Let's Do The News! (November 21, 2016)

- In last weekend's APEC Summit, President Rodrigo Duterte's comments on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, the strongman he admired for, considers themselves as fast friends as they are willing to boost ties between the two countries.

- Vice-President Leni Robredo feared that she received a text message regarding the recount of votes, just to have Bongbong Marcos steal her position by next year, amid the sudden burial of Ferdinand E. Marcos.

- Meanwhile, following last week's burial that shocked the nation, a group of petitioners comprised of Martial Law victims and former detainees filed a contempt of court petition against the heirs of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos and officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense.

- Chinese leader Xi Jinping open to Duterte's plan to turn the Scarborough Shoal into a marine sanctuary, according to reports.

- The World Anti-Doping Agency's Foundation Board has approved a set of recommendations to combat doping. Delegates from governments and the Olympic world took part in a meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, discussing institutional reforms requested by the International Olympic Committee in the wake of the alleged doping scandal in Russia,

- German Chancellor Angela Merkel will run for her fourth term in next year's elections despite criticisms.

- Eight children were killed in Syria when shelling hit their school in the western part of Aleppo. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, over 200 people were killed in Aleppo and areas around the city over the past 6 days, including 36 children.

- The top eight movies that will be competing in next month's Metro Manila Film Festival are; Ang Babae se Septic Tank 2 #ForeverIsNotEnough, Sunday Beauty Queen, Vince & Kath & James, Kabisera, Oro (Gold), Saving Sally, Die Beautiful, and Seklusyon.

TTFN!!!

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:

• http://www.romereports.com/2016/11/18/pope-francis-to-end-jubilee-year-by-closing-the-holy-doors-at-st-peter-s
• http://www.wnem.com/story/33754208/pope-shuts-holy-door-but-urges-stay-open-to-reconciliation
• https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/11/20/closing-year-mercy-francis-says-god-no-memory-sin/

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

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:

• http://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/17/2016-la-auto-show-recap/
• http://www.carscoops.com/2016/11/2016-la-auto-show-your-to-z-guide-to.html

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 into 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.

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!!!