M-150 Unleashed Northern Adventure Race Part 2

So how did the M-150 Unleashed Northern Adventure Race went down? Well, read on.

The race

As the race progressed, the only way we were able to monitor how the other racers are doing was through hourly updates at WAVE 89.1. When our car radio signal became weak on certain areas, Paolo’s Manila-based sister kept us abreast with the radio updates via text messages.

It was there that we learned that Team Lighthouse Subaru, who breezed past us and other cars at the North Luzon Expressway misread the map, missed a crucial turn and ended up in Dinalupihan. By the time they turned back and barely made it to the checkpoint, almost two hours have elapsed and they just decided to bow out of the race and went straight to Subic.

They weren’t the only ones who had a hard time understanding the assigned routes. It took our own team a while to figure out the first checkpoint in San Fernando, Pampanga, which was only marked Essels and only by asking residents in the area were we able to figure out that Essels was actually a supermarket.

We made it to the first checkpoint in 30th place out of the 35 racers. As we made it to the succeeding checkpoints, we were encouraged by the fact that not only did we improve our standing at every stop, we were also aware of the difficulties the other racers were facing. Thanks to the updates of Paolo’s sister, we learned that some got momentarily lost while others had the expected car troubles.

Unlike those who were test driving vehicles for the first time (probably not a good idea for a lengthy race like this to begin with) the kid’s familiarity with his everyday car served our team in good stead. It also helped that his modifications turned out to be spot-on.

“The rims and the suspension are some of the factors as to why we did not end up with flat tires while negotiating the bad roads because putting race specs are not intended for rough roads, they are only used for flat smooth surface race tracks,” Paolo points out.

The big finish

As a passenger, I would have loved to stop at certain points for some photo ops and maybe even for some pasalubong items (after all, my intention was to merely cover the race) particularly in Baguio, one of my favorite places in the country.

But I could see from the fire in Paolo’s eyes that he intends to finish this race in a respectable manner at the very least especially when our standing kept improving with every checkpoint. From 30th place, we climbed back to 28th, then 21st, 16th, 11th and by the time we made it to San Fernando, La Union for the mandatory one-hour rest, we were already in ninth place.

As the race came down to the homestretch, we learned that Team P-1 Motorsports of driver JP Cariño and navigator Angelo Tambo, who led most of the way actually ran out of gas in the middle of the long and winding SCTEX. The grinding halt came just when the TIPO Gate (exit to Subic Bay Freeport) was already within their sight. They didn’t notice they busted their gas tank back in Checkpoint 9 in Tarlac. Team DKC of Arnel Carlos and Nino Sarte passed them by 20 minutes later.

As for us, we continued our progress as we finished 4th, 3rd and 2nd at the remaining checkpoints. By the time we entered Subic, we were already in a neck and neck pace with Team DKC. We somehow managed to shake them off shortly after entering Olongapo and yes, finished first ahead of everybody else.

We still lost the race, though. Maybe because Eslao is not an experienced circuit racer (many of the participants weren’t) or maybe because of his lack of familiarity with the time control concept (he was yet to be born when the last race of this type was held in the country), our team actually checked in early at the San Fernando, La Union pit stop that we were meted a stiff penalty equivalent to one hour and 15 minutes.

The decision

While that would suggest or imply that we did not follow traffic rules and was running faster than we were supposed to, the same could be said for the other racers who arrived earlier at that checkpoint, only they were smart enough not to “officially” check-in. Since that was allowed, I personally thought it defeats the purpose of the race’s whole safety first objective. Oh, well.

With an official time of 11 hours and 26 minutes with minimal or no penalties at all, Team DKC, who arrived second at the finish line, ran a clean race and won it all, including the P50,000 cash prize plus M-150 Energy Drink products, a special edition jacket and more importantly, bragging rights as the very first winner of M-150 Unleashed race.

“Our struggles included our car breaking down during the early part of the race going to the second check point at Bamban,” says Nino Sarte of Team DKC. “We had a busted CV boot resulting to the overheating of CV joint and busted axle. Despite all the troubles we still managed to finish the race at Subic.”

All told, it was a successfully-staged race and was exciting enough to merit a clamor for a similar race this year. Just like The Cannonball Run, this is one movie that deserves a sequel and talks of an even bigger M-150 Unleashed! (Southern Adventure, perhaps?) event have already made the rounds of the racing community.

As for Paolo Eslao, who by the way is based in the South, he is still very happy with how our team fared overall. “Well, we did finish the race,” he smilingly says with a sense of fulfillment. “With no accidents or mishaps whatsoever, we already achieved a great feat considering how hard we drove. Official or not, I think we owned them all.”

Indeed we did. Indeed we did.

M-150 Unleashed Northern Adventure Race Part 1

IN my line of work, I have been fortunate enough to travel in a lot of places. But for the life of me, I have never seen so many places in just one day. And that’s exactly what happened when I was invited to cover a cross-country race late last year.

To say that I got more than what I bargained for is an understatement. I have never experienced anything quite like it.

Still don't believe me? Well, here’s the first part of my account as published in Business Mirror's Personal Fortune magazine early this year.

LIKE A CANNONBALL
By EDWIN P. SALLAN

IT’S officially defined as “a point-to-point race against time, within the limits of the law covering 550 kilometers of North Luzon in a span of one day.” But for most of the participants, last year’s M-150 Energy Drink Unleashed! Northern Adventure Race might as well be the true-to-life equivalent of movies like The Cannonball Run and The Gumball Rally, the latter of which in turn was inspired by Gumball 3000, the annual international road rally that takes place on public roads with a different 3,000 mile route around the world each year.

Although a cross-country race on a much smaller scale, The Northern Adventure Race was still a first of sorts. Veteran race car driver Mike Potenciano, who helped organize the race and was among the participants said “the last time something like this happened here was in the early 1980’s.” Starting in Metro Manila at the Ortigas Home Depot, the race covers a total of 550 kilometers of the North Luzon grid and includes Checkpoints in Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Baguio, La Union, Dagupan, Lingayen and finally its finish line in Subic, all within a span of one day.

It’s not as straightforward as it sounds, though. And racers who did not fully understand the rules ultimately paid the price for it.

The rules

The rules of the race were in conjunction with one basic objective: Safety above all and abide by all traffic rules, regulations and ordinances. This means breaking the law and reckless driving are highly discouraged and the organizers will not be responsible for those caught by traffic law enforcers.

Although the racers are allowed to pass through any route they want as long as they pass through all the controls or checkpoints, there are mandatory sections that all of them must pass through. Toll receipts may also be required as proofs of compliance.

Furthermore, to keep all the racers in line and ensure that the basic safety first objective is followed, a time control system with critical penalties was implemented. The starting order is determined by the order of entries who check in at the starting gate. Those who arrive early, leaves early with a one minute head start on the next car allowed to leave.

Each car must arrive at the given checkpoints at a given target time. Check in too early and the racers are slapped a penalty of five minutes added to his total time. Check in too late and a penalty of 10 will be added to their total, not as bad as being too early but can still be costly if the race comes down to the wire.

And yes, wearing of seatbelts are mandatory as non-compliance may also mean an additional one-minute per offense to the racers’ total time.

The racers with the best total time (finish time minus start time plus penalties, if any) wins the race.

The racers

This is where the rules start to loosen up. All road-worthy registered vehicles including all-wheel drives (AWD), four-wheel drives (FWD) and rear-wheel drives (RWD) with the exception of tube chassis are allowed to participate.

The rules require that racers race as a team with a minimum crew of at least a driver and a navigator. Since this was a long distance endurance race, preparation is key. And familiarity with the Northern Luzon certainly won’t hurt.

Team Dorifto with Ramon and Jonathan Arriola brought with them a 20-man strong pit stop crew and actually acquired a brand new Honda Accord just for the race. The heavily favored Team Lighthouse Subaru of race car driver Pia Boren and advertising executive Ianne Borillo were packed with essential supplies.

Another favorite, Team Mazda of Mike Potenciano, his co-host, Lindy Pellicer of radio station WAVE 89.1 and navigator Steve Cheng were test driving a Mazda 6 for this particular, the same with Team MetroMag of Stef Juan, Camille Aguilar and Andre Tani who are also trying out a Toyota Prius.

Other noteworthy cars in the field of 35 teams included the Mitsubishi Triton of Team Fast and The Curious, the Volvo V50 of Team Big Head, the Mercedes Benz of Team Sprocket Benz, the Mitsubishi Pajero of Team Capture, the Nissan Silvia of Team Esguerra and the Honda Civic LXi of Team P-1 Motorsports.

The dark horse

This writer ended up being assigned as the navigator (!) for Team Paullex of 21-year old Paolo Eslao, the young proprietor of Eurocon Trading, an automative and industrial airconditioning parts business that he started when he was only 19 years old. The unheralded kid, who very few have heard of prior to the race entered his own mom’s Ford Lynx 1.6 GSI, the car he drives everyday to school and work. Paolo originally wanted to race alone but was forced (reluctantly, if I may add) to take me as navigator to comply with the rules.

Eslao’s preparation for this race was the most impressive in my book. Driving at go kart race tracks since he was 14, he spent his high school years in the Netherlands and further honed his driving skills in those long, European countryside roads.

If that’s not enough preparation, he studied Automotive Technology which partly explains his knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the other vehicles. His knowledge of cars also helped him modify his own car in accordance to “what is only needed for it to run on bad roads.” And for him, that meant lowering springs in his suspension and replacing parts in the engine (intake, headers, exhaust) for better air flow that in turn translates to more power and reliability.

And of course, since he did not intend to race with a navigator (and I doubt if I could really be a big help in that area since I neither race nor drive), it certainly didn’t hurt that he has a GPS device with him, which by the way, was not against the rules.

Next post: The race!

Colt 45 Vava-Vroom

WHO needs hi-tech gadgets and gizmos when the woman and vehicle of most men’s dreams are the ones up for grabs?

Colt 45, dubbed as "the strong beer for real men" is upping the testosterone ante further with its Vava-Vroom Real Man Promo that gives them a chance not just to drive home an attention-grabbing 4 x 4 truck by Ford but also enjoy a weekend getaway with the equally head-turning sexy actress, Cristine Reyes.

The “real man” who will be lucky enough to snag his dream wheels can also look forward to an unforgettable road experience with the ultra-tough features of the off-road vehicle that will be souped-up and customized by renowned 4x4 trend-setter Ramon To-Ong of 199 Off Road House. To-Ong has tweaked the vehicle in such a way that makes it ideal for our rough and rugged terrains along with oft-flooded and unpaved roads.

The equally lucky guy who will win the Boracay getaway with Cristine Reyes will be in for the experience of a lifetime as his weekend rendezvous with the sought after celebrity will also be documented by a camera crew.  Film clips and photos of the date with Reyes would surely give rhe winner some extra bragging rights to look forward to.

Joining the promo is surprisingly easy and very low-tech. Simply collect 10 Colt 45 silver crowns, enclose in an envelope with a piece of paper with your name, birth date, contact number, email address, home address and signature on it and drop it at any 2Go outlet. No mobile phone and internet connection required, how about that?

Entries may be dropped until September 15 with the draw to be held on September 30, 2010. As part of promoting the contest, Colt 45 is embarking on a roadshow in select bars and clubs in Dagupan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Laguna, Cavite, Naga, Legaspi and Cebu along with a motorcade in Manila starting in July that features the actual Ford 4x4 tough truck up for grabs.

Cristine Reyes herself will join the Manila motorcade and the Cebu and Dagupan roadshows while then treating the “real men” of Davao in a big Colt 45 concert there where she will jam with the country’s top bands.

To keep up with roadshow updates and other related developments, also check out the Facebook page of Colt 45 Vava-Vroom Promo featuring Cristine Reyes.

Off Road Racing, Anyone?

SOMETHING I wrote for GARAGE magazine last year. Slightly revised and updated. Yes, believe it or not, it's actually a lot safer than it looks.

And for a first hand look or experience, you might also want to check out the upcoming 2010 Balayong Festival Offroad Challenge in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan this coming March 5 to 7, 2010. Interested? Then please check out Mike Potenciano’s Facebook page and drop him a line.

MONSTER TRUCK MADNESS
By EDWIN P. SALLAN

WHEN people think about races, they usually think about fast cars running at breakneck speed. That’s not necessarily the case with off-road vehicles particularly those imposing 4 x 4 monster trucks. Or so says veteran race car driver Mike Potenciano who organizes these type of races along with a couple of other similar off-road rallies and veteran jet ski racer turned 4 x 4 off-road racing champion Joey Millionado.

“Off-road racing is only one of several types of off-road races that I organize here under my group, MP Turbo,” says the multi-awarded Potenciano, whose racing experience spans many years of competitive racing in varied disciplines—from karting to rally cars to touring cars to Formula One cars, name it, he has done it. “There are actually several variants of off-road racing including the faster 4 x 4 Speed, Motocross and Moto Enduro, Mountain Bike races and Rally Raid.”

Now 47, Potenciano remains a racing icon and a unifying force in what was once a dormant industry during the martial law years. An industry that was only revived during the late 80’s. When he’s not organizing races, he races himself and when he’s not racing, he organizes them. He also continues to aggressively promote the sport through his television show called SpeedTV that airs on the Viva Prime channel and Turbo Time, a radio show that he co-hosts with DJ Lindy every Monday from 10PM to 12MN at MTV Radio U92.3 FM.

Although he has a strong preference for the faster and yes, more dangerous variations of off-road motoring, he is nonetheless actively involved in promoting the slower but equally exciting 4 x 4 off-road racing.

“The thing about regular 4 x 4 off-road racing is that it’s actually safer than other motor sports,” quips Millionado, also 47, and a longtime friend of Potenciano’s. “You’re only running on first and second gear only or 40 kph an hour at the most. Yes, your vehicle will have its share of tipping overs but the only thing you need to do when it does is to just hold on to the steering wheel and you should be okay. Injuries are very rare in these kinds of races.”

Millionado, who owns Joey’s 4 x 4, a motor shop that specializes in modifying 4 x 4 vehicles, particularly Suzuki Ferozas, for both hobbyists and racers says the key to winning these kinds of races is how light one can modify his own vehicle or “rig.” These rigs are not built for speed to begin with and for off-road racing, they don’t have to be. “An unmodified Suzuki 4 x 4 usually weighs 800 to 1,000 kilos and modified to 600 to 800 kilos should do well in these types of races.”

Aside from Suzukis, the Toyota Land Cruiser (the 40 series variant) is also a popular choice for off-road racing. In terms of modification costs, Millionado says a budget of P500,000 should be enough to get Suzukis to rock and roll while Land Cruisers are more expensive to modify with an ideal budget of between P800,000 to P1.0 million. “From there, it’s non-stop gastos na as every race you participate will require your vehicle to be regularly maintained and even further modified.”

And then there’s the matter of the man-made tracks, which he says are actually more difficult than the ones in the international circuit. “Every track that we race here like the off-road tracks in Tiendesitas and the Fort are not the same unlike in the races held in the rainforests of Malaysia where it’s easier to familiarize with the tracks after racing there a few times since the course doesn’t change. Our races are shorter, usually about 15 minutes, but far more difficult.”

More than his own achievements, Millionado is proud of his teenage daughter, Jam, who is already a rising star in the off-racing circuit. “She already knew how to jet ski when she was just three years old,” he beams. “She started driving at 13 and at 16 ran her first race where she placed second and has been doing well ever since.”

Potenciano says the faster 4 x 4 races require vehicles to shift up to 3rd and 4h gears. Among the many off-road races that he has organized, he is particularly excited about what he dubs as The Ultimate Speedfest Championship which combines 4 x 4’s and motocross. “It was a big hit with the locals in Puerto Prinsesa when we organized it last March,” he muses. “We’re planning to do Rally Raid or Dakar Type Rallies with 4 x 4’s, rally cars and motorcycles.”


As defined in Wikipedia, Rally Raid, also known as cross country rallying is a more ambitious form of long distance off-road racing that takes place over several days.  Each day may require traveling up to 900 kilometers. The length of the event can be 3–15 days. Examples of rally raid races include the Dakar Rally, Central Europe Rally, Spanish Baja and Russian Baja Northern Forest.

The one MP Turbo plans to organize here covers about 300 kilometers and as Potenciano himself describes it, is “extreme and high-speed.” Aside from Puerto Prinsesa, other popular out-of-town destinations for off-road races include Pampanga and Bicol.

Both Potenciano and Millionado are one in saying that off-road racing is now a very popular sport in the country and with a very bright future to boot. “While not everyone can be racers, afficionados of the sport can still be a big part by helping out as marshalls, managers, organizers and mechanics,” Potenciano says. “Do you know that we have the best mechanics in the world here in the Philippines? Unfortunately, they are just being pirated by other countries. Their participation is actually key in the success of the speedfests that we organize.”

Buying A Used Car

IN the market for a new car for the new year? You might want to check out this piece that I wrote for GARAGE magazine last year before taking the plunge.

(ALMOST) AS GOOD AS NEW
By EDWIN P. SALLAN

YOU’RE in the market for a new car, quite possibly your very first vehicle. But then you suddenly realized a few things. You don’t have enough budget for a brand new vehicle. You don’t know anything about cars. And you either don’t know where to look or what to really look for.

This is why it is not uncommon advice for you to instead consider a used or pre-owned vehicle as your first car. Segunda mano, in the vernacular. True, a used car is not as clean, not as fresh and certainly not as smooth as new cars. And it cannot and will not have the same level of performance of its spanking new counterpart since it has already covered several thousand miles and probably all kinds of roads.

But it’s also true that a good number of used cars do look just as good and if (well-maintained by the seller) perform just as well as their brand-new counterparts while available at more desirable price tags that suit your budget.

What to look for

As most buyers of second-hand cars we interviewed will attest, doing one’s homework is the key to getting a very good used car deal. Autolink Philippines (autolink.ph), an online auto resource says the first thing you need is to determine your needs: “If you are buying the car for yourself, are you looking for something used primarily for commuting, or for work? Are you looking for a status symbol? Then a compact car, sports car or pickup may suit you. Do you have children?” and so on.

“Choose a car that fits your lifestyle and contributes to your functionality and productivity,” adds Charlie, a self-styled middle man for Luxury Car sellers. “Whether brand-new or second hand, what matters most is you get a car you’ll enjoy driving and riding. You have to like the car and not just be influenced by reviews or what other people say about it. That means getting a feel for the car and see if it is right for you.”

Kotsemo.com, another online auto resource says “shopping for a used car is not really as easy as buying a new car. Never trust your instincts in buying used cars. Getting a thorough review of the car will help you find a good buy.”

And by thorough review, that means doing your homework. For starters, beauty is very much skin deep even and especially when it comes to used vehicles. “Don't just fall in love with the car based on its looks,” cautions Lizette Manalo, a US-based businesswoman who engages in online buying and selling at Sulit.ph under the username iluvukay. “Inspect under the hood. Some simple checkings can give you better judgment of how the owner has treated the vehicle.”

What’s under the hood

Lizette says engine issues are expected with second hand cars. “Due diligence can keep one from buying a lemon car and can keep you from being stuck with hefty repair bills that are mostly unnecessary,” she says. “First, you need to check oil and transmission oil. If they’re dark and grimy, that means the owner might be negligent with oil changes. If the air filter is black then it’s dirty.”

If you make a checklist, then Lizette also suggests a few more questions that you’ll want answered when checking out a used car. “Are there leaks under the car? Are there unnecessary noises that shouldn’t be there when you test drive it? Do the brakes work well and does it squeak when you step on them? Do the car shift smoothly? Does it overheat as shown by the temperature needle drastically shifting to high after driving for a while? Does the airconditioning work? Gauges? Electricals like headlights, taillights and wipers? Does the car have starting issues that can possibly be caused by a dying alternator, battery or others? How much tire meat is left? What kind of repairs, major or minor, has the owner done to it?”

Autolink adds that knowing a used car history (i.e. “totaled in an accident/salvaged, flood damage, odometer rollbacks, lemon histories, junked titles, state emissions inspection results, lien activity, and/or vehicle use”) is also very important not just in determining its true worth but also in getting a good idea on how much mileage and usage does it still have in its tank.

Who to take with you

If you don’t have enough confidence in determining these things on your own, then by all means, get your own mechanic (make sure, he’s a really good one at that, too) to check out the car for you. Listen to Lizette: “If the owner would agree to take the car with to a mechanic, or have a tune-up done by a pro, then tune ups can pretty much tell you some issues that your plain eyes and intuition cannot see.”

There are always certain risks involved when buying a used car, or any used item for that matter. Maricel Tan Chong, another businesswoman who has owned several cars over the years and has bought both brand new and used vehicles advices only to buy from people you already know. “Unless you personally know the owner of the car you are buying and the history of the car itself, there is a great risk of driving home a defective car,” she says. “Remember, people selling cars only highlight their good points and rarely mention, if they ever do, their defects.”

Charlie, the Luxury Car specialist somewhat disagrees. “I think it’s okay to buy from a used car dealer where you are comfortable transacting and convenient for you. Buying from a dealer is establishing a relationship where the buyer is also dependent upon the service of the dealer and it is important that there is mutual trust.”

Lastly, Charlie emphasizes to importance of giving some down payment to reserve the car. “When you have the car’s service history and you had it checked by your mechanic and all that, then you need to make a down payment. As the dealer or seller is also continuously advertising the car regardless if the buyer is really interested, A down payment is a good first step in eventually “sealing the deal.”

Midnight Rendezvous: TV5's Late Night Trip

WELL, if you think you got nothing better to watch on TV on late nights, then you might want to consider pointing your remote to TV5 and check out its late night offerings. Since The Network Formerly Known as ABC 5 decided to reinvent itself last year with a new name (TV5, of course) and a new identity, it has continuously expanded its programming horizons by coming up with local shows that has fared well in the ratings game against shows by both ABS-CBN and GMA.

Pat Marcel0-Magbanua, the station's Marketing and Communciations Head said that since becoming TV5, the station now ranks third behind "The Big Two" in overall ratings and is even rated number one on certain time slots.

Which is probably more than enough good reason for the station to uh, "shake-up" its weekday late night time slots by introducing seven new shows during its Late Night Trip launching event at Mag:net Cafe in Bonifacio High Street. Also coinciding with its Happy One Year celebration, the new late night offerings each have something for everyone from humor to music to travel to cars to food to games to yes, girls, girls and more girls.

Here's how the shake-up shakes down:

Urban Tribe. Airing Mondays on 11:30PM, the show is hosted by the Fiesta House Band called Tribomanila that features Stefano Lowenstein, Alvin Cornista, Danger Sanchez, Marcus Maguidad and actor Minco Fabregas, the show is all about what men like, and not just women but also music, traveling, partying and I guess, everything in between.

Promdi Chef. As its name suggests, this is about a Visayan-based chef who takes viewers on a tour of the best places to eat in the region. Except Chef Jomi Gaston is no ordinary chef. An alumnus of the Culinary Institute of America, this Bacolod native also owns an Italian resto and a cafe that specializes in Asian and European cuisine. Tuesdays, 11:30PM.

Stoplight TV. This show is more of a "bagong lipat" than really bago. Yes, it's the same one-stop motoring program you've been watching for years. Featuring the latest motoring and motoring sports-related material from all over the world and I suppose, the world wide web, the show is hosted by DJ Matt Montoya and Eggay Quisada with Stoplight Angels Love-Love Tioseco, Ardge Barbaso and make-up artist Mayone Bakunawa to keep the guys tuned in. Wednesdays, 11:30PM.

How 'Bout My Place Tonight? In this culinary school for TV, celebrated chefs Fernando Aracama and John Cu-Unjieng teaches us how to cook "glorious food" the quick and easy way. The show also features guest prominent personalities, tourist spots and their signature delicacies, OFW's sharing their international discoveries via phone patch (really?) and many more. Thursdays 11:30PM.

More On Gaming TV (or Simply MOG TV). Produced by E-Games, distributor of popular online games, RAN, CABAL, Granado Espada, Dance Battle Audition, Runes of Magic and more, the show is all about games and appeals to hardcore and casual gamers alike. Hosted by Magic 89.9 jock Sam YG, the show features reviews, mods, strategies, cheats and yes, sizzling gamer girls. Fridays, 11:30PM.

Jojo A. All The Way. Is he our very own Letterman or just a poor man's Conan O' Brien? No matter what you want to call him, Jojo Alejar has the late night talk show schtick down to a science. Even with the not-so-good signal on the UHF station where he first started this, Jojo A. has managed to create a niche for himself that has grown exponentially to merit a major network transfer. With a better set, better gimmicks, better signal and yes, funnier jokes (hehe!) and side comments on the issues of the day, the laughs should come aplenty every midnight on weekdays.

Insomnia. Airing right after Jojo A. All The Way at 12:30AM on weekdays, this informative, humorous and sexy show has live music, interactive games, music videos and three alternating sassy hotties chatting the morning away. Unfortunately, only one among Chai Lontoc, Diane Medina and Mica Abesamis is here to stay. All three are up for the scrutiny and judgment of viewers who will decide who among them is the Ultimate Insomnia Hottie.

And that's all she wrote. So are these shows worthy of our thumbs ups, or for that matter, high 5's, pun intended? With the exception of Jojo Alejar's show which in my opinion, has improved by leaps and bounds and therefore a must-watch on his time slot, I'm not in a position to say anything about the other shows. Yet. But do visit this blog from time to time. If I do get the chance to catch any of them and I hope I do, I will share my thoughts here.

In the meantime, watch this YouTube highlight reel of Jojo A. All The Way: