Let's Do The News! (February 28, 2017)

- Former Senator Bongbong Marcos turned down the interest to lead the Department of Interior and Local Government despite speculations that he is replacing Secretary Mike Sueno. President Rodrigo Duterte confirmed the matter during his appearance, saying he spoke with Marcos wherein the former Senator confirmed that he's not interested with the position.

- President Duterte warned that the controversial Oplan Tohkang may be revived as he admitted that he is ready for the resumption of the administration's controversial operation against illegal drugs. Duterte expressed that there are indications that illegal drugs peddling has been increased since Tohkang was suspended in the past month.

- The House majority clarifies that the controversial death penalty bill only covers drug-related cases. Representative Rey Umali, Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, confirmed that plunder, treason, and rape cases were removed from the Death Penalty bill, and only illegal drug-related cases will be covered.

- The senators from the Liberal Party were stripped of their committee chairmanships and relegated to the minority bloc yesterday in a dizzying turn of events that lawmakers belonging to the once powerful party warned could weaken the independence of the Senate. Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilingan, Bam Aquino, and Risa Hontiveros lost their chairmanships and other Senate posts.

- President Duterte is supporting the Office of the Solicitor General in its move to recommend the acquittal of alleged pork barrel queen Janet Lim-Napoles on her serious illegal detention case. Duterte yesterday echoed the Solgen's argument that circumstances have shown that PDAF whistleblower Benhur Luy, who was allegedly detained by Napoles in a retreat house, was not restrained at all.

- US President Donald Trump to propose greater defense spending in his first budget plan for fiscal year 2018.

- SpaceX will launch a spacecraft carrying two paying tourists around the moon late next year. Announced on Monday, it will first begin flying crew to the International Space Station on board a new spacecraft possibly between April through June next year.

- Peugeot will showcase their Instinct Concept at the Geneva Motor Show this March, featuring autonomous technology showcasing the future of mobility.

Peugeot Instinct Concept

- The Hyundai Sonata minor change has been teased through official sketches.

- A must have for Cinderella Girls collectors! It's the Shiki Ichinose Mystic Elixir version figure that is going to be an ultra-valuable figure for big spenders elsewhere! It's now available to order starting at 15,555 Yen plus tax and arrives this November!

Shiki Ichinose Mystic Elixir ver.

TTFN!!!

Six Nations 2017: Round 3

The Welsh Rugby Union suffered a major blow to their career after their humiliating loss against Scotland at the score of 29-13. While this is a major loss for the Welsh, it's a turning point for the Scots as this win is their first for over a decade. As demonstrated by Tim Visser's second-half try, Scotland ended their decade-long drought in RBS 6 Nations history.

Under cover of the Welsh's bitter defeat. the IRFU defeated the FFR at the score of 19-9 while the England Rugby won the match against the FIR Italia at the score of 36-15.

The next match is on the 10th of March as Wales takes on Ireland, Italy takes on France, and Scotland takes on England.

Winners of the 2017 Academy Awards

This year's Academy Awards may have been filled with some controversies, confusions, and the suspense in each and every corner they might come across the moment the winner is introduced but with anticipation is in hindsight, it's no wonder some people are tuning in to see if their favorite will make it to the honor roll, especially big-time films such as Rogue One, La La Land, Moonlight, and many others.

So, in case you missed all the drama, the suspense, and all of what happened in the 89th Academy Awards, here are the list of this year's winners...

Best Picture: Moonlight

Actor: Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Actress: Emma Stone, La La Land

Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, Fences

Animated Feature: Zootopia

Cinematography: La La Land

Costume Design: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Direction: Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Documentary Feature: O.J.: Made in America

Documentary Short: The White Helmets

Film Editing: Hacksaw Ridge

Foreign Language Film: The Salesman

Makeup and Hairstyling: Suicide Squad

Music (Original Score): La La Land

Music (Original Song): City of Stars from La La Land

Production Design: La La Land

Short Film (Animated): Piper

Short Film (Live Action): Sing

Sound Editing; Arrival

Sound Mixing: Hacksaw Ridge

Visual Effects: The Jungle Book

Writing (Adapted): Moonlight

Writing (Original): Manchester by the Sea

La La Land

Moonlight may have stole La La Land for Best Picture due to some setbacks but this film scored six awards than any other film in the list, although Amazon's original movie, Manchester by the Sea proved even an underdog movie came from a streaming service CAN make it to the top, meaning that in the world of Oscars, everything is possible.

Congratulations to all of the Oscar winners!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Malaysia may use dental profiling to identify Kim

Sourced from NHK World:

Malaysia's heath minister has suggested that tools other than DNA testing could be used in getting a final identification of a body thought to be that of the half-brother of North Korea's leader.

Kim Jong Nam was killed on February 13th after being attacked by two women in Kuala Lumpur's airport. Malaysian police say a VX nerve agent was wiped on his face. The police chief has said no DNA samples from the victim's relatives have been supplied.

On Sunday, Health Minister Subramaniam Sathasivam told reporters that if a next of kin fails to show up, his ministry could use dental profiling as well as comparing the victim to photographs to look for identification marks such as moles.

The Malaysian government intends to hand over the body to the victim's family after confirming his identity.

Last week, North Korea's Ambassador to Malaysia, Kang Chol, insisted that the victim was not Kim Jong Nam, and demanded a joint investigation into the murder.

Let's Do The News! (February 27, 2017)

- For the second time this month, most jeepney drivers all over the Philippines staged a nationwide transport strike against the government's PUV modernization program. The members of transport groups PISTON, Stop and Go Coalition, and No to Jeepney Phase-out Coalition are expected to gather at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to kick off today's nationwide transport strike. Numerous passengers left stranded and some classes are suspended following the strike.

- Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa personally visited Senator Leila De Lima in her detention cell at the PNP Custodial Center. The visit happened on the first night of De Lima at the detention cell, according to him.

- The House of Representatives is all set for the voting on the controversial Death Penalty Bill this coming Tuesday. House Majority Leader Rodolfo Farinas said they will approve in the second reading of the House Bill 4727 or the Death penalty Reimposition Bill.

- US President Donald Trump's choice for secretary of the Navy has withdrawn from consideration for the post. It's the second time that a nominee to lead one of the US armed services has withdrawn, citing government conflict-of-interest rules. Trump announced on Saturday his intention to nominate Philip Bilden, a former executive of an investment company, as Secretary of the Navy, a post that reports to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

- The United States has called on Russia to observe a 2015 ceasefire agreement in eastern Ukraine. The State Department said in a statement the US is closely monitoring the growing violence there and pro-Russian separatists' continuing failure to honor the truce.

- The new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 gets even more potent than ever with the new 1LE trim, featuring improved aerodynamics, adjustable suspension, and other track-honed upgrades.

- Actor Bill Paxton passed away at the age of 61. Paxton appeared in films sucjh as Apollo 13, Twister, The Terminator, Predator 2, Aliens, and Titanic.

TTFN!!!

Things we learned from Aqours First Love Live concert

Last weekend, the school idol group as seen on the Love Live Sunshine!! series, Aqours (pronounced as aqua), thrown their very first Love Live concert at the Yokohama Arena and then livestreamed in select cinemas not just in Japan but the rest of the world.

It was the best Love Live concert ever, so said by anyone who witnessed Aqours' first major concert, and if anyone made it on the final day are in for a mega treat because some major announcements have been officially made to make the Lovelivers happy.

Part of Aqours' Next Step Project, there's going to be a brand new CD coming soon." and then some newer ones from sub-units CYaRon, AZALEA, and Guilty Kiss, this time with the addition of new duo/trio collection CDs to keep the ante up.

If you thought they're done after their First Love Live concert, you're dead wrong because there's going to be another Aqours concert coming this summer. Known as the HAPPY PARTY TRAIN tour, they will be at the Nippon Gaishi Hall on the 5th to 6th to August, World Memorial Hall on the 19th to 20th of August, and the Seibu Prince Dome on the 29th to 30th of September.

Best of all, the TV series will return this Autumn! Enough said.

So, are you excited for more Aqours?

Bubble Gang - February 24, 2017 #BGMeetUp

In the February 24, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Meet-up gags

- Pareng Roger tries to save someone trapped on fire.

- Doing the good cop, bad-cop approach during the interrogation

- Reunion of the fakers



- The old couple at the park trying hard to remember things.

- Auditioning for a role that doesn't really exist.

- New vocabulary words are examined.

- More news for moms in Balitang Ina!

- The convenience store problem

- Basa-basa pik!