Let's Do The News! (April 7, 2017)

- President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit the Middle East this month. According to Assistant Secretary for Middle East and African Affairs Jayceelun Quintana, President Duterte will have meetings with the officials of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, and State of Qatar. The President will also meet the Filipino community at Middle East.

- As the summer season begins in the Philippines, water rates are expected to raise due to the preparations of two major water distributors in order to recover from the effects of the foreign exchange rate in the previous months.

- The Movie and Television Regulatory and Classification Board is scheduled this April 10 to carry out an inspection and information drive at various terminals in Metro Manila due to the influx of passengers seeking to go home to their different provinces this Holy Week.

- The NPR and the PBS, two government-funded networks, are on the risk of being defunded as part of US President Donald Trump's new budget proposal.

- Iran condemned the US strike on a Syrian airbase on Friday as Britain and Australia gave their support with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull describing it as a “proportionate and calibrated response” to the use of chemical weapons.

- The Chinese capital city of Beijing, all littered in trash, promised to boost its spending on waste disposal but struggling to persuade its residents to sort their trash. Beijing is China’s biggest municipal producer of trash, having collected 8.7 million tonnes of household waste last year, almost double that of a decade earlier, and residents deride its sprawling landfills as a “seventh ring road”.

- The woman who was injured from the attack in Westminster last month has died, according to the police, increasing the death toll to six including the attacker. The woman identified as Andreea Cristea, a Romanian national who had been visiting London at the time of the attack.

- Osomatsu-san has been renewed for a second season!




- In case you may have missed it, Nickelodeon's hit cartoon show, Invader Zim, is re-invading soon-ish.



- David Brown Automotive unveiled their Mini Remastered vehicle, a modern-day take on the original Mini Cooper.



TTFN!!!

Ghost In The Shell (2017 film)

This is by no means one of the most controversial Hollywood take on a hit anime franchise since...er...um...you get the point and this Hollywood remake on a Mamoru Oshii masterpiece that the Aint-It-Cool-News once called a "breathtaking leap forward in the history of science fiction and anime". Sadly though, this Hollywood live-action take on Ghost In The Shell has a lot of explaining to do for the otaku community and movie junkies alike and let's find out why.

Ghost In The Shell (2017 film)

Here it is, the movie in question, and this action film stars Scarlett Johansson as The Major, inspired by the anime franchise's Major Motoko Kusanagi, and set in the same timeframe as the original classic anime film that started it all, well just about, The Major, a female government cyber agent and the Internal Bureau of Investigations are gunning down against a computer hacker who unleashed a virus that can invade cybernetic brains and altering its victim's memory. The nefarious computer hacker in question was actually a prototype virtual agent created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has now defied its makers and unleash cybernetic hell on earth. Now, both agencies are on a deadly cat-and-mouse game against a powerful enemy.

For an average movie goer, there's no problem about how cool and how hardcore this movie is even with some stuff that feels like it came from sci-fi action flicks in the likes of The Matrix trilogy, Aeon Flux, and Ultraviolet. It's somewhat fluidic, intense, suspenseful, and thrilling fit enough for an action movie of this magnitude. 

For an anime otaku, however, this film is a complete disaster and a complete waste for the franchise, despite the makers of this defended their views that it was the right thing to do with it. Still, could be worse, this film is just another victim of the so-called whitewashing trend, which involves using Western actors for Asian character roles. Most critics believed that having Johansson in the role of The Major is not right and needs to be someone Asian to fit that role but in the views of Sir Mamoru Oshii, he thinks that having Scarlett Johansson playing the role of The Major is the right thing to do and it's hard to explain what's what about this film.

To sum this film up, even though this is visually thrilling for action movie junkies, this live-action take on a Mamoru Oshii masterpiece is a complete waste for the franchise and there are doubts that any Japanese watching this film may feel offended about this Hollywood remake of the legendary GITS anime film and they should tell filmmakers that when it comes to making Hollywood live-action films based on anime franchises, they need to be very considerate in the future.

My rating: 2.6 out 5

Forza Horizon 3: Final Trip with the SS

As you may have heard it right now, Chevrolet stopped selling the awesome rear-wheel drive four-door saloon called the SS a few months ago and it's a sad twist of fate to see this Aussie import vanished into thin air. It's also sad that the year 2017 signals the end of Australian car production and we're going to miss the duel between Falcons and Holdens in its glorious years. As we say goodbye to the American Commodore we loved, it's time for me to take a final stroll with the SS.



As they say, the Chevrolet SS is basically a Holden VF Commodore rebadged and sold in the USA in the same way the deceased Pontiac G8 did to the Holden VE Commodore. Unlike the Aussie one that is available in three body styles, the SS only offers a saloon powered by a 6.2L V8 engine producing 415HP of power and can be mated with either a 6-speed automatic or a manual gearbox.



It's hard to explain more about the Chevrolet SS but pretty sure, I'm going to miss this thing because while it was short-lived for a four-year run and with drastic poor sales, it remains one of the most enjoyable sports saloon ever made and the cheapest compared to the European imports. This is by no means the last car made in cooperation with the Americans and the Australians and we're going to miss this cooperation since the Pontiac G8. We're also going to miss the sound of its V8 engine as well because even though this is naturally-aspirated, it sounds as old-school as the Age of Aquarius and smells like meat pies on a Sunday drive. Mmm... There's so much stuff to miss about the American Commodore, despite some misses, but for me, there's some unfinished business to do with this.





No time to explain what just happened with it but for the final sendoff, the Americanized Holden Commodore is ready to play rough against the competition while not afraid to get its face dirty and since this is Australia and that car's Australian-made, playing rough is best describes it and it's time to get the camera rolling in for the Chevy SS's sendoff drive. Okay then, let's get this going, for the greater glory of Aussie-made V8s!



What a way to say goodbye to the Chevrolet SS. The Holden VF Commodore sold to the USA with less offerings than the original but with a lot of feast for the speedo boys in the free country for less than European imports. It may have less followers in America but it's going to be an instant classic through the years. Farewell, mate.

Let's Do The News! (April 6, 2017)

- Ousted DILG Secretary Ismael ‘Mike’ Sueño cried as he said farewell to his co-workers. Sueño admitted that he wasn’t able to sleep and eat ever since he was accused of corruption and added that he is ashamed to show himself to the public, and his family, especially to his wife and sick mother.

- The Rizal Provincial Housing Office has approached the National Housing Authority, Rizal PNP, and Municipalities of Rizal, in order to prevent the Kadamay from occupying the relocation sites within the province.

- A group of young transgender Thais sits together in women's clothes behind rows of men, waiting for military officers to call their names and decide whether they must be drafted as soldiers. Thailand is widely seen as a LGBT-friendly nation, but many complain of being treated as second-class citizens and the obligation to respond to the draft can be a nightmare when they turn 21.

- France is still seeking a United Nations Security Council resolution on Syria, adding that diplomatic negotiations were a priority over possible military action.

- Reports told that China blocked the visit of two Australian politicians after it took offence to a letter that called on it to address allegations of human right abuses. The members of parliament, one from the ruling coalition government and one from the opposition Labor Party, were scheduled to visit as part a parliamentary investigation into a rising tide of synthetic drugs trafficked from southern China.

- The next Audi A8 will use multi-material space frame chassis which employs a mix of aluminium, steel, magnesium and carbon-fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to provide optimum rigidity and strength.

- Muntinlupa's e-jeeps are nominated at the Union International des Transports Publics that will take place at Montreal, Canada, on the 17th of May, 2017. These e-jeepneys are nominated for Customer Experience category alongside other e-vehicle projects from France, Oman, and UK. The free ride service is a benefit from Muntinlupa Care Card, which is a project from the government of the Muntinlupa City, Philippines.

- In case you may have missed it, gaming hardware company Mad Catz filed for bankruptcy last week. Last year, Mad Catz sold off Saitek as well as Logitech. The company was well known for creating game controllers for most consoles since 1989.

TTFN!!!

FH3 Blizzard Mountain: From Storm to Slush

Once the offroad hero that survived Storm Island from the previous installment, the Ford Ranger T6 Rally Raid returns to take on a brand new challenge; survive Blizzard Mountain and make it out alive just like what happened back in Storm Island.



This is what it known to be a specially-prepped version of the said pickup truck that is no longer for sale in America. While this is fully-prepped to take on the most punishing terrain just like what it did during the Paris-Dakar, it comes with a race-prepped 5.0L engine developing 349HP of power and 413lb-ft of torque. Thanks to its experience back in Storm Island in the last installment, it shouldn't be a hunch for a tough, un-American, American pickup truck to take on the extremes, especially in a middle of a polar vortex in nightfall, which is very scary to me but not for this one.



Although this Ranger is brave and tough enough to take on extreme circumstances, I'm not sure if I can make it out alive from a heavy snowfall in Blizzard Mountain but this is no time for doubts because it's time for me and the Ranger to do something crazy in the middle of a snow warning, all in the name of surviving Blizzard Mountain from dusk till dawn.

This is going to be one heck of a ride, folks...



Having faced death and lived to tell about it, the Ranger survived Blizzard Mountain just like what it did back in Storm Island a few years ago. Mother Nature may sure unleash everyone's worst nightmares but for the Ranger, it's not afraid to take on them. Now that's BUILT TOUGH.

HAPPY PARTY TRAIN

HAPPY PARTY TRAIN

All aboard, Lovelivers! While having a little hangover from last February's Aqours First Love Live concert and anticipating the return of Love Live! Sunshine!! TV series this fall, their latest single from Uranohoshi Girls High School's finest has arrived, marking their next step for our new favorite.

Titled Happy Party Train, this latest single from Aqours was first heard from the School Idol Festival app game and now you can have the whole song as well as two other new Aqours music such as SKY JOURNEY and 少女以上の恋がしたい. There's also  three new audio drama parts to keep the enjoyment going for the fans and a BD/DVD featuring the music video of the said song.

This is one of the many ways you can pass the time before their next live concert and the new season arrive, so in the meantime, let your ears leave the station because it's time to aboard the HAPPY PARTY TRAIN!

TRACK LISTINGS:

01. HAPPY PARTY TRAIN

02. SKY JOURNEY

03. 少女以上の恋がしたい

04. HAPPY PARTY TRAIN(Off Vocal)

05. 団結！ 私たちのサバイバル

06. 怪奇！ 真夜中のミステリー

07. 奇跡！ 未来へのトレジャー

Let's Do The News! (April 5, 2017)

- The Philippine National Police will oppose the urban poor group Kadamay if they attempt to occupy the other government housing projects meant for police officers and soldiers.

- President Rodrigo Duterte named Interior and Local Government Usec for Public Order Catalino Cuy as acting secretary of the said agency, following the ousting of Secretary Ismael Sueno.

- Over 200 soldiers are being trained to replace Bureau of Immigration employees who quit their jobs and or filed their leave of absence.

- The Russian defence ministry said that that a poisonous gas contamination in the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun was the result of gas leaking from a rebel chemical weapons depot after it was hit by Syrian government air strikes.

- The Chinese government condemns India's decision to host Tibetan spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama, on a contested stretch of land on the India-China border, causing tensions between two neighboring countries.

- Six people were killed in a suicide attack in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

- To be featured at the 2017 Barcelona International Motor Show, SEAT's new Ateca FR is the Spanish carmaker's sporty variant of their first crossover utility vehicle.

2018 SEAT Ateca FR

- The Mercedes-AMG GLC63 range will be featured at this year's New York International Auto Show, featuring AMG's 4.0L V8 BiTurbo engine that powers both the normal and the Coupe variant.

2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63

- The Opel/Vauxhall Insignia Country Tourer returns for the second-generation model. In addition, both the new Insignia Grand Sport and the new Insignia Country Tourer will be coming in North America as the new Buick Regal Sportback and TourX, set for NYIAS premiere.

2018 Opel Insignia Country Tourer

- Oh snap! Disney Channel greenlits a new spinoff from the memorable That's So Raven show, titled Raven's Home. Airing soon to Disney Channel, the new series stars Isaac Brown and Navia Robinson as Raven Baxter's twin kids Booker and Nia while Jason Maybaum plays the role of Levi, the son of Raven's BFF, Chelsea, and Sky Katz as Nia's best friend Tess.

TTFN!!!