BF Homes in chaos... again?

We decided to invest in Parañaque, specifically inside BF Homes based on the legal premise that Aguirre Avenue would stay open. The local business community celebrated when the old administration of the UBFHAI, which required a certain toll fee for all deliveries inside the village, was finally ousted and a new set of officers installed.”

 “It appears that the lure of the revenues derived from vehicle stickers is so strong that the present administration of the subdivision is focusing once again on requiring residents and those who pass through BF Homes to acquire stickers to buy their unhampered entry or passage.”

These are some of the comments I received from businessmen and residents of BF Homes Parañaque when the Aguirre-President’s Avenue gate started teeming with uniformed private security guards asking motorists to acquire stickers if they would like to gain entry into the subdivision, which at one time had the distinction of being the biggest in this part of the world.

Because of this unwanted development, scenes of the past where angry residents get into heated altercations with gate security guards who get in their way of going back to their homes unhindered and without being harassed are being repeated. And the different businesses that cater to the needs of residents both from within and outside the subdivision have been certainly adversely affected as their patrons are now seeking other options outside of BF Homes rather than subject themselves to harassment at the gate.

According to some residents they were already starting to have an inkling of things to come when a few months back they noticed the once dismantled gate along El Grande was starting to be put up again.

Those who have opted to establish their business inside the village to provide services and products to BF Homes and surrounding subdivisions at the convenience of their residents are in a quandary as to what happened to the court ruling declaring that the control of the Aguirre Gate as directly under the City Government of Parañaque, to which the dynamic and hard-working City Mayor, the Honorable Florencio “Jun” Bernabe, Jr. immediately reacted by declaring, through an approved ordinance that the said gate is henceforth accessible to all.

There must be a compelling reason for this intriguing consequence that is, if it’s really condoned by the local government. Knowing that Parañaque’s greatly-loved Mayor Jun Bernabe has nothing less than what’s best for the people of Parañaque in mind at all times, this issue would surely be immediately resolved.

I hope to come up with some feedback on this controversy as soon as I get to talk to the good mayor, who’s presently not in the country.

Pit Lane Notes

After the exciting conclusion of the 2008 World Formula One Series, it’s now interesting to know who’s in and who’s out for next year.

Force India, “the newest kid on the block” has a lot of things happening like two guys have been given the pink slip, chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne together with team principal Colin Kolles, whose position shall be taken over by the Team owner himself, Vijay Mallya.

The first Indian team ever in F1 also announced that it had ended ahead of schedule its engine-supply contract with Ferrari (signed in 2007 and due to last up to 2009) and it is expected to announce a complete drivetrain deal with McLaren and Mercedes for 2009.

Lucas Di Grassi, who’s 3rd driver and has been part of Renault’s driver development program since 2004, was just given a release by the French team to accept the invitation to test for Honda. Ross Brawn, Honda’s Team principal had also announced earlier the plans to test another Brazilian driver, Bruno Senna. The UK-based team who fielded Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello has yet to confirm their 2009 driver line-up. Will one of them be shown the door?

I’ll keep you updated.

A unique Safety Festival

It is very evident that the Honda Safety Driving Center (HSDC) is hell bent on making a difference in all the stakeholders’ combined and individual efforts to make our roads safer for all their users.

Take this big event scheduled this Saturday, November 15 at the HSDC located at the East Service Road (near the Bicutan exit) of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). It’s dubbed as Mabuhay! Safety Festival.. ”A Celebration of Life” where a major part of the event is a road safety education seminar called TeenSMART that’s scheduled in the morning, which is an activity that targets children in 3rd and 4th year high school levels as they are observed to be the most aggressive road users notwithstanding their apparent lack in road safety awareness. The safety festival aims to gather 150 high school students for this purpose.

HSDC president Kazuhiko Ikezoe in close coordination with its GM Arnel Doria have also conceptualized a wide array of motorcycle activities in the afternoon, which the tandem say, “…it is certain to change the mindset of even the most experienced drivers.” These include road safety symposium, riding clinic and fun competition plus a motorcade, motorcycle exhibit and a media test drive. Close to 1,000 riders are expected to join the safety festival.

It’s quite unfortunate that SPMJ or the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists has no choice but to pass up the invitation and the opportunity to be a part of this momentous event for the promotion of road safety. The group is supposed to make a presentation of its role in the molding of our youth to become safe and responsible road users, but then actually as you read this column I shall be with most of the members of SPMJ and other motoring journalists in Vietnam upon the invitation of Isuzu Philippines for us to have an idea of their operations in that once war-torn country. The trip is from Tuesday, November 11 to Friday, November 14, which gives us no time to prepare for an effective presentation. But nevertheless, SPMJ shall come in full force for the event this Saturday, even during the much touted “no alcohol party” to aptly demonstrate the “alcohol and driving do not mix” edict.

And as my motoring editor, the debonair-looking Dong Magsajo would put it, “Alcohol or no alcohol, we’ll be there.”

No racing champion

If you think winning the championship of the Auto Focus Gymkhana Precision Driving Competition would make you a racing champion, then you’re mistaken.

The 2008 Auto Focus Champion Gymkhana Precision Driver of the Year will not be recognized as a racing champion but rather as a highly skilled driver with speed management proficiency.

The event, which is aimed to create awareness regarding road safety through skillful driving, is currently attracting a lot of participants. Lined-up as one of the major attractions during the staging of the 2008 Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo, a 7-day Grand Display and Test Drive of current-model automobiles that starts Tuesday, November 25 at The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, the competition offers large cash prizes, products and trophies for the winners.

The start of the eliminations of the competition would be dictated by the number of participants, which is currently growing by the day. Considering that only a limited number of participants per day can be accommodated, registration is on a “first come, first serve basis”. The general rules of the competition and registration forms can be acquired from the internet (www.autofocus.com.ph) or by calling Sunshine Television (633-44-22).

With a minimal registration fee, anyone with a valid driver’s license and 18 years and above can join. Each competitor shall be required to maneuver through a common slalom course and execute parallel and vertical parking within a prescribed time. Demerits shall be assessed for every pylon nudged or toppled during the driving maneuvers and for every second earlier or beyond the prescribed time. Each competitor shall be allowed three runs (the first is a course familiarization run) with the better of the two official runs to be entered in the contest. The ten drivers that register the least number of demerits on each day of elimination advance to the finals, which are scheduled on the last day of the motor show on December 1.

The 2008 Auto Focus Gymkhana Precision Driving Competition is being made possible with the cooperation of Toyota Motor Philippines, which shall provide the “one make, one model” competition cars, the Vios, Goodyear Philippines, which shall also provided tire barriers to ensure competitors’ and spectators’ safety during the event and Honda Safety Driving Center, which shall oversee the safe conduct of the competition.

Motoring Tip of the Week

We continue with our tips on how to prevent ourselves from becoming victims of criminal elements, who historically get a lot busier during this time of the year when Christmas approaches.

Records show that a lot of successful car thefts were made on drivers who were napping inside their parked automobiles – a situation where they are most defenseless.

Drivers would be best advised to park at well-lit places and to stand guard from a safe seeing distance from the parked vehicle.

This way suspicious-looking persons can be better observed and reported to the nearest guard or police authority in the area before any criminal attempt is made.

Happy Motoring!!!

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