Noven Belleza wins IT'S SHOWTIME's Tawag Ng Tanghalan

Since last year, ABS-CBN's hit noontime show, IT'S SHOWTIME, revived the legendary talent search programme Tawag Ng Tanghalan as their segment everyone's tuning in everyday. 

Throughout a year of searching the best of amateur talents across the Philippines, it's not about how good their singing talents are but it's about how long they can defend their status as a champion until they can be classified as fit to be part of the hall of fame and dish each other for the grand prize in the finale.

And here it is. At the grand finale held at Resorts World Manila, a grand champion has been named from the six finalists and Noven Belleza is the grand winner of the show's Tawag Ng Tanghalan segment.

Because he gained a massive percentage of votes from the viewers and judges alike, Noven Belleza's impressive performance beats the likes of Froilan Canlas, Sam Mangubat, and many others. He won not just two million pesos of cash prize, but also a house and lot, a recording contract, and other prizes.

And there you have it folks, a champion has been named and let's give him a standing ovation he truly deserved.

Bubble Gang - March 10, 2017 #BGRoadRage

In the March 10, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Road Rage gags

- Meet the Manyikas!

- Bragging about their torture moments.

- Another Buhay ng Bakla session

- Too kind for a suicidal man...

- One jeepney driver has a plan in a middle of a jeepney phase-out.

- Department store dilemma

- Basa-basa Pik!

Let's Do The News! (March 10, 2017)

- Edgar Matobato, the former member of the alleged Davao Death Squad, was temporarily released by authorities.

- President Rodrigo Duterte warned that he will declare martial law in Mindanao, following intense fighting against rebels. According to the President, only the LGUs can help him in ending terrorism, and ensuring that no civilian will be involved in the conflict. Duterte clarified that he does not wish to declare Martial Law, but he doesn’t have a choice if the mayors and Governors will not support him.

- Four suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf groupwere killed in an encounter with government  forces  in Basilan on Wednesday. Senior Superintendent Nixon Muksan, Basilan police director, identified  two of the fatalities as Mobin Kulin, alias Mulawin, and Hadji Villamin Hassan.

- A total of 26,029 houses in 53 barangays here were destroyed in the quake that hit Surigao del Norte last month, the city disaster risk reduction management council reported yesterday.

- The Kilusang Mayo Uno expressed support to Kadamay Group for occupying the housing projects of the government in Bulacan. Bong Labog, National Chairman of KMU, said it is the right of poor Filipinos to benefit from the housing projects of government.

- Reports told that the Department of Justice is deploying 50 judges to immigration detention facilities across the United States. The department is also considering asking judges to sit from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., split between two rotating shifts, to adjudicate more cases, the sources said.

- International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and a young Yazidi woman who was enslaved and raped by Islamic State militants pushed Iraq on Thursday to allow a United Nations investigation into crimes by ISIS.

TTFN!!!

2017 NASCAR Monster Energy Cup - Folds of Honor Quiktrip 500

It was the 5th of March, 2017, when the second round of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup commenced at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, continuing the excitement where they left off from Daytona.

This race is packed with speeding violations occured in the pit lane, which is a dismal for Kevin Harvick, but considered good news for Brad Keselowski. Even though he had to sacrifice his lead in the pit lane, he fought hard until the inevitable happened to Harvick, while pinning down against the likes of Matt Kenseth and Kyle Larsen, and Keselowski won the race.

The next race will commence in Las Vegas on the 12th of March.

Let's Do The News! (March 9, 2017)

- Senators warned Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. that his problems do not end with the rejection of the Commission on Appointments on his confirmation. Yesterday, 15 members of the CA Committee on Foreign Affairs unanimously decided to reject the appointment of Yasay.

- Nine drug suspects have been reportedly killed during the relaunch of the Philippine National Police's Oplan Tokhang, resuming the ongoing bloody war on drugs.

- Tension ensued at the Senate on Wednesday during the privilege speech of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on his remarks that spiritual renewal will not make anybody a ‘saint.' Trillanes said in his statements there are some Senators that act as experts in spiritual renewal, amid pointing out Retired SPO3 Arturo Lascanas who reversed his previous allegation against President Rodrigo Duterte.

- The founder of Nickel Asia, Manuel B. Zamora Jr. was quick to react following Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Gina Lopez’ statement during the hearing of her confirmation at the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday.

- US President Donald Trump is expected to announce a rollback of the country’s strict fuel standards on the back of pressure from many large automakers.

- Porsche tuner RUF celebrates the 30th anniversary of the record-breaking CTR by unveiling the revived Yellowbird at the Geneva Motor Show. Powered by an an all-new 3.6-liter, twin-turbocharged flat six producing 710 hp and 649 lb-ft of torque, it can reach 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, onwards to a 225 mph top speed.

- The Hayate no Gotoku manga series will conclude on the 12th of April.

- Did you know? Next month's Idol Time Pripara TV series will feature male PriPara idols for the first time as 

Seiichirou Yamashita, Tatsuyuki Kobayashi, and Reiou Tsuchida will play the roles of Shogo, Asahi, and Koyoi of WITH.

TTFN!!!

Hyundai Sonata New Rise

The current LF Sonata by Hyundai has been given a much-needed minor change it deserved following a hunch that its stale styling never appealed to the general public. Called Sonata New Rise, this minor change will see a much improved styling on the current-generation model and then some.

So, here comes the 2018 Hyundai Sonata minor change and for this minor change, the front face now mimics the one as seen on the new i30 while it features the most dramatic rear view in the Sonata history. In addition to the new rear lamp designs, the big SONATA lettering and the Hyundai logo are plastered in the middle, which reminds everyone of the old EF Sonata from the late 90's but with a bit more feel. For turbocharged models, it has been given sporty cosmetic treatments to make it look assertive and sporty for a midsize saloon.

Inside, there are small changes occured and much to the dismay for speedo boys everywhere, the touch screen is now standard and no matter what you're doing, it will never come off and that idea of a CD player-less dashboard is becoming more rampant to the cars of today because carmakers starting to get annoyed over speedo boys changing the car's radios so they have done the inevitable. They give the interior some irreplaceable tech to scare some speedo boys, especially with a smartphone mirroring feature that works well with iPhones and other smartphones via MirrorLink. Sounds convenient, yet scary from the hands of speedo boys so I'm afraid your luck has run out. You can't find the radio anywhere and you can't replace it. The end.

Anyway, back to the 2018 Hyundai Sonata minor change, it still offers four engine choices from last time such as a 1.6L T-GDi, 2.0 CVVL, 2.0 T-GDi, and the 1.7 CRDi-VGT engine. That's three petrols and a diesel offered in the 2018 Sonata and get this; in the more powerful 2.0 T-GDi engine, it has been offered with an 8-speed automatic, which sounds rewarding but somewhat regular if you may ask.

Safety wise, the 2018 Sonata comes with a Lane Departure Warning system assisted by a Lane Keep Assist function, as well as High Beam Assist and Dynamic Bending Lights for better nighttine driving, and Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

The 2018 Hyundai Sonata minor change starts at 2.255 million up to 3.253 million Korean Won and its available to order now. So, with the new look in one of the fastest-selling executive midsize saloons in South Korea, can the new Sonata rise up to the occassion? Only time will tell.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

Let's Do The News! (March 8, 2017)

- The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges against former Budget Secretary Florencio ‘Butch’ Abad in connection with the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program amounting to US$ 72 billion. According to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, they found probable cause to press charges against Abad for violating Article 239 or the Usurpation of Legislative Powers of the Revised Penal Code.

- The Commission of Appointments approved yesterday a new set of rules, including the so-called three-strike policy that has long been considered but never actually introduced in the body. According to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, the rule would effectively force the hand of the commission to decide on the fate of the appointees, thus eliminating the long-standing practice of a President to reappoint people regardless of the number of times they are bypassed.

- Senator Leila de Lima is facing nine criminal and administrative cases – from involvement in drugs to financing the Abu Sayyaf – that prove she is being persecuted by the Duterte administration, according to her lawyers.

- With President Duterte approved the National Broadband Plan, expect the country's internet speeds to improve soon.

- The Philippines cries afoul over the depiction of the Philippine President in bect week's episode of the hit TV drama series, Madam Secretary. Titled "Break in Diplomacy", this episode sees the main character punching the Philippine President.

- US President Donald Trump signed testerday the revised, yet still controversial, executive order banning wntey to the United States by citizens in Iran, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia. Iraq is now removed in the blacklist and it will go in effect this March 16.

- McLaren unveiled the 720S, the first of the next-generation Super Series, powered by a new 4.0L V8 Twin Turbo engine profucing 720PS of power. Following the unveiling, Slightly Mad Studios announced that the 720S will be featured in Project CARS 2.

- Tata Motors' Tamo Racemo sportscar has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. While shorter than today's Mazda Roadster and drawing inspiration from European sportscars, the Racemo is powered by a turbocharged 187 hp 1.2L three-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. It may not come until 2018 with limited to 250 units made, it's accessible to all because it's a free DLC car in the Forza Horizon 3 game for XBOX One and Windows 10 PC.

- The Fittipaldi EF7 Vision GT, designed in collaboration with Pininfarina and F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi, has been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Not only it will come in GT Sport but it will be physically available to the motoring public in very limited numbers. It is powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 which sends drive to the rear wheels via an integrated gearbox, suspension and braking system developed by HWA AG.

- Reports told that the Nintendo Switch 

has sold an estimated 330,637 units in Japan in the first three days of the release.

TTFN!!!