Saturday, May 7, 2016

FIA Formula E Moscow race for 2015-2016 season cancelled


The Moscow ePrix for the 2015-2016 season of the FIA Formula E Championship has been officially cancelled, according to Formula E organizers.

One of the main reasons of the cancellation of the Moscow ePrix, which was slated to occur this June, is the "recent and unforeseen circumstances related to road closures." The committee aren't aware about the city about closing the road.

With no replacement in sight, this season will have just nine cities on the calendar, with the two-part finale to be held in London.

A farewell to AlDub


For less than a year, fans from all over the world have been part of the AlDub experience since the very beginning of this surreal Kalyeserye shindig on GMA's long-running TV variety show, Eat Bulaga. The couple had been through good times, bad times, even the ugliest of times, all in the name of love fans savoring it forever and ever.

Now, all good things must come to an end...almost...because on the recent Kalyeserye, the lolas have thrown in an Italian-themed despedida party for AlDub before heading off to Italy for the shooting of their romantic movie coming soon. After exchanging necessities, the gang headed off to the studio for one last bow for AlDub before setting off.

Since it's Mother's Day, Divina has something special in store for Lola Nidora. Yep, it's her children; Dr. Dorita (the mother of Doktora de Explorer) and Teodoro (Duhrizz's dad). They wished Lola Nidora a happy mother's day and after that, Lola Nidora's final act for AlDub.

So, this is where the gang part ways, and with AlDub heading off to Italy, the Kalyeserye tale has faced the final curtain. However, that does not mean the Kalyeserye gig is done because they will keep them updated for developments.

Happy Trip, AlDub! Oh, and congrats to Mackie Cao for being the grand winner of Just Duet.

Photo: Official Eat Bulaga Facebook page

#BGIkawAtAngInaMothersDay

In the May 6, 2016 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Di pumapasok gags

- Ikaw at ang Ina takes on...Mother's Day!

HAPPY Mother's Day


- Hugot Lines for Santacruzan!

- Watch out, girls. Someone's looking at you from nowhere...

- Problems arose in a band rehearsal.

- A show-off tries to show off his goods

FOR REGISTRATION

- More trouble's brewing with Don Cantoni...

- Dubsmash goes surreal in life.

- Political debates

Captain America: CIVIL WAR

This is by no means one of the best summer blockbuster films to watch, even for the whole family whose kids love a good superhero rivalries, because the long-awaited rivalry between the two Avengers; Captain America and Iron Man, is officially officially on with Marvel's Civil War movie. For these two rivals, they're not alone in the fight for the future.

Captain America: CIVIL WAR

Following the most tragic incident that spiraled the fate of the Marvel Superheroes, the US Congress passed a bill that require all superheroes to unmask their true identities before the public. Iron Man supports the idea but for Captain America, he condemns this ideology. Because of such disagreements, they will decide that they will battle against each other in order to decide the fate of the heroes. However, for each side, they're not alone.

Joining alongside Captain America is Hawkeye, Ant-man, Agent Carter, Falcon, Scarlet Witch, and his old enemy, the Winter Soldier. For Iron Man's side, he's got his old allies War Machine and Black Widow as well as Black Panther, Vision, and for plot twist purposes, Spider-Man! With the two sides collide, it now turns into an all-out war for the future of the superheroes.

This movie is all about choices and this is all about standing up for what is right. It's hard to explain the many people who are interested in this movie are starting to debating whose side are they on. For some who like Captain America, it's about brute strength. For those who are on Iron Man's side, it's all about the intelligence that will one day prevail just like the gadgets from his armored suit. Either way, it's going to be one heck of a blast to enjoy the rivalry between the two Marvel superheroes and talk about how great this film as after you watch.

There are so many superhero movies we can expect through the end of the decade but with Civil War, you can consider this one of the best Marvel movies to watch since last year's Avengers: Age of Ultron but even though this is going to be one of the best films to watch before summer kicks into overdrive, perhaps this movie can do better. Oh well, at least the year 2016 gave us some of the best superhero rivalries for geeks and nerds to choose whose side are they on. Consider this a job well done to see one of our lifelong fantasies come true. But remember, this is just the beginning.

My rating: 4.3 out of 5

Friday, May 6, 2016

Let's Do The News! (May 6, 2016)


- Senator Antonio Trillanes hits supporters of presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte who cried foul over an advertisement featuring children criticizing the Davao City mayor. The ad in question, which used select controversial quotes from Duterte, included children who were asking the electorate not to vote for the trash-talking mayor on May 9.

- Thanks to modern technology, the Philippine National Police will go hi-tech to monitor the situation nationwide during the elections on Monday. With their national election monitoring and action center at Camp Crame, Quezon City, the PNP National Operation Center has started monitoring the security situation in preparation for the May 9 elections.

- A Chinese diplomat said that China wants a new chapter with the Philippines regardless of the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations on the South CHina Sea case. Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jinhua said that the two countries should focus on areas that they can benefit.

- As of Thursday, over 85,000 hectares were destroyed by the ongoing Canadian wildfire.  Local fire department officials said that the area destroyed by the blaze had increased eight-fold over the previous day. No reports of casualties yet but about 1,600 buildings had been burned down.

- The Brazilian Supreme Court fired the speaker of the lower house of Congress on charges of obstructing a corruption investigation, adding more on the political drama in the South American country. The Supreme Court made the decision on Thursday after considering a request by prosecutors to oust Eduardo Cunha of his duties as well as suspending his status as a lawmaker. Cunha has been leading the impeachment process against President Dilma Rousseff, who is accused of manipulating government accounts.

- Onto the Kumamoto quakes situation, evacuees from a series of earthquakes in Japan's southwestern prefecture will start moving into public housing on Friday, around three weeks after the first quake hit. But the houses prepared so far are too few to accommodate a large number of people.

- Toyota Australia just made a shooting brake concept out of the old 86.


- The VW Golf GTi Heartbeat Concept, to be appeared on the upcoming GTi Meeting at Worthersee, is the result of twelve trainees from Volkswagen and Sitech Sitztechnik, creating a 400PS hatchback to honor the GTi's 40th birthday.


- THE IDOLM@STER's Chiaki Takahashi pays a little visit on singing duo Aoi Yuki and Ayana Taketatsu to appear in the latest music video "Seishun wa Tabemono desu", the theme song for their short-form anime Pan de Peace!

- Wanna see the new look of the Power Rangers outfits you'll be expecting in the upcoming 2017 film inspired from the legendary franchise? CLICK HERE.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga Kalyeserye, as the despedida party draws near for AlDub, the couple shared the lolas some good news; they got visas! Which means, they're ready to go to Italy to shoot for their new movie. So...is this the end of AlDub? Watch for it tomorrow for the despedida party the lolas are throwing for AlDub!

TTFN!!!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA:Workers' Party congress begins


North Korea's ruling Workers' Party congress has just begun under the watchful eye of leader Kim Jong-Un.

This is the first highest-level meeting convened in the Korean Peninsula in 36 years, and the message delivered by Kim will likely signal the path North Korea will take in the coming years. The event is forecast to be held for three to four days and expected to finish on Sunday or Monday.

During that time, the party will list its accomplishments, elect new younger aides to Kim Jong-un, and give the young leader a new title. But facing international sanctions following its nuclear and missile test, no high-level foreign guests are known to have been invited.

The possibility of Pyongyang conducting a fifth nuclear test, appears to have been delayed until AFTER the event. Amid North Korea's series of ballistic missile tests and increased activities around its main nuclear test site, many had speculated that another nuclear test may happen prior to the congress.

Some experts now pointed out, the reclusive regime is likely to focus solely on its congress for the time being as the regime is feeling increased pressure from the international community, especially from its long-time ally, China.

However, the South Korean government is not ruling out chances of another test anytime.

Meanwhile, the UNSC general say no significant matters were brought up during his brief encounter last month with North Korea's foreign minister. Ban Ki-moon told reporters that he told Ri Su-yong that he appreciated his attendance at the signing of a UN climate agreement and that he hoped to see him at more international meetings in the future.

When asked about the international response to the North's continued provocations, Ban said there seems to be no better option than sanctions for now but he added that the world is not imposing sanctions but rather induce a change in North Korea and turn it into a responsible member of the global community.

Source: Arirang News

Forza Motorsport 6: What is FM6 Apex?

Forza Motorsport 6 APEX

Today, the world of Forza makes a historic landing on Windows 10 PC users with the launch of the brand new Forza Motorsport 6 APEX game, available at the Windows Store at no charge (with in-app purchases available).

What is APEX? You might as refer to it as a distilled version of the hit XBOX One game with some bits and bobs similar to the game but made specifically for Windows 10 PC users. This is the first time the Forza franchise makes it to Windows 10 and with APEX, it takes advantage of the DirectX 12 performance to deliver a quality gaming as expected from the XBOX One game itself.

This game features a wide variety of single-player careers featuring Showcase Tour where players drive a wide variety of cars in circuits from across the globe as well as challenging players in seasonal events (similar to Rivals) that are updated in a seasonal basis. It features an all-new Race Points system for added challenges. For example, you will gain more Race Points if you set off the assists. This is one way to keep things exciting, presumably.

Unlike the XBOX One version, FM6 APEX doesn't have online multiplayer modes or livery creator. There are no DLC cars as seen on the XBOX One version, meaning it offers up to 63 vehicles, including Ford's all new 2017 GT supercar packed with the EcoBoost V6 engine mated in the middle.

However, as announced before day one, FM6 Apex promises updates based on customer feedback coming soon such as wheel support, livery selection, and more. It's available to download at the Microsoft Store with no charge.

For requirements, click here: http://www.forzamotorsport.net/en-us/news/fm6_apex_beta_announce

Jubilee of Mercy: Prayer Vigil to Dry the Tears

The Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy kicks off today at the Vatican City with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peterā€™s Basilica.
Jubilee of Mercy logo


May 5th, 2016 - Pope Francis presided over a prayer vigil "To Dry the Tears" in St. Peter's Basilica during the Feast of the Ascension. This event is part of the ongoing Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, which is ongoing until the 13th of November this year. 


During the Prayer Vigil, the reliquary of Our Lady of Tears of Syracuse were on display inside the basilica for the veneration of the faithful. It was linked to the extraordinary phenomenon occurred in 1953, when a small plaster picture depicting the Immaculate Heart of Mary that was hanging above the bed of a young Italian married couple shed human tears.

" At the foot of every cross, the Mother of Jesus is always there.  With her mantle, she wipes away our tears.  With her outstretched hand, she helps us to rise up and she accompanies us along the path of hope.” - Pope Francis
The next event on this ongoing Jubilee of Mercy is on the the 27th of May, the Jubilee for Deacons.

Super GT 2016: Fuji


The annual Golden Week in Japan doesn't stop car enthusiasts from across Japan to get through Fuji Speedway just to witness the Fuji Speedway leg of the Super GT 2016 season. In the GT500-class, there's another win for the #1 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R driven by Tsugio Matsuda and Ronnie Quintarelli following its season opener win, while the #3 B-MAX NDDP GT-R, driven by Kazuki Hoshino and Jann Mardenborough, is the GT300 class win in this round.

Highlights:



After the race, the committee announced that the third round of the Super GT 2016 season, to be held at Autopolis (which is near the quake-struck Kumamoto Prefecture) was suspended but the committee will continue to assess the current situation to still have an eight-round season.

Further details: http://supergt.net/news/single/16048

Keep reading the official SUPER GT website for further details.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: N.Korea mobilizes people in congress preparations


A certain reporter visiting North Korea has seen crowds of people being mobilized in preparation for tomorrow's opening of the ruling Workers' Party's first congress in 36 years. They will hold its 7th congress in Pyongyang.

Reporters from Japanese news organizations arrived on Tuesday as part of a group of over 100 foreign media personnel North Korea invested for the occasion, which is intended to underscore Kim Jong Un's grip on power. National flags and billboards with words celebrating the opening were seen all over the city. Women wearing ethnic costumes and carrying flowers were seen gathered at central plaza.

They were apparently there to take part in rehearsals for celebratory events.

On Wednesday, officials invited reporters to visit the site where North Korea's first weapons factory used to stand.

Source: NHK World

Let's Do The News! (May 5, 2016)


- The Commission on Elections announced that its website is now restored with enhanced security features. The website went back online Tuesday and assured the public that it's a safer website due to a stronger firewall, among others.

- Liberal party presidential candidate Mar Roxas is unfazed by the endorsement of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte by the Iglesia Ni Cristo even as he vowed to continue the fight for decent governance. Despite failing to get the support from the INC, Roxas thanked them for giving him the opportunity to present his platform. 

- The three ASEAN countries; the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, agreed to run coordinated patrols to boost maritime security following the kidnappings at sea of Indonesians by suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists. The top foreign ministers and military chiefs of the three countries held talks in the Indonesian ancient royal capital city of Yogyakarta, hashing out the details of joint patrols to protect shipping in the waters between the border areas.

- A Chinese diplomat asked politicians and media outlets in the United States and the United Kingdom to spot meddling in the South China Sea dispute. Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Liu Xiaoming said in the signed letter to The Times "The issue of the South China Sea is being ramped up by those in the US and the UK who accuse China of causing tension in the region. They proclaim the principle of free navigation and overflight but in reality their prejudice and partiality will only increase tension".

- Ohio Governor John Kasich dropped out from his Republican presidential race, leaving frontrunner Donald Trump the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party in the presidential elections following Ted Cruz's dropout.

- Last Sunday, a massive wildfire broke out in western Canada and it lasted for three days, leaving 16,000 structures burned. Firefighters are struggling to put out the fire but strong winds and dry weather are hampering their efforts.

- Another teaser for the revamped Top Gear hits the web with more cars and more Matt LeBlanc, gearing up to this month's premiere.



- Following its reveal, Volkswagen's special GTi Clubsport S lapped round the Nurburgring at 7:49.29, making it the fastest front-wheel drive car to lap round the track and it's faster than the Honda Civic Type R FK2.



- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga Kalyeserye, today marks the 42nd weeksary of AlDub and the gang are prepping up for their Italian job, while leaving Lola Nidora mope. However, Divina has other plans for the lolas as she throws them a picnic. After the picnic, there's a big announcement happening this Saturday and Lola Tinidora says it's going to be...a farewell party?! Tune in next time and find out!!!

TTFN!!!

Forza Motorsport 6: Raptor's Delight

The next-generation Ford F-150 Raptor, much like the new Ford GT and the Shelby GT350, made its early video game debut at Forza Motorsport 6 since its launch and I was one of the happy people to get a first bite out of Ford's next-gen extreme offroader before this car reaches dealerships in the Autumn of 2016.

f150

Before taking a spin on the next-generation F-150 Raptor, let's have a quick intro. Making its world premiere at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, the next-generation Ford F-150 Raptor is the result of Ford Performance's superior off-road capability, from rock crawling to sand running.

Based on the 13th-generation Ford F-Series trucks, the new F-150 Raptor, like the normal F-150, takes advantage of advanced materials such as high-strength steel and high-strength, military grade, aluminum alloy, allows this truck to lose 500 pounds of weight compared to the old Raptor.

The new F-150 Raptor is powered by Ford's brand new 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine that produces more power and better fuel economy versus the old Raptor's V8 engine. This engine is mated with Ford's first-ever 10-speed automatic gearbox.

It is now the most capable Raptor ever made thanks to its available Torsen front differential, standard FOX Racing Shox with custom internal bypass technology that works to damp and stiffen suspension travel over rough terrain, and new shock canisters. It even comes with the all new Terrain Management System with six preset modes help the truck power through different terrain and driving conditions.

f150 (2)

Sure, the new Raptor is an extreme offroader in its own right but here in the world of Forza Motorsport 6, it sounds too pointless because this is basically a racing game where all good cars race on tracks. Despite being too pointless here, I can hardly feel just how improved the new Raptor is aside from its miniaturized engine that delivers more than the old one but its military-grade aluminum bodywork shows just how light and durable this car is. Even though this is a major improvement than the previous model, handle with care because this is still a heavyweight juggernaut and you have to be very alert and very precise to handle even the slightest of corners.

Because this is the first truck in the world to offer a double-digit gearbox, you can really feel that ten gears in a truck is far too bulky on the shifting ratio but what are the odds? You never know until you try.

f150 (3)

This car loves to get messy in the rough but in FM6, playing rough is not a necessity here or could it be? Because this is an all-new model, let's find out how much the new model has improved over the previous one and for that, I have to go to the Top Gear Test Track and find out.

f150 (4) f150 (5)

This is going to be a fun science experiment because this is where I find proof if the all-new F-150 Raptor stacks up against the old F-150 SVT Raptor. Let's find out!


After sending these heavyweights their big run on the Top Gear Track, the results are in. The old Raptor did it in 1:41.106 while the new Raptor did it in 1:37.835, about four seconds quicker than the old one. Which means, even this truck doesn't have a spot to play rough in FM6, the new Raptor, thanks to its EcoBoost V6 engine, aluminum bodywork, enhanced dynamics, and a hunky 10-speed gearbox, this hunk of junk is no longer a hunk of junk. It's now...just a hunk. A hunk that can get through even the toughest jobs in the world of Forza.

30 Years of Hyundai Grandeur

2016 marks the 30th anniversary of the Hyundai Grandeur when the first-generation Grandeur came out in South Korea in July 1986, one of Hyundai's longest-running brands has spawned five generations and pretty soon, there's an all-new model heading its way, just to blow the birthday cake to Hyundai's longest-running saloon. So, time now for a quick history lesson.

First Generation (1986-1992) - The first ever Hyundai Grandeur is basically a South Korean version of the second-generation Mitsubishi Debonair (S10) saloon much like any other Mitsubishis in Korea sold as Hyundais in the last century such as the Grace and the Galloper. Whereas the Japanese Debonair is powered with either a 2.0L V6 or a 3.0L V6 engine mated with a 4-speed automatic, the Grandeur is powered with three engine configurations such as a 2.0L 4-cylinder, a 2.4L 4-cylinder, and a 3.0L V6 engine, mated with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.

The First Grandeur (1986)

Second-generation (1992-1986) - After the first generation, the partnership between Hyundai and Mitsubishi continues in the '90s with the Grandeur undergoing a full model change similar to the final generation Mitsubishi Debonair saloon. The design is now more modest, more luxurious, and more Korean as some say, the second-generation model offers different V6 engines from a 2.0L to a 3.5L, mated with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic. The second-generation Grandeur became a status symbol for South Korea, which politicians and executives used at the time. Ironically in Japan, the Debonair was less successful and it was therefore phased out from Mitsubishi's saloon range in 1998.
The Second Grandeur (1992)

Grandeur XG (1998 - 2005) - No longer a rebadged Mitsubishi, the third Grandeur is now called the Grandeur XG and it was built originally by the engineers from Hyundai. This is the first time this generation is sold globally as the XG. It is essentially based on the EF Sonata but it's slightly longer than the EF Sonata and it comes with different V6 engines ranging from a 2.0L, 2.5L, and a 3.0L.
The Grandeur XG (1998)

Fourth-generation (2005 - 2011) - The fourth-generation Grandeur was launched in South Korea in May 2005 and it was based on the NF Hyundai Sonata. It was exported globally as the Azera. When it was first launched, it comes with a choice of a 2.4L 2.7L V6, 3.3L V6, and a powerful 3.8L V6 engine. This car underwent two facelifts and the latter, dubbed The Luxury Grandeur, features a revised front grille, interior, and engine choices such as a 2.4L 2.7L V6, and a 3.3L V6.
The Fourth Grandeur (2005)

Fifth-generation (2011 - onwards) - Before the Grandeur made a world premiere at the start of 2011, it made a surprise appearance in the Korean drama Runaway Plan B starring Rain. Since its debut, the 5G Grandeur employs Hyundai's Fluidic Sculpture design philosophy, giving it a sleeker appearance. Since this car was based on the Kia K7 (Cadenza), it offers a different choice of engines such as a Theta II GDi 2.4-litre engine, a Lambda II GDi 3.0-litre engine, and a 3.3L GDi engine. For the first time in Grandeur's history, a hybrid and diesel variant was offered. The hybrid is powered by a Theta II 2.4L engine mated with an electric motor and a li-ion battery while the diesel features a 2.2L CRDi-VGT engine.
5G Grandeur (2011)

Happy 30th anniversary to the Hyundai Grandeur!

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Delegates arriving ahead of N.Korea party congress



Delegates of North Korea's ruling Worker's Party are gathering in Pyongyang, ahead of its first congress in three and a half decades. The congress, which will open this Friday, is expected to reaffirm leader Kim Jong Un's tight grip on power, four years since the assumption of the party's top post.

State-run Korean Central Television reported that trains carrying delegates from different parts of the country arrived one after another in the capital. No details have been announced on how many days the upcoming congress will last or the number of participants.

In 1980, about 3,000 delegates attended the previous congress and lasted for five days.

Observers are keeping the eye on the Korean peninsula as the reclusive state may conduct a fifth nuclear test ahead of the congress.

Source: NHK World

Let's Do The News! (May 4, 2016)


- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV uncovered the list of assets from the children of Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte following the release of the list of properties. The ten-page list provided to reporters showed the supposed bank accounts of Duterte's children.

- The Supreme Court allowed former president and now Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to undergo dental procedures at a clinic in Makati. In its resolution, the high court allowed Arroyo to undergo dental procedures on the four days to be fixed by appointment with her personal dentist. Earlier, Arroyo was allowed to vote in her hometown in Lubao, Pampanga on the May 9 elections.

- Senator Grace Poe released a copy of her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth for 2015 in which she declared a net worth of P89,118,760.02, a slight decrease from the P89.46 million enrolled in her SALN for 2014.

- In the recent presidential primary, Ted Cruz is officially suspending his campaign, leaving Donald Trump the Republican Party's presumptive nominee following the Indiana primary. With another Republican opponent out of Trump's way, the frontrunner vowed that he will beat Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton in the general presidential election. Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders snagged a win against Clinton in Indiana as well.

- The torch relay for the Rio 2016 Olympics has begun in Brazil. The Olympic flame was lit in Greece and it arrived by plane in the country's capital, Brasilia, on Tuesday. The torch is scheduled to arrive at the site of the opening ceremony, Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium, on the 5th of August.

- Volkswagen unveiled a limited-edition Golf GTi Clubsport S packed with a 306HP 2.0L twin turbo petrol engine while mated exclusively with a manual gearbox. Only 400 units will be made, 100 destined for Germany.

VW GTi Clubsport S

- The Hot Wheels Car Pack for Forza Motorsport 6 is now available, featuring two playable Hot Wheels cars such as the Bone Shaker and a specially-made Hot Wheels Mustang. In addition, the all-new Ford Focus RS, sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro, the McLaren P1 GTR, Prost's #1 Scuderia Ferrari 641 and the new BMW X6 M. Available on the XBOX Live Marketplace for seven dollars.



- The Ford F-150 pickup truck receives a 2017 model year update packed with brand new 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine producing 365HP of power and 450lb-ft of torque while mated with a first-in-class 10-speed automatic gearbox, same as you'll expect this gearbox to arrive on the hot F-150 Raptor.

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor


- The Hyundai Grandeur celebrates its 30th anniversary with a special "The Timeless" model. The anniversary model is festooned with Ice White exterior color, golden brown stitching, some golden brown wood paneling, and it starts at 36,800,000 Korean Won. Since its 1986 debut, the Grandeur has spawned five generations and there's a new one coming very soon.

Hyundai Grandeur "The Timeless"

TTFN!!!

TGUSA: 24 Hours of Budget Racing

The boys are getting ready for the annual 24 Hours of Lemons endurance racing held at the Sonoma Raceway. But first, the gang decide which of the $500 used car will be used for the race. Tanner goes for the VW GTi while Rut goes for a Nissan pickup and Adam goes for the Ford Crown Victoria.


After numerous tests later, both the hatch and the truck got destroyed and left the boys using the Crown Victoria as the car of choice in this budget racing.

While the boys went to do some racing modifications...


...Tanner flies to Sweden to check out the ultra-powerful Koenigsegg One:1 megacar and see if he can beat his personal speed record of 223mph. In the end, he did two mph quicker.

After his max speed run, Tanner returns and in return, the Crown Victoria they're using, turned into a moving lemonade stand, costing its weight, handling, brakes, whatever that causes so much misery for the boys. A day later, after numerous disastrous laps later, The Stig surfaces to help the boys in the race but despite Stig's best efforts, the car broke down.

Despite the odds, it's a clear saying that budget endurance racing can be a lot more fun to try, no matter how disastrous the results are.


THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: S. Korean President Park finished her Iran trip


South Korean leader Park Geun-hye departed Iran after her first successful state visit to the Middle Eastern country.

Over 37 billion US dollars worth of deals to improve Iran's infrastructure were signed under the comprehensive partnership agreed between her and Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani. President Park also won Tehran's support for the denuclearization of North Korea, a diplomatic coup considering Iran's close ties with the Korean peninsula. With her Iranian trip finished, President Park completed a chain of visits to Turkey, Arab nations, and Iran during her term, reinforcing her diplomacy in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, the South Korean military has once again warned that the Korean peninsula may carry out their nuclear test any time now. During the parliamentary defense committee meeting on Tuesday, Defense Minister Han Min-koo echoed earlier warnings that North Korea may coincide their plausible fifth nuclear test with the upcoming Worker's Party congress slated for Friday. He also said that the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site is fully prepared for a new test. Also, Han touched on the deployment of the THAAD US missile defense system, saying South Korea will provide the land and facility for the system while the US will cover their expenses.

Source: Arirang News

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Let's Do The News! (May 3, 2016)


- Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte warned that if elected President, he will form a revolutionary government if Congress will not support his program of crafting “a new country.” Duterte also called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front to stand down and to not bear arms until after the elections.

- The Department of Social Welfare and Development gained P842.5 million of Quick Response Fund to help address the El NiƱo weather phenomenon that has brought to most parts of the Philippines. According to reports, the money will be used to buy family food packs, for cash- and food-for-work programs, shelter assistance and to buy relief supplies.

- Senatorial candidate Greco Belgica filed a petition before the Commission on Elections for an investigation into alleged vote buying by the Liberal Party led by its standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and by presidential bet Sen. Grace Poe. Belgica claims that he had proof that the presidential candidates tried to buy votes.

- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Monday as the two leaders cooperate on a counterterrorism action plan during the upcoming G7 summit. They will also cooperate on strong statements with the aim of stabilizing the global economy, including the need for possible fiscal stimulus.

- The Turkish interior minister said that the Islamic State militants claimed responsibility of the car bombing that killed two police officers near the border with Syria.

- What happens when the latest Hyundai Avante borrows a 1.6L T-GDi engine from a Veloster Turbo? Hyundai recently added a Sport version to their compact saloon, packed with a 1.6L T-GDI engine producing 204PS of power.


- 2016's Call of Duty game is announced. Infinite Warfare is coming to the PS4 and XBOX One consoles this November 2016.

- The VW Amarok pickup truck has been given a 2017MY update with an all new 3.0L V6 diesel engine and other extras.


- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga Kalyeserye, there's another thing coming to AlDub apart from the script they got yesterday. That thing Lola Nidora got for them is...tickets. More specifically, plane tickets to Italy. Could this mean that AlDub will have a movie shot in Italy? Tune in next time and find out!

TTFN!!!





F1 2016: Russian GP

Image: Associated Press

The Russian leg of the 2016 season of Formula One at Sochi sees another win for Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, marking it his seventh win in his career. Hamilton, meanwhile, placed 2nd and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen placed 3rd.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel faced a disastrous misfortune at the race. First, he got penalized to five grid spots for a last-minute gearbox change. Then, he got crashed by Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat...twice. For that, Kvyat was penalized three points and held for 10 seconds in the pits.

Anyway, onto the driver standings, Nico Rosberg's in the lead with 100 points while Lewis Hamilton's 2nd place overall with 43 points behind Rosberg, and Raikkonen is now 3rd with 57 points behind Rosberg.

The next race will be at Spain this 15th of May.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: SoKor President Park in Iran


South Korean president Park Geun-hye arrived in Iran for her state visit, becoming the first Korean leader to enter the Middle Eastern nation. Along with Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani, the historical summit talks between the two nations discussed ways to boost bilateral ties.

At a joint press conference, the two leaders announced 66 MOUs, covering a broad range of sectors from power plant and railway construction to cultural cooperation, The deals amount to some 37-billion US dollars for South Korea, which will take part in numerous infrastructure projects with Iran as it looks to rebuild the economy after the lifting of international sanctions.

The newly found cooperation also include telecommunications, trade and investment financing, as well as healthcare. The two countries will also each build a cultural exchange and business complex in each other's countries.

As for North Korea's nuclear issues, Rouhani shared his nation's ground, saying he supports changes on the Korean peninsula as Iran is against any type of nuclear development.

Meanwhile, South Korea's defense ministry said that North Korea could carry out a fifth nuclear test around its party congress slated for late this week as it seems to have completed all preparations. The ministry said there's a high possibility that the North would carry out the test and fire off missiles soon around the party congress, which is scheduled this Friday.

Satellite imagery provided by an American website monitoring the reclusive state shows continued low-level activity at North Korea's nuclear test site, amid concern Pyongyang could conduct another test in the coming days.

Source: Arirang News

Monday, May 2, 2016

Let's Do The News! (May 2, 2016)


- The May 9 elections is drawing near in the Philippines and Davao City mayor and presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte has failed to meet his challenge to open his bank account at the Bank of the Philippine Islands even if he complied with the mayor's demand to execute an affidavit naming his informant, according to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. 

- One of the Philippines' most influential religion group, the Iglesia Ni Cristo, said it will press charges against the person who forged an endorsement letter with a fake signature of its executive minister Eduardo Manalo. The letter, a false document endorsing the candidacy of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, went viral on social media. According to reports, the document in question is not from Brother Eduardo Manalo.

- According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines will continue working for the safe release of foreign nationals being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group. On Sunday, the terrorist group has recently freed ten Indonesian sailors to Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II. They were brought to a military hospital for a medical checkup and were declared in stable condition despite being held captive for over a month.

- Workers from across the globe held rallies and marches to mark Labor Day or May Day. In Russia, about 100,000 people marched across Red Square, carrying Russian flags and colorful balloons to celebrate the occasion. In Paris, France, violent protests broke out to protest parliamentary debate on labor reform. In Istanbul, Turkey, protesters clashed with police.

- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has expressed her renewed determination to fight her imminent impeachment. During the May Day rally in Sao Paulo, Rousseff criticized the opposition for initiating impeachment procedures. Rousseff said impeachment is not only against her mandate but also against achievements of workers. She said she will fight until the very end.

- Japan's Diet has passed bills to secure funds for building the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. A revised law was approved on Monday at an Upper House plenary session by the majority support of the Liberal Democratic, Democratic, and other parties.

- New Pokemon XYZ toys from Takara Tomy on the radar! As we get ready for the upcoming Pokemon movie starring Volcanion, three mega-evolved Pokemon, to be seen in the film, is added to the range. Mega Sharpedo, Mega Beedrill, and Mega Tyranitar, they're now part of the Super Size Moncolle figures, each priced at 650 Yen each. Also, look out for the new Soft Poke Ball toys, each priced for 1,000 Yen and it comes with four variants; the normal, Great, Ultra, and Master Ball. It even shakes to replicate the catching sequence! Last, there's a new Clip-and-Carry Pikachu variant and this one's a female Pikachu (the one with the heart-shaped tail on it) perfect for little girls who love Pikachu. It's priced at 2,000 Yen. All of these toys will be arriving this June.

- The classic 1964 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle is the highlight in the Jay Leno's Garage webisode.



- THE IDOLM@STER MILLION LIVE! app game gets a brand new Next Prologue update, available now, packed with additional idols, new storylines, new SP skill learning, and the new Ultimate Live Arena feature, with additional extras.

- In case you missed the recent Eat Bulaga Kalyeserye, the Sportsfest goes on as planned and for our very own Team Work, led by Lola Tinidora with Divina as their Muse, they're facing a neck-to-neck competition against other teams. In the end, the Team Work has won but Lola Nidora's arrival spurs things up for AlDub and what do they get? A final script for the movie they're working on and what? Tune in next time and find out.

TTFN!!!

2016 Radio Disney Music Awards


The 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards, held at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theater, is getting more bigger than last time and apart from big names returning for another win and breakthrough ones scoring their first ARDY, as well as musical performances by some of the biggest music stars, there's no guarantee that the 2016 RDMA has gotten more fun than last time. 

Anyway, let's get to know the list of winners...

Best Group - Fifth Harmony
Best Male Artist - Ed Sheeran
Best Female Artist - Selena Gomez
Song of the Year - Bad Blood by Taylor Swift
Best Crush Song - Perfect by One Direction
Fiercest Fans - Harmonizers
Breakout Artist of the Year - Tori Kelly
Best New Artist - Kelsea Ballerini
Best Song That Makes You Smile - Better When I'm Dancing by Meghan Trainor
Radio Disney's Most Talked About Artist - Taylor Swift
Best Song To Lip Sync To - What Do You Mean by Justin Bieber
Best Anthem - Eyes Wide Open by Sabrina Carpenter
Best Song To Dance To - Focus by Ariana Grande
Best Breakup Song - Bad Blood by Taylor Swift
Artist with the Best Style -  Becky G
Radio Disney Country Favorite Song - Fly by Maddie & Tae
Radio Disney Country Favorite Artist - Maddie & Tae

Sunday, May 1, 2016

VW Tiguan II

Volkswagen, despite facing the biggest setbacks in the history of the cars' fuel economies, is still going on strong with a range of new models coming their way and this latest example, the second-generation Tiguan, shows that this car company, no matter how many problems it face, is always rising up to the challenge, no matter what.

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

So, what's so new about this all-new Tiguan? Judging from its newly enhanced look in departure from the previous model, the new Tiguan now utilizes the MQB platform as seen in most models from the Volkswagen Group family tree, meaning it promises to behave better than the previous one and let's just hope it will seek revenge against the Mazda CX-5 after the whole Top Gear crossover caravan carnage thing years ago. Because this is an entirely new model, for the first time, we can expect a long wheelbase model soon. But in the meantime, what's it all about the new Tiguan?

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan interior
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan interior

At first look, the new Tiguan looks like an oversized Volkswagen Golf with some heightened ground clearance to make it look adventurous, but in reality, it's just another basic car fit for garage sales and groceries alike. Yep, it's like one of those rides your auntie or your granny's friend would drive on faraway trip to buy antiques. Despite being a crossover built for the long shopping trips for some hunk of junks, the new Tiguan, thanks to its new platform, is now slightly lowered, more rigid, slightly lighter than the old Tiguan, and more behavable elsewhere. In truth, the new Tiguan behaves just like the new normal Golf in the city streets but don't get too surprised about this because despite all the improvements, you'll never get away from the fact that one of your relatives will have one in the future.

Of course, even with more room than the old model, this is basically a five-seater model and whichever you are seating on, be it on the front or in the back, there's nothing to go wrong with it, well, save it to the front because you have some time to toy around with the gadgets in store such as the sat-nav that allows mirroring with your smartphone, a speedo that looks broadly similar to Audi's Virtual Cockpit, and, well that pretty much about it. Even if you're sitting in the passenger side, that's okay but let's hope that the new Tiguan is a barkada car because if made into a family mover, you will be crushed by the dreaded child seat situations. It's a five-seater, it's only reserved for barkada trips only.

At the back, thanks to the new platform, the new Tiguan can carry up to 615 litres with five persons on-board or 1,655 litres of boot space when the rear bench is folded. That's enough to carry almost most of the stuff you bought from a certain estate sale, by about 74 percent coverage.

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen believes that the new Tiguan has to be technologically advanced not just for convenience but also for the safety at all corners. That's why it's been loaded with the finest safety technologies available for the new model, especially the clever active bonnet, which raises the bonnet if a pedestrian or bicyclist comes into contact with it in a crash. They stole that idea from the Swedes but, oh well.
Yes, the new Tiguan comes with a 1.4L petrol engine and two-litre engine in two versions; a petrol and a diesel, but let's not mention more about the 2.0L TDI BlueMotion Technology stuff because of the ongoing crisis that Volkswagen felt, even though this engine promises more than the diesel-powered Mazda CX-5 (enough for some revenge match on the countryside, perhaps). Oh no...guess the only powerful version offered in the Tiguan is...nope, not the 180PS 2.0 TSi petrol, it's the 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology with 190PS of power and 400Nm of torque. With the 7-speed DSG gearbox armed, it gets through 0-100kph in 7.9 seconds and onwards to 212kph. A diesel-powered Mazda CX-5 can't do that, you know. And with the available 4MOTION four-wheel drive system, the Tiguan is a good all-weather trekker that loves to go anywhere, be it rain or shine.

Should you buy it? The new Tiguan starts at 25,975 Euros, which is about 1,600 Euros more than its biggest competitor, the Mazda CX-5. Sure, it's expensive to own than the CX-5, but with the new Tiguan trying to correct its mistakes from its failed predecessor, this car can guarantee it will hit back against Mazda on the spot to the park...or should this new Tiguan flunk, it will be the second time the loser will sleep in the remains of the caravan. Perhaps how the new Tiguan stacks up against the Mazda CX-5 is anyone's theory.

Available colors: Pure White, Uranograu, Atlantik Blue Metallic, Caribbean Blue Metallic, Dark Moss Green Metallic, Habanero Orange Metallic, Indiumgrau Metallic, Nutshell Brown Metallic, Ruby Red Metallic, Titanium Beige Metallic, and Tungsten Silver Metallic.

Photo: Volkswagen AG