Thursday, August 3, 2017

Daihatsu Move/Subaru Stella (LA150/160) - 2018 minor change

Now on its 2018 model year, the Daihatsu Move and its Subaru Stella counterpart have been given a much-needed facelift, more than enough to introduce the latest upgrade to the Smart Assist system that promises to be its most groundbreaking feat yet for such kei cars while retaining its kei car personality that fits well to the Japanese youth.

2018 Daihatsu Move
2018 Daihatsu Move Custom
2018 Subaru Stella and 2018 Subaru Stella Custom

So, what's new on the outside? On a regular Move or Stella, the front now comes with a new horizontally-shaped grille that now packs some style compared to the pre-facelifted model as well as its new bumper design and some new alloys, not to mentioned a slightly revised rear view. On the Custom variants, that shouty N BOX Custom-esque grille has been replaced with a much simpler design which is a throwback to the previous model's 2013 facelift from five years ago while the foglamps are now almost shaped like an exclamation point just to give a spot-on stance worthy to be a headturner. Also, the rear lamps are now revamped as well as its new and rakishly sharp alloy wheel design. On the inside, you can expect a revised instrumental panel as well as an enlarged 8-inch monitor display on the dashboard for range-topping variants.

2018 Daihatsu Move interior
2018 Daihatsu Move Custom interior
2018 Subaru Stella interior
2018 Subaru Stella Custom interior
Like the pre-facelifted models, they still come with the same 660cc 3-cylinder engine with fuel-efficient measures, CVT, and its "D monocoque" body structure that promises up to 31.0km/L while turbocharged models (Custom only) can get up to 27.4km/L. For 4WD variants, fuel efficiency is 27.6km/L while Custom-exclusive turbocharged variants can get up to 25.6km/L.

Now it's time to get through the heart of the facelifted Move/Stella and that is the brand new "Smart Assist III" and for this upgrade, it uses the world's smallest stereo camera and working in tandem with the sonar sensor, detection on leading vehicles as well as pedestrians have been improved sharply and it's been given Collision Warning Function and Collision Avoidance Support Brake function. Apart from that, the updated Move/Stella comes with Lane Departure Warning system, false start suppression control, forward vehicle start notice function, and auto high beam. There are other safety tech offered in this kei car but lest we leave it for those who want to try it.

Prices start at around 1,112,400 Yen for normal versions while Custom versions, hold on a second. Says here that for the Move Custom starts at 1,371,600 Yen while the Stella Custom, meanwhile, starts at 1,490,400 Yen. That sounds odd for pricing but who cares...

Photo: Subaru/Daihatsu

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

SUMMER VACATION

As part of the Aqours Next Step Project as well as the preparation of the Happy Party Train Tour and the second season of Love Live! Sunshine!! coming this autumn, the idol group from Uranohoshi Girls High presents you the brand new Duo Trio Collection CD range where the Aqours heroes now got split up into four teams. Chika Takami and Kanan Matsuura will be Twilight Tiger, Dia and Ruby Kurosawa as Inferno Phoenix, You Watanabe and Yoshiko Tsushima as Unicorn Blizzard, and Riko Sakurauchi, Hanamaru Kunikida, and Mari Ohara as Hurricane Blossom.

SUMMER VACATION

The first Duo Trio Collection album is titled SUMMER VACATION and in here, it features four brand new songs. The first one performed by the Hurricane Blossom team while the second one by the Inferno Phoenix team, the Hurricane Blizzard team will go for the third song, and finally, the Twilight Tiger team for the last song in the album. After four teams perform their songs, there are four drama parts, again, starring the four teams who did the songs in the album. While you are enjoying these new songs in this new album, best to know that these songs are coming to the School Idol Festival app game anytime now so watch for it.

Look out for more Love Live Sunshine Duo Trio Collection CDs coming very soon. Until then, enjoy their first offerings.

TRACK LISTINGS:
01.夏への扉 Never end ver.
02.真夏は誰のモノ?
03.地元愛♡満タン☆サマーライフ
04.夏の終わりの雨音が
05.南天の白き千歌と果南
06.西天の眩きルビィとダイヤ
07.東天の危うき曜と善子
08.北天の遙かなる梨子と鞠莉と花丸と……

Let's Do The News! (August 2, 2017)



- An environmental coalition labeled DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu a "fool" for believing that mining companies will voluntarily adhere to the conservation standards proposed in the 2016 Field Museum of Chicago. Known as KALIKASAN, the environmental coalition insists that  previous administrations have tried to urge the mining industry to engage in honest-to-goodness biodiversity conversation but failed.

- Nicanor Faeldon, the Bureau of Customs commissioner, is on the risk of being removed from his position amid President Rodrigo Duterte's statement that he still has complete trust in him. According to Senate Majority leader Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto, President Duterte said that he will wait for the investigation of the Senate and the House of Representatives to finish before passing judgement on Faeldon.

- President Donald Trump will do more traveling to promote tax overhaul legislation. Specifically, Trump could travel to some Midwest states like Michigan and Wisconsin that he won during the 2016 presidential campaign but are still represented by Democrats in Congress.

- Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti announced that they are preparing to host the 2028 Summer Olympics, four years after Paris, France hosted theirs in 2024.

- A Magnitude 5.4 quake struck the Chilean capital Santiago in the early Wednesday hours. The tremor struck 36km (22 miles) northeast of the city at 0315 hours local time.

- Lamborghini announced that they will unveil the production version of the Urus crossover on the 4th of December.

- Aston Martin previewed their upcoming Vantage replacement, powered by a Mercedes-AMG 4.0L V8 BiTurbo engine.


- Biohazard/Resident Evil Revelations Unveiled Edition and Revelations 2 are coming to Nintendo Switch at the end of the year.


TTFN!!!

AIKATSU SCRAPBOOK 01

AIKATSU SCRAPBOOK 01

Don't let the name fool you because even though you see the word "SCRAPBOOK" on it, because even though it says AIKATSU SCRAPBOOK 01 on it doesn't mean it has some drawings in it, instead, what you have here is another set of songs courtesy from the Photo on Stage app game, for those who just can't get enough for more Photokatsu songs to store in their playlist.

For this latest single, it has three brand new songs you have already listened on the game. The first is called "Sweet Sweet Girls' Talk", followed by キラキラ宣言, and followed by 星空のフロア. These tracks are all made by the girls from AIKATSU☆STARS and STAR☆ANIS and these songs can make great additions to your ever-growing Aikatsu playlist as it prepares for the franchise's 5th anniversary this year.

Aikatsu! Photo on Stage! is available to download now on the Google Play. Contains in-app purchases. Ask your parents first.

TRACK LISTINGS:
01 Sweet Sweet Girls' Talk
02 キラキラ宣言
03 星空のフロア
04 Sweet Sweet Girls' Talk (off vocal)
05 キラキラ宣言 (off vocal)
06 星空のフロア (off vocal)

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Let's Do The News! (August 1, 2017)



- Senator Ping Lacson requested that Bureau of Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon explain the agency's process in approving shipments. The senators began investigating 6.4 billion pesos worth of shabu that was allowed entry by Customs and was seized by the National Bureau of Investigation in Valenzuela three months ago.

- In preparation for the 50th ASEAN Day to be held at the PICC this week, the Philippine National Police will deploy around 13,000 personnel for the security of Foreign Ministers and Diplomats.

- The evacuation order was lifted at the edge of a national forest in Southern California, after a wildfire threatening dozens of homes in the path of the flames.

- About 2,531 Afghan troops were killed and 4,238 wounded in the first four months of the year, according to the data from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan, a US Congressional watchdog.

- Talent manager and showbiz columnist Alfie Lorenzo died at the age of 78 due to heart failure. It was confirmed by his nephew Ramon.

- Ford Motor Company is challenging Lynk & Co, Geely's up-and-coming youth-focused brand, over trademark application, saying the brand name is too close to Ford's luxury brand, Lincoln. Reports told the US Patent and Trademark Office has extended the deadline for Ford to formally oppose trademark this month to November 15.

- Queenie Padilla counters back against netizens criticizing her for not showing the face of her newborn daughter, Mustahsina Mikailah Mir, upon her decision not to show her face on social media.

- Actor Aljur Abrenica is now part of the ABS-CBN family of stars.

TTFN!!!

FH3 Hot Wheels: Hunter SPECTRE

The Range Rover Sport SVR has been proven to be track-capable and offroad-ready Range Rover ever made for the discerning few and it's been featured in 007: SPECTRE where it met its fate with the snow plane during a snowy pursuit in Austria. If the RR Sport SVR has been proven to do almost everything at its disposal, what would happen if I sent the SVR to the most extreme challenge yet; the Hot Wheels Thrilltopia?



As we know, the Jaguar Land Rover team are very skillful in the art of PR marketing by doing some insane stuff when they launch a new car. They drove a Range Rover through a bridge made out of paper, their new Jag can drive through wires, an F-Pace can do insane loop-the-loops, there are so much insane stuff they ever made in honor of their new cars but for this, the Range Rover Sport SVR, what else to do with it than setting this track-honed sports utility vehicle on the wonderful world of Hot Wheels? Drive it, of course.



At stock, the RR Sport SVR feels pretty good to me, especially when I drove this one round Blizzard Mountain on frigid conditions, but because this is Hot Wheels, is a tough world out there so this hunk of British bulldog needs to get prepared for the worst outcome or else, get left behind in a stomping tantrum of high horsepower. In short, the hunter becomes the hunted. With all that taken care of, the Range Rover Sport prepares for an all-out war with the other SUVs and it's my job to do the impossible for the SVR or my name ain't Hunter SPECTRE. Get it?



Well, not much of a hunter myself but the hunter turned all of its competitors into its prey for tea and for the Range Rover Sport SVR, it managed to do the bold just like all of its relatives in the Jaguar Land Rover lineup done in the past. Needless to say, I want some more of the SVR because this has been one of my favorite SUVs since it got featured in SPECTRE. Like the dinosaur guarding Thrilltopia, this Range Rooney's a primal in every tangible way and it's the ideal SUV to turn the hunters into the hunted so watch out, naughty folks.

Monday, July 31, 2017

Finally Found Someone

Ever since we first saw John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo in A Very Special Love, we got hooked by the on-screen chemistry, their signature kilig moments, and the so-called sun dance that brightened ourselves out of our daily misery. Then came You Changed My Life and it was even gooder. After that, It Takes a Man and a Woman. Now, for 2017, John Lloyd and Sarah are back in a very original love story directed by Theodore Boborol which promises to deliver some more like they did back in their previous two films.

Finally Found Someone

From Star Cinema and VIVA films, Finally Found Someone brings back John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo in an all-original, yet, hugot-laden romcom that promises to feel like the films we are familiar with while stirring up some joy and sadness in a perfect chemistry you'd expect for a romcom like this. Sarah plays the role of Aprilyn, whose once-in-a-lifetime moment has been unexpectedly shattered when her groom disappeared at the day of the wedding, while John Lloyd plays the role of Raffy, a PR agent hired by the groom's father to help her move on. This film also stars Enchong Dee, Joey Marquez, Yayo Aguila, Dennis Padilla, and many more.

Unlike past films with John Lloyd and Sarah on it, this film is way different than the films mentioned because while the storyline is almost as original as the hugot-laden films that can ripple your heart like a tropical monsoon on a sunny day. Sure, you can expect lots and lots of hugot on this film but seeing them on-screen not only stirs up some feelings but also the nostalgia we reminisce back when you first saw them during your high school years and then you talked about them with your friends at school. When you think about it, it's almost like where the years go by and makes us a bit sad but flattering.

It maybe disappointing to talk about it at first but for nostalgia's sake, this film still shows brighten ourselves out of our daily misery just like the others, and Finally Found Someone takes the slice of cake.

My rating: 3.6 out of 5.