BF Homes stickers, a business enterprise?

Many BF Homes residents have noted that the manner its mother homeowners’ association, the United BF Homeowners Association (UBFHAI) and its security group are handling the volatile, highly controversial and perennial sticker issue is like a powder keg of violence ready to explode anytime.

Take a situation that seems to be more commonplace rather than an exception wherein a resident, who’s dressed well and by no standard would fit the profile of a hold-upper, a thief or a criminal element and has proven to be a resident of BF Homes by submitting for inspection a legal and accepted document like a driver’s license is prohibited from exiting the Elizalde St. gate of BF Homes Paranaque only because the resident’s vehicle does not have a sticker on its windshield.

As a matter of course, homeowners of gated residential areas that are security-conscious require their residents to acquire vehicle stickers so that guards at the gate can visually identify them with ease upon entering from those that are non-residents.

But what is the logic of not allowing a duly identified resident without a sticker on a newly bought vehicle to exit from his own place of residence? To enter—maybe, just maybe, but to exit, where’s the security issue?

Pity the guards who blindly obey their superiors, no matter how stupid the orders may be, just to keep their jobs. But how about the homeowner who pays association dues, part of which pay the salaries of these guards and other services due him as a homeowner, who now feels disenfranchised of his rights to freely move in and out of his place of abode. The feeling can unnecessarily bring about a violent reaction, if only out of desperation.

There’s obviously something that’s not right in this entire scenario, which is repeated often. Many residents are beginning to ask if the stickers are actually for security purposes and not as a business enterprise. Are the guards being ordered to strictly enforce the “no-sticker, no entry and no exit” rule not only in order to raise funds from their sale but to make stickers of higher value to non residents who are also allowed to buy them? And how are the funds from sticker sales being used? Speed humps that proliferate BF Homes are not even being painted regularly for the safety of those who pass through them.

Many residents of vote-rich BF Homes are calling on the good Mayor of Paranaque City, the Honorable Mayor Edwin Olivarez to step in and put things in order.

Updated bestselling MPV of Toyota

Since it was first introduced in 2006, the Toyota Avanza is said to have sold over 50,000 units nationwide making it one of the best sellers in its compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle segment.

Last week an updated model was unveiled exclusively to the motoring media at the newly opened Highlands Prime Steakhouse at the Capitol Commons in Pasig City.

After a hearty meal that, of course included the very famous and much sought after steak from Highlands, the invited motoring journalist were led out to the gleaming Avanza conspicuously parked in front of the high end restaurant. 

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) president, Michinobu Sugata, who lead top TMP executives present during the simple launch sais in his welcome remarks, “First and foremost, this latest model of the Avanza sports a brand new engine that promises more power, improved fuel efficiency and an enhanced level of suppressing noise, vibration and harshness to achieve a balance of performance and comfort.”

The new Avanza is presented in a 1.5 or 1.3 liter Dual VVT-I, 4 cylinder in-line 16 valve DOHC engine that provides a maximum output of 103 hp/6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 136 Nm/1600-4200 rpm.

With safety as a priority, it now carries an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution in all variants. Compared to its previous model, it now carries a Child Restraint System (isofix and tether anchor).

The new Avanza is offered in several variants with a price range of a low of P667,000 and top of the line price of P910,000.

For a better and closer look at the new Avanza, drop by any of the Toyota dealerships nationwide with a test drive to boot.

Honda’s claim to be “green” is DENR certified

As early as June 2015, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) has actively sought and obtained EURO 4 emission standard certification from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its vehicle line up starting from its locally-manufactured City down to the Brio, Brio Amaze, Mobilio, CR-V, Civic, Jazz, HR-V, Accord, Odyssey and CR-Z. Actually by the end of 2006, all HCPI automobiles sold in the Philippines were already at EURO 4 emission level.

“We would like to assure our customers that Honda takes proactive actions to help contribute in reducing the destruction of our ozone layer and the effect of global warning,” declared HCPI president and general manager Mr. Toshio Kuwahara.

That means Honda owners have nothing to worry about the government requirement that all vehicles released in the market must be EURO 4 compliant by January 2016, because all of Honda’s present vehicle line up cited above are all EURO 4 certified long before they are required by law.

Isuzu continues training Pinoy service technicians      

In partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and World Vision Philippines, Isuzu Motors Ltd. (Japan) continues what was started 5 years ago, which is to give scholarship grants for technical training to young underprivileged Filipinos.

Last month the Isuzu-TESDA Technical Training Center in Tacloban, Leyte presented 14 new graduates who have completed their National Competency certification program—a four leveled program that is administered by the regional arm of TESDA.

Graduates are assured of becoming service technicians in different Isuzu dealerships all over the country with some starting even before officially getting their diplomas. The aim of the program is to help those who were born with less in life a better future by providing them skills that they could not have acquired due to their financial handicap.

Isuzu vows to continue supporting the program having seen the results of positive change not only on the life of the graduates but of their families as well.

Let’s all doff our hats to TMP

Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) deserves all the kudos for all its efforts to bring motor sports closer to the people.

We have seen TMP up close while pulling all stops just to ensure a successful staging of the Vios Cup wherever it may be—in Clark, in Cebu or in Metro Manila—as long as it can be enjoyed by the most number of people. Last Sunday it was held at the SM Mall of Asia.

When the political leaders of Malaysia were in the midst of preparations to have the Formula 1 race in their country, critics were on the top of their voices denouncing the move. They were in unison in condemning the government’s support for motor sports instead of the popular soccer or badminton. Only to realize much later on that Formula 1 greatly helped in putting Malaysia in the world tourism map by starting to attract the racing groupies that follow wherever Formula 1 races go.

Of course the Vios Cup is far from being Formula 1 but at least through the efforts of Toyota, people are getting to be more exposed to the potential and promise of racing and motor sports in attracting tourism, domestic as a start, which may very well develop into something bigger than we can imagine later on.

I have seen this potential when my late friend and co-host of the TV show Motoring Today, racing legend, Pocholo Ramirez embarked on combined efforts to revive circuit racing in the early 90s in Subic—when he and his SVI (Sports Values, Inc.) group organized the races and I covered them for television. I saw how people would flock to Subic, which was then sometimes more than 4 hours of travel away on the old route just for a glance of the races even from very uncomfortable makeshift stands.

With Toyota’s recent efforts, racing can now be very accessible both for participants and spectators.

Animo Toyota!!              

TV shows for motoring and automobile enthusiasts

Motoring Today airs every Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock and Auto Focus every Thursday evening at 10 o’clock both on Solar Sports on Sky Channel 70, Destiny Channel 35 and on Cignal Channel 55. Both are also online— www.motoringtoday.ph and www.autofocus.com.ph for present and past episodes.

Happy Motoring!!!

Email: [email protected] / [email protected].