BF Homes – a ticking bomb?

“A violent incident waiting to happen at the gates” is what one BF Homes resident is forecasting and which I share. I shall not find any pleasure if this forecast were to come true but I shall try to do something to prevent such prophecy of doom by writing about its possibility.

There has been a tug-of-war between two entities for the control of the gates leading to and out of what was once considered, if not still one of the biggest residential subdivisions in the country and probably in the region.

On one side we find the UBFHAI, an organization of all homeowners’ associations representing the different enclaves that were put up by neighbor-residents to help manage their self-cordoned-off communities, when the original developers abandoned the management of this huge middle-income housing development. This is the group that has been, time and again, accused by some former officers of alleged malversation of funds and illegal collection of entry fees among other charges of illegal demeanors.

The other group has been reportedly appointed by the government housing regulatory agency to take over while investigations into the alleged misuse of funds by the officers of the UBFHAI were going on.

I have been witness to several near-violent confrontations between guards at the gate and legitimate BF Homes residents being refused entry just because they opted not to buy entry stickers being required by the UBFHAI. The latter’s reaction being more obviously condonable, considering that these residents have spent not a small amount of money to purchase a decent abode only to be refused entry into their own community.

The gate to Aguirre Avenue coming from President’s Avenue had long been declared open through legal means sought by Parañaque City Mayor Jun Bernabe and the claims of some quarters that such an act can bring criminal elements a free passage into the community and cause an increase in criminal activity have been long put to rest. Instead the measure had even caused the opening of many tax-paying legitimate businesses that supply residents of BF Homes and neighboring communities products and services that would otherwise be accessible only from the Alabang commercial area or the much-farther Makati City. Many parents now find it more comforting to know their kids are having fun with food, beverage and entertainment in establishments that can be found just around the neighborhood and not in distant “gimmick” areas – an unquantifiable peace of mind for the doting moms and dads.

One big problem area is the Concha Cruz gate leading to Zapote Road just by Toyota Alabang. The presence of the road-hugging gate alone with wide huge barriers and gate bars greatly contribute to, if not the main cause of, the traffic grid locks that usually happen there. For vehicles without stickers, regardless of whether resident-owned or not, entry can sometimes approximate going inside Fort Knox and ironically and unconceivable, at times even worse when coming out.

One long-time resident offered to opine that all the brouhaha at BF Homes can be traced to greed or because of some unscrupulous persons’ desire to hang on to a very profitable enterprise of selling stickers or charging entrance fees for commercial vehicles that want access inside, even for the purpose of delivering products or services for its legitimate homeowners.

Many residents are saying that the bold, strong-willed and now popular decision of Mayor Jun of Paranaque to open the gates at Aguirre Avenue should be emulated and adopted by the mayors of Las Piñas and Alabang in the gates located in their areas of responsibility to ensure the unimpeded transport of goods and services to the subdivision and more important, convenient and hassle-free access of its legitimate homeowners.

The local homeowners associations are effective and efficient in managing and providing security in their own enclaves. Many are of the strong belief that there is no need for an umbrella organization to supervise them. Whatever services needed for these areas opened and declared public should be provided by the specific local government of the area. If the local government officials in the areas involved are remiss in their duties of providing these public services like road maintenance, security and other social services, then they would not be worthy of being re-elected.

If the situation remains, anarchy may rule in BF Homes – a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Mayors, we implore you to unite for the sake of your constituents.

It’s the 6th consecutive Triple Crown, etc. for Toyota

Aside from the 6th consecutive Triple Crown distinction (Top in total passenger cars sales, Top in commercial vehicle sales and Top in overall automobile sales) in 2007, Toyota Motor Philippines also marked other major milestones like breaching the 500,000 units sales mark since the start of its operations in 1989, the highest recorded sales of 5,000 units in a single month registered last December, a record overall annual sales of 45,000 units surpassing the highest record of 41,802 units achieved in 1996, just before the recent Asian Financial Crisis and the list goes on and on.

These and other significant milestones took center stage during the Toyota Motor Philippines Media Thanksgiving Party cum launch last January 28 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Grand Ballroom. The other achievements worthy of note include having four out of the country’s top five best selling vehicles – the Innova, Vios, Fortuner and the Avanza. 

Also on the program that evening was the media launch of the all-new 2008 Toyota Corolla Altis. With a 42-year history behind it, the Corolla is considered the world’s best selling car with 32 million owners in over 140 countries with the Philippines recording 170,000 units sold since 1989.

The 10th generation Corolla Altis, which will not be available until March this year, comes in 1.8 and 1.6 liter engines with automatic transmission and also in 1.6 liter manual.

First vice president for marketing Danny “Sir John” Isla had all the reasons to pop open a bottle of XO Cognac for the regular brandy “sniffers” lead by Al “Sir Paul” Mendoza as the night wore on with the expected “closing time regulars” like SPMJ members Top Gear editor Vernon Sarne, Manila Times motoring editor Brian Afuang, Philippine STAR motoring editor Dong Magsajo, and Bulletin motoring columnist Erle Sebastian joined by CAGI prexy Ira Panganiban staying on until curtain time.

Congratulations Toyota! Is it starting to be boring? All these achievements?

A big boost for future Pinoy mechanics

A very significant partnership was sealed recently between Isuzu Motors Ltd. (Japan), Plan Philippines, an international humanitarian, child-centered development organization working in 64 countries worldwide and our country’s TESDA or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The joint venture project aims to establish a vocational automotive training center that will produce highly-skilled employable auto-mechanics. Isuzu Motors Ltd. (Japan) shall sink in US$2.88M while Plan and TESDA will collaborate in developing a technical education program that seeks to produce top-class automotive technicians.

Each year, 80 poor but deserving young men and women from Plan-assisted communities across the country will be given scholarships. The project also aims to provide these trainees jobs after the course by brokering them to industry firms who are in need of highly skilled mechanics.

We congratulate Isuzu Motors for this Corporate Social Responsibility project that stands to benefit the Filipino youth and our best hopes for Plan Philippines and TESDA in maximizing and optimizing this landmark foreign educational assistance.

The 2008 Isuzu Crosswind gets freshened up

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) knows that the Crosswind AUV has been tried, tested and widely accepted by the Philippine market as attested by IPC president Keiji Takeda when he said, “From January to December 2007, the Crosswind averaged a monthly sales total of 448 units or a 20 per cent share of the AUV market. With the launch of the updated 2008 Crosswind, we are confident we will further improve on this robust sales performance.”

But IPC is not about to just sit on its laurels. Despite the market’s acceptance they decided to freshen up this year’s model. New exterior features in its current model include the addition of chrome finish on the center billet grille, a roof which features new design roof rails for better aerodynamics and functionality, a new design spare tire cover, spoiler and rear combination lamps.

New features on the inside include buttons in the steering wheel to safely and conveniently control the DVD/CD/MP3 audio system plus a 3.5 inch LCD monitor for the back up camera to guide drivers while moving on reverse. There’s the 7-inch wide screen monitor that has a new beige frame and the list goes on.

The best thing I guess, if you’re interested to find out what’s new in the 2008 Crosswind is for you to go to any of its showrooms found nationwide and see and judge for yourself.

Takase-san bides goodbye

Gee, time really flies fast. It seemed like it was only recently that we saw a changing of the guard at Mitsubishi Motors Philippines when Mr. Kengo Takase assumed presidency. Last week, the soft-spoken Electrical Engineer who graduated from Kyoto University and whose last assignment was as General Manager of the Nagoya Plant of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation before taking over the reins of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines last January of 2004 bade goodbye to the many friends that he had made during his memorable four-year stint in the Philippines.

The new top-honcho of Mitsubishi Motor’s Philippine operations who has been with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation since 1977, fresh with a Chemical Engineering degree from the Osaka University is 53-year old Mr. Mashiko Ueki. His work and experience background includes a very productive 10-year stint in Europe.

Meanwhile, the very friendly Takase-san, always with a ready smile for the motoring media and eager to dish-out information for news hounds has been recalled to Tokyo for more challenging tasks after a successful stint in the country.

We wish the best for our good friend Kengo-san as he takes on greater challenges and thank him for his gracious friendship while we welcome Mr. Ueki to the country.

Road safety awareness through SPMJ radio quiz

The Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists (SPMJ) in its continuing efforts to promote its advocacy of educating the youth on road safety will now be tapping the wide reach of radio.

SPMJ first vice president and Business-Mirror motoring editor Popong Andolong head of the “Quiz Contest” committee together with founding directors Ron delos Reyes, producer/host of Auto Review TV show and Vernon Sarne, editor-in-chief of Top Gear magazine, came up with the idea of sustaining the awareness on road safety via the radio airlines while waiting for the next school year to start to resume our free Road Safety seminars and workshops in schools.

Initial talks are being made with The Radio Partners, Inc., which manages Manila radio stations, Magic 89.9, Hit FM 99.5, Wave 89.1 and Jam 88.3 for a partnership wherein on-the-air quiz contests would be held where their listeners can join and have the chance to win fabulous prizes answering questions regarding road safety.

I spoke with The Radio Partners president Bernie Buenaseda and he was indeed supportive of the advocacy and excited about the idea of having this quiz on his radio stations. So watch out for this grand slam of opportunities – learning more about road safety and at the same time having the chance to win valuable prizes.

Happy Motoring!!!

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