Sunday, November 20, 2016

Jubilee of Mercy: Closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica


November 20, 2016 - The Solemnity of Jesus Christ, the King and Lord of the Universe, the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy has finally came to an end with the closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica, signalling the end of the extraordinary celebration honoring God's Mercy for humanity.

When the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy began last year, the Catholic Church honors the true meaning of mercy to their devotees and pilgrims through numerous events held throughout the course of the year such as the Jubilee for those Engaged in Pilgrimage Work, Missionaries of Mercy, Jubilee of the Roman Curia, 24 Hours for the Lord, the Prayer Vigil to Dry the Tears, the World Youth Day, the Marian Jubilee and so on, all for the name of God's Mercy for all.

Pope Francis honors the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy and as The Pope closed the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, he urged his devotees that even though the jubilee has came to an end, The Pope believes that we will remain open to reconciliation as "God has no memory of sin." At the end of the mass, he gave away his signed letters to the Catholic missionaries from a multitude of countries.

And here the curtain falls to this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. However, that those not mean the true vision of God's everlasting mercy will end as well as long as there are stories of this extraordinary jubilee will be remembered for future generations to come.

Further reading:

Even as the jubilee ends, let's remember once and for all that we shall always "Be Merciful Like The Father."


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

Stars of 2016 LA Auto Show

Mazda RT24-P Race Car

The annual Los Angeles Auto Show is happening now until the 27th of November at the Los Angeles Convention Center and there has been a slew of new and exciting models on display, including world premieres and concepts as well. So, which of the cars are making the headlines at this year's show?

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet
2017 Audi Q5
2018 Cadillac CT6 PHEV
2017 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2
2018 Chevrolet Equinox
2017 Chevrolet Spark Activ
2018 Ford EcoSport
2017 Jeep Compass
2017 Lamborghini Huracan RWD Spyder
2017 Land Rover Discovery
2017 Mazda CX-5
2018 Mercedes-AMG E63
2017 Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet
2018 MINI Countryman
2017 Porsche 911 RSR
2017 Rezvani Beast Alpha
2016 Hyundai Ioniq Autonomous Concept
2016 Jaguar i-PACE Concept
2017 Mazda RT24-P Race Car
2016 Subaru VIZIV-7 Concept

...and more.

Further reading:

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them

Ever since finishing the Harry Potter books from The Sorcerer's Stone to The Deathly Hallows, author J.K. Rowling wanted to expand the world of Harry Potter even further  and that meant introducing Pottermores a spin-off based on a textbook every Hogwarts student read. Called Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, this spin-off prequel film takes fans to discover where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl.

Fantastic Beasts
and Where To Find Them

Before explaining what the movie's all about, let's talk about this spin-off because following the success of the Harry Potter books, some spin-off books were published by J.K. Rowling for charity benefits. Quidditch Through the Ages and this one was published for the benefit of Comic Relief, the other one, called The Tales of Beedle the Bard for the benefit of Lumos. It's a long story but let's talk about the film, shall we? Okay, it's about Newt Scamander, a magizoologist taking a time off in New York until his magic case was misplaced and some of his "fantastic beasts" escaped, causing chaos through the streets of New York City. This is where the adventure begins seven decades before Harry Potter read this book.

For some ordinary folks or Muggles alike, Fantastic Beasts looks a bit basic for a fantasy film but it's good from start to finish. Although this film can be summed up to be sub-par for the ordinary viewers, it can be somewhat enjoyable to watch for those who are big fans of the Harry Potter franchise because Fantastic Beasts is set seven decades before the Harry Potter saga began so fans can truly understand where the Quintaped lives, what the Puffskein eats and why it is best not to leave milk out for a Knarl.

It's enjoyable if they see them being attacked by a Manticore but rest assured that even though this film is basic and good, Fantastic Beasts is a worthwhile contender of becoming one of the best films of the 2016 autumn season and who to blame them? It's the fans to blame for its wishful thinking to give Pottermores a little more time to stay in the world of Harry Potter.

My rating: 3.9 out of 5

Bubble Gang - November 18, 2016 #BGJungleBelles

On the November 18th, 2016 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Christmas decor gags

- A shocking interview from a doctor about a new kind of virus



- The Jungle Belles are bracing for the land's wrath!

- In another EnKangTodo, the Hangres are facing with a man destined to ruin themselves!

- Istambay, Istambay Sa Looban, Lapit Na Kahit Taga-Labasan, Kwento Natin Ngayon ay Pakinggan, Maglalabasa ng...KALOKOHAN!!!

- More PPAP spoofs from Taran Taro!

- Mas Pinabonggang Sumbong Sumbong Kay Bonggang Bonggang Bongbong takes on those who are posting pics on taping day as an extra, people dressing casual outfits at home while doing selfies, and people posting stuff about money they earned from their networking business.

- A new meaning to barber talk

- Lie In Clinic

- Basa-basa-pik!

The Grand Tour - Episode 1

The Grand Tour Episode 1


Amazon's Original Series, The Grand Tour, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, is here and those Prime subscribers finally got what they really deserved; a motoring show featuring three familiar faces in a sequence of driving fast cars, rhetorics, and the usual toilet humor in store for them. I know that motorists really missed those three ever since they left the BBC and Top Gear following last year's incident but with their new show now available for streaming for Amazon customers, this is a clear reminder why everyone should subscribe to Amazon Prime to watch this new show.

In the pilot episode's intro, viewers witness Jeremy Clarkson leaving his mediocre life in the UK, with references to him being fired by the BBC and Top Gear following last year's incident, and then going to California, driving with a modified Ford Mustang on the highway. Alongside Clarkson are Hammond and May, also driving Mustangs, and as they pass through the desert full of cars, they've reached the set to welcome the audience. That's where The Grand Tour begins as within the next twelve episodes, they will travel across the globe with a different location every week. California's their first stop but next week's location is worth guessing so watch for it.

Anyway, in the pilot episode, the trio are driving the Hybrid Hypercar Trio; the McLaren P1, the Porsche 918 Spyder, and the Ferrari LaFerrari (which is deemed unusable in current conditions) around Algarve in Portugal to see which one is the best. With the help of racing driver Jerome d'Ambrosio, it's clear that in the end, the 918 is the best of the three and with Clarkson's wager, he lost his house because if the P1 is slower than the rest, he will let them blow his home off.

Meanwhile, Clarkson introduced the viewers to the undisclosed test track jokingly called the "Ebola-drome" because the track layout looks similar to the Ebola virus and with odd corner names like the "Isn't Straight", "Your Name Here", and "Grandma's House" as well as deadly traps such as an electric fence, animals, and a hidden unexploded bomb. In the track's first outing, Clarkson tries out the brand new BMW M2 and later hands it over to "The American" Mike Skinner, infamous for calling non-American cars "communists".

Cars aside, the gang is buying the show some time with some segments called Conversation Street, where they keep sharing secrets about what's going on around here, and Celebrity Braincrash where guest celebs get themselves "killed" on set. Jeremy Renner, Armie Hammer, and Carol Vorderman got themselves "killed" on the set or so the viewers thought. Whatever that is, let's hope they did this in a fictitious or parodic manner.

So, for a new show, it still harbors the same formula motorists expected from these three during their Top Gear years and with all the fast cars and toilet humor mashed up to this show, The Grand Tour is the main reason why there are huge loyalists of Clarkson, Hammond, and May elsewhere who will follow them wherever they go. Although this is by no means a vivid contrast compared to today's Top Gear, The Grand Tour really is a step forward for the fans, young and old alike, and let's give Amazon a huge thanks for this exciting new show to get ourselves ready for the weekends.

Friday, November 18, 2016

Let's Do The News! (November 18, 2016)


- President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived at Peru to attend the annual APEC Summit this weekend, his first engagement as chief executive outside Asia. Duterte is expected to meet other world leaders as well as Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping but details are still being threshed out.

- According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, they were instructed to keep the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos a secret. The AFP was given very short notice yesterday which was followed by a "flurry of activity and coordination.

- Ilocos North Governor Imee Marcos said her father's last wish was fulfilled when his remains were buried at the LNMB in Taguig City.

- US President-Elect Donald Trump met up with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, his first foreign visit since winning the elections. Abe convinced that he can build a relations based on trust with Trump.

- Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will not travel to Stockholm on the 10th of December to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Members of the Swedish Academy issued a statement on Wednesday to say Dylan notified them of his decision in a letter due to his pre-existing commitments but he feels extremely honored by the Nobel Prized and wished he could receive it personally.

- Shareholders officially approved the Tesla-SolarCity merger, According to Tesla's website, the car company says "Excluding the votes of Elon [Musk] and other affiliated shareholders, more than 85 percent of shares voted were cast in favor of the acquisition. With SolarCity's shareholders also having approved the acquisition, the transaction will be completed in the coming days."

- The Chevrolet Bolt EV won the 2017 Green Car of the Year.

- Over 10 million copies of the recently released Pokemon Sun and Moon games were shipped.

- Kotobukiya's Cupoche line of poseable figures just added THE IDOLM@STER's Takane Shijou to the range, this time in her Platinum Stars attire. To be delivered this April, she's available to pre-order for 4,800 Yen.

Cupoche THE IDOLM@STER
Platinum Stars Takane Shijou

- The first teaser of their upcoming JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Diamond is Unbreakable film is up, featuring the cast in the press conference as well as the film's Summer 2017 release.




TTFN!!!

The "sudden" burial of Ferdinand E. Marcos

Ferdinand E. Marcos

November 18, 2016 - The remains of the late Filipino dictator, Ferdinand E. Marcos, were buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in a "surprise" ceremony despite petitions rooting against the decision to bury the late dictator to the said cemetery following his crimes in human rights.

The sudden burial comes following the Supreme Court decision dismissing petitions asking for it to be blocked for being illegal and for being an insult to the victims of human rights abuses during the Marcos administration.

Once a soldier who served for the Philippine Army during the Second World War with controversial reports about his awards and accolades during his service, Marcos made more schools, roads, bridges, hospitals, and other infrastructure than any other former president, long before his infamous martial law of 1972. In the aftermath of Martial Law, the Philippine's GNP was four times greater than 1972 and made one of the most indebted countries in Asia by 1986. Following the 1986 People Power Revolution, Marcos was ousted from power by Corazon Aquino.

Today's Philippine President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte vowed during the election campaign that he would have Marcos buried at the military cemetery and that decision to bury Marcos did not violate international laws or go beyond his authority by ordering the burial.

Following the "sudden" burial of Ferdinand E. Marcos, most Filipinos have condemned the surprise burial at the LNMB, in fact they are so disgusted from what happened today, although there are a few people who believed that the Marcos burial is the only way to unify the deeply divided country or so they thought. Whatever that is, witnessing a dictator's sudden burial maybe the first to happen here but this isn't the first to happened on a global scale.

If you look at social studies, you can see that even the world's most infamous strongmen in history, no matter how many crimes they committed during their rule, can still get buried because, while this is an excuse made up by some, no matter how powerful they are, no matter how gruesome their rule are, they are still human.

The trauma the people who lived during the Marcos era they felt, after witnessing the sudden burial, is very troublesome and while they are adamantly resisting the sudden Marcos burial, rest assured that how the Filipinos react over the Marcos burial is anyone's guess but I'm sure that even the youngest of Filipinos, whose relatives have survived the brutal 21-year-rule of Marcos, are refusing the results and are adamantly resisting. Whatever that is, it's just one of the many ways why history in the Philippines is becoming louder than it gets and so is the world affairs its getting. Of course, it's a loud, loud, loud, loud history after all.

Pocket Monsters Sun & Moon

The Pocket Monsters (PokéMon) franchise is now on its 20th anniversary since the launch of the first Red and Green games in Japan since 1996 and fans from around the world done many ways to honor the hit franchise's 20th anniversary as a whole. From the games, the TV show, the movies, spin-offs, and merchandising rights, fans have endless ways to honor PokéMon's 20th anniversary and here it is, the ultimate birthday present to the franchise we all know and love has arrived and the all-new PokéMon Sun and Moon games for the 3DS are here to usher us to the next generation of the hit franchise.

Pocket Monsters Sun
Pocket Monsters Moon

So, here we are, twenty years of PokéMon and it goes now as in this brand new installment, players are ready to step on the tropical Alola Region as they are ready to take on new trials, capture new PokéMon, battle the best trainers in the region, avert an imminent threat, and discover the secrets of the Alola Region. Because this is an all-new game with all new PokéMon in store for them, you are introduced with three brand new starters to begin your Alolan quest. First, there's the Grass-and-Flying-type Rowlet, then there's the Fire-type Litten, and finally, there's the Water-type Popplio.

As you progress further, you will encounter more and more new Pokemon around this new region such as Grubbin, Pikipek, Togedemaru, Yungoos, Stufful, Type: Null, and others. Also, keep an eye out of Alolan versions of familiar PokéMon such as Exeggutor, Meowth, Dugtrio, Sandshrew, Vulpix, and others. They may look similar to the ones you remember back when you are kids but they're different in terms of type and their new brand of firepower in store for them. Oh, and if you see an Alolan Grimer and Alolan Muk, please hide the kids. They might be having nightmares about them.

Firepower aside, Pokemon Sun and Moon welcomes players to a whole new way of unleashing devastating attacks to the opposition. Called Z-Moves, a Pokemon must have the same variety of Z-Crystal he/she equipped on the Z-Ring in order to unleash it. There are different kinds of Z-Crystals to collect (depending on the version). Some are applicable to the PokéMon's type (like for example: Bloom Doom for Grass-types, Inferno Overdrive for Fire-types, Hydro Vortex for Water-types, and Gigavolt Havoc for Electric-types) and some are signature Z-moves for a specific PokéMon (like for example: Decidueye's Sinister Arrow Raid, Incineroar's Malicious Moonsault, Primarima's Oceanic Operetta, and Pikachu's Catastropika). 

Did you know that Z-Power can add special effects on status moves? That's right because with a Z-Power and a status move mixed in with them, you'll be gaining an upper advantage on battles. One inate example will be the worthless Splash attack. At first, nothing happened, but if you mixed in with a specific Z-Crystal, the result will be a triple boost to the Attack stat. Looks like who gets the last laugh now, huh? There are so many status moves that can be mixed from a Z-Power. Try it out! Who knows what's in store with those status moves you're familiar with.

The storyline of Sun and Moon is what critics called it "sacrilege" because instead of the usual gym battles and league battles, the new games are focused on trials where players have to complete specific tasks in order to proceed and then battle against the island's Kahunas. Since the Alola Region is comprised with four islands, there are four Kahunas to take on if you're good enough. Defeat the Kahuna and you can proceed to the next island. Be warned though that these new kind of challenges are not going to be easy so stay sharp because there might be surprises in store for you. Later on, you will be encountering more challenges such as collecting Zygarde cells and cores in order to unleash the legendary Order PokéMon Zygarde with three different forms.

Somewhere in the Alola Region, there are powerful entities that pose a huge threat to both mankind and PokéMon. They are known as "Ultra Beasts" and their relentless firepower are second to none. Worse, your capturing methods against these beasts are useless. What holds the mystery of these Ultra Beasts lies on a mysterious organization called the "Aether Foundation" and this organization could be the key to uncover the Ultra Beasts and how to face off with these along with its brutal firepower.

If you need to take a break from the game, you can always check out the new Festival Plaza feature, which is unlockable after you progress through the game. The Festival Plaza feature allows players to trade, battle, do favors, go co-op, shop, and more. There are so many ways to enjoy in the Festival Plaza.

If you have captured PokéMon stored in the PC, don't worry because these PokéMon will not go to waste because of the brand new Poké Pelago feature. With this new feature, PokéMon stored in the PC can go exploring, play, and enjoy other activities. You can even get PokéMon as well. The more PokéMon on the PC you send to the Poké Pelago, the more facilities can be expanded and you will be able to do extra stuff such as finding rare items, raising PokéMon on the go, and more. Isn't science convenient?

Stuff you are familiar back from the Kalos quest of XY are back on Sun and Moon such as personalizing your trainer with various outfits and accessories. Personalization will make your trainer look unique as you show it to the others. The PokéMonAmie from XY has now been upgraded and it's now called PokéMon Refresh. In here, you can tidy up your PokéMon after a battle, heal status conditions, feed Poké Beans, and more, just to boost your PokéMon's friendliness. Simple as that.

There are different ways to search for PokéMon throughout the Alola Region. First, there's the Poké Finder feature on your Rotom PokéDex. Using Rotom PokéDex's camera, you can take photos of PokéMon you find. The better your shots, the better chances this feature will be upgraded such as the zoom in feature. Later, you will be able to use the brand new QR Scanner feature, which allows players to scan specific QR codes to meet new PokéMon.

In the past, trainers rely on using Hidden Machines to their PokéMon to do specific tasks, but here in Sun and Moon, there's a brand new Poké Ride feature which allows users to summon certain PokéMon to get through hard to reach areas by land, air, or sea. Convenient, isn't it? Beats HMs of the past by a long shot so feel free to summon them when you need it.

PokéMon Trainer battles usually comprised of Single, Double, or Triple battles, among many other ways to battle, but here in Sun and Moon, there's a new battle feature called Battle Royal and by far this new battle format will be the most unpredictable format ever because you never know who will strike first and telling the difference between a friend and a foe. But still, it's everyone's game so take some time to learn and master this difficult battle format by yourself or with your mates.

Also new in Sun and Moon is the brand new Hyper Training. In the past, PokéMon grew stronger by increasing their levels and their base stats but their stats are affected by the individual strengths. With Hyper Training, any PokéMon that reached the max level will be able to train their specific strengths beyond limits. All you need is a Bottle Cap and bring it to a specific someone who can train your PokéMon beyond limits with Hyper Training. Be warned though that results might not be typical to your averaged maxed-out PokéMon.

Since this new installment is comprised with two different versions, you can expect differences between the two games, Of course, the legendary Solgaleo is exclusive to Sun while the legendary Lunala is for Moon, apart from the 12-hour differences, there are PokéMon exclusive to each version, especially the Ultra Beasts you will encounter later on. One bizarre difference is how Rockruff evolves into Lycanroc and that's because in Pokemon Sun, Rockruff evolves to Lycanroc in its Midday Forme, while in Pokemon Moon, Rockruff evolves to Lycanroc, this time in Midnight Forme. So, because there are differences between the two versions, one major way to complete the Alola (and later National) Pokédex is by trading, either here or online via the GTS.

In honor of the launch of the two games, there are three special PokéMon in store for the fans. First, there's the pre-order bonus Munchlax which comes with a Snorilum Z crystal. Once evolved to Snorlax, you can unleash Snorlax's signature Z-move, Pulverizing Pancake. Second, there's the mythical PokéMon Magearna, the star from last summer's PokéMon The Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel. If you're in Japan and if you got a special Magearna card for use in the PokéMon Ga-ole arcade game, use the QR Scanner (when unlocked post-game) on the card's QR code to get the mythical PokéMon. For international users, wait for further instructions on how to get Magearna via QR code. And lastly, there's Ash-Greninja from the recently concluded PokéMon The Series XYZ TV show. First played on the special demo, it can now be transferred to the main game. Ash's Greninja comes with a signature Battle Bond ability. When Greninja knocks out the enemy PokéMon, it transforms into Ash-Greninja and its Water Shuriken attack's becoming more powerful. Just be sure to have the cleared Special Demo data in your 3DS in order to do so.

Next year, the PokéMon Bank app will be upgraded and the PokéMon you worked so hard to train on XY and ORAS can now be transferred to Sun and Moon. Which means, its time to complete the National PokéDex once again! Who's up for the challenge? Well, don't rush though because while this is a new game, take your time to fill up the PokéDex while training them to be battle-ready.

So, I think that's all to say about the new installment and I didn't realized it was that long to tell you about Sun and Moon. Because this is the biggest birthday gift for the PokéMon franchise's 20th anniversary, this is more than enough to celebrate two decades of catching them all. From trading, battling, and sharing their favorite PokéMon moments, these moments have been the hallmark of the PokéMon franchise and with PokéMon Sun and Moon, a new chapter is about to be written to the history books as twenty years of PokéMon payed off to deliver a brand new experience for fans, veterans and newcomers alike.

Say Aloha to your next PokéMon adventure to the Alola Region. Everyone's waiting for you.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA MASTER Take me☆Take you

There's a brand new CINDERELLA MASTER CD inspired from the popular THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls sub-franchise and following the success from previous CINDERELLA MASTER CDs, the latest installment, titled "Take me☆Take you", is a clear reminder why we all love the Cinderella Girls even more.

THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA MASTER
Take me☆Take you

The cover girls of the latest CINDERELLA MASTER album are Kaede Takagaki (CV: Saori Hayami), Miyu Mifune (CV: Sayaka Harata), Nono Morikubo (CV: Karin Takahashi), Uzuki Shimamura (CV: Ayaka Ohashi), Nana Abe (CV: Marie Miyake), Miku Maekawa (CV: Natsumi Takamori), Yoshino Yorita (CV: Yuuki Takada), Mio Honda (CV: Sayuri Hara), and Shin Sato (CV: Yumiri Hanamori). In this installment, two brand new tracks are featured such as the titular song as well as キミのそばでずっと. There's also a drama part starring the cover girls of this CD in their new adventure unheard in the world of Cinderella Girls, buying you some time to enjoy their latest idol adventures behind the stage.

Experience the latest installment of the CINDERELLA MASTER range at the comfort at your living room because once you get in, you can't stop enjoying it as much as the other installments inspired from the hit sub-franchise of THE IDOLM@STER.

TRACK LISTINGS:
01 Take me☆Take you
02 キミのそばでずっと
03 ドラマ「シャイニーナンバーズ 特別編」
04 Take me☆Take you オリジナル・カラオケ
05 キミのそばでずっと オリジナル・カラオケ

Let's Do The News! (November 17, 2016)


- The Sandiganbayan cleared the charges on former Makati City Mayor Elenita Binay, the wife of the former VP Jejomar Binay, and two others in the 13.2 million peso graft case over the purchase of allegedly overpriced furniture for city hall.

- Recent Social Weather Stations survey showed that Filipinos rated the Duterte administration a "very good" net satisfaction rating as giving the government's war on drugs an "excellent" rating.

- The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo said that defeated VP candidate and former senator Bongbong Marcos has previously failed to establish his case over electoral fraud against the COMELEC and should stop. According to Robredo's lawyer, Marcos' complaint filed at the Manila Prosecutor's Office was earlier dismissed due to lack of evidence.

- Actor Robin Padilla has been given by President Duterte an absolute and unconditional pardon, according to Palace officials. Which means that the action star is now able to run for any public office as well as his right to vote.

- The Department of Health wants e-cigarettes and vapes to be covered by the government's campaign against smoking, meaning that they could be included in the public smoking ban.

- Believe it or not, Mazda once made an open-top "parade car" based on the current-generation Mazda Atenza/6 used on the parade for the Hiroshima Carps baseball team.

Mazda Atenza parade car

- The second Love Live Sunshine Nendoroid is finally revealed, this time it's You Watanabe! This Nendoroid based on a character who appeared from the hit TV series is available to order starting at 3,241 Yen plus tax and delivers this May.

Nendoroid You Watanabe

- If you're a fan of THE IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls, you'll going to love Max Factory's offering. This Halloween Nightmare figure of Koume Shirasaka can be yours to order starting at 14,815 Yen plus tax and will be delivered this September 2017.

Koume Shirasaka
Halloween Nightmare Ver.

TTFN!!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Let's Do The News! (November 16, 2016)


- President Rodrigo Duterte has congratulated US President-Elect Donald Trump for a "well-deserved victory" and says he's very excited to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the upcoming APEC summit in Peru.

- Senator Antonio Trillanes IV reacted to President Duterte's statement that martial law is a "contingency to meet widespread violence". He condemned Duterte for failing to curb the drug problem which he promised to fulfill within three to six months in office.

- Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said that the testimonies Ronnie Dayan and Kerwin Espinosa will make the case against Senator Leila de Lima airtight but also said the cause is strong as it is.

- Retirees will receive an additional 2,000 pesos to their monthly Social Security System pension on a staggered basis - the first half in January 2017 and the second tranche in 2020. The committee approved the reported regarding the pension hike.

- Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is seen as the favorable pick for the next US Secretary of State in the imminent Trump administration, according to a senior official.

- ICYMI: the massive sinkhole that struck the roads of downtown Fukuoka, Japan, has been fixed a week later and was later reopened.

- The second-generation Mazda CX-5 crossover has been unveiled before this month's LA Auto Show premiere. New looks aside, it still retains the SKYACTIV Technology knowhow from the previous model.

2017 Mazda CX-5

- The Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet was unveiled before its LA Auto Show premiere and it's expected to be sold next year. The luxurious open-top grand tourer is powered by a 6.0L V12 engine producing 630HP of power, while mated with a 7G-TRONIC gearbox.

2017 Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet


- Aston Martin unveiled the Vanquish S, a facelifted Vanquish with an improved 6.0L V12 engine producing 600PS of power while mated with a 8-speed gearbox and other improvements to its dynamics.

2017 Aston Martin Vanquish S
- What's comedian Conan O'Brien's take on the upcoming Final Fantasy XV game? Take a look...



TTFN!!!

15 Years of XBOX

The 14th of November, 2001, a year after Sony launched the PS2, 10 months since then-President George W. Bush took office in the White House, and two months after series of attacks on American soil. Microsoft's CEO Bill Gates thrown the gauntlet as he told the gaming world that Microsoft accepted their challenge to create their very own gaming console we know as the XBOX. The year 2016 marks the 15th anniversary of the XBOX console gaming as a whole and with the XBOX spawned three different generations from the first one, to the XBOX 360 of 2005, up to 2013's XBOX One, 15 years of progress have shown that Microsoft accomplished their goal to create a gaming console to up the ante in the console gaming revolution.


So, 15 years of XBOX, and as the world honors the XBOX's 15th anniversary with loads of memories of their favorite XBOX hits such as HALO, Forza Motorsport, Gears of War, Project Gotham Racing, and many others, rest assured that the original XBOX cannot be forgotten and let's investigate Microsoft's entry to the console gaming revolution, back in the time when the Dreamcast is fading away while the Gamecube and PS2 are surging like a power surge.

It all began with a project involving numerous laptops disintegrated into pieces following Microsoft's cooperation with SEGA to support Windows CE on the Dreamcast. After its cooperation with SEGA in terms of network connectivity to a short-lived console, the XBOX was born and its innovative features set a template to future gaming consoles to come.

Although the Sega Dreamcast is the first console to provide online connectivity, the XBOX pushed online connectivity further with a fee-based XBOX Live service launched a year later, allowing its subscribers to play multiplayer games and download new content via broadband connection. It was the first to offer an 8GB or 10GB HDD, which eliminates the dependent use of memory cards like what the PS2, the Dreamcast, and the GameCube do. Whereas the Dreamcast failed, the XBOX rose to prominence and such success was carried out to its successors such as 2005's XBOX 360 and 2013's XBOX One.


For the past fifteen years, the XBOX garnered 222,468,423 players, 100,539,390,670 total gaming hours, 29,000,304,183 total multiplayer hours, 32,667,582,157 achievements unlocked, 572,605,554,587 Gamerscores (with the highest gamerscore is a legendary 1,416,465), and 4,233,891,482 friends made. With hit XBOX greats like HALO and Forza Motorsport, there's more to celebrate 15 years of XBOX by whatever means necessary.

Cheers, XBOX! And here's for another 15 more years!