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

- The Land Transportation Office is set to start implementing the Anti-Distracted Driving Act tomorrow. LTO executive Director for Law enforcement Unit, Francis Almora, said government agencies will use high quality CCTV cameras to monitor drivers violating ADDA.

- President Rodrigo Duterte approved the Php3.767 trillion proposed 2018 national budget that will be asked by Congress during the President’s second State of the Nation Address. Next year’s fund is higher by 12.4 percent, contrary to last year’s Php3.35 Trillion.

- One of the three suspects in the massacre in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan was found dead. Some say, before being killed, Rolando Pacino aka Inggo was tortured. Pacino’s body was found under a tree in Palmera Drive, Phase 7 Brgy. Sto. Cristo around 0630 Tuesday.

- Philippine National Police Chief Dir.Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa is set to recommend the extension of the implementation of Martial Law in Mindanao. According to him, the extension of the martial law President Duterte implemented months ago will speed up the rehabilitation in the said region.

- A northeastern Chinese hospital has invited medical experts from the United States and Germany to help treat Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo for cancer, according to the local government.

- Numerous people were struck by gunfire in Chicago, some of them fatally, during the traditionally violent Fourth of July weekend. From Friday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon, about 60 people were shot with eight of them kille, according to reports.

- Renault's Espace MPV range is now available with the new Energy TCe 225 EDC engine sourced from the new Alpine A110.

- Swedish car company Volvo is set to electrify its entire vehicle lineup within the next two years.

- Korean superstars Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo will be married this October.

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North fired missile ahead of G20 summit

North Korea launched a ballistic missile from its western region into the sea of its east coast on Tuesday, according to South Korean military, ahead of a summit of leaders from the G20 in Germany later this week.

The missile flew for about 40 minutes and may have landed into Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, the Japanese government said, adding that it had strongly protested what was a clear violation of UN resolutions.

The missile was launched around 0040 GMT from an airfield in Panghyon, about 100 km (60 miles) northwest of the North’s capital, Pyongyang, the South Korean military said.

The recent launch is the last since the Korean Peninsula fired numerous cruise missiles in early June and comes ahead of the leaders of the US, China, Japan, and South Korea expected to discuss efforts to rein in the North's nuclear and missile test at the G20 summit on the 7th and 8th of July. It also comes ahead of July 4 Independence Day celebrations in the United States. North Korea has previously fired missiles around this U.S. holiday.

Earlier, North Korea was a key topic in phone calls between U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of China and Japan. Leaders of both Asian countries reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. South Korean leader Moon Jae-in called a national security council meeting for 0230 GMT after being informed on the missile launch.

Source: Reuters

Let's Do The News! (July 4, 2017)

- The Department of Education condemns the killing of a newly promoted official in Zamboanga Del Sur. School Division Superintendent Marcom Borongan was shot dead at the Teacher’s Center, San Jose Heights in Pagadian City amid the thanksgiving and turnover ceremony on Monday night.

- The Department of National Defense chief, Delfin Lorenzana, confirmed that Abu Sayyaf and known ISIS leader in Asia Isnilon Hapilon and Maute Group Leader Abdullah are still in Marawi City, Lanao Del Sur believed to be hiding in one of the Mosques in the city.

- Protesters staged a rally coinciding with the celebration of the US Independence Day on July 4, 2017 in Manila. Groups Bayan and Gabriela marched through the US Embassy in Kalaw.

- New Jersey Governor Chris Christie brushed off criticism recently after he was caught taking a break from dealing with a government shutdown to lounge on a state beach that was closed to the public during the July Fourth holiday weekend.

- Nine people are reportedly killed and dozens suffered burn injuries when a boiler exploded at a garment factory in Bangladesh, according to fire officials. The incident occurred late on Monday on the outskirts of the capital, Dhaka, they said.

- BMW previewed their upcoming i8 Roadster with a special clip.



- Shooting for the Fantastic Beasts sequel film has begun with new plot details released.

- A certain netizen asks the MTRCB to review a certain Gandang Gabi Vice episode where presenter Vice Ganda accidentally touches a man part of guest star McCoy de Leon.

- Paula Fairfield, Game of Thrones sound designer, confirms that there will be longer episode in the 7th and 8th (the final) season of the hit HBO TV series. She said during an event in Nashville, TN.

TTFN!!!

Let's Do The News! (July 3, 2017)

- Following last weekend's controversial Brisbane fight, Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn both willing to go fighting each other again sometime. Some say, the rematch is expected to scheduled this December at the same time as the recess of the Senate.

- President Rodrigo Duterte challenged the Communist Party of the Philippines to cease fighting against the government and continue the peace talks. Duterte promised that he is willing to declare total ceasefire if the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army is also prepared to announce a ceasefire.

- Amid anti-G20 protests, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said leaders will have to focus on sustainable and inclusive economic growth rather than their own prosperity. In her weekly podcast, Merkel said this year’s G20 summit will delve into issues championed by protesters such as distribution of wealth and consumption of resources.

- An Amtrak train with over 250 people aboard derailed near Puget Sound in Washington state, injuring several passengers, although no one was believed to have been seriously hurt, according to officials.

- The United States lifted the ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Abu Dhabi to the US, saying that Etihad Airways had put in place required tighter security measures.

- Nissan showcased another teaser for their next-generation Leaf EV.



- Honda teases an upcoming facelift for the StepWGN where a hybrid variant will be added.



- Tesla's Model S saloon and Model X crossover gained several performance upgrades courtesy of new software and hardware rollouts.

- This year's Anime Expo launched to overwhelming crowds on its first day on Saturday, so much so that attendees found themselves gridlocked in multi-hour wait lines to get through the security to enter the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation published a statement to acknowledge the situation which can be READ HERE.

TTFN!!!

Forza Horizon 3: The new Corsa VXR

If you are enjoying the all-new Vauxhall Corsa VXR, which is part of the Forza Horizon 3 Playseat Car Pack, you are noticing that why they made an ultra-powerful hot hatch in the first place that will beat supercars in the race to the nearest parking lot and because of its compact sizing, squeezing through the turns that supercars are having a hard time to deal with is not too shabby and the VXR always saves the day.



So, the Vauxhall Corsa VXR, what is it then? This ultra-powerful hot-hatch sets a new standard for small and fast hatchbacks and because it's powered by a 1.6L turbocharged engine producing 205PS of power and 245Nm of torque while mated to a manual gearbox, it does 0-60mph in six and a half seconds and a top speed of 143mph, faster than the previous model it replaces. Aside from this performance, the Corsa VXR comes with Frequency Selective Damping, developed by Koni, to maintain body control during high speeds and ride quality during low speeds while delivering an even more responsive steering. With the Performance Package, it comes with a Drexler LSD, larger-diameter Brembo front brake discs, 18-inch alloys, and a recalibrated FSD damper settings.



Despite being small in size, its dynamics should not be underestimated and for the case of the Corsa VXR, you'll never know what sort of tricks will this hatchback pull off and because being a hot hatch, you can have the same kind of thrill that you experienced from a supercar while delivering accessible dynamics fit for all kinds of drivers. If you were either experienced or inexperienced, driving a hot hatch like this one is like a good starting point to understand the twists and turns the Land Down Under has to offer and for a car with such accessible dynamics, you don't have to prove a thing to show how much of a driver you really are.

Because of such dynamics that made me impressed by the VXR, let's see how much of a hot hatch the Corsa VXR is and to do that, let's drive this car somewhere to the Outback to challenge against those tater tots and tiaras in waiting but first...







Ladies and gentlemen, Ako Saotome...isn't here today. That's just a design I made just for this and for a tater tot of this size, that just suits it rather well in a game where the Corsa VXR takes on the likes of Clios, Fiestas, and 500s. Well, the one with the 500 Abarth is what bugged me the most because when the Corsa VXR takes on the most hardcore 500 of all, the Abarth 695, things get even more dirtier than dumpster diving in the rain, but seeing this as an opportunity to demonstrate the Corsa VXR's dynamics, time to get the ball running and see what happens.





That was a close call but it's proof that the Corsa VXR is one of the most enjoyable hot hatch to drive to date and with such dynamics courtesy of the Performance Package provided and this car as well as some added charms I done to this little tyke, I think I may have found my favorite hot hatch to drive over and over again...or is it? I'm not sure but let's keep driving the VXR before I passed out from boredom as long as this special something I made for this keeps me company. Until then, the journey continues...

Forza Horizon 3: The Porsche 944

I'm sure most of you spent the whole weekend getting this car from a Forzathon event but this here is the Porsche 944 Turbo, the one that turned into an ambulance in an earlier Top Gear episode and bolted with a rocket launcher in Clarkson Thriller.



So, what's it all about the 944? Well, for starters, it can be easily mistaken for a 924 but unlike the 924, which uses an engine sourced from a VW van, this 944 is powered by a 2.5L turbocharged petrol engine producing 247HP of power and 258ft-lb of torque, gunning from 0 to 60mph in around five seconds and a top speed of around 150mph, sorta. Despite the issues with the turbo engine due to its turbo lag, the 944 is one of the best handling Porsches ever made thanks to its positioning of the gearbox to the rear for better weight distribution and because of such weight distribution, it just feels to easy to drive this Porsche from beginning to end and you don't have to worry about a thing.

Now that I got it from my last-minute escapades on this weekend's Forzathon, how about giving the Porsche 944 a moment of fame by driving around Yarra Valley with this thing while being gunned by other 944 drivers around here? Sounds crazy but this is the 944's way of showing off its German muscles in the Land Down Under.



Well, I guess that's it then. This is the last time they'll put a Porsche on a Forzathon event and I do mean it unless some last-minute plans changed their minds. With all the Forzathon Porsche cars complete, what's your favorite Forzathon Porsche car so far during your road trip Down Under?

29th Annual Pacific Northwest Historics

It's Independence Day weekend and everyone in Pacific Northwest are spending the summer heat going to Pacific Raceways in Kent to see some vintage car racing action for the annual Pacific Northwest Historics held from the 30th of June to the 2nd of July, 2017.

This year's event celebrates over five decades of Trans-Am Racing and the guest of this year is none other than Sir Peter Brock. Note to Australians, this is not the Brockie you're looking for. Sir Peter Brock is a car designed who used to work with General Motors and behind his iconic automotive works including the C2 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Now that's history lesson to you and I.

Take a look at some of the best of this year's event.



More pics:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskZ7DKNv

Video log:

Doctor Who Season 10 Finale

"The Doctor Falls" is the most explosive way to end the tenth season of Doctor Who with some uneasy alliances, fate, and twists this finale delivers and while this episode signals the end of this season, it's the penultimate journey in the Steven Moffat-era of this show as well as the Peter Capaldi years. Quite a show, isn't it?

Doctor Who Season 10 Finale

To recap, The Doctor made some uneasy alliances with Missy and The Master in order to defeat an incoming horde of Cybermen manufactured in this very ship they set foot while Bill Potts can't accept the fate that she became one of the Cybermen. Desperate for answers, The Doctor tries to figure out who she is until the explosive attack on Cybermen begins.

Here's the kicker of this tale; The Master killed Missy, The Doctor blows the horde of Cybermen, a Cyberman killed The Doctor, and an ultimate sacrifice made to end this war once and for all. Explosive, isn't it? No, the real kicker is that episode has the proof the viewers need about Bill Potts' "lesbian" status. After the fall and when Bill came out from the shell of the Cyberman, she was reunited by The Pilot, in the form of her friend named Heather, and get this, they kissed, proof that Bill Potts is a lesbian. In return, The Pilot granted Bill the power to become human again and together, the two had the happy ending they deserved but not for The Doctor.

The finale ends when The Doctor is about to regenerate until a sudden encounter of a mysterious person who is none other than...The First Doctor?! What's the first one doing here? Looks like we have to wait until Christmas Day to find out why but in the meantime, one last DW Fan Show webcast before Christmas?

Doctor Who returns for the 2017 Christmas Special this Christmas Day and this will be the final journey for the Peter Capaldi years as well as the Steven Moffat era of this show. Watch for it and see how the 12th Doctor's journey ends.

Horn defeats Pacquiao in controversial Brisbane battle

This is the first time the world champion, Manny Pacquiao, started a fight not in a North American venue but somewhere in the Asia-Pacific, specifically at an outdoor stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, where he faced off against a rising homegrown star and Olympian Jeff "The Hornet" Horn.

This match became a bloodbath for both of the fighters and with both sides took the fall, it became one of the most decisive matches ever witnessed in boxing history and after 12 rounds, these fighters keep on fighting 'till the very end, even with some serious injuries on their heads as well as some internal bleeding occurred, well, mostly for Pacquiao.

In an unexpected turn of events, despite Pacquiao dominated the scoreboards, the winner of the unanimous decision goes to Australia's Jeff Horn. Following Jeff Horn's controversial win, looks like the whole public went on an outcry saying that Horn "robbed" the match from Pacquiao while some call it the boxing equivalent of last year's US Presidential Elections...minus the hacking part. Sorry.

Controversial aside, these fighters did a really good job wowing the crowd with their relentless punches to the very end and even though Pacman lost, he did a really good job proving that age never slowed him down in the sport he really loves and he's comfortable about this...result.

Further reading: http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/live-blog-manny-pacquiao-vs-jeff-horn/

Baby Driver

The first half of 2017 brought us some car movies to whet our petrolhead appetite such as The Fate of the Furious, Transformers: The Last Knight, and Cars 3. However, with those car movies more than enough to crave our love for fast cars, there is nothing than more so than having another car movie that is somewhat unique for the young petrolhead.

Baby Driver

Starring Ansel Elgort, House of Cards' Kevin Spacey, Lily James, John Bernthal, Eiza Gonzalez, Jon Hamm, and Jamie Foxx, Baby Driver centers on a young getaway driver who wants to retire from his life of crime upon a fateful encounter with a young woman. However, when he was coerced to work for the head of a crime family, his fate has thrown into a tailspin as a failed robbery threatened his life, love, and freedom. Quite a story, isn't it?

Of all the car chase movies you've witnessed in a lifetime, Baby Driver is very different because it's like Fast and Furious meets The Transporter (pun intended) and the real credit for Baby Driver's car action thrill goes to the car the Baby Driver drove in the movie, a second-generation Subaru Impreza WRX. Sure, there is a Dodge Challenger in this movie, but him being on a Subie is as closest thing as you get when you mash two of your favorite car action movies into one unique film that is all about cars, coffee, robbers, cops, and the driving music provided for your driving pleasure.

You might think it's mad to say that it's a millennial take on classic car chase films but for Baby Driver, despite this film has some scratches that can't be wiped off with a chamois, this is one of the main reason why we love a good car movie but with Subaru doing a good job collaborating with this film, one thing springs up the mind of every Subarist watching this film, if the star car is the old second-generation Subaru WRX, why they didn't go for the newer 2018 WRX? No one really knows why but Subarists should better watch it and enjoy like it's another Fast and Furious or Transporter. Who knows, they might like it.

My rating: 3.4 out of 5.

Bubble Gang - June 30, 2017 #BGGroupSexy

In the June 30, 2017 episode of Bubble Gang...

- "Di na mag-extend" gags

- Welcome to an all-Filipino restaurant where everything's Filipino even as we speak

- People on the street are chattering about a retard

- Serial killers bragging each other in jail time

- A different kind of phobia

- Today's Balitang Ina takes on single moms

- More men seeking advice with Group Sexy.

- Basa-basa-pik!

Despicable Me 3

Raise your bananas, minions of all sizes, because Gru and the gang are back for their third installment of the Despicable Me films, and this time, things are going to get even despicable for our lovable supervillain, his three adopted girls, and his gang of minions we all know and love. So, what's going around here?

Despicable Me 3

Anyway, Despicable Me 3, what's going on around in this new film? Well, after Gru (played by comedian Steve Carell) and Lucy (Kristen Wiig) got kicked out from the Anti-Villainy League after a certain misfit, Gru is now broke and he has to evict from his evil lair he called home along with the girls and the minions. With no one to turn to, Gru unexpectedly encounters his long-lost twin brother named Dru. Oh, brother. Thanks to him, Gru is back to one thing he does best, being an evil supervillain plotting for world domination, but to do that, they'll have to overcome their differences and team up to take down a rival supervillain named Balthazar (played by South Park creator Trey Parker), a child star from the 1980's.

This film has some back-to-basics approach and because Gru is back at being a supervillain, Despicable Me 3 is like starting over from the beginning, only this time with the added comical relief with the addition of the guy who made South Park playing the role of a rival supervillain bent on world domination. Thank goodness for that even though this film, like the other installments, is suffered from the same whimsical cuteness that is so totally zoned out from start to finish. It maybe decent for a normal moviegoer but as a family movie, it's relatively superior and with all the Minion rush in store for this film, life couldn't get even more relatable than that.

Safe to say, the hilarity that you expect from Gru and his minions are back and even though they can get easily zoned out from the whimsical nonsense this film delivers from start to finish, it has some good vibes that smiles everyone who spend the whole week of stress and what a way to start the weekend right with Despicable Me 3.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5.