt down this fantastic beast, right?

Oh, and apologize for the switch of cars because I was just busy working on something while waiting for this mythical Maserati to be reborn for driving use. Speaking of which...



While waiting for the Maserati to be rebuilt for driving, I worked with some of my favorite Aston Martins in-game, the V12 Vantage and the Vanquish.



Way when the V12 Vantage was launched years ago, I was very aware that it was just a V8 Vantage with four extra cylinders on it, to make it look and feel like it was part of the family. This is the hardcore version, the Vantage GT12, and finally, all the motorsport know-how that Aston Martin experienced has been applied to this hot V12 Vantage model and while this is basically a hardcore version, there's still bits of luxury a driver shouldn't care about.

Although the car is more powerful and slightly lighter than the normal V12 Vantage S, it can be somewhat slower in the straights because of that massive wing that can be somewhat distracting for an Aston but because it was inspired by its motorsport pedigree, the GT12 is an extreme track toy that shows its strength through the bends and corners with sharp instrumental skills and it takes the driver some time to unleash its full potential.

Being an exclusive car with a limited number of 100 units made and sold, I was more than happy enough to try out the Vantage GT12 by myself. In fact, I had a little quiet filming with this car even when themed after one of my favorite IDOLM@STER characters, Chihaya Kisaragi, as you can see up here. Nothing's better than having its V12 engine singing it loud to the great outdoors, huh?



The Aston Martin Vanquish has been around the road for four years now and despite its age, its position as the company's flagship grand tourer is still a sweet soiree to drive even if you're not fast enough to break its limits. I've been in love with this machine since I drove this one in the first Horizon game years ago and now, here I am, still standing on this beauty that is too beautiful to ignore.

Yes, it's too beautiful to ignore the Vanquish, but time is relative to me because I need to film these two Astons while waiting for the Maserati to be fixed for me to try it. With the GT12 themed after Chihaya and my Vanquish themed after Love Live Sunshine's Riko Sakurauchi, they're looking picture perfect on the events they'll be taking on and if I am going to idolize one of these, that will be my problem right now.

Anyway, time to roll the tapes!



After their shooting schedule's been cleared, the Maserati A6GCS is ready to be driven and I can't wait to see what it's like to drive in one of the most valuable vintage cars ever made.


So, with all the barn finds found throughout the journey, deciding which barn find is the best is no easy task because if you are in possession of 15 barn finds in the game, experimenting with different styles and behaviors can be a challenge and when you find which one is best for you, you'll have full responsibility while driving your personalized barn find of your choosing.

Man, I'm glad this whole treasure-hunting gig for barn finds is well and truly over but I'm still not done tackling the whole map because my schedule's still full of what cars to drive, what paths to carve, and what rivals I'll be challenging at until I get the whole picture of how great this is.

The journey continues...