EMONG'S JOURNALS

Local news team, Rappler.com, drove the newly-opened Skyway Stage 3 from Alabang, Muntinlupa to Balintawak, Quezon City in just 34 minutes. Watch the VIDEO below The Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, which fully opens on January 14, connects the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), and reduces travel time between Buendia and Balintawak to 15 to 20 minutes from the current travel time of 2 hours. Motorists can use the Skyway 3 via the following access points (exits): Partial :  Skyway Stage 3 Northbound 1. Buendia on-ramp 2. Quezon Avenue on-ramp 3. Balintawak off-ramp Skyway Stage 3 Southbound: 1. Buendia off-ramp 2. Plaza Dilao on-ramp 3. Quezon Avenue off-ramp 4. Balintawak on-ramp Full (January 14 onwards) 1. Balintawak Exit - for motorists to and from NLex, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Project 7 and 8. 2. Sgt. Rivera Exit - for motorists to and from the Manila ports, Rizal Avenue and A. Bonifacio. 3. Quezon Aven...

Pretty much an iconic symbol of its times, the Vespa Primavera scooter line-up zips through twenty-first century streets with the same agility and dynamism today as the original legend that revolutionized urban mobility during the 1960s era.  The small body Vespa Primavera with the famous lightweight structure first appeared on the motoring scene with its charming "two wheels and a motor" combination and up until now, the retro scooter still carries its classic design.  This 2021, the Vespa Primavera is injecting more technological bells and whistles into its body. Full LED lighting both front and rear, multi-function full-colour 4.3” TFT display (on the S 125 and 150 versions), Bike Finder and remote seat opener (on all 125 and 150 versions) are just some of the technical features that take the Vespa Primavera up a notch. On top of all this, the S 125 and 150 come with Vespa MIA as a standard, connecting your smartphone and bike...

Coco Martin's "Ang Probinsyano" action series continue to evolve and subvert expectations, and it's never been more riveting to watch. But avid fans of Cardo Dalisay won't be seeing the iconic hero cop over free TV anytime soon, instead he will appear on Kapamilya Channel which will be available only on cable and satellite TV nationwide beginning June 13. The new Kapamilya Channel will be available on SKY, Cablelink, G Sat, and most member-cable operators of the Philippine Cable Television Association (PCTA) nationwide. In a press release from  ABS-CBN , it said “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” will start with a ten-episode recap of this season’s story before the new episodes are released. Also on weeknights, the mission of brave soldiers in “A Soldiers” Heart” will continue while weekdays will unveil the family drama in “Love Thy Woman.” “Magandang Buhay,” a morning program which stars Jolina Magdangal, Melai Cantiveros, and Karla Estrada, will be back ...

A video of a foreigner berating a police officer inside a posh village in Makati City opens a debate whether or not a PNP personnel can effect a warrantless arrest inside a private property or a home. Here's a back story. In a report from PNA , the Makati police said that around 5:04 p.m., Senior Master Sergeant Roland Von Madrona along with village watchman Esteban Gaan of Barangay Dasmarinas, conducted patrol inside the Dasmariñas Village upon the request of Chairwoman Rosana Hwang. At around 5:45 p.m., the duo chanced upon a housemaid, identified as Cherilyn Escalante, watering plants outside their residence without wearing a face mask, which is mandatory under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) guidelines. The police said Madrona then approached Escalante and advised her to wear a face mask for her safety. A minute after getting inside the house to get her face mask, house owners Javier Parra and his wife Abegail Salvador came out and argued with the po...

Screenshot from the movie 'Prometheus'. While Philippines' Netflix offering might seem similar to the US there are actually a few differences. What really is the same is the frustration of not knowing what to watch. Aware of this, I’ve made this list of new entries for January 2020. I believe that when you don’t know what to watch, that’s what you’re looking for: something that you will like, that you’ve probably never heard of. Below I count down my personal choices for the best movies on Netflix this January 2020. PROMETHEUS A prequel to Sigourney Weaver's Aliens saga, Prometheus is a 2012 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof and starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, and Charlize Theron. It is set in the late 21st century and centers on the crew of the spaceship Prometheus as it follows a star map discovered among the artifacts of several ancient Earth cu...

Once only popular with professional photographers, the digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras are now increasingly common. This is especially in travel photography when people need clear and high quality photos to document their travel. But if you're a beginner in DSLR who just can't figure out how to use all those buttons and wheels, the Auto mode seems to be the best (and only) way. For a novice photographer, being in Auto mode is a good thing, especially when you are not ready to go into full manual mode just yet. But the more you use your camera, the more you will want to get a bit of control. This is where the "P" mode comes in. Not only is the "P" mode easier (and more relaxing) to shoot than in manual, it makes it easy for a beginner photographer to get behind the camera - particularly when he quickly needs to capture a special moment. In this tutorial video, Marius van der Westhuizen of MWest Photography covers the basic fundamental prin...

There are "walkers" and there are "standers." The SM Supermalls released a video over the weekend the "escalator etiquette" campaign, encouraging their customers to stand on right and walk on left. The nearly-viral video plans to make the SM malls more stair-friendly obviously imitating the western rules while on board escalators. The side chosen for the "standers" is on the right, so that the "walkers" can do left and would not have to cut into a standing line of people to exit. In certain countries, for instance Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, riders stand on the left and walk on the right, following the road rules. Of course, here in the Philippines, it's the other way around. PROS 1. Good exercise. Walking may be the simplest way to work out. You can do it almost anywhere, and it’s a snap to get started: Just put one foot in front of the other. With walking, your heart will get stronger, you’ll lower your bloo...

How much should a Filipino family earn to have a simple, comfortable life? An animated video explainer from ABS-CBN shows what a a Filipino family of four must earn to have a "simple and comfortable" life. The data came from a survey conducted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Music from Kevin McLeod. Graphics from Angela Maria Salaño & Pamela Denice Ramos. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS POST? Share your ideas by commenting.

It can get a tad confusing. South China Sea is the dominant term used in English for the sea, and the name is a result of early European interest in the sea as a route from Europe and South Asia to the trading opportunities of China. In the sixteenth century Portuguese sailors called it the China Sea (Mar da China); later needs to differentiate it from nearby bodies of water led to calling it the South China Sea. In September 2012, then Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed Administrative Order No. 29, mandating that all government agencies use the name "West Philippine Sea" to refer to the parts of the South China Sea within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, and tasked the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) to use the name in official maps. This leaves us one question. When do we use the names West Philippine Sea and South China Sea? Condo Vibes In a media interview with ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) , Supreme ...

It's not much of a fight, but let's admit it -- we WERE entertained. The Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) Baron Geisler vs Kiko Matos fight event had the two actors whacking each other in a two-round mixed martial arts exhibition fight held at the Valkyrie in Taguig City on Saturday, June 25. Some were frustrated yet more were amused. It was a street brawl between two men letting off their steam inside the URCC octagon. There weren't a lot of punches thrown, nor were there kicks flying out in mid-air like in the regular MMA fights that we've seen so far. Nonetheless, the event did earn plenty of cheers from the crowd. All 3 judges scored the fight 19-19 -- DRAW. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS POST? Share your ideas by commenting.

More legit cash for cops makes them less prone to corruption. Incoming Philippine National Police head Chief Superintendent Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa confirmed President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's earlier pronouncements to double the salaries of the PNP's uniformed personnel. In the "Yes or No" interview with ABS-CBN's Bandila , news anchor Julius Babao, on the video's 13:27 mark, asked Dela Rosa, "Tataas ba ang suweldo ng mga pulis sa ilalim ng Duterte administration?" (Will the policemen receive a salary increase under the Duterte administration?) Without batting an eyelash, the next PNP chief replied, "Times two, yes!" At present, the entry level of Police Officer 1 gets a monthly paycheck of P14,834 plus allowances of about P6,000 (a total of around P20,834) while an average senior police officer with a rank of SPO1 earns P21,711 plus allowances of about P10,000 (a total of around P31,711). Their basic salary doubled, a...

She was true to her words, the last man standing in the vice presidential race is indeed a woman. On Friday, Leni Robredo finished with 14,418,817 votes beating her closest rival, Senator Bongbong Marcos who had 14,155,344. Robredo led Marcos by only 263,473 votes. According to GMA News , Marcos had a lead of 83,480 votes going into Friday's canvassing but this was immediately wiped out when the votes from Antique and Iloilo City were tallied. Robredo had a combined lead of more than 170,000 votes in the said areas. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, won the presidential race with 16,601,997 votes. "The last man standing is a woman" It was in April, during the televised HARAPAN vice presidential debate held at the ABS-CBN compound in Quezon City, when Robredo strongly articulated herself that she would win over her male VP rivals. It was here that she first said her famous line, "The last man standing is a woman" Watch the three-minu...

In Metro Manila every day, 2.2 million vehicles squeeze into 5000 kilometers of roads. That's 440 vehicles pushing one another in every one kilometer of road. According to urban historian Paulo Alcazaren, Manila used to have one of the most effective tram and train systems in South East Asia. But after World War 2, the heavy damages incurred by the city forced Manila to shift from a rail-based system to an urban design that was based on a car-and-bus system. At present, this shift had been draining our country of PHP2.4 billion a day. Watch the five-minute documentary below. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS POST? Share your ideas by commenting.

Are you ready for Federalism? One of Rody Duterte's platforms during his presidential campaign was to invigorate the financial capabilities of regions outside Metro Manila. To be able to do this, he said the country needs to shift into the federal type of government. Federalism is a method of government that allows two or more entities to share control over the same geographic region. Each person is subject to the laws of that city, region, state and the federal government. In a federalist government, the power is divided between the national government and other governmental units. In the U.S., this means the power is divided between the federal government and the state and local governments. This is different from a unitary government where one unit holds the power. Watch the video below. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS POST? Share your ideas by commenting.

Enough with those silly 2016 election bickering. Let's hear some major comic laughs! UP student Joierie Ann Pacumio, who impersonated vice-presidential candidate Leni Robredo, literally brought the house down during the three-day "Live A.I.D.S. HA-LOL-AN" recently held at the Abelardo Hall of the University of the Philippines. Watch the video below and see for yourself. The "HA-LOL-AN 2016" is organized by UP SAMASKOM, a student organization based in UP College of Mass Communication. (screenshot from PalaBuzz Feed video)

It was a very brief "walk-down-the-aisle" for Miss Colombia, who was crowned Miss Universe 2015. The crowd were all cheering, then the host, Steve Harvey, suddenly realized he had made a terrible mistake -- misreading his cue card which listed the name of the winners. At that moment, Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutiérrez, was already wearing the Miss Universe crown and was waving profusely at the audience, holding a bouquet of flowers with all glitter and glory. It was also at this moment when Harvey re-appeared on the stage and said: “O.K., folks, uh, there’s. ... I have to apologize.” “The first runner-up is Colombia,” “Miss Universe 2015 is Philippines,” The actual winner, Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, looks in confusion and shock. It was all awkward moments right after that, caught in the epic 5-minute video below. WATCH: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS POST? Share your ideas by commenting.

Behind every cute girl on Instagram is a man... and a brick wall. The hilarious "Instagram Husbands" video on YouTube, created by The Mystery Hour, hits a little too close to home as they tell the stories of men who are getting sick and tired of taking photos for their partner's Instagram pages. The clip is part of the website InstagramHusband.com , a venue for men who are forever stuck as the designated Instagram photographer. One Instagram Husband, named H. Blair wrote on the website, "All vacation & every second. Had. To. Take. A. Photo. I think I saw the camera more than the water." "We used to eat our food. Now, we just take pictures of it," says another Instagram Husband named Trey. “My job in pictures is to make her look good,” says Jeff, also an Instagram Husband. “There are many Instagram Husbands out there, and we want you to know that you are not alone,” the clip says. “If you or someone you know is an Instagram Husband, he...

We always knew they would come back! After 20 years since the first ID4 (Independence Day) movie was released comes its sequel, the most anticipated event movie of 2016: INDEPENDENCE DAY RESURGENCE. Set in the present-day, 20 years after the aliens were defeated by the united countries of Earth led by US President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman) and tech genius David Levinson (Jeff Goldblum), the extra-terrestrials are at it again, this time fielding a much bigger large-scale attack on our world. Earth had been using recovered alien technology with the help of David, but the aliens have brought with them a more advanced, sophisticated weaponry. The nations of the world must unite once more to bring our planet back from the brink of extinction. Reprising their original roles, the movie stars Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox and Brent Spiner, with newcomers Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Sela Ward, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Joey King, Angelabab...

So, how did the entire "Star Wars" universe started? As the full cinematic release of Star Wars 7: The Force Awakens edges ever closer, fanboys started to foam at the mouth with anticipation. But not everybody was born in the Star Wars era. That's why YouTube's VariantComics had created a short ( but awesome ) video on the origins of the whole Star Wars epic saga. Watch the clip below, enjoy! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS POST? Share your ideas by commenting.

The DC comic book and movie universe is just entering a brand new phase—and things just got a lot more interesting. The new trailer for the upcoming movie "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice" unveiled a smokin' hot Wonder Woman, a young Lex Luthor and a gigantic monster-villain called Doomsday. Set to be released on March, 2016, the movie stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor. Watch the trailer below: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS POST? Share your ideas by commenting.