It would be an understatement to argue that the Spurs had their backs to the wall heading into Game Four of their opening-round series against the Warriors. Down zero to three, they needed to put together an outstanding effort on both ends of the court in order to stave off elimination, and not just because they faced the far superior defending champions. For the second straight match, they trekked to the AT&T Center without head coach Gregg Popovich, who was grieving the loss of his wife; the development meant they had to find an answer to their predicament, a seemingly Sisyphean task as evidenced by the 21-, 15-, and 13-point setbacks they hitherto absorbed.
Nonetheless, the Spurs were sure of one thing despite their tribulations: They would be fighting to the end. Regardless of score or circumstance, they would be hauling backsides, scrapping for the ball, and showing their capacity to be the best they can. For all their relative lack of talent, they knew exactly what it took to be greater than the sum of their parts. And so they remained confident of their chances, especially since they figured to have the support of a capacity crowd in one of the best homecourt venues in the league.
As things turned out, the Spurs exceeded themselves en route to forging their own double-digit victory. All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge was a rock, but the game ball belonged to 40-year-old sparkplug Manu Ginobili, whose tenacity on defense and utter fearlessness on offense forwarded the cause of the black and silver. He was particularly transcendent in the crunch, puncturing the hoop with consistency under pressure in a marked departure from his scoreless stint in Game Three.
In the aftermath of the upset, Ginobili touched on the motivation he derived from playing for acting head coach Ettore Messina; under the latter’s tutelage, he had thrived in the Euroleague prior to joining the National Basketball Association, and he relished the throwback opportunity. “Good memories,” he said. In any case, the Spurs continue to be the underdogs, and if they’re keen on staying alive, let alone advance to the conference semifinals, they’ll need more of his heroics.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.
The NFA reverts back to the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture. Through the years, administrative control of the NFA has shifted between the Offices of the President and the Secretary of Agriculture. However since 2016, President Duterte unprecedentedly appointed Cabinet Secretary Evasco to chair the NFA Council. Well, he just lost that position.
A mere transfer of the agency back to the Office of the President or to the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture from the Cabinet Secretary’s Office is a palliative cure to rising rice prices and corruption in the NFA.
Let us track the movements of the NFA Ping-Pong ball starting in 2010.
Just barely warmed his Presidential chair, then president Benigno S. C. Aquino III fumed over the waste of rice and money after the Arroyo administration over-imported rice in 2008, which rotted at NFA warehouses.
He figured that private individuals must have profited substantially from the huge importation when rice prices in the world were highest.
President Aquino assigned then Agriculture Secretary Alcala, in whom he had full confidence, to supervise the NFA. That was a move from the Office of the President to the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture.
In 2013, Secretary Alcala caused rice prices to increase. He reduced rice imports in an effort to meet his rice self-sufficiency goal.
Aquino’s confidence in Alcala was apparently shaken, because he took back the NFA from the DA. He could have asked Alcala to step down, but apparently could not and did not. He instead split the management of the DA and its attached agencies between Alcala and then presidential assistant Pangilinan.
In June 2016, NFA supervision transferred again this to time to the Office of Cabinet Secretary Evasco. Evasco had a running spat with NFA Administrator Jason Aquino over the volume, timing, and modality of rice imports.
In early 2017, rice prices went up due to low NFA stocks. The NFA Council, which Evasco chairs, sought President Duterte’s approval for NFA to import rice under a G2P arrangement. Administrator Aquino disagreed. He wanted NFA to import the rice (a G2G) instead of the private sector. Evasco prevailed over Administrator Aquino.
That quarrel had boiled once again, this time rice prices are up in the first quarter of this year due to low NFA stocks.
Low NFA stocks make rice consumers vulnerable to price manipulation by private traders.
Even if we have adequate rice supply in the country due to a good harvest, rice prices may go up, however, if the NFA stocks are down. Why?
By making NFA an import monopoly, we have inadvertently made the local rice market, in the language of economists oligopolistic, a competition between the few large rice traders, and the NFA.
The NFA is designed to check the price manipulation by a few large traders, selling the lowest price rice in the market. If the NFA had the appropriate inventory, private traders cannot bid up rice prices. If it does not, the rice consumers are vulnerable to rice spikes.
The two NFA officials know this, but they disagreed once again on the modality of importation. Secretary Evasco and the NFA Council decided it should be government to private (G2P). Administrator Aquino is for G2G.
The G2P procurement is beneficial to the country. The government does not need to finance the import.
Under a G2G, the NFA has to borrow money commercial to finance its rice imports. The arrangement, which does not require competitive bidding, is vulnerable to corruption.
There is money from importing rice. Local rice prices are higher than world prices. Whoever controls the NFA gets the profit from rice imports.
In 1998, former president Estrada placed the NFA under the Office of the President, away from the Secretary of Agriculture. According to customs officials at that time, individuals close to the then President allegedly showed up at customs, and claimed they brokered for the NFA.
That was a milestone in the rice industry.
Until then, the NFA earned profit from its rice import monopoly, which it used to offset its loss from “buying high and selling low” rice, and its operational inefficiencies.
NFA’s finances took a turn for the worse since that time. With reduced income, NFA started to rely more on corporate borrowing, increasing its commercial debt.
The corruption at that time may not have been as large as in 2008. The larger cost of it was that it emboldened others. Before long, technical rice smuggling started and continues to be a major problem until now.
The Arroyo government was no help. The biggest loss of the NFA occurred in a single year occurred in 2008 under president Arroyo’s watch. The NFA imported a year’s worth of rice imports of over 2 million tons in the first 5 months of that year. Thailand had to even advise the Philippines to stop importing because world rice prices had shot through the roof.
In my view, the NFA management was not that incompetent as to defy the law of demand.
Ironically, former president Arroyo had the opportunity to fix the financial problems of the NFA.
At the start of her administration, the government had an agreement with the Asian Development Bank, which former president Estrada approved, to carry out rice productivity investments and policy reforms.
The reforms were designed to keep rice prices affordable and stable, and saved taxpayer money. Former president Arroyo cancelled the program in 2002.
The changes in NFA leadership through the years are symptomatic of a very old institution. The NFA is not a Hagdang Bato, a triple crown winner in horse racing. The NFA had its peak years and had ably defended our interests. Mr. President it does not need a new hinete; it needs to retire.
I agree with Speaker Alvarez who said we must abolish the NFA and replace it with a modern food security agency: one that is not milked by corrupt officials; one that does not give us another National Power Corporation; one that puts rice smuggling and the rice cartel out of business; one that effectively defends the interests of the poor rice consumers; one that genuinely raises farm incomes; in short, one that is more responsive to the food security needs of the country in the 21st century.
Ramon L. Clarete is a professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics.
The political season is upon us. This May we will hold our barangay and SK elections. Next May, the mid-term elections will be for the Senate, House of Representatives, and local governments. It’s never ending politics for us because so much ambition for wealth and power are at stake. Politics is big business and the returns for the unscrupulous are instantly and constantly breathtaking.
In fact, politics didn’t end after the 2016 election period ended. Partisans, for and against, went to work to viciously demolish their principals before the eyes of the world. An eye for an eye so to speak. Every day, since then, we were fed with news from attackers and defenders, not that the news was real and educational either. Lost in that black hole was the agenda for “tunay na pagbabago.”
We have a culture of negligence, dismissive arrogance, corruption, and tribal loyalties that place no importance on values and merit. To the high and mighty, the rules don’t apply to them, only to others. Like they can’t be dictated upon, but it’s okay if they do the dictating. Like portraying their creative plunder as clever and innovative best practice while their inferiors are downright crooked.
Like their political pets and patrons are beyond reproach despite empirical evidence or indications to the contrary. Partisans, real ones and the mercenary, wage political warfare with that mind-set, stuck on personality-oriented politics and unable to rise to the level of ethics, policy directions, and standards of good governance as well as citizenship. It looks like we’ll have more of the same.
All their “talk the talk” savvy to feel good such as truth, integrity, inclusion, responsibility, excellence, and competitiveness, crumble in the face of vested interests and partisanship. They give way to criminal syndication, cartelization, manipulation, and disinformation, and look the other way if it’s their side. Yet, they wonder why there’s no end to lawlessness, civil unrest and armed conflicts.
We can’t build our nation this way. Partisan politics is divisive. It’s bad enough that we’re culturally tribal and geographically separated. Our corrosive brand of politics aggravates it all the more. Worse, ill-gotten gains are routinely laundered to hide the fruits of the crimes and acquire respect in the community. National interests are subordinated to vested interests. It’s typical of all sides.
This early, names are being floated for the Senate race to test voter response, but that’s alright because it’s part of the process. What’s not okay is that partisans from all sides are demolishing perceived candidates; or dissuading others not to join the other side even way before official announcements are made and the start of the campaign period. The pattern’s obvious; same, same.
Furthermore, manipulators are using early surveys to begin conditioning the public’s mind toward accepting predetermined voting outcomes for their clients who will benefit from e-cheating like they did in 2010, 2013, and 2016. Politics is indeed big business with breathtaking sustained ROI. Which is why every aspect of nation-building is subordinated to self-serving politics.
Our brand of politics is divisive, exclusive and offensive to national wellbeing. Lost in the sewer is the call for nation-builders in government, elected and appointed, who will treat public office as a public trust; those who will place national interest and common good above all else. Lost in the slugfest is process of weighing a person’s worth to serve, whether his merits outweigh his demerits.
As usual, potential candidates will be treated like race horses, never mind if the race may be rigged from the start with mind conditioning for mind recall and to justify the pre-selected outcome. Voter education rhetoric will amount to nothing more. Candidates, potential or official, who’re not in government won’t have the advantage of resources to facilitate exposure, travel and networking.
Time after time, there have been pledges by government to level the playing field, enforce campaign spending limits, and accord equal time and space in all kinds of media. So far, nothing transformational has happened by way of serious electoral reforms. We seem destined to careen from one election to the next with the same patterns of recidivist behavior, orchestration, and outcomes.
But hope springs eternal for this serial realist.
What else can one do under these opaque times and circumstances? Underlying that are the cries of millions who yearn for honest, orderly and peaceful elections (H.O.P.E.), emphasis on honest in this electronic age where virtual peace and order are used to mask the rot beneath, to give our people and democracy a fighting chance to win the future.
I’ll support candidates that stand for national unity, security, and development; and place a premium on those who’re ready to serve the people and save lives at grave risk from the consequences of negligence, poverty, separation, crime, and corruption. Those who agree must take the initiative to effect attitudinal and behavioral change, for society to be better Filipinos for a better Philippines.
Today, nation-building refers to the efforts of newly independent nations to redefine the populace of territories carved out by colonial powers without regard to ethnic, religious, or other boundaries to become viable and coherent national entities. It includes the creation of national paraphernalia such as flags; anthems; national days, stadiums, airlines, languages and myths.
Nation builders take the initiative to develop a national community through government programs, military conscription, mass schooling, propaganda or infrastructure development to foster social harmony and economic growth.
Nations stay together when citizens share enough values and preferences, and can communicate with one another. Homogeneity and interconnectivity amongst people can be built with education, a common language and technology. At times by brute force as most, if not all, great powers have demonstrated. Such is the painful human reality as nations struggle to unite.
This, I believe, is our sacred mission — to strive for One Philippines and to be the best there is in whatever we set our minds on.
Rafael M. Alunan III served in the cabinet of President Corazon C. Aquino as Secretary of Tourism, and in the cabinet of President Fidel V. Ramos as Secretary of Interior and Local Government. rmalunan@gmail.com map@map.org.ph http://map.org.ph
The majority of the Supreme Court Justices are turning the Court into a dictator. They are making the Supreme Court the absolute ruler.
We must pay attention to two developments that signify the Supreme Court’s transmutation to a dictatorship dressed in judicial garb.
The first development is the Supreme Court’s accommodation of the quo warranto plea of the Solicitor General versus Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
As various concerned quarters have said, the application of the quo warranto in this case is wrong. It is patently illegal, outright unconstitutional. Impeachment is the only way that the Constitution prescribes to remove the Supreme Court Chief Justice (and for that matter the Senior Associate Justice and the Associate Justices).
The quo warranto petition cannot be used to question the performance of Chief Justice Sereno. Hence those who want to destroy Sereno question her qualification from the very beginning, in particular her integrity. They cite Sereno’s failure to submit her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC). The SALN has never been an absolutely necessary condition for qualification in the Supreme Court. After all, other Members of the Court have cases of non-submission of SALNs to the JBC, too. Neither can the non-submission of SALN be a test of integrity. How can it be that way when the Constitution does not include it as a requirement to become a Supreme Court Justice?
In addition, the quo warranto action has a prescriptive period of one year. Sereno assumed office in August 2012. The quo warranto petition is thus late by about five years.
Gigo Alampay, a lawyer and public policy specialist, points out the wisdom of having a limited period for the quo warranto action: “Public officials, even those who allegedly should not have been appointed in the first place, make decisions that have very real public impact. So it is in the public interest to have such questions settled in the shortest possible time.
“What happens now to all the decisions where Chief Justice Sereno participated, voted or even penned the decision herself? If her appointment was void ab initio, can lawyers then petition the [Court] for a review of all those cases where their clients lost? Should they now all be set aside and re-litigated? It is a recipe for legal chaos.”
In the event that the Supreme Court grants the quo warranto petition, not only will the Supreme Court violate the Constitution regarding the legal way of removing a Chief Justice. It will also be a virtual act of overthrowing the Constitution by making itself the most dominating apparatus of the State. Approving the quo warranto action against Sereno is the precedent wherein the Supreme Court can remove any member of the Court or the President on the basis of a whim or a lame excuse that absence of integrity is about carelessness in not submitting the SALN, or being rude, or being foul-mouthed.
Some members of the Supreme Court act like they can overrule anything, including the people’s will. Which bring us to the second most disturbing development, pertaining to the protest vis-a-vis the election outcome for vice-president.
On this issue, the fear is reinforced that the Supreme Court is usurping the powers that exclusively belong to other government agencies.
The Presidential Electoral Tribunal or PET (which has the same composition as the Supreme Court) has arbitrarily changed the rules on the vote recount for select precincts. Specifically, the PET has reversed the decision of the Commission on Elections that allows a shading of at least 25% of the ballot’s oval as a valid vote. Now, the PET rules that at least 50% shading of the oval counts as a vote.
This is plainly wrong.
First, it is not the PET that makes the election rules. Second, and worse, the PET changes the rules after the outcome of the elections. In any game, this is most foul.
To be sure, the Supreme Court has reversed its own decisions unjustifiably in the past. This has created rule unpredictability and has contributed to the erosion of the credibility of institutions. But the implication of the change of rules for the vote recount has a far-deeper, far-troubling impact. This is no longer about a legal question. This is a case of denying the people’s vote, the people’s will.
Taken together, the unconstitutional quo warranto action and the PET’s change of the election rules constitute the most serious threat to the institutions of democracy. The members of the Court and the conspirators of the dastardly plots must be made aware that the consequences of their decision on these matters will likewise apply to them. By acting like a dictator, the members of the Supreme Court are setting up the conditions that will not only destabilize society but that will also devour them.
To the Supreme Court: Let conflicts be resolved within the ambit of reason and the rule of law.
Filomeno S. Sta. Ana III coordinates the Action for Economic Reforms. www.aer.ph
Because companies too are made up of people jostling for power and craving recognition and a share of the goodies, they have much in common with political entities and politicians. The incidences of turf battles, schemes for job retention, credit-grabbing, back-stabbing of rivals, glorification of the boss, and the climbing skills for getting to the top and staying there are all part of the game of survival that follows the Darwinian rule not of the survival of the fittest, or the least scrupulous.
The corporate rules of engagement, though following some principles of politics, also differ in some ways from the larger and more public spectacle of public life.
Business executives address a narrower base of interested parties (employees, stockholders, and investors) than politicians (the party and the struggling masses). Thus, media attention on the former is narrower since the goings-on in a corporation seldom affect issues that people march in the street for like rising prices, violation of human rights, taxi surcharge for travel time, and relocation of informal settlers.
Business stories interest only a few that are familiar with financial terms like market value, stock swap, and EBITDA. Due to their complexity even for general reporters, business stories are simplified into soap opera with heroes and villains. Seldom do business stories make it to the front page, unless they involve scandals and possible imprisonment for fraud and theft, or deals with politicians.
While regular politicians also buy votes, they make sanctimonious declarations to the contrary. It’s acceptable for business groups however to increase its number of shares by buying them in the open market or from other parties wanting to sell at a premium. Not only do corporate types admit to buying votes, they even disclose at what prices these had been bought and how much they now control. They are even obliged to buy more shares at a tender price from minority stockholders.
While politicians can rest easy once elected, needing to think about the polls maybe three years later, corporate officers need to go through voting every year at the stockholders’ meeting. While corporate elections to the board are often a foregone conclusion, they can be exciting when there are blocks of shares vying for supremacy. Anyway, exits at the very top, do not always need to wait for the yearly elections — he needs to attend to his family at this time.
Constituents can easily bail out. If stockholders are unhappy with the way the CEO is running the company, they can simply dump their shares. There is no need for a privilege speech or a congressional investigation, just an order to the broker or the computer to “sell at market” and then move on to cash out or invest in another company, not necessarily the competition. Corporate politics sometimes needs to touch base with its big brother. There’s no need to seek political connections if one is just selling carrot cakes or sandals. It is the customers that determine the fate of these companies. But natural monopolies that require franchises or government contracts for vaccinations need friends in high places. They are also likely to be invited to shed light on business practices in aid of legislation.
Given the political dimension of large corporations, it is puzzling that there has not been a successful business candidate for the highest national position. Given the risk-reward ratio that businessmen are constantly evaluating, it is deemed more appropriate to support (beyond just kind words and prayers) specific candidates rather than become one of them. Polls are so important for businessmen in allocating funds for the political exercise. But these sometimes change as businessmen get lessons on the meaning of sunk cost.
And here’s one last difference between politics and business. Corporate politicians do not employ surveys and popularity polls to determine their support. It is the earnings per share and dividends declared that serve to keep them in their jobs. It is not necessary for a CEO to smile or even be nice to media. It is the annual report that determines their worthiness to serve for another year.
And when the numbers go sour, there is no need for rallies or media bashing to see the end of a corporate career. The jump from a plane in flight is quick… and not always accompanied by a golden parachute.
Local equities barely moved on Monday, April 23, as investors chose to stay on the sidelines due to lack of leads.
The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index ended 7.25 points lower or 0.09% to 7,719.47 on Monday. The broader all-shares index also fell 0.22% or 10.20 points to 4,677.09.
“Philippine markets began on a quiet note as the market traded almost unchanged while value turnover was nearly half of the average. There were no major economic data releases last Friday, giving minimal guidance to the direction for investors,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis A. Limlingan said.
All sectoral indices moved to negative territory, led by the mining and oil sector which dropped 1.4% or 149.65 points to 10,532.72. Services went down 0.33% or 5.10 points to 1,564.14, while holding firms gave up 0.25% or 18.99 points to 7,631.93.
Property dipped 0.1% or 3.67 points to 3,587.69; financials slipped 0.08% or 1.57 points to 1,993.32; while industrial closed 0.07% or 7.74 points lower to 11,076.60.
Some 1.04 billion issues switched hands, resulting to a value turnover of P5.48 billion, lower than Friday’s P6.716-billion turnover.
“The market traded sideways for the majority of the day after some initial strength in the morning. This may have been due to some optimism following Friday’s green session…Investors may be waiting for the market’s next move as some only stood on the sidelines today,” Papa Securities Corp. Trader Gabriel F. Perez said in an email.
Decliners trumped advancers, 103 to 88, while 57 issues were unchanged.
Foreign investors remained sellers, with net foreign outflows recorded at P308.2 million, slightly lower than the P381.15 million posted last Friday. — Arra B. Francia
The peso plunged to a one-month low on Monday, April 23, as the dollar gained strength, propped up by rising bond yields in the United States and easing tensions over a trade war with China.
The local unit closed at P52.24 versus the greenback on Monday, 14.5 centavos weaker than Friday’s P52.095 finish. This is the peso’s weakest showing since closing at P52.32 exchange rate on March 27.
The peso traded generally weaker throughout the session as it opened at P52.13 versus against the dollar. It touched P52.12 as its strongest point but also hit a peak of P52.26 before settling at the closing rate.
Sought for comment, two traders said the peso mirrored a depreciation trend seen with other Asian currencies compared to the dollar, fuelled by positive developments in the US.
“The peso dipped strongly due to recent rise in US yields and on news of possible visit to China by US Finance Secretary (Steven) Mnuchin to discuss trade concerns between China and the US,” one trader said via e-mail.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that he may visit Beijing to discuss trade practices — a move seen to allay fears over a looming trade war between the world’s biggest economies.
Concerns over the trade war continued to feed into market sentiment, with latest developments turning out in favor of the greenback.
A second trader pointed out a “stronger appetite” to trade currencies on Monday. Dollars traded amounted to $757.2 million yesterday, double the $329.5 million which exchanged hands last Friday.
“The market likely took positions ahead of US GDP (gross domestic product) data,” the trader said, noting that the peso is likely to weaken further over the coming days. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez
Student loans are not as ubiquitous here as in the United States. In fact, the Philippine Statistics Authority estimates that 600,000 college students dropout annually due to financial problems. That’s one in five students.
But in this era of the sharing economy, getting a student loan need not be a tedious process of finding a needle in a haystack, especially because a Filipino startup engaged in matching student borrowers with lenders via an online platform was awarded a $100,000 grant from the government of Dubai last week to accelerate its expansion.
InvestEd, a company ran by 24-year-old CEO Carmina Bayombong, was among the 26 social enterprises from 30 countries that won the grant under the Dubai World Expo 2020 (Expo2020) program. Expo2020, which will be held in Dubai from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021, is a global convention that will showcase innovative businesses from different countries. More than 100 countries, including the Philippines, are set to join the expo.
“I witnessed a lot of my friends drop out due to financial problems,” Bayombong said in a previous speaking engagement at SparkUp’s Spark Series X Far Eastern University. “That got me thinking, why is financial aid in education such a hard thing to come by?”
Launched in December 2016, InvestEd offers student loans amounting from ₱10,000 to ₱80,000. Students need only to create a borrower account invested.phonline, get notified of qualification within seven business days, be interviewed for a final assessment, and sign a loan agreement that they will pay their loan after finishing their degree.
Where does the money come from?
InvestEd gets investors—lenders—who are promised that they can grow their money for 7%-11% per annum with a minimum amount of ₱100,000, deposited in tranches.
To secure their investment, a six-point approach to repayment is enforced. This includes multiple matching, where a lender is matched with at least three borrowers to reduce risk, as well as a credit investigation technology using a credit scoring and profiling algorithm powered by artificial intelligence. Lenders are repaid bi-monthly over 12 to 36 months, depending on the student’s loan amount and starting salary. An amortization schedule is provided after depositing their pledge.
In its initial operation, the company granted loans to 12 students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines during their last semester. The next line of lendees included, among others, engineering students from the University of the Philippines.
Apart from loans, the company also provides students with personal development training, financial literacy classes and pre‑employment workshops. Because of this supplementary program, borrowers get employed 33 days after graduating, compared to the national average of four to six months.
In a Facebook post, InvestEd said it will use the funding for its plan to increase the number of its loaners from 70 to 3,500 students.
Currently, InvestEd serves students across Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Batangas, Camarines Sur, and the Cagayan Valley. The grant will allow them to widen their reach.
To learn more about InvestEd, click invested.ph here.
In the market for a seven-seater? Luckily, the market is awash with them. In fact, almost every automaker has at least one seven-seater in its product portfolio. It should not in the least be surprising since seven-seaters are incredibly family-friendly, flexible and versatile, and there’s a huge market for them.
Here is a compilation of seven-seater vehicles offered by some of the country’s leading automakers that you may want to put on your short list.
Mitsubishi Pajero
This premium sport utility vehicle of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. has a striking exterior, with its bumper integrated, chrome-plated radiator front grille and a redesigned front bumper with a silver accent garnish. It is equipped with high-intensity discharge headlamps, with automatic high beam control function, as well as LED daytime running lamps and fog lamps. On top of these, Pajero has a sunroof with power tilt and slide functions and stands on four 18-inch alloy wheels.
It is also powerful. Pajero comes equipped with either of these two engines — 3.8-liter V6 24-Valve SOHC MIVEC or 3.2L 16-Valve DOHC Turbocharged and Intercooled DI-D. The former puts out 250 Pferdestrke (Ps) at 6,000 rotations per minute (rpm) and has a pulling power of 329 Newton meters (N-m) at 2,750 rpm. The latter’s maximum power is measured at 165 Ps at 3,500 rpm, and maximum torque at 373 N-m at 2,000 rpm.
Suzuki Ertiga
Suzuki Motors Corp.’s 7-seater Ertiga is positioned as the ideal multi-purpose vehicle for the Filipino family. It is available in four variants — GA manual transmission, GL manual transmission, GL automatic transmission and GLX automatic transmission — and in a number of paint jobs — Silky Silver Metallic, Graphite Gray Pearl Metallic, Prime Cool Black, Pearl Radiant Red, Pearl Burgundy Red and Pearl Snow White.
Ertiga, one of the best-sellers of the Japanese automotive company, has an exciting bevy of interior features, such as a multimedia Android touch screen, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity with hands-free function. To make driving more comfortable, Ertiga has keyless push start system and reverse sensor with on-and-off switches. The steering wheel of the GLX variant is extra special: it has audio and hands-free switches embedded in it to facilitate access to various tasks. Ertiga also has 50:50 split-folding rear seats, making it more versatile.
Honda BR-V
BR-V, a sport utility vehicle offered by Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. that was made available to the Filipino car-buying public in 2016, performs dynamically. Its two variants — 1.5 S CVT and 1.5 V Navi CVT — are powered by the same 1.5 i-VTEC engine that produces a maximum power of 120 Ps at 6,600 rpm and a maximum torque of 145 N-m at 4,600 rpm. BR-V has the Earth Dreams Technology Continuously Variable Transmission, too, which was designed to improve thermal efficiency and minimize friction.
Aside from being a dynamic performer, BR-V is also a looker. Its 1.5 S CVT variant is embellished with a front under spoiler, side under spoiler, and rear under spoiler, and also integrated with rear corner sensors, and daytime running lights (DRL) for safer driving. Meanwhile, the 1.5 V Navi CVT variant has all the aforementioned features, plus a tailgate spoiler and a shark fin antenna.
Ford Everest
Ford Motor Co. Philippines’ Everest, a 7-seater sport-utility vehicle, is designed to tackle tough terrain and unexpected obstacles, according to the manufacturer. It has a ground clearance of 225 millimeters and a water wading capability of 880 millimeters. With its terrain management system, the driver gets to shift on the fly to maximize traction and stability to stay in control. For traction and grip, even in terrains that are slippery or rugged, Everest has an electric locking rear differential feature that provides full-engine torque to the rear wheels.
Some of the notable external features of the Everest include auto high beam control and LED lighting and a panoramic moon roof. One of its remarkable interior features, on the other hand, is active noise cancellation that uses three highly sensitive microphones to detect and measure engine noise that then gets cancelled using opposing sound waves.
Nissan X-Trail
The technologies inside the Nissan Philippines’ X-Trail are meant to enhance the driving experience. Among these are the around view monitor, which provides a 360-degree perspective for easier navigation; moving object detection, which sends a visual and audible alert when there’s movement around the vehicle; and rear cross traffic alert, which alerts the drive to unseen vehicles while reversing.
There are two X-Trail variants available — 4×4 and 4×2 — and they come in several colors: premium corona orange, marine blue, pearl white, gun metallic and diamond black. In addition, the front fascia of X-Trail was redefined; it now comes integrated with fog lamps, bumper, the signature Nissan V-Motion grille, revised headlights with LED signature daytime running lights. Completing the vehicle’s dynamic look are the fin-type antenna, newly integrated sun roof and a set of 19-inch wheels.
Filipinos are known for having close family ties. In everything they do, the family is always involved, even the extended ones. In fact, they build spacious abodes or homes next to each other to accommodate more of their loved ones or simply be near with them.
Most of the time, for families with a growing number of members, a normal four- or five-seater car is simply not enough. Just like having big homes, large families, for practical purposes, also opt for bigger, roomy cars such as seven-seater ones.
Not only do these cars provide extra seats for more persons, it also ensures maximum space and comfort for all passengers. These features are tailored to suit the needs of families’ everyday style of living like traveling, or simply for going to and from work and/or school together.
For traveling with the family or even with group of friends, spacious cars are definitely the top pick because it can give you the flexible option on how to use its space — whether for seating capacity or for storing extra luggage.
Most of these cars have foldable seats at the back that can easily and neatly be stowed away to make room for extra stuff. When not needed, these foldable rear seats come in handy to transport large cargoes that need additional space.
Along with this, most seven-seater cars are made with larger leg room and head room for convenient alighting and boarding. With broader areas to move around or sit leisurely, passengers and drivers alike would not feel cramped or uncomfortable during long rides.
Some seven-seater cars, particularly sport utility vehicles (SUVs) have high ground clearance and a rugged suspension system — making it the perfect road buddy for traveling. These features enable it to adapt to different kinds of terrain and conditions like floods, or even driving on a rocky path, shallow rivers, or muddy slopes.
For day-to-day city driving, most parents with two or more children would also rely on family-friendly spacious cars to transport them altogether to school before going to work themselves or the other way around when going home.
To complement the comfort provided by the generous space of seven-seater vehicles, car brands also make sure to amplify driving experience through furnishing cars with cozy upholstery made from top-notch materials.
Most of these cars also have enviable amenities such as advanced infotainment systems like premium sound system, among others, to keep even the longest of journeys interesting and fun. Moreover, these types of vehicles also have air-conditioning system that makes sure to cover all corners of the car cabin.
More importantly, since these cars with seven-seating configuration are made with the families as potential market, it is equipped with cutting-edge safety features aimed to create a safer driving experience whether for daily or long road trips. Some of these include additional air bags, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot detection system, and features that aids in parking, among many others.
Hand in hand with the comfortable, functional, and entertaining features inside the car cabin, these vehicles are also equipped with notable engines that boosts performance on the road and yet, are fuel-efficient — also a vital feature that makes seven-seater cars a practical choice for those thinking of buying a new car; not to mention that these cars have a attractive price points as well.
Apart from having generous space, safety features, noteworthy engines, and a set of entertaining system, the exterior of seven-seater cars also does not disappoint. Most seven-seater car models with well-made interiors have equally tough yet stunning and stylish external body structure that is sure to standout both on and off the road.
With a robust demand for these types of vehicles, car companies offer versatile models in the market wanting to cater not only to different types of families with various lifestyle needs and preferences that fit their personality, but also to other set of clienteles as well. Seven-seater cars also gained popularity among companies to chauffeur their employees, guests, or even cargoes around. — Romsanne R. Ortiguero
So you want to buy your first car. You’ve picked out a model you want, out of hundreds of options from different brands. You’ve earned the money, or perhaps you’ve figured out the payment plan that works for you. Now you’re thinking all that is left is the process of walking down to your local dealership, shaking your dealer’s hands, and driving towards the sunset with the car of your dreams.
It’s not as simple. At least, not unless you’re fully prepared for the various protocols you first need to follow when making your purchase, all the documents you need to gather along with all the fees and paperwork you need to pay and accomplish. Here are a few ways you can prepare to ensure your first car purchase is smooth and hassle-free.
For starters, have a sound financing plan. Those who cannot pay in cash, and those are most people, should opt for a financing plan that is well within their means, whether that plan is made through a bank or the dealership. It might be worth the extra hassle of going through your bank if in the end you can land a lower interest rate or a more convenient payment plan. Terms of payment usually range from a year (12 months) to five years (60 months). Naturally, the longer payment period incurs higher interest.
Prepare your payment document. Your payment document usually comes in the form of a check, whether manager’s/cashier’s or personal, and it would pay to call your dealership beforehand to check which type they prefer. Once the details have been finalized with the dealership or the bank, your car can be prepped for release.
Choose carefully. The dealership will conduct its pre-delivery inspection upon the accomplishment of negotiations, so be completely sure that you are picking the car that you want to drive home with. Inspect the exterior for any defects and sit inside to ensure the interior cabin is sufficient. Find out all there is to know about the car, its warranty, or its maintenance. Ask questions, no matter how petty or insignificant. Ask for a test drive, if possible. It would save a lot of headaches down the road.
Prepare your driver’s license. This might seem a no-brainer, but your driver’s license is one of the most important requirements your dealership will ask of you. Obviously, you need to be a registered driver to drive the car home, but your license also serves as confirmation for your identity. If you are using the dealership’s in-house financing, your license will also be required along with other documents such as an electricity bill, water bill, or phone bill.
Get it insured. This final step requires the most research, but it is absolutely necessary for first-time drivers. Even if you have passed your driving tests with flying colors, or even if you swear to be the most cautious and attentive driver around, you will still need insurance. You simply cannot avoid bad drivers forever, and in the likely, hopefully far-off, event that you do meet one, you will be thankful to have some protection.
Once you have the details of your new car on hand, such as the vehicle identification number, engine number, and other details, you can set up a new insurance policy with any provider in the Philippines. Your dealer can help you provide the necessary information to complete the process, but it falls to you to make the decision of choosing your insurance provider. Do your research, check all the company Web sites, ask friends or other reputable sources, compare and contrast different products from different companies, and assess your typical risks and needs. Insurance products are rarely the same, and there is as much to be considered about which product is right for you as there is in choosing your car.
Once your new policy has been set up, your provider may then send you the proof of insurance to present to the dealership. The entire process may not take you very long, or it may take you a few days depending on the dealership. But if you walk in the dealership fully prepared for what your dealer may ask of you, you can look forward to riding your new car home worry-free. — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran
By Mark Louis F. Ferrolino, Special Features Writer
In a span of more than a decade, full-service law firm DivinaLaw has grown exponentially and has become one of the top-tier legal service providers in the country. It was able to distinguish itself from other traditional law firms by advocating and practicing dynamic lawyering, which involves prompt, proactive, and results-oriented service.
Atty. Nilo T. Divina
DivinaLaw was established in 2006 by top commercial lawyer and litigator Atty. Nilo T. Divina. Fueled by his passion and clear vision to succeed in the field, what was once a small firm which started with five attorneys now boasts of 60 members in its roster. From an office in Makati City alone, it has now affiliate offices in key cities nationwide and two additional offices in Cebu and Singapore.
In an interview with BusinessWorld, Atty. Divina, who is also a managing partner at DivinaLaw, recalled how he started the firm. Considering an established career in the old Equitable PCI Bank, which used to be one of the largest banks in the Philippines, setting up a law firm he could call his own was a hard decision, he said.
“I felt I have to move on. It was a tough call for me because my pay and other employments benefits were more than adequate,” Atty. Divina said. “I was, of course, encouraged by my friends that I can do better if I put up my own law firm. There was of course no assurancethat I would succeed. So, it was a giant leap of faith.”
DivinaLaw started with only four clients: BDO Unibank, Inc., Equicom Group, Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp., and Premium Securities, Inc. They became the firm’s “ambassadors of goodwill or marketing agents”, promoting the firm by word-of-mouth endorsement in diverse industries, according to Mr. Divina.
Today, DivinaLaw has approximately 500 clients, including leading corporates in banking and finance, manufacturing, retail, power, oil and gas, education, health care and insurance, realty and property development, and technology.
As a full-service law firm, DivinaLaw’s practice includes the entire spectrum of the Philippine law. Its key practice areas cover Litigation, Corporate and Special Projects, Crisis Management and Communication, and Taxation and Estate Planning.
“We are not the traditional law firm, we are dynamic. Our mind-set is to always find ways and means, to explore uncharted territory and do everything necessary to deliver superior results to our clients and give them peace of mind, of course, all within the bounds of law, ethics and reason,” Atty. Divina said.
In an emerging and challenging market like the Philippines, DivinaLaw continues to prosper by giving its clients the best legal services possible. In line with the country’s new tax reform, which has taken effect in the first day of the year, DivinaLaw provides a whole range of tax services that answer the diverse needs of its clients.
The firm’s tax practice group is committed to assisting clients in ensuring compliance with tax laws, managing tax implications, and rendering tax planning advice and opinions on various commercial and financial matters. It also helps clients in securing tax rulings, opinions and clearances from the Bureau of Internal Revenue and other related agencies. Furthermore, the group handles tax litigation, tax assessments, tax protests, and claims for refund.
Atty. Divina said that the firm’s tax group continues to grow with Atty. Roberto L. Tan as the head, whom he described as “one of the best tax lawyers in the country.” Similar to its other divisions, positions in the tax group are filled-up by competent lawyers who come from the country’s best law schools.
“These tax lawyers are not your conservative lawyers; they are creative, they are innovative, they are dynamic and always of course within the bounds of law and reason. Their mind-set is not to tell the client how difficult the tax laws are, their mind-set is to help the clients be more efficient and effective,” Atty. Divina said.
To ensure the competence of its tax lawyers, especially with the changing times, Atty. Divina said that they send them to local and international trainings and seminars, encourage them to join tax associations and groups, and require them to converse with other tax experts to acquire new ideas.
In the coming years, Atty. Divina said they want to expand its office in Makati by adding a legal resource center. He added that they want to position the firm as the go-to law firm when it comes to corporate matters and issues.
In terms of expanding its geographical footprint outside the country, Atty. Divina said that they have plans to establish branches in China and Australia, and to become a regional law firm.
Above all, the firm’s commitment to its clients remain unchanged. As Atty. Divina said: “Our clients’ problems are our problems. Our clients’ challenges are our challenges. We share their concerns and would like to give them peace of mind. Client satisfaction is our burning passion.”
