COMELEC Sends Notice To Explain To Local Candidates

It doesn't look good for 19 local candidates as they were given notices to explain for vote buying and abuse of state resources, a very serious allegation.

Comelec Executive Director and Committee on Kontra Bigay lead Teopisto Elnas Jr. recently released these in a one page document that includes Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, former Rep. Romero Quimbo, Denver Chua of Cavite City, Marvin Venus of Baras Rizal, Ruben Talon, Butch Suspene and Zake Derequito of Dumangas, Iloilo, Zarah Rose Lara of Cagayan Province, Allan Martines de Leon and Kristofer Charles Esguerra of Taytay, Erwin Pastrana of Mauban, Quezon, Rhapsody Miguel Riveral of Cuartero, Capiz, Winfred Rivera of party list Kamalayan, Jeren Jude Bacas and Rolen Paulino Jr. of Olongapo, Dan Fernandez of Laguna and Romulo Avila of Quezon Province. Recent statements from Comelec on Thursday also included Isko Moreno and Sam Verzosa of Manila. They also admit on Tuesday how they have been overwhelmed in the Committee on Kontra Bigay as they are still receiving complaints til now for various local posts.

Add to that an anonymous group of public school teachers also filed complaints through Comelec and CSC against the running mayoralty candidate of Marikina Stella Quimbo of which according to their statement has allegedly used AICS funds (Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation) of the DSWD. They say this is a misuse of government resources even when it's so close to elections (against DepED Memo and election code). They have submitted photo and video evidence to support their claim. Afraid of punishment or harm, they have sent this anonymously. They also included names of DepED personnel, and also stated how some of them were asked to also check ID's and documents to process, and to become recipients of AICS themselves. They asked for government agencies to investigate these allegations right away and didn't state their names for security reasons.

Much of them (politicians) would gladly answer these allegations in the proper forum. They also have said that most of them didn't get a copy of the complaint yet according to recent articles. I hope they (normal folks and public school teachers) also get the help they need without prejudice. 

10 Reasons Why You Should Watch THUNDERBOLTS

I've asked myself a couple of times, I didn't get to answer why. One, I wasn't quite familiar with the superhero group even if I was a big fan of films from the outfit. But when I heard that THUNDERBOLTS was in SM Cinemas this month, I saw Filipinos lined up like clockwork. This is a film by Marvel Studios, spread by Disney in theaters, and I got more than what I bargained for. 

1. Thunderbolts had really good actors. Even though I didn't know most of them, one thing they didn't lack is the ability to convey emotion, Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, David Harbor, Wyatt Russel and Sebastian Stan all made it easy to digest because characters were believable, funny at times, and easy to relate to. It's like you know them even though you really don't know them.

2. Florence Pugh as Black Widow is different, but I like her take despite of us being a more Scarlett Johansson fan. While new, she took this on like a pro so you'll see her as a bored working assassin from Russia. Trained and gifted as a kid, she becomes her own persona. She doesn't become a hero overnight and this is her movie (even though they're a group).

3. Bucky is back, Sebastian Stan gains a suit and played politics as a day job. By no means that would hamper him from becoming the Winter Soldier that he is. He is still explosive as ever. That iconic arm of him gets clowned by fellow heroes, and this isn't an exception. You'll be reassured though that he's got it all together. He's more matured, and I love it.

4. Lewis Pullman plays Bob. Just Bob. You need to see how he changes. He's extra. But he's just Bob.

5. Director Jake Schreier had a brilliant vision. Executed it well, and doesn't need a forensic scientist that these things are connected. There will be various times you'll see Easter eggs in the middle and end credits scene like what normal Marvel movies do.

6. David Harbor is an absolutely adorable human being. His character might be funny most of the time, but that's where he's going to just chuck you with his ability to pull heartstrings. Then attempt to make you cry, he's going to do a remarkable job in doing it.

7. Wyatt Russel's version of the US Agent is a tiring and frustrating one. He reminds me of a Taco. Watch out for his story. 

8.   Hannah John Kamen as Ghost wasn't given much of an interesting scene although this counts as her origin of some sort. Maybe she'll be in future MCU scenes where we'll get to see even more of her abilities. Maybe she was too hard to edit in. 

9. It ain't a filler, I think it's a necessary prelude to something big. 

10.  It was able to pull its own weight. It might have mentioned bigger ones but it's a story worthy to be known now. Definitely deserves to be seen in SM Cinemas, because it feels different. It wouldn't really make justice if it's just seen in a computer/phone screen if you want to stream.

NASHIE BOY BONUS

 

It's also a great movie to watch with friends who equally love the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I met Nash Aguas, his wife Mika Dela Cruz, Nashies Admin Philip, my neighbor Rai and actor Andre Garcia (whom I also haven't seen in a while). Man, I couldn't hug them but I miss them a lot. Nash is different, but still the same humble guy I've met back in the day. So proud of him and his achievements. It was also my first time to see Mika in person, super cute couple. Ugh, this moment made the movie even more special!

TEAM PAWPAW Wins 2025 PANDA LEGENDS Ride and Conquer Grand Finals

foodpanda just concluded their 2025 PANDA LEGENDS Ride and Conquer Grand Finals at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City. After grueling months of eliminations in Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila, they only have 2 teams left to vie for the coveted trophy. 

Team Pawpaw from Manila

Team MTS from Davao

Team PAWPAW and Team MTS had to survive a best of 5 series, which is not going to be easy. They had to go through several skirmishes to get here, and the finals match proved to be super difficult because they haven't had a chance to face each other prior to the finals match, they had no clue about their play styles and resorted to banning their MVP characters early on.

Much of their picks are assassins, marksmen, support and mages. Tanks are not meta?

Just to give you a picture, in Manila alone, they had 7K registrants, which they had to screen and arrange them all for eliminations. Today they held several rounds to pick the final 2 in the morning, so they're pretty much the best of the best riders for the Panda Legends tournament. Overall, they had 224 teams from 6 regions, with one goal, to win this all!

Team Pawpaw is from Manila, while Team MTS from Davao. 

I also heard some of the other teams were there at the venue: 

Pandamay from Cebu

South Riders from South Manila

Panda Warriors

The winner will get 240,000 pesos. That's definitely going to change lives if they win!

When the dust settled, TEAM PAWPAW from Metro Manila won the championship. They got to take home their cash prize and the trophy. Second place winner Team MTS didn't go empty handed because they also got huge home Bluetooth speakers and cash prizes too because they are basically winners of their own regions.

Congratulations to Team Pawpaw! How I wish I could join the games next year! 

Sweet Guys Get AXE Scents Too

You know those graffiti signs in Makati lately? That probably was a sign of sweet things to come because AXE just came out with 2 new scents, Black Vanilla and Cherry Spritz. 

 

 And why not, men after all are sweet right? It's this side that's relatively been repressed, with no reason, not to keep machismo in check, it's 2025 and that way of thinking needs to change.

These new scents are under AXE Fine Fragrance Collection, something that they've been working on in the past year. Using essential oils, they've managed to do this one with the goal of getting over 72 hours of fragrance and deo work, you'll be impressed how it lasts on a normal day.

Black Vanilla is sweet, a little herby and juicy. I like sandalwood, and it seems to have it in there, so I love it. It also got notes of mandarin, banana, lavender, sage, basil, cocoa, vanilla too. Cherry Spritz is a little different. It's got a mix of cherries, red apple, notes of jasmine, amber, nutty praline, something sweet and lasts more than usual.

The murals by the way were made by artists Jappy Agoncillo and AC Bautista who does murals. I like how they connected to Filipino humor, the statements certainly felt personal. It welcomes the new side of men like it should, and does it fare well? Of course! AXE always delivers.