BREAKING

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Hit the Road in Perfect Condition, Consult Your Car Doctor Now


Wazzup Pilipinas!

This pandemic has either stuck our service vehicle at home and quarantined just like us because we are going out less, or has been hitting the road more often due to less public transportation available.

Either way, our rides still need to keep in shape because both situations could break and deteriorate our cars like our bodies lacking stronger immunity against viruses if we don't consult our doctor immediately especially for recurring symptoms.

But don't panic just yet! Our cars won't have the Corona virus (as if waiting to get infected...lol) if we act smart and fast.  Car Doctor is now here to prescribe us the right medicine to cure our cars from whatever viruses attempts to attack or has already attacked our trusted companion on the road.


Car viruses could be a lot of things we don't want our cars to get infected with ... like rusted underchassis, weak brakes, oil leaks, short-circuited electricals, weak air-conditioning, misaligned wheels and so many more other symptoms that could be leading our car to its tragic demise.

Have no fear because we could consult Car Doctor and the Food Hive co-located at the same place to provide us the much needed "vaccines" to counter the dreaded car viruses.

Spent a few hours of Sunday day being part of the launch of a new car care center cum food hive located in the biggest city in the country.

Ooopppss! Never worry, stop raising your eyebrows, we are never "pasaways" because it was just a small gathering composed of only 5 bloggers and the Car Doctor team. We were told we were the first batch, and that there would be other batches soon.


Car Doctor is not really a new player since the brand is the result of successfully creating a name in the car care industry under the name XTI Fuel Station existing since 1998.

This is where you take your car for its much needed lubrication, wheel alignment, underchassis maintenance, and all sorts of repairs and other automotive services? With so many services they are offering, it's more like pampering your car.

Check out the top-of-the-line equipment available at the Car Doctor and The Food Hive to offer faster, convenient and more reliable services. These are matched by the best auto expert professionals that are trained and well-equipped with the years of knowledge to ensure you get the best service for your car(s).







They also have plenty of parking spaces  available for inquiring customers, and when you're availing if their services, they have 6 bays: 2 for lubrication  and 2 for wheel alignment and underchassis maintenance, and the last 2 for mechanical works.

Before entering their Customers Lounge, we were required to undergo the standard health and safety protocols - face mask and/or face shield, foot mat to disinfect our shoes or sandals, alcohol or sanitizer for ensure clean hands and the temperature checker shaped like a gun, to see how "hot" or "cool" we are. Joking aside, these are necessities during these times so it is good that Car Doctor implements these as requirements to their customers.

The Car Doctor and The Food Hive team gave us an overview of the establishment and services at the second floor of their Customers Lounge where we were treated to milk teas from Tea 101 located at the ground floor.




You could also dine while waiting for your car to get "cured" and pampered. Just like us, we were served milk tea, laksa and pork humba since food kiosks are available downstairs including one managed by Celebrity Chef Myke Tatung.


The Customers Lounge has free Wi-Fi  Internet access, Netflix and music. Maybe we could ask for a console gaming station soon. If that happens, I would be frequenting this place.




After the talk, we proceeded downstairs towards their bays where their head mechanics showed us the different equipment they have.

The tour took around 25 minutes since they do have a lot of equipment to help them automate with ease their tasks in maintaining and pampering your vehicle.

Here are some of the equipment they have:

Imaging wheel aligner
Wheel balancer
ATF dialysis
And too many to mention all





We were pretty much amazed with all the modern technology including the digital and electronic gadgets that they use. There were monitors, tablets and even a Bluetooth connection that helps them guarantee your precious car is in good hands.

Here are the services they offer:

Wheel balancing
Tire repair
Rust proofing
Aircon repair
Electrical repair
Mechanical repair
Break repair
Suspension repair
Underchassis repair
Engine Tune-ups
Change oil
Computer engine scan
Nitrogen air for tires - which is provided for free for every wheel alignment

They also offer minor windshield crack repair and paint less dent repair. Then there's also interior steam sanitizing and detailing.



As expected they have other items available for sale to their customers so they are like a one-stop-shop for all your car maintenance and repair needs.

The latter part of the tour was also interesting as they showed us a sort of powerbank for cars that can help you jumpstart your car when your battery fails. There's a different one for gasoline and diesel engines. For diesel engines, you'll need to purchase the bigger and almost double in amperes so it would be capable to jumpstart your car, and at the same time it can be used to charge up your devices like smartphones.

For your call of nature needs, their restrooms and wash area are clean and orderly. They also provide tissues at the wash areas so you could dry your hands. Just hoping they could maintain these facilities even after a few months of constant use.

What else could you ask for? The Car Doctor's diagnosis? The prescription says you need to visit them soon....as in now!

The Car Doctor and the Food Hive is at 80 Visayas Avenue in Quezon City. Check out their Facebook page for more details of the services they provide, and the upcoming food treats they will soon offer.

You'll be glad to know that they are open everyday as early as 7am up to late 7pm.

What are you waiting for!? This community quarantine is your opportunity to become more productive by treating your car to the much needed services it needs rather than keeping it quarantined with you.


For the video walkthrough of what transpired earlier, here is the link to the video I uploaded on our YouTube channel

https://youtu.be/PmSiF1evLC4

If you like to watch on Facebook instead, here's the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/273998629382347/posts/3186461834802664/

#ConsultYourCarDoctorNow
#WazzupPilipinas #CarDoctor #TheFoodHive #PambansangBlogger #CarMaintenance #CarCareIndustry #PambansangBlogger  @ Car Doctor and The Food Hive

James Gunn Went Deep Into the DC Library for the Suicide Squad Sequel


Wazzup Pilipinas!

"The villains I used come from all over DC & from different time periods. However the movie is deeply indebted to John Ostrander’s #SuicideSquad run, so I’d start with the 1st collection, Trial by Fire." - James Gunn


Holy shit! I can not believe I am actually excited for James Gunn's THE SUICIDE SQUAD!



It looks like a looney, colorful pop art war film! Harley Quinn has never looked f*cking better.




I haven’t ever been the biggest DC follower but a lot of the Suicide Squad characters I’ve never heard of..? Where should I start to get in on the @JamesGunn vision of Suicide Squad because I’m super pumped for it.



Here's your new batch members of Suicide Squad:

Harley Quinn
Rick Flag
Captain Boomerang
Bloodsport
Peacemaker
Polka-Dot Man
Ratcatcher 2
King Shark
T.D.K.
Mongal
Javelin
Weasel
Savant
Blackguard
The Thinker
Sol Soria
& Amanda Waller











So there's a movie where Peter Capaldi, Nathan Fillion, and Idris Elba get to team up with Harley Quinn, Polka-Dot Man... AND KING SHARK... with John Cena as PEACEMAKER?!

Margot Robbie is the only person who’s allowed to be Harleen Quinzel. That’s final.

God is a woman and I am in love with her. Everything about this film has me hyped and this look is so comic accurate, I cannot wait!

Our Harley forever.








John Cena came dressed TO PLAY! A fun part of this entire event was seeing how quarantine was impacting everyone’s grooming habits... lol.

Polka Dot Man is a character I thought we would never see in Cinema and I’m very interested to see how they portray him on the big screen.

And that Shark Man!

Yeah. I'm seeing this a ZILLION TIMES!


James Gunn went DEEP DEEP into the DC library! What a joy to see this really messed up Brady Bunch come to life!

I've been reading comics for decades, and I had *no idea* both the roster AND the cast went this deep.

Hat's off to all y'all.

Definitely should open up the comic access section now on the DC FanDome site so everyone can check it out.

"The greatest cast I've ever worked with" ~ James Gunn

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Amid COVID-19 pandemic, DOTr activates 3 ports as crew change hubs in one month



Wazzup Pilipinas!

Subic Bay Freeport Zone starts as hub today, August 22

Facing restrictions imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the country’s maritime industry, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through its Maritime Sector, is now activating crew change hubs to address the global need for fresh crew of ships operated by around 1.5 million seafarers, 378,000 or 25% of which are Filipinos.

“This month alone, the DOTr maritime sector was able to open and activate three crew change hubs in the country. These are located at the Port of Manila, Port of Capinpin in Bataan, and today, at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. It is my hope for the Philippines to become a major international hub for crew change,” Secretary Tugade said.

On August 19, Port Capinpin in Bataan joined the Port of Manila as a crew change hub. Other ports for activation include Batangas, Davao, and Cebu.

Crew change is essential to ensure seafarers’ safety, health, welfare and employment as they can only serve on board a vessel without leave up to a maximum of 11 months based on International Labour Organization (ILO) 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

The activation of crew change hubs will primarily benefit seafarers, recognized globally as key workers, who are stranded onboard ships with expired contracts due to travel restrictions aimed to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

“To guarantee that the health and safety of seafarers and the public are protected while we work on this endeavor, the DOTr and its attached agencies are activating hubs in close coordination with various government agencies and units involved in crew changes,” OIC-Assistant Secretary for Maritime Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson, Jr. said.

Today, August 22, the DOTr, through the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) also activated the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as a crew change hub. This is made possible after series of consultations with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the local government of Zambales, Bataan and Olongapo City.

OTS Administrator and Head of the One-Stop Shop (OSS) Undersecretary Raul Del Rosario revealed that under IATF Resolution No. 53, Subic Bay is actually identified as one of the crew change hubs in the country.

“The strategic location of Subic Bay makes it ideal for crew changes due to its proximity to countries with high trading activities. The maritime industry in the area is also actively performing, with excellent port facilities and safe harbor to serve the needs of internationally-flagged vessels. Basically, Subic Bay can offer everything shipping principals are looking for in a crew change hub. We have also established the One-Stop Shop (OSS) to ensure that the health requirements are met,” Usec Del Rosario noted.

For his part, PCG Commandant Admiral George Ursabia Jr. said that the crew change hub abides by the established health and quarantine protocols of the Department of Health (DOH).

“The DOTr Team, composed of the Central Office, OTS, PCG and MARINA, has also been meeting with the DOH, Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and SBMA to ensure that the hub will conform with all requirements, especially health and safety protocols including quarantine procedures. To ensure the smooth flow of operations, we have conducted a dry run which was witnessed by the public,” PCG Admiral Ursabia Jr. said.

Meanwhile, MARINA Administrator Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad underscored the need to establish crew change hubs in the country especially now that there is a pandemic.

“This has been a significant cause of worry, as seafarers of all nationalities are already experiencing immense physical and mental fatigue brought on by overstaying onboard ships at sea. If this continues, delivery of essential cargo will be affected. Having crew change hubs in the country will solve this problem and give our seafarers the advantage of swift processing due to the established protocols,” Administrator Empedrad highlighted.

Aside from facilitating the transfer of stranded marine personnel off their vessels because of the pandemic, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago likewise stated that crew change hubs in the country are also expected to generate economic activities and revenues in the areas where they are located, with the collection of port dues and charges from ship dockage or anchorage.

“By becoming a crew change capital of the world, we would not only prime up our seafaring and maritime industry. We also expect to boost our hospitality industry,” GM Santiago emphasized.

In the last four months, a total of 734 ships docked or anchored in the Port of Manila for the purposes of crew change. A total of 34,000 seafarers were served, wherein 28,000 seafarers disembarked while 5,800 joined the ships.

For ship turnaround, cargo ships usually stay for about 6 to 12 hours while cruise ships stay for a week up to a month if they serve as quarantine facilities.

“We can look forward to the same maritime traffic in other hubs as more foreign shipping principals are expected to patronize our ports for crew change. Aside from opening our ports for crew change, the Joint Circular for Green Lane for seafarers provide speedy movements of seafarers in our country. Three major shipping companies of Japan already bannered our green lane program in the conduct of crew change. We expect other flags to follow their lead,” GM Santiago added.

*Photo credit to MB
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