Suzuki Spacia Custom Z

2017 Suzuki Spacia Custom Z

Let's introduce to the new Suzuki Spacia Custom Z, the latest addition to the Spacia lineup that features a different kind of front face that is even more unique than the regular Spacia Custom model and no matter which customers will be targeted by it, the Spacia Custom Z offers the same features from most of the Spacia range.

While the exterior looks as highly questionable as a youth wearing three noserings on his right side, the interior still retains its class-leading dimensions that fits just about anyone or anything. Apart from that, the Spacial Custom Z still comes with the revolutionary S-ENE-CHARGE system that assists the 660cc R06A engine's acceleration with a motor by adopting the Integrated Starter Generator and a Li-ion battery that specifically made for this system. With that, fuel economy is expected to be around 30.6km/L. 26.8 if you opt for the turbocharged variant, of course.

The Spacia Custom Z also comes with a dual camera brake support system, which detects the vehicle and pedestrians from about 5kph in the speed range of about 100kph and to avoid collisions, the automatic braking feature triggers with the alarm and then it stops. Other features in this new system include a lane departure warning function, and a stagger alarm function, among many others.

The Spacia Custom Z starts at 1,490,400 Japanese Yen, which is somewhat slightly more costly than a normal Spacia Custom, but it still undercuts against rivals like the Daihatsu Tanto Custom or the Mitsubishi eK Space Custom. With this new model, you now have different kinds of Spacia to choose from,

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Let's Do The News! (December 28, 2016)

- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to visit the Philippines on January 12 and 13, the first head of state to visit the country under the Duterte administration, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. Yasay states that Abe's visit reciprocates Duterte's own successful trip to Japan last October.

- The National Bureau of Investigation has now the custody of high-profile inmate Jaybee Sebastian due to death threats. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II confirmed that Sebastian was transferred to NBI custody from New Bilibid Prison on Tuesday night.

- Former senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. requested anti-graft court Sandiganbayan to grant him furlough to visit his father for the second time this month. His father, former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr., was admitted to St. Luke's Medical Center - Global in Taguig City last December 22 due to kidney inflammation.

- Republican Arizona Senator John McCain said that despite rhetorics from US President-elect Donald Trump, the United States will remain committed to NATO and Baltic security. McCain told reporters that he and Estonian leaders discussed the outcome of the American election.

- House Republicans have proposed punishing representatives who shoot video or take photos on the floor of the chamber following a dramatic sit-in in June by House Democrats demanding a vote on gun control legislation that was streamed live online.

- French police are investigating the possibility that a text message sent from a missing Japanese student was sent by someone else in an attempt to delay the search. A 21-year-old Japanese student went missing after having dinner with another foreign student in his 20s on December 4th in the eastern city of Besancon. The head of her language school says a classmate received a text message from her at about 1130 hours on December 5th after she was absent from class in the morning.

- Veteran actress Carrie Fisher passed away at the age of 60. Fisher was famed for being Princess Leia from the Star Wars franchise and later endured drug addiction and stormy romances with veteran actors, including Harrison Ford. Her last appearance was from 2015's Star Wars The Force Awakens and filming on her next appearance in 2017's Star Wars sequel film has finished.

TTFN!!!

Remembering 2016: Best of TV

2016 has been a great year for TV shows from across the globe. From dramas, actions, fantasies, cartoons, anything you mention about TV show is what made 2016 a great year. Packed with joy, sadness, anger, disgust, and fear, couch potatoes from all corners of the world express their feelings every time they talk about their favorite TV shows, especially their new favorites.

So, as we are nearing the year's end to give way to the year 2017, what are the 16 best bits from TV that made this year great, I presume?! Oh, and I do have to warn you that there are spoilers everywhere so READ AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE!!!

1) While they were waiting for the next season of BBC's Sherlock to arrive until January 1st, 2017, fans got themselves an even better treat during the waiting game; a TV special titled The Abominable Bride. In this special, the story they all new are reverted straight to its roots and while it has the proper, historical, setting that most Sherlock Holmes know-alls know about, the recipe remains the same and actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman really do adapt to their roles of Holmes and Watson in the old age London, England.

2) The first half of the On The Wings of Love finale sees Leah (Nadine Lustre) and Clark (James Reid) getting married...finally, while on the second half of the finale sees the newlyweds performed live onstage! This is the first time a TV drama like this pulled off the best sendoff to one of the Philippines' hit love teams like JaDine.

3) In the finale of GMA's rather controversial, yet compelling, drama series about a transgender named Destiny Rose, moments after Destiny (Ken Chan) was pushed by Jasmine and suffered from a comatose, he survived and now he's reunited with his mother Daisy and sister April. However, Jasmine still has other plans now that Destiny's returned. Jasmine plots to kill Destiny until Destiny's dad, Lito, popped up to stop Jasmine and save Destiny, despite his hatred to his transgender son. Now that the threat to Destiny's life is finally over, the family finally reconcile with peace, although his father Lito is still unknown after he saved his life. Minutes later, Gabriel (Fabio Ide), the love of Destiny's life, admitted his true feelings to Destiny and he loves Destiny for who he is.

4) The 2016 reboot of The Powerpuff Girls on Cartoon Network shows that the return of a childhood classic isn't just more stylish than ever, it's just been refined, recharged, and reloaded to the highest POW factor. With new adventures, new and returning villains, and a new school life, this new PPG never felt so alive.

5) The Weirdmageddon finale of Disney's hit TV show Gravity Falls sees the end of the Pines twins' paranormal adventures through this mysterious town in Oregon where stranger things happening every day. It was very sad to see the end of the Pines' hilarious but thrilling adventures but fans will have this show a longing place to their hearts forever. Nothing says that this is already an instant classic 'till the very end.

6) The fourth season of Orphan Black sees Sarah Manning and the Clone Club uncover the Neolution conspiracy, even with disastrous results. From unlikely alliances, betrayals, suspense, every episode in the fourth season is explosive in every way and we can expect how it ends when the fifth and final season is coming next year. Get ready to say farewell with the Clone Club, ladies, and gents.

7) Nickelodeon's new cartoon show, The Loud House, centers on the hilarious misfits of Lincoln Loud, who lives in a household packed with ten sisters, four pets, and an endless mess of chaos one after another. Be it a power outage, Luan's pranks, sneaking on a live concert, a ride on a limo, having a crush on a tutor, or even saving Christmas, every moment is a mess out there but for Lincoln, how hard can it be?!

8) There are 100 Disney Channel Original Movies aired on TV and the 100th DCOM is Adventures of Babysitting, starring Descendants' Sofia Carson and Girl Meets World's Sabrina Carpenter in a hilarious adventure round the city, causing one heck of a ruckus with the kids until it gets sorted out without having the parents knowing it.

9) There's a new addition to the long line of Disney princesses and I'm referring to Elena of Avalor. As a spin-off from the hit TV series Sofia the First, the Crown Princess of Avalor, that is Elena, embarks on an adventure to meet new friends, explore hidden worlds, and restore the glory of her home kingdom. There's even a special episode where two iconic Disney princesses on TV, Sofia and Elena, come together as well.

10) One year has passed since AlDub became a household name in every Filipinos around the world and even though they've celebrated their very milestone with their "Imagine You and Me" film, there's still more unfinished businesses with their Kalyeserye segment on Eat Bulaga until the great moment arrived where they got married and gave birth to their twins Charmaine Nidora and Richard Nidoro.

11) The 2016 rebirth of GMA's hit fantaserye, Encantadia, is more than just a rebirth, it's the continuation that picks up where the original saga left. By witnessing the longstanding battle of the four kingdoms and the sangres that guard the four elemental jewels, the 2016 Encantadia has became one of the must-watched shows not just in the Philippines but also worldwide via GMA Pinoy TV.

12) Who says men make the most fun on their late night shows? For Samantha Bee, she broke barriers by hosting her new late night show titled Full Frontal, showing that even women can make the most fun on it.

13) The new Netflix original series Stranger Things is one heck of a scarefest for bingewatchers as bizarre-looking children became the center of this new series when people in a small town of Hawkins went missing.

14) From the world of Doctor Who comes a new spin-off show called Class. It's about the life and times of Coal Hill students trying to deal with their daily lives until they can take care with series of catastrophes they can brace themselves. War, fear, invasion, it's just another day at Coal Hill in a new Doctor Who spin-off that has more sex appeal than the other spin-off series, Torchwood.

15) The Heroes vs. Aliens crossover event of four DC comics shows is one on the many ways they can't get enough of craving with Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow. On this four-day epic crossover event, heroes from different sides of the universe band together to stop an imminent alien threat one after another until it was averted.

16) While Whovians are waiting for the new season of Doctor Who, the 2016 Christmas special, titled The Return of Doctor Mysterio, is a definitive proof that The Doctor is back. With special guests Justin Chatwin from Orphan Black, Matt Lucas, and Charity Wakefield, The Doctor made a fateful encounter with a masked superhero while dealing with a earth-threatening conspiracy.

There are so many great TV stuff happened in 2016 but let's leave it here and move on to the next topic on this yearender.

Fourth-generation Suzuki Swift

2017 Suzuki Swift

Well, this is unexpected for Suzuki to unveil a new car just before the year ends, but still, the Japanese small car company has unveiled the brand new Suzuki Swift to deliver a swift response to the motoring public that demands a compact car with the good balance of efficiency and performance at the same time. So, how can this new model shows that it's here today and ready for tomorrow's world?

2017 Suzuki Swift

First and foremost, let's take a look on the exterior design and well, what do you think? The new looks is like the best of both worlds! You have a front grille that looks like it came from the Hyundai Veloster, the front lamps look vaguely similar to the Jaguar F-Type, the side view looks like it came from the Peugeot 3008, and the back view looks like it came from its Indian-born relative, the Baleno. How simple was that? It's like a melting pot of diversity and culture all wrapped up into one freshly-made sukiyaki.

2017 Suzuki Swift interior

2017 Suzuki Swift interior

The new interior is a clear reminder why it's starting to take shape for a world-class hatchback and while this is basically more roomier than the old model, it's got lots of features you can toy around such as this nifty sat-nav which comes with Apple Carplay and (yes, really) Android Auto. When I said Android Auto, they really mean it because this is the second time a Japanese carmaker had a car with Android Auto compatibility since the Nissan Serena a while back. Anyway, don't get all hasty because while the new interior is now roomy enough to make amends at the back, its still as regular as...hmmm...a cup of coffee you had in the morning.

2017 Suzuki Swift

Now, let's move on to the really interesting bits about the new car and for the new Swift, this world-class hatchback is the first to use the brand new HEARTECT platform, which promises improved rigidity, performance and weight loss. Speaking of weight loss, the new model now weighs less than a Ford Focus or a Lotus Elise. Which means, with a car that weighs less than a ton, the handling is now more enjoyable than ever and you can really drive it over and over again as long as you don't ring a bell on anyone about what happened to this one. 

Under the hood, the new Swift offers a choice of a 1.0L Boosterjet three-cylinder engine and a 1.2L Dualjet engine. On the one with the Dualjet engine on it, it can be powered with Suzuki's Mild Hybrid technology featuring an Integrated Starter Generator linked to a li-ion battery pack. With the same kind of stuff as seen from the Ignis, fuel efficiency is about 27.4kmpl based on Japan's JC08 mode standards.

Don't forget; the one with the Boosterjet engine is mated exclusively with a 6-speed automatic, which sounds like a killjoy to the drivers, while non-hybrid models can be fitted with either a 5-speed manual or a CVT, and hybrid ones are mated exclusively with CVT. The more you know.

For the first time on the new Swift, a wide range of driver assists are offered ranging from brake assist, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise controls. Sounds high-tech but don't get too obvious about these thingamajigs here.

The all-new Suzuki Swift starts from 1,343,520 up to 1,941,840 Yen and sales will start on the 4th of January. So, there you are. With all the major improvements made to ensure that this car is here today, ready for tomorrow's world, the all-new Suzuki Swift will become a strong seller for the leader of small cars in Japan, as long as someone from a Southern Asian country never get too nosy about this one because there could be some dire consequences on nosing around the new model.

Available colors: Burning Red Pearl Metallic, Speedy Blue Metallic, Pure White Pearl, Super Black Pearl, and Premium Silver Metallic.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation\

Let's Do The News! (December 27, 2016)

- As Typhoon Nina (Nock-Ten) exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued gale warnings to prevent fishing boats and small vessels from entering the rough seas. NDRRMC said strong to gale force winds associated with the the typhoon may still affect seaboards of Northern Luzon.

- Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was cleared by the Ombudsman from her involvement in the 900-million pesos Malampaya fund scam as well as three officials from the Department of Agrarian Reform due to lack of evidence. Meanwhile, the Ombudsman indicted alleged "pork barrel mastermind" Janet Lim-Napoles, and 24 others for their supposed participation in the scam.

- The Department of Health supports the law that will ban firecrackers as the implementation of the executive order prohibiting their use has been hampered due to concerns about its impact on jobs and livelihood. DOH Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo said a legislation would be a "better tool" to ensure less firecracker-related injuries and damage during the New Year.

- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii to pay tribute to the fallen American soldiers. Abe arrived at the cemetery after his plane touched down in Hawaii shortly at 9 AM local time on Monday. About 50,000 people, including US military personnel who died in the Pacific and Vietnam wars, are buried here.

- The Russian authorities have ruled out the possibility of terrorism in connection with the crash on Sunday of a Syria-bound military plane. A Tu-154 plane crashed through the Black Sea off Sochi in southern Russia. The defense ministry said all 92 people aboard, including members of a military choir and soldiers, died.

- In case you missed it, a teaser trailer for the Blade Runner 2049 movie has arrived and you can see it here. Set 30 years after the first Blade Runner film, the film stars Ryan Gosling as the new blade runner LAPD Officer K while Harrison Ford reprises his Rick Deckard role from the original.

- Dream5, the teen group behind the hit closing theme songs from the world of Yokai Watch, will cease activity with its current members at the end of the year. The staff apologized to the group's supporters for their sudden announcement and offered them heartfelt thanks.

- Amazon's Original Series, The Grand Tour, will have a two-part special episode streaming this Friday. The special episode involves the presenters driving their beach buggies on their Namibian adventure.

TTFN!!!

Sixth-Generation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs. Chevrolet Corvette C7 Grand Sport

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chevrolet's brand new Camaro ZL1 maybe more of an improvement compared to the previous model but for a serious petrolhead who values power over everything else, this new model can be worth noticing it from the ground up. As a muscle car that focused more on power over everything else, the new ZL1 tries to balance its matter by giving it some track-honed manners to keep it serious on the road and track.

First and foremost, it's got the similar supercharged 6.2L V8 engine as seen on today's Corvette Z06, producing 650HP of power and same amount for torques, meaning this car gets some serious business on the road and on the track. Well, 650HP may not as powerful as the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, which remains the undisputed king of V8 cars in the world, this engine makes the new ZL1 the most powerful Camaro ever made and while you can drive it in a more enjoyable 6-speed manual gearbox, it can now be offered with an available 10-speed automatic gearbox, which sounds like overkill on the gear ratios because there's never been a sportscar with a double-digit gearbox like this before and a car like this feels like it came straight from a Fast & Furious fantasy world where you have so many gears to shift while looking cool behind the wheel.

Although the new ZL1 comes with every track-honed dynamics as well as the Magnetic Ride Control suspension and standard electronic Limited-Slip Differential, driving this one on the track is challenging and it's made for the driver who demands more for a car that packs a lot of challenge at the very beginning. In other words, you need to be extra focused behind the wheel because with all that power on its rear wheels, a slight error can cost you very badly.

Of course, its challenging behavior can be somewhat best sum this new ZL1 up and for a car priced at 61,140 US Dollars, it's a lot more affordable to own compared to high-end luxury cars bearing the same power output like the McLaren 650S. But don't try to jump on this car just yet because while this is more affordable than Europe's expensive supercars, the new Zl1 can be very harsh to drive apart from its oversteering that upsets even the most skilled drivers. Yes, it can be very challenging to drive a car with so much power on it but what if you can tone it down for a little and make it more enjoyable?

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

This is Chevrolet's equivalent of a Porsche 911 GT3. It's called the Grand Sport and starting at 65,450 US Dollars, this new version really balances the checkbooks of power and dynamics at the ideal pace. The 6.2L V8 engine may have 460HP of power output and same for the torques, which is less than the Camaro ZL1 and its more powerful Z06 but no matter because the Grand Sport features some of the most track-honed dynamics ever derived from the C7.R racing machine while promising the same heritage from past Grand Sport models.

Give this car a go round on a track and chances are that your quick response would be "Hey, how about those Republicans?" That's the basic way to explain the ideal version of America's favorite sports machine in a more humorous manner.. It maybe naturally aspirated and less powerful but the way it handles doesn't matter because while it's made to get quick lap times than the next car, the great thing about the new Grand Sport is the fun factor that keeps drivers coming back for more on the weekends.

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible

2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible

In general, both the new Camaro ZL1 and the new Corvette Grand Sport are made to please the elephants in the room, not the donkeys because these cars are proudly an American revolution and these cars are made for specific purposes. For those who want to crave on power, there's the Camaro ZL1 but for a track-day performance that doesn't settle for anything else, there's the Corvette Grand Sport. These new machines will surely spice up Chevrolet's list of sportscars and for the elephants craving for more American muscle should look no further and even though they are offered with open-top equivalents with added weight compared to the hardtop equivalents, it's still the same issue that made them great...although it's not appropriate to use that word in today's climate.

Photo: General Motors

Remembering 2016: 16 things that shook the world

The year 2016 has drawn to a complete closure and it made so much headlines than any other year I can remember for, from continuous terrorist attacks, rise of authoritarianism, human rights, any other headline I can think of that made the world a much louder place to live.

So, as we are nearing the year's end to give way to the year 2017, what are the 16 things that shook the world news by storm?

1) Tsai ing-wen - Tsai Ing-wen, leader of the Democratic Progressive Party, emerged as the winner of the Taiwanese presidential elections last January, defeating Nationalist Party candidate Eric Chu. By winning the election, Tsai became the first female leader of Taiwan and the Democratic Progressive Party will return to power after an eight-year opposition.

2) North Korea's two nuclear tests - The Korean Peninsula conducted not just one but for the first time since 10 years of their first test in 2006, two nuclear tests; One by January of this year and the latest since September. Following those tests, the international community are still dealing with further sanctions to be implemented against North Korea, which continues its further provocations against them by test firing missiles and continuous development at their nuclear facilities.

3) The Brussels terror attack - Following last week's Paris attacks that placed the entire European Union on full alert, the capital city of Belgium, that is Brussels, faced a deadly series of attacks; one at Brussels' Zaventem airport and another at the Maelbeek metro station. About 34 people were killed and the Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for the attacks.

4) Kumamoto quakes - It was the middle of April 2016 when series of powerful quakes struck the Kumamoto prefecture of Japan. About 46 people are died and over ten thousands of people were dislocated from their homes. Given to the extent of this damage, this prefecture became eligible for state-run repairs.

5) Ecuador quake - Over 600 people were reportedly died in one of the most powerful quakes that struck the South American country days following series of Kumamoto quakes in Japan. According to the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the quake, which is the strongest in history, occurred near Ecuador's northern coast at 2359 hours UTC and its focus was about 10km deep. A tsunami warning as high as one meter could hit the coast but three hours later, the warning was lifted.

6) Rodrigo Roa Duterte - Once as the infamous Davao City Mayor who was allegedly killed dozens of criminals during his over two decade rule and allegedly involved with the Davao Death Squad, he rose to power as the 16th President of the Philippines who won the May 2016 elections by a landslide. Duterte was feared and respected by the international community, political oppositions, and his supporters for his infamous law and order approach and his bloody war on drugs. He was nicknamed as the "Trump of the East" due to his harsh rhetorics similar to Donald Trump during his presidential campaign.

7) Extrajudicial killings - Ever since Duterte became the 16th President of the Philippines, his bloody war on drugs has commenced and a series of extrajudicial killings plagued through the nation, with over 5,000 drug suspects killed by either the law enforcement or vigilantes similar to the infamous Davao Death Squad, causing massive attention to the international public, especially US President Barack Obama.

8) Brexit - June 24, 2016, a day after people of the United Kingdom rushed to their nearest polling station to decide the fate of the nation in the European Union. Even though experts believed that it could be a close match between the REMAIN side and LEAVE side, it's official that 51.9% of the voters voted LEAVE while 48.1% of the voters voted REMAIN. This result will change the course of the history as Great Britain will be remembered as the first European nation in the union to leave via referendum and as what UKIP leader Nigel Farage, one of the spearheaders of the LEAVE campaign, said, it will be remembered as "Independence Day".

9) Theresa May - In the aftermath of the Brexit vote, British Prime Minister David Cameron resigned from his position and in his place, he named UK Home Secretary Theresa May as his successor. In her first day, May has appointed pro-,anti-Brexit campaigners to key Cabinet posts, in an apparent bid to seek domestic reconciliation, including former London city mayor and key Brexit person Boris Johnson as the nation's new foreign minister.

10) Turkey's failed coup plot - A faction of the Turkish military attempted to over the government after dark, deploying tanks and attack helicopters at both capital city Ankara and the largest city Istanbul. Some soldiers temporarily seized the offices of the state-run media where they forced an announcer to read out a statement declaring they have seized power as well as curfew declaration. Even the Turkish branch of CNN were unsafe from this short-lived uprising as well. Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on his supporters to take on the streets on Istanbul, where they overpowered the coup soldiers, even they're trying to called on everyone to stay indoors. As dawn approaches, the coup plotting to overthrow the government came to a premature end and the Turkish leader announced that the coup is over, but fighting in the capital city is still going on. Based on the reports, over 1,500 were arrested, over 90 were killed, and 1,150 injured in the failed coup attempt.

11) The Bastille Day incident - It was nighttime in Nice, France, during the Bastille Day celebration, when a truck driver rammed them through the streets. The Islamic State militants claimed responsibility from the recent terror attack in Nice, France that left 84 dead and more than 200 wounded. The assailant identified to be Tunisian and he was once arrested for violence but unclear of his terrorist links.

12) The Dilma Rousseff impeachment case - Days before the Rio 2016 Olympics began, a majority of the Senate voted in favor of ousting the suspended President Dilma Rousseff accused of breaking fiscal laws and mishandling the country's budget. Rousseff, age 68, was Brazil's first female president when she took office five years ago and won her second term two years ago with a majority of over 54 million votes. She is a former guerrilla fighter who was jailed and tortured during the country's dictatorship in the 1970s, and drew a connection between her past and the current situation. Following her removal from office, Vice President Michel Temer was named as the country's acting president.

13) Aleppo - As the civil wars in Syria continue to ravage, the city of Aleppo draws one of the most noteworthy attention in the international press, especially when netizens react to a photo of a seriously wounded child who were one of the survivors in the war-torn city of Aleppo. As of right now, rebel forces announced that they are withdrawing from Aleppo.

14) Donald J. Trump - A business tycoon that made famous for presenting a hit reality TV show franchise, The Apprentice, he became a surprise winner against former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, although she won the popular vote. This is the fifth time a president who lost the popular vote won the election by electoral vote since George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by a similar matter. Trump's infamous rhetorics attacked a majority of Mexican immigrants, Muslims, PWDs, war veterans, even women, among many others. He once called global warming a hoax invented by the Chinese and therefore threatening to withdraw USA's participation to the Paris treaty. Assuming to replace Obama next month, Trump's goals in his first four years involve restoring America's economy, military, and political power, all in the name of his "Make America Great Again" slogan. There were reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin orchestrated the hacks on the American elections to give Trump a fighting chance, not to mention Clinton's controversial e-mails that rattled her successful campaign.

15) Marcos burial - In mid-November, 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. 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.

16) Negotiations for a nuclear ban treaty in 2017 - It was the late of October 2016 when the UN General Assembly committee has approved a resolution calling for a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. Japan was among the countries that opposed it along with nuclear powers including the United States.  The resolution was adopted on Thursday by a majority vote at the General Assembly's First Committee on Disarmament. 123 countries voted in favor while 38 voted against. Meanwhile in December during the Christmas season, following reports that President-elect Trump said he will expand his nation's nuclear arsenal and collaborate with Russia's Vladimir Putin for an unprecedented scale of arms race a few days ago, the UN General Assembly approved a historic resolution to launch negotiations in March 2017 on a treaty that will ban nuclear weapons once and for all. 113 countries supported it while 35 have opposed it and 13 are abstaining it. The majority of the support for a nuclear ban comes from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Let's Do The News! (December 26, 2016)

- Typhoon Nina (Nock-Ten), which battered the Bicol region and parts of Calabarzon over the Christmas holidays, made landfall over the western island of Lubang on Monday afternoon on its way to the South China Sea. In a 2PM advisory, PAGASA lifted several cyclone warning signals in affected areas as Nina was in the vicinity of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro where it made its eighth landfall.

- The National Bureau of Investigation will investigate the first media slay under the Duterte administration. Journalist Larry Que was killed in Catanduanes last week. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said he ordered the NBI to identify and hunt down the suspect and to determine the motive behind the murder.

- US President-elect Donald Trump intends to dissolve his controversial Trump Foundation, which has been embroiled in controversies over its fundraising and expenditures. Trump issued a statement late Saturday afternoon saying "The Foundation has done enormous good works over the years in contributing millions of dollars to countless worthy groups, including supporting veterans, law enforcement officers and children. However, to avoid even the appearance of any conflict with my role as President I have decided to continue to pursue my strong interest in philanthropy in other ways."

- When President-elect Trump said he will expand his nation's nuclear arsenal and collaborate with Russia's Vladimir Putin for an unprecedented scale of arms race a few days ago, the UN General Assembly approved a historic resolution to launch negotiations in March 2017 on a treaty that will ban nuclear weapons once and for all. 113 countries supported it while 35 have opposed it and 13 are abstaining it. The majority of the support for a nuclear ban comes from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

- A Russian military plane carrying 92 people, including dozens of Red Army Choir singers, dancers and orchestra members, crashed into the Black Sea on its way to Syria on Sunday, killing everyone on board, according to reports. One of the Tu-145 planes had disappeared from radar screens at 0525 MSK, two minutes after taking off from Sochi, where it had stropped to refuel from Moscow, on its way to Syria.

- A teaser for the upcoming season of Top Gear is now up as it sets to air on BBC Two next year.

- Singer George Michael passed away at the age of 53. George Michael was famous for his hit songs like "The Edge of Heaven" and "Careless Whisper." He died at his home in Goring, Oxfordshire at 1:42 PM on Christmas Day.

- The anime adaptation of Cygames' Granblue Fantasy mobile game has delayed to Spring 2017.

- Announced during the special Christmas Party Live event, a new PriPara anime is coming this Spring 2017, featuring a new look that is different from the PriPara anime kids are familiar with.

TTFN!!!

Doctor Who 2016 Christmas Special

Doctor Who 2016 Christmas Special

After almost a long year of waiting, The Doctor has finally returned in this year's Christmas special involving a fateful encounter with a masked superhero with superpowers while dealing with a conspiracy that will enslave the world with nothing but alien technology.

Orphan Black's Justin Chatwin guest starred as a mysterious superhero named The Ghost and how did he gained superpowers is only how The Doctor granted him powers and warned him not to use it. Matt Lucas, meanwhile, returned to the show as Nardole, and Wolf Hall's Charity Wakefield played as journalist Lucy Fletcher, helping The Doctor uncover the sinister plot.

Having enjoyed this superhero-themed Christmas special, Whovians have waited for so many months to see The Doctor's return and with the rest of the world telling about what's what about this year's Christmas special, here's what you can expect on the tenth series of Doctor Who, coming next year.



In the meantime, DW fans reacted on this year's Christmas special in a special Doctor Who: The Fan Show web clip; (SPOILER WARNING!)



The Doctor will return on Series 10 next year alongside newcomer Pearl Mackie as Bill. Get ready for their next adventures through time and space!

DS Automobiles DS3 vs. Citroen C3 III

2017 DS 3

The hatchback that wa once called the Citroen DS3 is now called simply "DS 3" because DS Automobiles is now a brand in its own right and served as the luxury marque of Citroen, much like Genesis does for Hyundai, separating the men from the boys.

While it looks vaguely similar to the old Citroen DS3, the new DS3 features a new front face and a new rear design that tells you that this car is no longer a Citroen. It's now a DS because DS is now a brand and everyone should stick it to their heads in case if anyone calls it a Citroen and that is very wrong, especially if you're ready, willing, and able to spend 15,950 Euros (or an additional 4,050 Euros for the Cabrio model with a canvas top roof on it).

2017 DS 3 interior

Although the inside very remind you of the old DS3, back when it was called a Citroen, but for the new DS 3, you have so much you can toy around at your free time. One such example is the Mirror Screen compatibility for your iPhone and Android Phone and thanks to its upgraded software on its touchscreen, you have all the time in the world to check on how is your DS 3 doing right now. Because it came from the diminishing line of three-door hatchbacks, getting through the rear seats can be very problematic and stressful if you have mates joining with you for a night out on a town, if you know what I mean.

2017 DS 3

2017 DS 3 Cabrio

Depending on the bodystyle, the DS 3 offers a wide range of petrol and diesel engine choices but if you are sticking with the normal DS3, the most powerful they'll ever offer is a 1.6L turbocharged engine with 208ps of power output and mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox, resulting to 6.5 seconds of 0-100kph time and 230kph of top speed, almost similar to the old Citroen DS3 Racing would do, making it a luxury car with the soul of a hot hatch, especially when it comes with an array of safety tech.

The DS 3 has been with us for over half a decade and with this latest version, the new DS 3 by DS Automobiles still has the French chic and casual attitude as expected for a city car but between you and me, this new version feels a bit matured. It's no longer the DS 3 we are familiar with and it's no longer the DS 3 that propelled its rally car status to soaring heights. In fact, if I want a fun French car that is matured on its looks but not on its fun factor, there's a very good alternative to this now-matured DS 3.

2017 Citroen C3

This is the brand new Citroen C3. Starting at 12,950 Euros, this new model is the turning point for Citroen's lineup of affordable cars for all and by the looks of it, the Cactus-styled exterior means that the new C3 is ready for one trip to the mall after another. Best of all, it has five doors, meaning friends can't have a hassle to squeeze themselves through the rear seats and that is very good.

2017 Citroen C3 interior

Apart from its very generous spacing for such a Fiesta-sized car, there's one party piece that the new C3 had and this new car comes with a special dashcam that takes snapshots and then the driver can upload it on social media sites. Much better than showing an embarrassing viral dashcam video of a doofus driver on the road, or perhaps this new ConnectedCAM feature can do some weird dashcam videos like the ones you saw on the net. That is very savvy and very addictive. I like that.

2017 Citroen C3

Apart from the addictive features you can toy around, the new C3 comes with an array of new petrol and diesel engines to choose from. The most powerful is the one with the 1.2L PureTech petrol engine with 110PS of power and can be mated with either a six-speed automatic or a five-speed manual gearbox. Not that powerful by modern standards but it's nippy and cutting less cheeses than a fifth-grader feeling gassy in a classroom. Apart from that, the suspension has been improved to keep it comfortable and enjoyable to drive on the city streets. It maybe regular to drive but the urge to keep it driving for longer is what made the new model great, in my opinion.

2017 Citroen C3

In the end, looks like the new C3 is much more youthful and more enjoyable to own than the facelifted DS 3, and given to the fact that this should be the future rally car for Citroen Racing, looks like the racing pedigree has been revived and with this new model, expect such a strong following for this one because of the tech-savvy features that will keep them addicted for more. So, which would you prefer. If you're more of a socialite, go for the more matured DS 3 but if you're trendy, savvy, and young, best to go for the new C3.

Photo: PSA Peugeot Citroen

Renault Scenic IV

2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the Renault Scenic MPV and for its fourth-generation, the all-new Renault Scenic, in five-seater and seven-seater Grand Scenic variants, promises to be a family friendly multipurpose vehicle fit for all sorts of national lampoons across Europe, be it a road trip to Spain, the Cheddar Gorge, Swiss Alps, any destination would the family want to go as long as this MPV's ready to accommodate the whole family.

2017 Renault Scenic

2017 Renault Grand Scenic

First, let's take a closer look on the design and for this fourth-generation model, the new Scenic draws inspiration from 2011's R-Space concept while incorporating Renault's new signature design that traces back to the Espace, the Talisman, and of course, the latest Renault Megane it was based upon. While the design is basically an improvement compared to the previous model, the new Scenic still retains its MPV character inside out, meaning even it exciting looks, it's still a dad's car for dads who had a wife and kids loaded to their hectic schedules without all the free days for himself.

2017 Renault Grand Scenic interior

2017 Renault Scenic interior

Because of Renault's new design language, the new Scenic now became a victim to Renault's uniform interior design that the Espace, Talisman, and the Megane now had. Step inside and you can never tell the difference from the other cars because this is Renault's future, whether you like it or not, and it's going to succumb like what happened to the BMW interiors of the past bringing that same interior look over and over again until the 7-Series changed all that. On the upside, you have some lots of thingamajigs you can toy around, especially that touchscreen on the dashboard that tells what you are doing right now.

Whether you are in a five-seater Scenic or in a family-friendly seven-seater Grand Scenic, it's great to know that the interior still has the same practicality as the previous Scenic models but with a bit more unfinished businesses. Whether if you're going for a family picnic or a night out with your mates, the new interior really packs some comfort and convenience for both driver and passenger alike. There's even lots of compartment to store your stuff elsewhere, too. After twenty years of focusing more on practicality, the new Scenic really knows how to accommodate very well with the trends of today and who can blame but the customers who really demand more for this two-decade-long MPV in the European market.

2017 Renault Grand Scenic

2017 Renault Scenic

Checking under the hood, the Scenic and the Grand Scenic comes with different choice of petrol or diesel engines to choose from. In the normal five-seater Scenic, the most powerful variant is obviously either a 1.2L turbocharged petrol or a 1.6L diesel engine each producing 130PS of power while the most fuel efficient is the Energy dCi 110 engine with 3.9L/100km of fuel consumption. In the seven-seater Grand Scenic, meanwhile, the most powerful is the 1.6L dCi engine with 160PS of power while mated with a double-clutch gearbox. Well, you get the idea but if you're driving one in Paris, those diesel variants will soon be banned from entering the French capital for environmental reasons we don't really understand.

While it uses the same new platform as the new Megane, the Scenic feels more relaxed and more civilized for a people carrier but for enjoyment, it's pretty much average and you can't feel the fun factor when you drive it on the open road with the family. It maybe good to drive on the streets but out on the open, it's a tad regular car with a regular taste that is way beyond normal standards.

Safety wise, the new Scenic comes with an array of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems that will keep them safe on the road such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Active Emergency Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Safe Distance Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition with Over Speed Prevention, Blind Spot Warning, reversing camera, automatic dipped and main beam headlights, Easy Park Assist, and so much more in store for the new model.

The price? The new Scenic starts at 24,000 Euros while the Grand Scenic starts at 25,300 Euros, making these a reasonable value for money, although cars like the Kia Carens can undercut these two in terms of pricing, but don't get too rough on this one because while it lacks enjoyment on the open road, the new Scenic still offers some practicality, some tech, and good driving feel on the street fit for a family mover. The Scenic has been around with the European families for two decades and the latest version will surely want to do something to get it written to the history of Renault's iconic MPV.

Photo: Renault

How the Assassin's Creed franchise rewrote history forever

Although today's Assassin's Creed isn't as strongly violent as the games were, it was more of an advanced birthday present to celebrate 10 years of Assassin's Creed this 2017. Anyway, the hit stealth action game that became the historical equivalent of Metal Gear continues to rewrite ancient history forever with numerous installments in both consoles and smartphones alike.

Fanbase aside, this video game franchise keeps changing history with the war between Assassins and Templars and because of a certain individual's genes that traces back to the Assassin that changed history forever, the Assassins are born for one major purpose; to rewrite history and take on the Templars in modern times. So, how did the franchise rewrote the history books as we knew it since the first game launched in 2007?

• The first Assassin's Creed game, launched in 2007, centers on the history of the Third Crusade in the Holy Land and the bloodline of the legendary Assassin named Altair ibn-La'Ahad was told. Following his capture by the shadowy Abstergo organization, a young man named Desmond Miles recalls the memories of his ancestor who broke all three tenets of the Brotherhood while attempting to stop Robert de Sable from taking a Piece of Eden. While demoted by the Brotherhood as a mere novice, Altair's quest throughout the Holy Land involves the assassination of the nine Knights Templars to regain his former status, and that includes stopping de Sable in the presence of King Richard I of England warning the King of de Sable's plot to kill him.
• The Ezio trilogy, which remains one of the most popular arcs of the franchise (so popular, they even gave PS4 and XBOX One owners a remastered treatment) that began with Assassin's Creed II centers on the height of the Italian Renaissance during the 15th and the early 16th century as well as the Assassin named Ezio Auditore da Firenze. From Florence to Forli, the road to Ezio's revenge against the betrayal of his family is not obviously an easy one as he tries to restore the order of the Assassins, defeat the Templars, and continue their ongoing quest to prevent a foreseeable Armageddon. It all leads to the fateful encounter between Altair and Ezio in Assassin's Creed Revelations, where Desmond's retelling of the two assassins are starting to unravel.
• Connor from Assassin's Creed III and Aveline from Assassin's Creed Liberation are the Assassins that changed America forever during the events of the American Revolution, the events involving the Americans regaining their independence from British colonists and named George Washington as their first president. Continuing Desmond Miles' mission to stop the foreseeable apocalypse, he re-emerged through the age of the American Revolution as his half-English, half-Mohawk ancestor Ratonhnhake:ton, also known as Connor. In Liberation, meanwhile, it centers mostly on Aveline de Grandpré, an American with French and African heritage who joined the Assassin Brotherhood in 1759 and waged a war against the Templar conspiracy that will rewrite the very history of America forever.
• Following the death of Desmond Miles after the events from the previous installments, samples of his body were taken and allowed Abstergo to continue explore his genes through the Animus' new cloud computing capabilities. In Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, the tale of a pirate named Edward Kenway was told during the legend of Black Beard. As the new Assassin sails across the seas, the Abstergo organization, Templars of today, are searching for a First Civilization structure known as the Observatory, and they're using Edward Kenway's memories to find it.
• Assassin's Creed Rogue, the darkest installment of the series, centers on North America during the French-Indian War of the 18th century and it tells the tale of Shay Patrick Cormac, an Assassin who betrayed the Brotherhood and vowed revenge as a villainous Assassin Hunter while venturing through the streets of New York City through the freezing temperatures of the North Atlantic Ocean. This is the first time fans get to know about the game as a villainous Templar who hunts Assassins for his thirst for vengeance.
• Set during the French Revolution during the late 18th century, Assassin's Creed Unity ventures on the tale of Arno, an Assassin who can discover the hidden truth behind the Revolution. In here, Arno will have to take advantage of new arsenal, skills, and alliance with others to explore 18th Century Paris in search for the hidden truth behind the Revolution.
• Assassin's Creed Syndicate focuses on London, England, during the age of the Industrial Revolution, and as Jacob Frye, who spearheaded the world's first organized crime family in London, he and his gang must unite to bring down the establishments and rival gangs to gain control of the underground scene of the British capital.
• There are other untold Assassins that changed the very course of history forever. Such examples are Arbaaz Mir from India, Nikolai Orelov and Anastasia from Russia, Shao Jun from China, Aguilar from Spain, the Last Descendants, and many others. Who knows, there could be undiscovered Assassins are yet to be told in the foreseeable future and how they rewrite history while waging war against the Templars.

So, with ten years of discovering Assassins throughout the pages of ancient history, fans are looking to expect more from this franchise because as the franchise is honoring its tenth anniversary in 2017, there are more Assassins are yet to be discovered and it could be you who will change the course of history and the future, forever.