"Trusted by doctors and mothers like me"

On the August 16, 2013 episode of Bubble Gang...

- "Ayaw mag-start" gags

- Woman admits she has a curse...

- Is she trying to proof if her husband's committed a crime?

- Tata Lino aids everyone with his advices in life;

1) Pag biruan sa lasing, wag lang sa airport tungkol sa bombing

2) Ang sabi ng iba; ang tunay na lalaki marunong maghintay. Ang sabi ko; ang tunay na lalaki, mahirap ma-identify.

3) Ikaw ay unique kagaya ng iba.

4) Kaya naimbento ang salitang "monthsary" dahil marami sa relationship, di umaabot sa anniversary.

- Bubble Gang does Tempra by spoofing this commercial as TEMPLA! Trusted by doctors and mothers like me.

Bubble Gang does Tempra

- Ang Bagong Dating Doon with Brod Pete and pals are here again to answer your big questions;

1) May nasusulat po ba tungkol sa pagtakbo ng Senado? Before answering that question, just to remind you that the right way to pronounce the word SENATE is "se-net", not "se-neyt". Also, SENATOR is pronounced "se-ne-tor", not "se-na-tor". Anyway... "To dream the impossible dream. To fight the unbeatable foe. To bear with unbearable sorrow. To run where the brave men not go. To reach the unreachable star."

2) A PM from someone at Makati says what is the V in the Michael V name? Simple, it's VITOY or VUVVLE GANG.

3) A PM from someone at Jeddah asking if there any other wrong terms and yes, there's more wrong terms to discuss in Ang Bagong Dating Doon like for instance the "Outside Shot" in the basketball. That's not right because when it's an "outside" shot , it does not count when it shoots in the basket. "Homework" is also wrong because...do we have a paid job at home? That's wrong. Instead, let's call it "Home Study". "Workbook" is also wrong as well and it should have been called "studybook" so the kids in the school won't be confused.  What about the word "workshop"? Do you get paid "working on the shop"? Not quite but what about the CALABARZON acronym? That's not right because when some acronyms start at the first syllable of the place, how come the ZON in the CALABARZON name was from the last syllable of the name QUEZON? Next time, it's CALABARQUE.

4) May nasusulat po ba tungkol sa mga pekeng naglalakad sa baga? "This girl is on fire. She's walking on fire. Everybody stands as she goes by cause they can see the flame that's in her eyes. Watch her when she's lighting up the night. Nobody knows that she's a lonely girl in the lonely world. She's going to let him burn baby burn.

- Mr Assimo in the theater

- The adventures of Ruffa Mae Kwento in...lifeguard!

- Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's SUPER BUNTIS!

- The adventures of Ruffa Mae Kwento in...the court!

- Highlights for Bagong Gang auditions and for this highlight, we get to know more about the remaining eight contestants and why they want to be part of the Bubble Gang.

Denise Barbacena

Abel Estanislao

Joyce Ching

Juancho Trivino

Nicole Borgonia

Jan Manual

Arny Ross

RJ Padilla

Let's Do The News! (August 17, 2013)

James: And now, the news and hey, just a word of the mouth from everyone in America, how was the Phineas and Ferb crossover episode with Marvel's The Avengers and Spider-Man?

Jeremy: Well, I love it. Seems epic but hey, it's good old "Phineas and Ferb" fun especially with added Marvel-ness on that special. Kinda love Perry the Platypus dressed as a superhero, though.

James: What about you Richard?

Richard: Huh? Uh...no. I didn't watched it.

(audience laughing)

James: Where were you?

Richard: I was in a busy schedule right now, covering up stuff so....I didn't watched it.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Okay, enough about that now, you know the whole pork barrel scandal going on around the Philippines? Anyway, it's all news about someone named Janet Lim Napoles, who was behind the whole pork barrell scandal that costs the whole Philippine government billions of pesos. Now, what interests me is about the cars which she and her brother had and if it happen if they see one of the cars that Janet Lim Napoles owns, they'll just contact the NBI hotline any time. Okay, the cars Napoles had...

James: What are they?

Jeremy: Let's see...There's a BMW with a license plate of BMW 35, a white Porsche Cayenne with a license plate of CYN 78, a grey Chevy Tahoe with a plate number of ZAG 827, a pearl-colored Isuzu with a plate number of XPK 562, a Mitsubishi pickup truck with a plate number of ZJB 235, a red Ford E150 with a plate number of JLN 128, a white Ford E150 with a plate number of JLN 18, a blue Honda Civic with a plate number of ZDX 319, a CR-V with a plate number NSO 245, an Isuzu with a plate number of PQU 993, a Mitsubishi L300 with a plate number of XDC 963...man, that's a lot! Can't believe that Napoles is a car enthusiast!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: How come she has the money to buy some cars?

James: Probably because of the pork barrel money she stole from the government.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Well, theoretically yes. Could be. She could be using the cash she stole from the government. Worse than someone with benefits.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Anyway, you know SPEED Channel? It's the TV channel dedicated for all things motorsports especially NASCAR, which is the thing I sometimes dislike the most.

(audience laughing)

Richard: Well, I love NASCAR a lot because of its roots, its simple redneck motorsport fun, and the fan service it deserves.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Anyway, it's a shame that by tomorrow, SPEED channel is no more and to be replaced with FOX Sports 1, which is essentially, another kind of sports channel just like ESPN. Awkward, isn't it?

James: Yeah, and what's gonna happen to the motorsport coverages SPEED TV has done for them?

Jeremy: Says here that FOX Sports signed a 3-year contract with the MotoGP World Championship and that's not all, despite the new transition, they will be also covering up Monster Energy Supercross, ARCA Racing Series, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Lucas Oil Motocross, Rolex Sports Car Series. Oh! The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auctions also had FOX Sports covered. Don't worry about that.

James: What about the Nurburgring 24HR or the Formula One or Le Mans or WRC or whatever?

Jeremy: That, we don't know...

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Probably some other networks are doing their thing.

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Anyway, Microsoft. They announced that instead of Microsoft Points, transactions on XBOX will soon take place using your local currency and you know what that means?

James: Let me guess, Microsoft's trying to be competitive against Sony and Nintendo?

Jeremy: Possibly but says here that after the next XBOX 360 update when they next choose to initiate a purchase or redeem a Points card or code with your Microsoft account, Microsoft will put into their account an amount of currency equal to or greater than the marketplace value of their Microsoft Points. Which means, Microsoft Points will be retired, and they’ll immediately be able to use their new funds, in addition to other current payment methods available in their region, to purchase content from your favorite Xbox stores – or the Windows Phone Store on Windows Phone 8.

Richard: I think that's more convenient because look around us. We've been spending cash on MSP for goodies but now with MSP gone, real money is used instead! Seems Microsoft's trying to be more...customer friendly, I think?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: I don't think "customer friendly" is best used for this. Oh! BMW showcased their replacement to the M3 Coupe at Pebble Beach. Here it is...

2013 BMW M4 Concept

Jeremy: Not much info at the moment but this is the concept version of what will their high-performance version of the 4-Series would be and yes...I have a clue; it's named after one of the worst motorways in Britain.

James: Oh wait...is it the M4?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Like a cat in a tin-foiled roof, yes. I mean look at that color, it feels like BMW's made a Brainiac out of it!

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: And you know what a Brainiac loves to do best?

Richard: Uh...blowing stuff up?

(audience laughing)

Jeremy: Yeah. You're right Richard. Since you were involved here, I'd suggest that when a production model comes, you do the rest if it's Brainiac-colored.

(audience laughing)

Richard: Oh and Cadillac showcased a concept car at Pebble Beach also. Here it is...

2013 Cadillac Elmiraj Concept

(ooohh)

Richard: It's called the Elmiraj and it's powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine which churns over 500bhp of power and I think it looks stunning to look at. What bothers me that this concept car showcased a new logo for Cadillac. See anything missing?

James: Probably the laurels are missing from the Cadillac logo. Do you think that this concept car signalized the new logo for Cadillac?

Richard: Well, frankly yes. And since there's going to be an announcement about the next-generation Escalade, I might think that this could be the first production car to wear the new logo as seen on the Elmiraj Concept.

James: Oh yeah! That reminds me. It's the BMO app. It's now been updated. Anyone heard? I bet everyone heard about it and for Version 2.1, I heard that Marceline was added on the soundboard, ringtones are added, and that's it.

(huh?)

Richard: That's it?

James: Oh! Wait! There are available add-ons for the BMO App! Each add-on costs about $0.99 by the way.

Jeremy: So...what are the add-ons?

James: First, there was the GAMES add-on which adds Kompy's Castle and our favorite...CONVERSATION PARADE.

Jeremy: Conversation Parade?

Richard: Oh wait! That's the one that goes...(ahem) ♫What do you think about the stars in the sky?♫

James: It's okay, I guess.

Richard: ♫That is an interesting response.♫ See?

(audience laughing, then cheers and applause)

James: That's not all. There's the MUSIC add-on where you can make some music out of BMO's inner circuits, and there's the WALLPAPER add-ons in which it features pre-loaded wallpapers for keeps. Let's remember that each add-on pack costs $0.99.

Jeremy: Yeah. Don't forget that and...that's the end of the news!

Cars GT6 Should Put (Volume 5)

Everyone knows that more and more car gamers everywhere are willing to prefer the upcoming Gran Turismo 6, coming this winter exclusively on the Playstation3 console, than the upcoming Forza Motorsport 5, coming this autumn exclusively on the new XBOX One console. However, despite the 1200-car lineup, there are some cars GT6 should put...

Cars like...

1) Toyota Alphard 350S '11

WHY: For an added mix, why not have GT6 feature minivans? I mean, back in GT4, they did featured a third-generation Honda Odyssey back then so, how about the other JDM minivans? How about adding the ultra-luxurious Toyota Alphard MPV? It may not be a good car to drive on GT6 but with such luxurious looks, it fits well in a middle of Photo Travel. With numerous owners modified this from top to bottom, I wonder if we can do the same thing if this car reaches GT6.



2) Toyota Vellfire 3.5Z '11

WHY: Although it may have the same specs as the Alphard, the Vellfire looks visually different because it is essentially an Alphard with some aggressive credentials. Here's a thing; while the Alphard is sold at Toyopet dealerships, the Vellfire is sold at Netz dealerships but annoyingly, the Vellfire is commonly smuggled in Asean countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. That begs the question, if the Vellfire's too popular for its own good, why not feature it on Gran Turismo 6 for a change?



3) Chevrolet Impala '67

WHY: A black 1967 Chevrolet Impala muscle car served as a hero car for Sam and Dean in the hit TV series SUPERNATURAL. I hope this car will be featured on GT6 so Yamauchi-sensei, please do it for the sake of Supernatural fans.



4) Ariel Atom V8 '11

WHY: With the power-to-weight ratio of almost a thousand horsepower per ton, this V8-powered Atom is twice as powerful as a Bugatti Veyron or an Enzo Ferrari. So powerful, it can even rip your face off. When this car debuted on Top Gear Season 16, it set the fastest lap of 1:15.8. For a track-day car like this, I sure hope this racer will have a spot on Gran Turismo 6 soon.



5) Pagani Huayra '11

WHY: This is the replacement for the decade-old Zonda hypercar and this latest Pagani hypercar caused a stir in the motoring world since its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. When it made a debut in Top Gear Season 19, it became the fastest car to lap round the Top Gear track in 1:13.8, beating the all-time favorite Ariel Atom V8. I believe that this new Pagani will have a spot on GT6 because...this is what we Gran Turismo fans want.



The results please? So, if Polyphony's still on the rethinking process whether these cars I've mentioned will be featured on Gran Turismo 6, whether in game or as a DLC, you can't say that I didn't had a bit to do with that.

Take that to Kaz Yamauchi!

Threats from North Korea - A Week in Review (August 17, 2013)

And now, the week in review of what's what at the Korean peninsula...

August 12, 2013

- In the face of a looming energy crisis, Korea's energy minister said the government is doing all it can to secure sufficient power reserves.

- Just four days after announcing it was overhauling the nation's tax code, the government was backtracked.

- With the scheduled talks coming this week, all eyes are on whether the North will show a change in its attitude.

August 13, 2013

- Two SoKor civic groups will visit North Korea on Saturday to monitor the distribution of their aid supplies.

- President Park made it clear that SoKor will never tolerate any attempt by foreign forces to hurt its national interest and sovereignty over its territorial disputes.

August 14, 2013

- The two Koreas pledged not to repeat any work stoppages at the Kaesong industrial complex as they reached an agreement which also includes securing the safety of workers and assets in the complex, developing it into an international one, and establish a joint committee to discuss the running of the Kaesong factory. Both North and South Korea promised to cooperate to normalize Kaesong.

August 15, 2013

- At the seventh round of working-level talks between South and North Korea, the formation of a joint committee to over see the management of the Kaesong COmplex was one of the agreements reached.

August 16, 2013

- Seoul's unification ministry said today that it has offered to meet with North Korea for Red Cross talks next Friday on the South Korean side of the truce village of Panmunjon to discuss range of humanitarian issues.

CHALLENGE: One Siling Labuyo in Cabanatuan Part 2

Now, let's rejoin the action where we left off and while on the road to Nueva Ecija, it's getting darker in here and with the mix of the devastating winds and heavy rainfall done by Typhoon Labuyo.  I know it's scary, right?

After several hours of nightmare, the rain's becoming from strong to moderate and we stop by to our nearest Walter Mart Gapan branch to find something to eat.

While in Walter Mart, we chose Chowking because we didn't have a choice and it's quarter to closing time.

Oh look! It's Ser Chief! Hi Ser Chief! Wow, guess we've been watching too much "Be Careful" episodes, eh? That longest running daytime "slice of life" TV drama, we kinda got carried away...

Anyway, no time for blabbermouths. It's "nom nom nom" time. 

After a quick meal at Chowking, it's time to head through our destination in Cabanatuan. It's an hour trip ahead and we're nearly there.

In just hours later, we arrived from our destination in Cabanatuan where we are going to spend our night in here. Sadly, when we arrived, the path's been moderately flooded but we managed to get through the flooded path.

As we arrived at the place our grandparents temporarily reside, I noticed that they have watched the final round of the FIBA Asian Cup where GILAS got "nuked" by Iranians. I know, right? But still, we're so glad that GILAS is now part of next year's FIBA World Cup in Spain where they'll be competing against the world's elite basketball teams.

Anyway, enough about that. What are doing right now?

THE NEXT DAY...

While Labuyo's in full swing, Mommy and Daddy went to the bank and then to the dentist whereas me, Ate Elise, and Baby Irvine have to stay indoors. We are busy recharging our stuff, even our reloadable Wi-Fi. I, for meanwhile, am trying to kill my boredom with this...

Yes. That was me, reading "Diary ng Panget". I got the first one, and I'm looking forward to buy part two of this love story.

Meanwhile, when Mom and Dad arrived, one of our relatives arrived.

That's Ninong Monching, one of dad's close pals.

After a long chat, it was time for us to head back home but Dad had other plans... He had to visit a dentist somewhere in Bulacan. So, with so much hassle and with Labuyo's in full circle, we packed ourselves and head back to...well, Bulacan for some dentistry issues.

But first, we stop by at 7-Eleven to buy something and this is what my Mum bought for me...

Bacchus, the Korean rip-off of Lipovitan.

Okay, enough about that. Let's fast forward a few hours later and then, we're in Bulacan in which the dentisy is near Tata Epoy's house.

Meanwhile...

Stuck in boredom, we're waiting for Daddy to get out from the dentist and after that, another boredom kicks in because of the long chat with themselves.

After the long chat, we're finally headed home. Yeah. Finally. We're heading home now and despite the APV's reliability and suspension issues while we are in the expressways, we remain quiet for now.

Before we reached through SLEX...

We stopped by for our CR break and then backto our  normal trip back home.

Moments later, we arrived to Parkhomes Subdivision and yes! We're home, safe and sound. We survived Typhoon Labuyo and the issues from the entry-level Suzuki APV we've rented. Phew...

It's so scary taking a road trip to a province despite facing a powerful typhoon in our sights but hey, looks like we made it! Thank heavens for our safe journey!

FIN

Outtakes:

Some pics I messed up with the Disney Photo Finish app

Fiat 500L Trekking and 500L Living

2014 Fiat 500L Trekking

So, what do we have here? Another crossover? Sadly, yes. There's another one of those tall hatchbacks disguised themselves as a sport utility vehicle but sadly not as SUV as a normal SUV and this time it's in the work of Fiat by spawning themselves a more "adventurous" version of last year's 500L. It's called the Trekking and what this is is a 500L that some say it's fit enough for the whole 104 days of summer vacation with school starts to end it.

The annual problem for this new crossover version of the highly confusing 500L is finding a good way to spend it but how? How can we spend 104 days of summer vacation with this one? Well for starters, the 500L Trekking was made for those who want to wander around unknown roads from point A to point B regardless of which path they'll be choosing. Well, with the saying goes "the road less traveled", the 500L Trekking never seen it that way because even though it prefers the road less travelled, it still behaves like any other soft-roaders of today, even the likes of the Renault Captur and the Peugeot 2008.

2014 Fiat 500L Trekking interior

First and foremost, the 500L Trekking costs 19,650 Euros, about two thousand Euros more than the Panda 4x4 model and of course, being a 500L, it's not what you called "cute" either. Of course, you can still expect the same 500L practical stuff as well as the uConnect feature that seems to be as bland as a made-in-China digital camera or MP3 player from a made-in-China company you bought from Fry's. Talk about quality issues, eh? He he he...

Under the bonnet, the Trekking is available in different engine configurations such as a 1.4L 16V, a 0.9L TwinAir Turbo, a 1.3L Multijet, and the 1.6L Multijet engine. What seems odd to me that the 0.9L TwinAir Turbo engine develops about the same power output of 105PS as the 1.6L Multijet engine but for the fun of it, the TwinAir Turbo engine is my pick because with such a small engine dropped inside the Trekking's bonnet, it's not quite bad but as a concept, it's a tad old-fashioned to me. What bothers me that most of the engines the Trekking's offered do come with a START&STOP idling stop system which shuts the engine off when stopped and then start again when set off, to save fuel.

2014 Fiat 500L Trekking interior

Like any other crossovers, the Trekking is available only in front-wheel drive but there was a feature called the Traction+ system which some say it provides added grip on rough terrain but be warned though that even though it was an exclusive feature for the Trekking, it's just another traction control mashup like I examined on the 2008. It may not be quite as off-road capability as a Range Rover but it sure acts quite normally on light off-road use. Be warned though that comical behavior like what Clarkson did on the Auris back in New Zealand is unadvisable and doing so is stupid.

2014 Fiat 500L Trekking

So, the 500L Trekking, it may be more of another one of those non-sense crossovers of today but spending the whole 104 days of summer with this one isn't a bit of a rush unless you have a "do-nothing day" in your schedule but what about you're a family man and you want a more practical Fiat than this? Of course you might say Freemont but that's too expensive so what about a cheaper alternative to the Freemont?

2014 Fiat 500L Living

Okay, I'd be honest with you but, another 500L? Yes, another one but this time, this is the long-wheelbased big brother of the 500L called the Living. The 500L Living. Get it? Living as in..."I'm a little LIVING boy". He he he...

Although smaller than any other MPVs of today, there are things to consider about the 500L Living; first of all, it's available in either a 5-seater or a 7-seater model. Since there is now such thing as a 7-seater 500L, that's seem to be as absurd as Brainiacs running through a river full of custard or peeing someone. Awkward, isn't it?

2014 Fiat 500L Living interior

2014 Fiat 500L Living interior

That's not all, if you opted for the 7-seater option, access to the third row is done by the large door surround and the 'one hand' mechanism which permits the seat to be folded down completely. I know that sounds fine but because it's too small, I'm afraid that getting through the third row seats is a hassle, even for me of that weight because I might be experiencing some muscle pains by the time I get in or out through the third row seating. Ouch.

Of course, like the 500L and its Trekking brother, the Living comes with a 0.9L TwinAir Turbo, 1.3L Multijet, and a 1.6L Multijet engine but for the Living, it comes with a 0.9 TwinAir Turbo Natural Power 80cv, the engine that was awarded BEST GREEN ENGINE of 2013. This engine though, has 163kph of flatout speed and CO2 emissions of a low 105g/km. It's Euro 5 compliant so this natural gas-powered engine does meet European emissions regulations, making it a a well-mannered eco-car for the masses.

2014 Fiat 500L Living

Sounds reasonable though and then with the pricing of 19,200 Euros, that's amazingly cheaper to own than the Freemont, which is essentially a Dodge Journey imported from North America and then slapped some Fiat badges on the face.

Anyway, enough about that, what about what is like to be a family car? I was expecting to be as smooth as Jon Tickle walking through a pool of custard. He he he. Anyone remember that? I do. Sadly, it isn't. Although being an MPV, the Living doesn't stand up to its name and ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Bang goes the comfort zone. If I was a mom feeding a baby with a bottle of milk, most of the milk will spill out on my favorite clothes. And then when junior tries to drink a bottle of fizzy pop, most of it will spill out. That's the experience I might be talking about when it comes to the Living's comfort zone but when taking it so slow, it feels fine. It's a good thing it's not as Asian as a cheap Japanese MPV with less features because if it were, most of my bones will warp through my head right now.

So, conclusion time. The 500L Trekking is a summer vacation car that all's well at first but the fun doesn't last for long when you reached through the boundaries of the world while the 500L Living is a family car that all seems fine for the whole summer but with little space for the third row seats, that's giving me the cramps. Question is, what would you prefer?

Photo: Fiat

Skoda Yeti facelift 2014 announcement

2014 Skoda Yeti

The Skoda Yeti. In the world of Top Gear, it's been proven it's faster round Donington than a Ferrari, more room than a Maybach, does off-road better than a Range Rover, won't melt an ice cream when driven through a burning building, and best of all, makes it a perfect helicopter landing pad.

Now, Skoda announced a minor change for the Yeti and for the first time ever; there are two kinds of Yeti to choose from; the city-focused Yeti and the offroad-focused Yeti Outdoor. Both gained a new Skoda logo, new grille, and new headlamps to keep the Top Gear favorite updated for some new challenges.

Skoda says that the 2014 Yeti facelift comes with seven engines - four diesels and three petrol units - ranging from a 1.2-litre TSI with 105bhp, to the 2.0-litre diesel producing 170bhp. A manual tranny is standard while a DSG tranny is an option. Also an option is an Haldex-coupling all-wheel-drive.

The 2014 Yeti facelift is set for Frankfurt Auto Show debut this fall.

Source: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/new-skoda-yeti-facelift-2013-08-14

Let's Do The News! (August 15, 2013)

Stuck your head on the window? Here are some moments that you may have missed...

- Last week, there was a 15 ton (about 15,000 lbs) blob of fat that was removed from the London sewer. Some say it's gross, but others saying that there's a real life Adipose alien lurking around in the London sewer. Coincidence?

- The facelifted 2014 Audi A8 with matrix headlight technology will be revealed to the world this August 21. Here's the teaser of what would the new A8's matrix headlight look like.

2014 Audi A8 teaser

- To celebrate over 500,000 Audi TTs sold, Audi launched a special edition Competition model to both the TTS Coupe and TTS Roadster which are limited to 500 units worldwide.

Audi TTS Roadster Competition

- The next-generation Cadillac Escalade will be revealed to the world on October 7 at the Allman Building, New York City.

- After the CLA-Class, Mercedes-Benz unveiled an A-Class based crossover model that is set for Frankfurt debut. Yes, it's the 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and would you look at that, another tall hatchback classified as a crossover.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

- Asphalt 8: AIRBORNE, the eighth installment of the Asphalt mobile racing game is coming at the App Store and Google Play store this August 22! Confirmed from the official Facebook page. In the latest installment, you can expect some fresh new cars coming A8A such as the Spanish-built GTA Spano, Pagani Zonda R, the Corvette C7 Stingray, the Lamborghini Veneno, and more as well as some familiar ones such as the SL65 Black Series, Marussia B2, Lotus Exige S, Ferrari F12berlinetta, and more returning cars. There is now some reloaded gameplay mechanics, new Infected mode, insane stunts, and a new physics engine pushing the limits of this game.

- American Honda launched Project Drive-In campaign to help spread awareness to save one of America's icons, the DRIVE-IN THEATER. Sources say that with the end of the 35mm film, this will put the remaining drive-in theaters out of business. The goal of PROJECT DRIVE-IN asks people to donate money or pledge to go to a drive-in, Honda also donates projectors to five of the surviving drive-ins based on votes.

- Torchwood Miracle Day, the Americanized continuing arc of the Torchwood saga aired on Starz in 2011, is set to air on BBC America this September 14. In Miracle Day; one day, nobody dies. People kept aging, hurt, sick, but their death is impossible. With zero death rate, pollution has grown worse and natural resources are drying up but it can't be a natural event. Someone's behind this and for CIA agent Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer), the only answer to mankind's salvation lies to Torchwood but there's little left for Torchwood as Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) is at a remote Welsh countryside with her husband Rhys and her child and the whereabouts of Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) remain unknown. Pulling them out of their retirement, they are now drawn in a battle where the greatest threat to humanity is...humanity itself.

Torchwood: Miracle Day

TTFN!

CHALLENGE: One Siling Labuyo in Cabanatuan

Now, while in the Philippines, me and my family are going on a trip to one of the houses our grandparents reside for temporary reasons and it's somewhere in Cabanatuan. Yeah, we were going there but unfortunately, weather reports indicating that there was a more powerful storm approaching under the name of "Labuyo". It sounds spicy for a storm like this but like the bravest of men, we decided to go on anyway, despite the weather warnings.

This is the car in question, it's a made-in-Indonesia Suzuki APV, a multipurpose utility vehicle made for those who can't afford a used Starex. This isn't used. This is a "rental car". Our friend Senior rented it for over four thousand pesos and the APV we rented for our trip was the entry level model. When I said entry level model, it's noted by less features, black bumper, odd-looking wheels, and a relatively cheap pricing what customers bought these days. Under the bonnet? A 1590cc petrol engine. That's it.

Anyway, enough chit chat about the car. What we're gonna do now is we're going on a trip to Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija despite the weather warnings due to Labuyo so um...we got the stuff we need so we'd better get going!

But first...

We had to stop by at our nearest Mightee Mart to buy some stuff for our trip. What Mommy bought here were two bottles of C2 Green Tea and this...

You'd never know when dengue strikes, even inside the car. He he he... Anyway, back to Destination: Cabanatuan.

As I can see, I was sitting at the third row so my experience with the Suzuki APV were terrible. It feels uncomfortable, I can hear some squeaking noise at the back, and it's a total nightmare for those riding in the APV. My gosh...

An abandoned factory...

Starmall Alabang (formerly Metropolis)

On the motorways, I am already experiencing a total nightmare about how uncomfortable the APV was and if reliability was an issue, you'd be right because if it breaks down, you would be scared to death. Ha ha ha...

As we travel though the motorways, I can observe some wondrous sights and sounds around the Metro Manila, including that Edsa Shrine over there.

Meanwhile in Quezon...

And then...

We stop by to say hi to Lola Neddie...

Look at our Baby Irvine, enjoying with the kids...

Whoa! Look at them! Playing with toy cars!

Yummy! Some meals!

As we leave Lola Neddie's house, the rain starts...

And then...this.

Yes, we're approaching the danger zone. Typhoon Labuyo's attacking us with heavy rainfall but that doesn't stop us from travelling.

As we're braving through the rough rains,  we went to Bulacan to say hi to Tata Epoy.

After that friendly chit chat and some nice meal with Tata Epoy and family, we continue heading to our destination and while we're still at it, it seems that Labuyo's wrath hampering our progress and when it's nighttime, things are getting scary. Really scary.

I know that it's much scary to drive at night with an oncoming typhoon approaching but can we survive through the storm and make it our way to Cabanatuan?

To be continued...