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Bulacan tests Parañaque; Basilan faces Pampanga in MPBL Datu Cup

Games Wednesday
(Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium)
7 p.m. — Basilan vs Pampanga
9 p.m. — Bulacan vs Parañaque
BULACAN and Parañaque shoot for win number 3 tonight when the MPBL Datu Cup goes back to Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium.
Both teams have identical 2-1 win-loss records, the Mighty Sports-backed Bulacan Kuyas and the F2 Logistics-supported Parañaque Patriots collide in the main game at 9 p.m. right after the between the Basilan Steel and the Pampanga Lanterns in the first game at 7 p.m.
The Kuyas and the Patriots are coming off contrasting fates in their previous matches.
Bulacan is coming off a tense 77-76 win over Bacoor last July 12 with JR Taganas finishing with a double-double performance of 14 points and 11 rebounds to put the Kuyas back on the winning track. Now playing host for the second time in four games, the Kuyas will do anything not to disappoint their hometown crowd.
The Patriots, on the other hand, are looking to atone from their previous setback at the hands of the Lanterns.
Parañaque will once again count on its double-double machine, ex-pro Harold Arboleda, who is looking to become the first player to record eight double-double performance in tonight’s game. In a losing effort against the Patriots, the former Perpetual Help standout went two assists shy of a triple-double performance as he had impressive numbers of 17 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as he continues to build fantasy numbers for his squad.
Basilan and Pampanga are both coming off from separate wins, but which among these two teams can establish a winning run will be known tonight and will have to do that at each other’s expense.
The Steel, who represent the previously war-torn province from the south, made the entire Basilan proud by coming away with an 86-76 victory over the Cebu City Sharks.
“We want to continue making Basilan proud. We never had our sports team before, so we want to represent them and make them proud. Our win against Cebu was a good news for us,” added Basilan head coach Joseph Romarate. — Rey Joble

Pinch hitters

World basketball governing body FIBA finally released its decision over the brawl that happened between the Philippines and Australia on July 2 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan in the third window of the first round of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
And as expected, the Philippines bore the brunt of the sanctions handed down by the FIBA Disciplinary Panel, with 10 players and two coaches suspended for the qualifiers with varying durations as well as the country’s basketball federation, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, being made to pay a hefty fine of some P13.4 million over what had transpired.
Suspended for their involvement in the melee with the Australian Boomers were Gilas Pilipinas players Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright (one game each); Terence Romeo, Jayson Castro William, Andray Blatche and Troy Rosario (three games each); Roger Pogoy, Carl Bryan Cruz and Jio Jalalon (five games each); and Calvin Abueva (six games).
Gilas assistant coach Jong Uichico was also suspended for three games for unsportsmanlike behavior as well as head coach Chot Reyes for one game and asked to pay a disciplinary fine of 10,000 Swiss francs (P534,900) for “inciting unsportsmanlike behavior.”
Said Gilas personnel, save for Abueva, are expected to miss parts of the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers which begins in September with the first window.
Out for six games, Abueva can only take the floor for Gilas if it is fortunate enough to advance to the World Cup proper in China next year.
With majority of the national men’s basketball team suspended, the Gilas think tank is now in the process on going through possible names to replace those suspended for the Qualifiers.
Since majority of Gilas players were culled from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), it is safe to say the “pinch-hitters” will come from the league as well.
In fact, scheduled to be part of the weekly meeting of the PBA Board on Thursday is discussing the possible replacements and how the parties will go about it.
As we await the names of the official replacements for Gilas Pilipinas players, this space would like to throw in some possible names it feels worthy to be considered for the pinch-hitting job.
First off, June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood and Baser Amer, players who were part of the July 2 game, were not suspended, controlling their emotions notwithstanding how heated things were.
I bat for their retention in the team, not only for taking the high road but also because they carry a game that would help Gilas’ cause in the key stretch of the Qualifiers.
Given the ever “limited” time to prepare, with PBA players’ busy schedule, it would make sense for Gilas to get players who already have experience with the current team and know the culture in it.
Players like Raymond Almazan, LA Tenorio, Christian Standhardinger (naturalized player), Paul Lee, Kevin Ferrer and Ray Parks, Jr. fit the billing.
Almazan, Standhardinger, Ferrer and Parks are mobile big men and wings who can be assets on both ends of the court. Tenorio and Lee proved themselves clutch and heady floor generals during their stint with the national team and could only be expected to continue to do so when called up anew.
Add to the list to be considered JP Erram, Greg Slaughter, Ian Sangalang, Marcio Lassiter, Vic Manuel and Scottie Thompson.
Erram and Sangalang are also mobile bigs that have big man mentality, not afraid to play it out in the paint, who should help in Gilas keeping in step with the frontliners of Iran, Qatar and Kazakhstan in the second round.
Slaughter does not have the speed of the other Gilas bigs but he is seven-foot and has improved his game. I think it is about time we should explore what he can give to the national team now that he is healthy and this is a great opportunity to do so.
Lassiter’s quick draw mentality would be of help sans the resident shooters of Gilas while Thompson is all-around and all-heart every time he takes the floor.
Manuel is a bit undersized at the four position, yes, but he is playing his best basketball right now in the PBA and it would be good to have him on board while he is hot.
Losing the players we did to suspension was a huge blow indeed to our cause in the World Cup Qualifiers. But I believe all is not lost and that there is still talent to be culled in our backyard to make things happen for us. Here is hoping that all concerned get to sit down and go through their list thoroughly and come up with the best team possible. Laban Pilipinas!
 
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
msmurillo@bworldonline.com

Rockets gamble on Anthony

Considering that the Carmelo Anthony experiment failed spectacularly for the Thunder through the 2017-2018 season, its fair to wonder why the Rockets are still angling to get him. True, they tried hard to trade for him last year, believing he would be an integral part of their push to challenge the Warriors at the top of the National Basketball Association. On the other hand, they couldn’t have but seen how his reluctance to accept — and how his actual performance in — a reduced role wound up stunting instead of helping the cause of the blue and yellow.
The Rockets are, to be sure, among the league’s best, if not the league’s best, at crunching advanced stats, so it wouldn’t be a stretch for fans to trust their judgment when it comes to Anthony’s fit. Between general manager Daryl Morey and head coach Mike D’Antoni, a plan to best make use of his talents must have been formulated. And, given his history with the Knicks (partly under the two-time Coach of the Year) and the Thunder, that plan must have been good enough for them to sign off on him.
True, Anthony will not come at a heavy price. Based on reports, he will be joining the Rockets for the veteran’s minimum, an option he can well afford after being bought out of his $27.9-million contract by the Hawks. Then again, it’s a gamble that figures to pay dividends only through his willingness to play ball under their terms. Otherwise, they will have done subtraction by addition; having lost defense-oriented wings Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute to free agency, they will be hard-pressed to accommodate him in the starting lineup knowing full well his deficiencies in coverage.
Make no mistake. Anthony is still very good. He may have lost a step or two at 34, but he remains a crafty scorer the Rockets can lean on for points in a pinch. Nonetheless, his ball-dominant ways seem to clash with those of resident top dogs James Harden and Chris Paul. Meanwhile, his work as a spot-up option is spotty at best. Which is to say his arrival could reap dividends, but only if he cooperates. Else, he will have been a desperate pickup that netted the red and white nothing but false hope.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Prime mover: Toyota PHL bets growth on new-generation Vios


IN 2017 Toyota Motor sold more Vios subcompacts in the Philippines than in any other Southeast Asian market. Deliveries of the model during the period reached 36,733 examples in the country, topping those in Thailand by 23,026 units (Vios’s sales were disrupted there and resumed only in the last five months of the year) and 13,233 units more than those in Malaysia — two economies where the Vios is as popular. Globally, only China — the world’s biggest vehicle market — bested the Philippines’ result with 92,242 units sold last year.
Against this backdrop the new, fourth-generation (counting a heavily revised version considered as the second in the lineage) Vios arrives locally, with Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) having unveiled the model to journalists and Toyota dealers on July 20, ahead of the public introduction of the car set on July 28. Now while the Vios lost the country’s best-selling vehicle crown last year — due to “unusually high” sales of SUVs for the period as consumers beat the expected price increase for the segment under a new taxation scheme, according to Jose Maria M. Atienza, senior vice-president for marketing at TMP — Toyota expects the model to retain the honors by the end of 2018.
Incidentally, the Vios was the best-selling passenger car in 2017. It was beaten as overall best-selling vehicle by Toyota’s own Fortuner.
LOCALLY BUILT
The Philippines is among the countries which produce the Vios, the others being Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. TMP continues to build the new model at its plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna. According to Rommel R. Gutierrez, TMP first vice-president for corporate affairs, the move adheres to the company’s “commitment to the government’s CARS program,” in which the Vios is enrolled.
Under CARS, or the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy, a manufacturer must produce 200,000 units of an enrolled vehicle (only three slots were made available by government, with the Vios taking one and the Mitsubishi Mirage/G4 the other) over six years in order to qualify for incentives, among which is a maximum $1,000-per-unit fiscal support. Forming a part of TMP’s participation in the program is the production of various body shell parts and large plastic components for the Vios. Satoru Suzuki, president of TMP, noted 40% of the new Vios’s parts are locally sourced.
Without disclosing distribution percentage, TMP documents showed that as of July 2017 there were already 34 local companies which directly supply TMP parts for the Vios.
As of May, TMP and its suppliers have already declared to the BoI a P5.53-billion investment on CARS, of which P4.9 billion is allocated for parts manufacturing and the rest for vehicle production. TMP noted its investment, including that earmarked for producing select components like bumpers and instrument panels, amount to P5.24 billion. Suppliers’ investment totals P276 million.
TMP projected it would sell 3,500 Vios cars per month, which Mr. Satoru said is enough to “satisfy CARS’s requirement” of 200,000 units sold over six years, or an average of around 33,000 cars annually.
BANKING ON THE VIOS
TMP sales dropped 14.7% in the first half of 2018 compared to the same six-month stretch last year, or a 73,136-unit total so far for this year against last year’s 85,728-unit tally. The performance reflects the entire domestic auto sector’s slump; the two industry groups — Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers in the Philippines, Inc. and Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors — have reported 12.5% and 11% less deliveries, respectively, for the period. The slowdown, according to both groups, was caused partly by consumers having advanced their purchases last year as they anticipated price increases in certain vehicle segments, as well as by rising inflation, petroleum prices and interest rates.
“The lower sales volume was expected,” said Mr. Atienza, concerning TMP’s performance. “But we are also hoping sales would pick up in the second half as forecasted. The Vios will be one of the drivers [of the growth].”
TMP introduced the new Vios in nine choices — six variants with three trim levels, called Prime, added to the variants — the prices of which are set between P659,000 for the 1.3 Base MT and P1.110 million for the 1.5 G Prime CVT in pearl white paint. Comparable variants of the previous Vios were priced between P17,000 and P87,000 less.
Distinguishing the Prime trim level, available on the top-spec 1.5 G CVT and the mid-spec 1.3 E CVT and I.3 E MT, are aerodynamic appendages and a bezel around the fog lamp cavity.
Exterior pieces new to the G variants are a fin antenna (the E also gets this feature), 16-inch wheels, LED tail lights and daytime running lamps. In the cabin, major upgrades to the higher-spec variants include automatic air-conditioning, Optitron meters, speed-sensing door locks, paddle and sequential shifters, Eco and Sport driving modes, and smart entry with push-button ignition. All variants now have a brace of air bags — side, driver’s knee and curtain shield. Stability control and ABS have also been fitted to the low-end variants.
Carried over to the new Vios are the 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines, as well as the manual and continuously variable transmissions, found in the discontinued model. The chief engineer of the Vios, Takamoto Suzuki, said Toyota retained the power plants and gearboxes because these are the “most suitable for the market, and [are] globally accepted for [their] performance and fuel economy.”
TMP said the new Vios, like the previous model, caters to people who appreciate “fun in driving.” The car maker elaborated this segment of buyers are mostly married men in their 30s “who value style, fuel economy and affordability.” Majority of them — TMP put the figure at 81% — are first-time buyers whose monthly income are around P80,000-P85,000.
Takamoto Suzuki added “customers are changing” as they get drawn to cars which appear “more emotional.” The engineer said this is why the new Vios gets “advanced and emotional styling,” citing in particular the car’s grille, head lamps and character lines on the flanks, as well as the large console in the cabin.
“I wanted to change the styling [and make the interior] advanced, comfortable and quiet,” he said.
In the first half of the year the previous Vios has already outsold the Fortuner by 3,181 units, or 14,219 units for the former versus 11,038 units for the latter. The arrival of the new Vios may just mean this trend will continue. — Brian M. Afuang

Volkswagen Lavida 230 TSi DSG Comfortline: Not excellent in any one area, but good in a lot of things


VOLKSWAGEN in the Philippines is currently replacing some models sourced from Latin America and Europe with those made — and in some cases found only — in China. The China-built Volkswagens are more affordable as these do not incur hefty freight costs and duties. One such model recently introduced by the German car maker is the Lavida 230 TSI DSG which, by the looks of it, is supplanting the compact sedan spot in the local range occupied by the Jetta — a global model. If so, the Lavida has big shoes to fill.
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• Volkswagen (and the seven car brands belonging to its group) subscribes to a uniform corporate look, and apparently even its models built and previously intended solely for China are not exempt from familial styling. As such the Lavida wears subtle but pleasant sheet metal marked by tidy lines, crisp angles, muted contours and upscale-looking lights. The car’s design may not be distinctive, but it is tasteful — just like the Jetta’s.
• Cabin is roomy, with sufficient space for five people. Passengers in the back have no reason to complain about the lack of legroom. And, yes, this also applies to the one in the middle.
• Just as welcome for backseat occupants are the large, wide-opening rear doors, which make getting in and out of the back easy.
• Speaking of doors, all four fitted to the Lavida close with a solid thud — as can be expected from a European car. They are also a bit heavy to open or close. This, actually, is a good thing. It spells quality.
• Like the exterior’s styling, the cabin’s is just as neat. The predominantly black furniture appears somber, with the leather-wrapped seats, gloss-black accents and touches of chrome trim promoting a business lounge vibe.
• Cabin furniture feels well put-together. Gaps between panels are uniformly tight, controls and switches engage slickly, and no part vibrates noticeably enough to cause worry something might rattle after a few years have passed.
• Like in other Volkswagens, the multimedia and climate controls are simple to operate and clearly labeled. Logically, buttons are used for functions where buttons work best (like for choosing audio modes or preset radio stations), while knobs are used where knobs work best (like for adjusting the air-conditioner’s temperature and fan speed settings).
• Steering is electrically boosted — like in most modern cars. But VW managed to dial in enough heft in the Lavida’s system, telling the driver where the front wheels are pointed at and how much grip there is underneath.
• Ride quality is just as competent. The suspension is pliant enough to cushion against bad road surfaces, but isn’t too soft that the car cannot be accurately steered around corners anymore. The cabin is well insulated from noises and vibrations, too. Both indicate a solid body structure.
• Engine, though not exactly strong, propels the car briskly enough. It’s also unobtrusive.
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• The steering wheel can be raised or lowered, but it cannot be pulled closer or pushed farther from the driver. This hinders a proper seating position for some drivers — like taller ones, who will end up reaching far too much for the steering wheel.
• Material covering the steering wheel seems like it’s some sort of plasticky leather. Unfortunate because this is an important touch point.
• The mountings for the front pair of seat belts cannot be raised or lowered as well. True, those in BMWs cannot also be adjusted, but the front seats (especially the driver’s) and steering wheel in BMWs boast a wide range of settings, negating the need to fiddle with the seat belts. In the Lavida, the seat belt can end up too close to the base of the driver’s neck — not an ideal position.
• Sunroof is too small it seems just a wasteful touch.
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In all key areas — construction, styling, cabin amenities, driving dynamics, ride quality — the Lavida keeps to known German-car traits. Even if it’s built in China. — Brian M. Afuang

BLUFFER’S BOX

Volkswagen Lavida 230 TSi DSG Comfortline
Price: P1.171 million
Engine: 1.4-liter inline-four, turbocharged gasoline; 128 hp @ 5,000 rpm, 225 Nm @ 1,400-3,500 rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed DSG
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Wheels/Tires: 16 inches, 205/55
Key features: Climatronic air-conditioning; multimedia unit with USB, aux-in and Bluetooth connectivity; smart entry system with push-button ignition; hill-hold control; tire-pressure monitor; sunroof; leather seats; glove box cooling

Volvo secures more units of new XC60 for PHL market

MORE units of Volvo’s new XC60 SUV, the car maker’s best-seller since the model’s launch in 2008, are now available in the Philippines. According to a statement released last week by the brand’s distributor in the country, the latest version of the car — unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2017 — is now available in local showrooms, as well as in pop-up stores nationwide.
Alberto B. Arcilla, Volvo Philippines president, said Volvo enthusiasts will “surely appreciate” the XC60’s “combination of masterful design, intuitive technology and class-leading safety features.”
The company’s sales head, Froilan Valencia, explained the lack of availability was a result of the Philippines initially not getting as much units of the XC60 as would have been ideal.
“We initially could only bring in limited volumes of the XC60 due to high international demand. But we now have the volume to serve our discerning Volvo clientele,” he said.
Volvo Philippines said the XC60 “represents about 30%” of Volvo Cars’ sales global sales.
The company noted the new, second-generation XC60 was named World Car of the Year 2018 during the New York Auto Show held on March 30-April 8. It added the XC60 also won the North American Utility of the Year Award in January during the Detroit auto show.
The new XC60 is sold locally with a turbo-charged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine which produces 190 hp and 400 Nm. Volvo said the model is one of the safest cars available, with features like Steer Assist, City Safety, Oncoming Lane Mitigation and Blind Spot Information System. Offered as an option is Pilot Assist, a semi-autonomous driver assistance system.
Among the equipment fitted to the new XC60’s cabin are four-zone climate system, Volvo’s Sensus driver infotainment and connected services, and smart phone integration with CarPlay and Android Auto.

Icon Duesey

Icon Duesey
ICON, a California-based company rebuilding vintage cars and SUVs into modern classics, has come up with its first watch — the Icon Duesey. The piece made by company founder and lead designer — as well as watch aficionado — Jonathan Ward is inspired by the various vintage elements found in the vehicles Icon has made its name on. These include the instruments and also the industrial, at times patinated, finish of the vehicles. The Duesey, with a jumping hour and wandering minutes display, is limited to 50 pieces.
MOVEMENT: Dubois-Depraz automatic 14400 module combined with ETA 2892A2 top base movement
CASE: 42-millimeter sandblasted grade 2 titanium with grade 5 titanium bezel and double domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
CASEBACK: Sandblasted grade 2 titanium with engraving and sapphire crystal
STRAP: 22-milliter alligator or calf leather with Icon logo-adorned Tang buckle

Lawyer files petition seeking to suspend TRAIN

By Gillian M. Cortez
A NEW PETITION for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt the implementation of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law was filed on Tuesday, July 24.
Human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares said in an interview with reporters on Tuesday, “Yung filing na ito ay humingi ng TRO mula sa Korte Suprema para ihinto ang TRAIN kasi ang laki na ng dagok nito sa mga mamayanan at sana agad itong pagbigyan ng korte suprema para muna ihinto ito (This filing seeks for a TRO from the Supreme Court so it would suspend TRAIN because it has a huge effect on the people and we hope that the Supreme Court will suspend this immediately).”
Last December, it was reported that ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio L. Tinio said that the ratification of TRAIN wasn’t valid because the bicameral report of TRAIN was approved despite only a few members present during the session. He mentioned that this violated Rule X, Section 63 of the Rules of the House of Representatives that reads “(a) conference committee report shall be ratified by a majority vote of the Members of the House present, there being a quorum.”
“Counsel Public Interest Law Center received a copy of the Resolution of the Court dated June 19, 2018 requiring Petitioners to file their respective Replies to the Office of the Solicitor General’s Consolidated Comment within ten days from notice,” the Supreme Court document read.
The petitioners were Representatives Antonio Tinio, Carlos Isagani Zarate, and Ariel “Ka Ayik” Casilao who filed a Petition for Certiorari With Prayer for Injunction and Temporary Restraining Order last January 10 (G.R. No. 236118) and Laban Konsyumer Inc. and Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba who filed Petition for Certiorari (With Urgent Application for the Issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order, Writ of Preliminary Injunction, and/or Status Quo Ante Order) last January 19 (G.R. No. 236295).
The SC document read that the Respondents, through the Office of the Solicitor General, claimed in their consolidated comment that the petitions filed were weak because:
a. Certiorari is not the proper remedy to question the constitutionality of TRAIN.
b. The Petitions violate the principle of hierarchy of courts.
c. The Petitions raise issues which are “political questions.”
d. The Tinio Petition fails to implead Congress as an indispensable party.
e. President Duterte should be dropped from the petition on the ground of his immunity from suit.
The petitioners said in their reply that a “Certiorari under Rule 65 is the proper remedy to assail the constitutional validity of TRAIN.”
The petitioners added “Petitions for certiorari and prohibition are appropriate remedies to raise constitutional issues and to review and/or prohibit or nullify the acts of legislative and executive officials.”
The document also said that the Petitioners had the right to go directly to the SC for their filing because “standing law, rules, and jurisprudence allow them to go directly to the Supreme Court.”
“The urgent resolution of the constitutional issues on quorum and other requirements in legislative and enactment procedures, as well as the substantive invalidity of the TRAIN Law on the ground of its regressivity warrant direct resort to the High Court,” the petitioners’ reply also said.
The petitioners said in their reply that their filings “are justiciable issues and not political questions.”
“The Court can decide—is in fact, constitutionally bound to do so—on whether the House of Representatives was correct, under the Constitution, to bypass the constitutional quorum requirement and its own voting requirement in passing a law and whether the President was correct, under the Constitution, to sign into law a document which was a product of such bypass,” the document read.
Regarding G.R. No. 236118 failing to implead the Congress as an indispensable party, the Petitioners said in the reply that they “submit that the entire Congress is not the indispensable party to this case.”
“The main contention of the Petitioners is that the TRAIN Law was “passed” despite the lack of a quorum and the lack of a vote that would make any act in plenary an act of Congress pursuant to the procedural rules in lawmaking set by the Constitution and the Rules of the House of Representatives implementing the same,” the reply to the consolidated comment said.
Finally, the Petitioners also stressed that Mr. Duterte isn’t immune from the petition, saying “Presidential immunity is not a constitutional doctrine.”
“Nowhere in the 1987 Constitution does it say that the President is immune from suit,” they added.
“The Constitution directs Congress to come up with taxation laws that will move us towards a progressive system of taxation, not take us in the opposite direction,” the Reply to the Consolidated Comment said.
It added, “It is clear that TRAIN law goes in the completely opposite and regressive direction by: (1) increasing indirect consumption taxes, specifically oil excise and SSB taxes (whose impact is even aggravated by the further application of VAT on these); (2) lowering PIT including on most high-income groups; and (3) lowering taxes on property and wealth, specifically estate taxes and donor’s taxes.”
Mr. Colmenares said that he hopes that besides the TRO, the SC should “na ibasura ito dahil labag sa mga mamayanan at labag sa konstitutsyon dahil pinasa ito nang walang quorum (trash TRAIN because it violates people and violates the constitution because it was passed without quorum).”

Dashboard (07/25/18)

Ford RangerFord Ranger sales rise 9% in Asia Pacific

SALES of the Ford Ranger in Asia Pacific have picked up nearly 9% in the first six months of 2018 compared to the same period last year. The rise translates to 69,103 units sold, according to Ford Philippines.
It added the model’s best first-half performance in the region is credited to “record sales in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand.”
In the Philippines, sales of the Ranger for the first half increased 19%, equivalent to 5,470 units. The result means the Ranger has secured almost 23% of its segment, Ford Philippines reported.
“The Ranger continues to define the pickup segment for customers around the country and drive our overall performance in the Philippines this year,” said Bertrand Lessard, managing director at Ford Philippines.
The company noted the model has been the best-selling vehicle in New Zealand, as well as the best-selling pickup in Taiwan and Vietnam, in the last three years.
Thailand, meanwhile, continues to sell the most Rangers than any other market globally. Deliveries in Thailand rose 36% in the first half of the year.
Ford said Australia also posted record first-half Ranger sales with 22,105 deliveries — a 2.2% growth year on year. The truck also remained as the most popular vehicle in New Zealand, with sales for the period reaching 5,160 units.
In Taiwan, Ford said Ranger sales grew 30%, with the model securing a 63% share of its segment.

VW fleet delivered to CW Home DepotVolkswagen Home Depot

VOLKSWAGEN Philippines recently turned over a fleet of Volkswagen Santana subcompacts to CW Home Depot, a pioneering home construction and renovation store.
Volkswagen said the cars are earmarked for use by the store’s top sales performers.
The company noted CW Home Depot’s “unique brand proposition for its customers — convenience, practicality and efficiency of its retail concept — is perfectly aligned with its choice of the Volkswagen Santana.”
The Santana, currently the most affordable European car sold locally, is powered by an 89-hp, 132-Nm, 1.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine which is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The car is fitted with power-operated side mirrors, keyless entry, ISOFIX child seat anchorage points and an immobilizer, among other items. The model sells for P686,000.

Why choosing a company leader is crucial

Over the weekend, the automotive industry learned of the sad news about Sergio Marchionne being relieved of his concurrent roles as CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and CEO of Ferrari. This development came after the 66-year-old Italian executive had reportedly fallen into a coma as a result of complications sustained from his recent shoulder surgery.
FCA then moved to announce Mike Manley, who had led its Jeep division, as its new CEO. Ferrari, meanwhile, disclosed that Philip Morris International chairman Louis C. Camilleri was taking over the executive post vacated by Mr. Marchionne.
It’s always interesting to observe how global companies hire or appoint chief executives. As illustrated by the above examples, there are always two ways to go about the process: You either promote an officer already employed by the firm, or you hire an outsider to take the helm of the business. Normally, the ideal scenario would be the former. There’s nothing like having one of your own ascend through the ranks and eventually become the leader when the opportunity comes. It’s great for team morale and operations continuity. Which is why it is important to have a good line of succession, so that there’s always somebody within the group who’s ready to step up should the need arise.
The problem is when there’s no one qualified to take the top post when said post suddenly becomes vacant. Sometimes, even if there are individuals qualified to take the steering wheel, the dire situation the company is mired in may require a drastic shake-up to overhaul the overall corporate culture. So you have organizations hiring outside leaders, as Ford once did when it poached Alan Mulally from Boeing in 2006.
In theory, all businesses need the same set of basic attributes from a leader in order to be successful. Usually, you want a visionary who plans well and executes better. But the car industry, in my humble opinion, is almost unique in that it sells products that have a lot of romance and emotion in them. So you want a leader who has a firm grasp of those intangibles — someone who’s excellent at number-crunching but who also understands car culture. You may hire the most brilliant manager in the world to lead an automotive brand, and that person could still fail if he or she doesn’t have an iota of car appreciation. There’s just something about the car business that isn’t entirely about profit and loss.
In the local auto industry, I have seen countless leaders come and go — some accomplishing much more than the others, some consistently falling flat in spite of stellar records in previous jobs. The car trade is so transparent because success is mostly measured by sales. Either you sell or you don’t. It’s that simple. I’ve witnessed horrible bosses who very clearly have no idea about what they’re doing. They just seem to like the prestige — and presumably the pay — that comes with the position.
But a good leader will shape the personality of the company almost from day one. This person will inspire everyone from the line worker to the sales manager to do better every day, and his or her passion will be so infectious that it will spur the organization forward. A bad leader is exactly that — bad. Bad fit, bad influence, bad decision making.
In my experience, you can tell a well-managed company just by its personnel’s demeanor — the way they carry themselves, the way they talk, the way they dress up, the way they treat other people. Employees with a great leader will always be classy, professional, courteous, fair and honest. Those with an incompetent boss are generally lousy in everything.
And so getting someone to lead a company or a brand is extremely crucial. It will make or break the business. That individual will dictate not only the prevailing culture within the organization, but more importantly the direction the whole team is going to take. If you pick well, you’ll get one who’ll do wonders for your bottom line. If you don’t, you’ll see dwindling fortunes faster than Ferrari can develop and roll out a new supercar.

Record 207 environmental activists killed last year

Paris, France — More than 200 environmental activists were murdered last year as government-sponsored killings linked to lucrative projects by vast agriculture multinationals soared, a global rights watchdog warned on Tuesday.
Global Witness said it had documented 207 cases where activists were killed while trying to protect land from development, often for the production of consumer staples such as coffee and palm oil, making 2017 the deadliest year on record for environmentalists.
“As global demand for these products increases, there’s a scramble by business actors to get the massive amount of land they need to grow these products,” Ben Leather, senior campaigner at Global Witness, told AFP.
“When people dare to stand up for their rights and demand that the environment be protected they are silenced in the most brutal way.”
The watchdog said it had found evidence that government actors — soldiers or police — were responsible for 53 of the deaths.
“That’s only the triggermen so we can guess that in the cases where criminal gangs or other non-state actors carried out the attacks, the state may well have been involved,” Leather said.
“While in a shocking number of cases state actors pulled the trigger, in other cases where the government allowed businesses to enter without protecting local rights, they’re also complicit in the murders of these activists.”
Global Witness’ report on environmentalist killings documents harrowing crimes around the world against communities daring to speak out against big businesses and government-led development.
These include murder, but also death threats, intimidation, arrests, cyber attacks, sexual assault and lawsuits.
It links the violence to what we put on our shelves: mass-scale agriculture, mining, logging and poaching all produce ingredients for everyday products such as palm oil for cosmetics, soy for beef and timber for furniture.
Brazil was the most dangerous country for land activists in 2017 with 57 killed, while the Philippines accounted for 48.
‘Weakening protection’
“Governments have a legal and ethical duty to protect human rights defenders but they’re usually attacking them verbally and, as our statistics show, through their armed forces who are conducting some of the killings,” Leather said.
Global Witness singled out the government of Brazilian President Michel Temer for special criticism, accusing his administration of seeking to reduce regulation on big agribusiness during what is an election year.
“Michel Temer and the Brazilian legislature are actively weakening the laws and institutions designed to protect land rights and indigenous peoples,” the report said.
“At the same time, they have set about making it easier for big business -– apparently unperturbed by the devastating human and environmental cost of their activities –- to accelerate their exploitation of fragile ecosystems.”
In addition to being the deadliest single year for environmentalists since Global Witness began documenting their deaths, 2017 saw the most massacres of land activists on record.
The watchdog found seven cases in which more than four activists were killed at the same time, including the massacre of eight villagers protesting a coffee plantation by soldiers in the Philippines.
‘My life is at risk’
By far the most frequent victims of violence were indigenous peoples, who are often already maligned by governments and society.
“Of course, my life is at risk,” said activist Mario do Socorro Costa da Silva, who campaigns with indigenous communities in Brazil against hydro aluminium factories.
“I receive death threats 24 hours a day because I’m not going to shut my mouth in the face of this atrocity.”
As well as calling for more accountability and greater protection for at-risk communities, Leather said agribusiness investors and even consumers could help reduce the violence by demanding better transparency.
“We should be asking questions of those producing the products on our shelves,” he said.
“The palm oil sector absolutely needs to clean itself up and anyone investing needs to do proper due diligence to know that their money is not going to fund land grabs, human rights abuses and ultimately killings of those who denounce it.” — AFP

Philippines among top countries producing multimillionaires

The Philippines is the third country in the world that is fast producing individuals worth at least $5 million (P266 million).
ALSO READ: Asia’s newest millionaires swap basket-case economy for fine art
Countries producing multimillionaires

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