Diesel power

August 16, 2017 | 12:07 am

Text and photos by Kap Maceda Aguila

THE most important things you need to know about the all-new, fifth-generation Honda CR-V are in the subhead of this article. The SUV’s entry in the Philippines marks the first time Honda brings in a diesel power plant, and the company is aggressively touting the CR-V as a true seven-seat crossover.

Diesel power

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) president and general manager Noriyuki Takakura took advantage of the CR-V’s recent unveiling to convey news of HCPI’s robust performance in the first half of 2017. A total of 13,789 Honda units were sold from Jan.-June — reflecting a 23% spike over last year’s figure, and the highest-ever half-year performance for the Japanese car maker here in the country. Additionally, HCPI quickly sold out 100 units of the highly coveted Honda Civic Type-R units shortly after news of their availability.

The local release of the all-new CR-V should augur more good news for HCPI. The compact crossover, which was first released globally in 1995, has undoubtedly become a very popular vehicle — moving some four million units in two decades (as reported by Car and Driver). Mr. Takakura noted that the Philippines is an “SUV market,” and with a preference for family movers, not to mention more frugal diesel power plants.

The new CR-V should thus tick the right boxes. Powering the three diesel models is a 1.6-liter DOHC i-DTEC turbo engine with Honda’s proprietary Earth Dreams Technology. Good for 118hp at 4,000rpm and maximum torque of 300Nm at 2,000rpm, Honda says that mating it to a new nine-speed A/T with electronic gear selector and paddle shifters yields “a powerful yet cleaner and more efficient output,” along with a quicker, more powerful launch at the low gear ratio, while “the high gear ratio gives lower engine speed at cruising speed, giving the car lower noise level and better fuel consumption.”

Diesel power — New CR-V’s cabin is spacious, well equipped.

Those seeking the conventional, gasoline-powered variant might be a little disappointed as the sole petrol-sipper at the moment is a five-seat car, which keeps the same 2.0-liter SOHC i-VTEC engine promising 152hp at 6,500rpm and 189Nm at 4,300rpm. It is mated to a CVT, also engineered with Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology, for improved fuel efficiency.

This fifth-generation CR-V shares its bones with the Civic, and grows in dimensions over the outgoing model.

“The CR-V offers a lot of unique selling propositions over other traditional seven-seat SUVs. It’s still based on the CR-V unibody platform, although this is an all-new one compared to the previous generation,” said Sherwin Spencer Y. Kuan of HCPI’s product and sales development department, in an exclusive interview with BusinessWorld. He continued that the CR-V now boasts more premium materials in its construction and execution, and that Honda has “added a lot of technological features such as touch screen audio, Honda Sensing, panoramic roof, [and] power tailgate.”

Honda Sensing technology features a suite of safety and driver assistance technologies such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Low Speed Follow, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keep Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Departure Warning.

Design-wise, the CR-V is unmistakably more sporty, immediately evident in the crossover’s low and wide gait. “It’s an easier-to-handle car since it’s a unibody, and Honda has improved ingress and egress for passengers,” averred Mr. Kuan.

Consistent to the company ethos of “man maximum, machine minimum,” the CR-V progressively grows cabin dimensions. The flexible seat configuration of the seven-seat variants can accommodate up to 472 liters of cargo space with the third-row seats stowed, and 967 liters with both second and third rows tumbled. The five-seat 2.0S CVT boasts 522 liters of space behind the rear seats.

Mr. Kuan added, “From the beginning, the CR-V was designed to be a seven-seat [vehicle]… For the seven-seat variants, you can slide the second row to accommodate the passengers in the third row.”

When asked if other power plants of the all-new CR-V such as the highly touted 190hp, 1.5-liter turbocharged petrol engine and the 184hp 2.4-liter gasoline will be seen locally, the official said that HCPI will be watching “if there will be demand for other engine types.”

Reservations are now being accepted across the 36 dealerships of Honda Cars Philippines, with the five-seat gasoline variant readily available. Deliveries for the seven-seat diesel models will start by end of September.

Pricing for the new CR-V is as follows: SX Diesel 9A/T AWD (seven seats), P2.049 million; S Diesel 9A/T (seven seats), P1.759 million; V Diesel 9A/T (seven seats) P1.569 million; 2.0S CVT (five seats), P1.539 million.

Men, spaces, and their meanings

August 16, 2017 | 12:07 am

SKYSCRAPERS (the photo bomber looming over the Rizal Monument in Manila quickly comes to mind) usually crowd a city’s open spaces and destroy what is otherwise a picturesque landscape. And in the age of consumerism and condominiums, it comes as no surprise that the remaining open and green spaces diminish in size to welcome the sprouting towering edifices.

OVER 120 speakers are scattered around Greenbelt park for the sound installation *Vocalisations*, which will be up until Oct. 8.

According to landscape designer, urban planner and advocate Paulo Alcazaren, the original Greenbelt mall complex in Makati City’s Ayala Center, which include the Ayala Musuem designed by Leandro Locsin, was initially developed as a one-hectare space for greenery and an aviary. Mr. Alcazaren noted in his column in The Philippine Star, City Sense, that the complex was inspired by the plant nursery set up by the Ayala family when they were constructing Makati City in the 1950s.

The Greenbelt complex (beside the chapel and near Greenbelt 5) used to be home to 500 birds which were thought to have disappeared together with the aviary that once housed them. But one still catches sight of birds when one passes through the area today. Orioles, colasisi, white-collared kingfishers, and zebra doves are still found in Greenbelt.

Ayala Malls has maintained some greenery within its complexes. “Ayala malls always takes into consideration the environment we are present in. With Greenbelt, we preserved the park, and in our original malls like Glorietta, we integrate greens through pocket and rooftop gardens. We allocate spaces to greenery,” said Ayala Land Malls, Inc. president Rowena Tomeldan.

Last year, it launched Blooms and the Organic Gardens, which is a campaign that preserve indigenous plants. This year, it is hosting Arkitektura, a festival that celebrates architecture, spaces, and environment through lectures, art installations, and discussions. The idea is to prove that architecture can coexist with nature and enhance the human experience.

On view until Oct. 8 at the Greenbelt Park (the former aviary) is a sound installation called Vocalisations by sound artist, composer, and recipient of National Culture for Culture and the Arts’ Ani ng Dangal Award Teresa Barrozza. Last month, she did another sound exhibition in the United Kingdom called This Too Shall Passed.

“This is a layered experience of man, nature, and space,” explained Ms. Barrozza, who has done musical scoring for film and theater productions including Brillante Mendoza’s films Ma’Rosa and Kinatay and Cinemalaya films Birdshot and Nabubulok.

Vocalisations is a cornucopia of symphonies, which she calls an “urban jungle.” If one listens – really listens – there are sounds of birds, people mimicking birds, and machines imitating birds. This is meant to simulate the former aviary. But according to Ms. Barrozza, the installation is not a commentary or a call to bring back the aviary. It is what it is, she said.

Over 120 speakers have been installed in the park complex, and mallgoers are invited to stop for a while and listen.

“Let’s learn how to be silent, which sometimes can be noisier. Sometimes, mas maingay ang katahimikan (silence can be noisier), pero (but) at the same time, it is calming,” she said.

While most people are primarily visual (“We go to concerts to watch and not to listen,” said Ms. Barrozza), the ability to hear and listen is something we ought to learn and develop.

Also part of the festival is display of works of Filipino ingenuity shown side by side with international design, at the Greenbelt 5 Gallery from Aug. 22 to Sept 10. The digital exhibit is a preview of 50 contemporary worldwide examples of organic architecture on display at the Ayala Museum. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP) presents the exhibit Silya, featuring award-winning chair designs made from native and organic materials. CFIP will also be hosting talks with featured designers on the weekends of August to September at the Greenbelt Gallery.

A series of lectures and discussions on architecture and environment and their relationship with humans will be held at the Ayala Museum from Aug. 24 to 27. The panel includes industry leaders Gregory Burgess (“Working with Living Architecture”), Luis Lopez (“Bamboo, Material of the Future”), Nicanor Perlas (“The 12 Sense and the Environment”), and Richard Coleman (“Learning from Heritage Townscapes”), among others.

For more information, visit www.arkitekturafestival.com. – Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman

JRU Heavy Bombers wipe out EAC Generals

August 16, 2017 | 12:07 am

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Reporter

THE Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers got back at the .500 mark in Season 93 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) following its defeat yesterday of the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals, 77-48.

JRU Heavy Bombers wipe out EAC Generals — The Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers notched their third win in six games in NCAA Season 93 after routing the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 77-48, yesterday. — *ALVIN S. GO*

Using a strong charge late in the opening period and all the way to the second quarter, JRU controlled the tempo of the contest the rest of the way to book its third win in six matches in the ongoing season of the country’s longest-standing collegiate league.

Earlier in the day, the Perpetual Help Altas got back on the winning track while adding to the struggles of the Arellano Chiefs, 68-59.

EAC competed early against JRU but lost steam as the opening quarter wore on to surrender a 14-10 lead to the Heavy Bombers.

JRU picked up where it left off in the first canto in the succeeding period, pushing the Generals further back down.

Big man Abdouladif Poutouochi, Ervin Grospe and Abdul Sawat kept the Heavy Bombers’ offense steady.

And coupled with their team’s suffocating defense, JRU extended its lead, 37-21, by halftime.

The third period saw the Generals continued to unravel, unable to wiggle out of the Heavy Bombers’ pressing defense that limited them to just 11 points in the quarter, and their deficit ballooning to as much as 35 points, 65-30, with 20 seconds to go.

The score was at 65-32 by the end of the third canto.

EAC came out with more spirit in the payoff quarter, scoring the first seven points in the first three minutes to narrow its deficit, 65-39.

But guard Jed Mendoza and the rest of the Heavy Bombers would nip the run in the bud on the way to closing out the affair.

Grospe topscored for the Heavy Bombers with 19 points on top of five rebounds.

Mendoza had 15 points while Sawat had 10 points and nine boards.

Poutouochi finished with nine points and 10 rebounds before fouling out for JRU (3-3).

Jeric Diego and Jerome Garcia led EAC (3-4) with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

“This game showed what we are capable of doing if we come to play every time. I’m not scared of any team but I’m scared of which JRU team would show up,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses postgame.

“Defense was big for us today because we never allowed them (EAC) to really get going,” he added.

Meanwhile, in the first game, Perpetual Help arrested its two-game losing streak by holding down free-falling Arellano.

Altas big man Prince Eze had a dominant outing, notching a monster double-double of 23 points (career-high) and 21 rebounds to go along with five blocks.

Gjay Ylagan and Gab Dagangon each had 11 and 10 points, respectively, and combined for 14 rebounds for the Altas, which had to buck a second half charge by the Chiefs to chalk up the win.

Arellano, for its part, was paced by Kent Salado with 14 points and five assists.

Richard Abanes added 13 points.

The win improved Las Piñas-based Perpetual Help to 3-4 while Arellano, which has now lost four straight, further slid to 2-5.

2 solo entrepreneurs charged for tax evasion

August 16, 2017 | 12:07 am

THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed its 51^st and 52^nd tax evasion cases before the Justice department yesterday, both against individuals operating sole proprietorship businesses in Parañaque City. In a statement, the BIR charged sole proprietors Rolly Bibat Almuente of Markleen Trading and Leon Yap Son of LYS Property Management for “willful failure to pay taxes under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997,” as part of its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) campaign. According to the tax bureau, Mr. Almuente has a total liability of P10.27 million for the year 2007, inclusive of other increments. Mr. Son, on the other hand, is assessed to have dodged some P27.13 million in taxes, inclusive of increments. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan

Seaoil offers free lifetime supply of fuel

August 16, 2017 | 12:06 am

Text and photo by Kap Maceda Aguila

THE offer comes once in a lifetime — for four lucky individuals.

Seaoil on Aug. 14 kicked off a promotion that will culminate with raffle draws on Sept. 15, Oct. 16 and Nov. 18. Four winners of the grand prize will get P5,000 worth of Seaoil fuel/lubricant every month — for the rest of their lives.

Based on Department of Energy data, Seaoil has been the fastest-growing fuel company in the Philippines. At the launch of the promotion, Mark L. Yu, the company’s president for retail business, reported that Seaoil registered a 47% uptick over the last three years, and has made it to 53^rd place in BusinessWorld’s Top 1,000 Corporations list. Presently, the firm has more than 400 stations and 12 depots, of which eight are import terminals.

Not just surviving but actually thriving in an industry widely considered to be cornered by the so-called “Big Three” international players speaks of smarts, determination and agility. And Seaoil Marketing Communications senior manager Rey Jimenez declared that despite being a smaller firm, its goods are “at par with, or even better than, the best.”

This is certainly the main message in an ongoing product quality campaign that Seaoil commenced this year. Shared Mr. Jimenez, “Our base fuels are imported from the advanced refineries in Asia [specifically Singapore, Japan, and Korea]. Second, they’re tested at least three times daily at the station. Thirdly, they have STP fuel additives for improved engine performance.”

After opening its first gas station in Tutuban in 1998, Seaoil assumed a consistent arc of growth. In an exclusive interview with this writer, Mr. Yu said: “It’s really important that we innovate, so we can’t be the same as traditional players… We import. That standpoint also allows us to be more efficient in our distribution. In the country, we do a multi-import-terminal strategy, which saves on double handling.”

Being a smaller player affords Seaoil the luxury of being nimble. “In terms of decision making, we just have to be faster… and we have to take calculated risks.” One of those, he revealed, was to establish a Mindanao import terminal which other people saw as a foolhardy move.

“After that, competition has also followed suit,” Mr. Yu reported, adding, “The refineries that we’re getting our products from are at a higher complexity index.” This, he asserted, means Seaoil produces better-quality fuels.

The company is at the cusp of a five-year plan, in which by 2022 its number of stations would have doubled. “Obviously, even if you have great products but you aren’t accessible, then you can’t reach people. For us it’s important to expand our network,” Mr. Yu stressed.

The company is also building bigger, full-service stations which feature quick-service restaurants and convenience stores. The company recently launched its biggest station to date, the Seaoil-CityMall SCTEx mega station. The two-hectare facility represents a P600-million investment of the two companies.

Aside from the four grand-prize winners, more than 30,000 other promo awards may be had — including 30 gift cards worth P10,000, and instant discounts valued at P10, P20, P100 and P500.

To obtain a raffle entry, which includes an instant prize card, a customer must submit receipts totaling P500 worth of Extreme 97, Extreme 95, Extreme U, Extreme Diesel fuels and/or Seaoil lubricants at any of the company’s stations nationwide. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. The grand prizes will be paid off in gift certificates, which are transferable.

Thieves target historic Portuguese decorative tiles

August 16, 2017 | 12:06 am

LISBON – Gaping holes on the crumbling walls of an abandoned palace in the heart of Lisbon mark where decorative ceramic tiles have been yanked off, to the displeasure of passing tourists.

Leonor-Sa-081517 — LEONOR SA, curator of the judiciary police museum and head of the SOS Azulejo project poses at judiciary police headquarters in Lisbon on July 6.

Thieves are swiping the elaborately painted tiles, which cover buildings across Portugal, to sell them on the black market. Just one of these tiles, called azulejos, can fetch thousands of euros.

And abandoned buildings like the 17^th century Pombal Palace, are especially vulnerable.

This was once the family home of the Marquis de Pombal, the statesman who rebuilt Lisbon after a massive earthquake devastated the city in 1755. Owned by Lisbon’s cash-strapped city hall for the last five decades, it has fallen into ruin due to lack of maintenance. And since a cultural association, Carpe Diem, moved out at the end of July, the palace has been empty.

SOS Azulejo, a project set up by police in 2007 to stop antique dealers from selling stolen Portuguese tiles, includes it on its list of “high risk” buildings.

Tile thefts have plunged by 80% since the project was set up, said Leonor Sa, the head of Portugal’s police museum which displays recovered stolen tiles.

But a huge amount of thefts go unreported, she added.

“The Portuguese do not file complaints because for them they are the most banal thing in the world. They live surrounded by tiles since their birth until their death,” Sa told AFP. “Foreign tourists who discover these ceramics love them because they don’t have them at home.”

Sa, who has a doctorate in cultural studies, gave birth to her two daughters, Rita and Joana, at a Lisbon hospital decorated in azulejos, where she herself was born 59 years ago.

CHURCHES PILLAGED
Azulejos first came to Portugal in the early middle ages when Portugal was under Moorish rule.

Although many assume the word is a derivation of azul – Portuguese for “blue,” the color of most tiles – the word is Arabic in origin and comes from az-zulayj, which roughly translates as “polished stone.”

Disgusted at the loss of this unique Portuguese treasure, Sa set up an Internet site, www.sosazulejo.com, that displays photos of tiles stolen from churches, hospitals, train stations and other buildings. It makes it easy to check if a tile on sale at a street market or antique dealer was stolen.

“It’s very dissuasive,” said Sa, who is full of energy and has an intense gaze.

Tile thefts reached peaks of around 10,000 per year in 2001, 2002 and 2006 but “now there are significantly fewer” thefts, she said.

Since 2013 it is illegal in Lisbon to demolish a facade decorated with tiles without the authorization of city officials. Parliament plans to extend the rule to the entire country shortly.

At Lisbon’s rambling Feira da Ladra flea market, or Thieves’ Market, old azulejos are on sale for between €5 and €100 ($118).

A giant 18^th century panel made up of brown, gold, and green tiles depicting exotic animals and flowers was on sale for €500. Prices at antique dealers can go even higher, with some azulejos fetching up to €10,000.

‘I DON’T STEAL’
Anne Typhagne, a 43-year-old French tour guide, lingers before a display of tiles at the flea market which overlooks the Tagus river. “Before I bought a lot of them, then I stopped because I am against the theft of Portugal’s heritage,” she said.

Police inspections of tile vendors at the market are frequent.

“When they come, I show all the papers. I sell, I don’t steal,” said Maria Santos, 28, whose small stand teems with ceramic tiles from the 18^th and 19^th centuries. While some tiles are recovered from building demolitions, Santos said: “Often, we don’t really know where they come from.”

Oscar Pinto, the head of the national police division dedicated to crimes involving art, said the majority of tiles that are sold have a “legitimate” origin. “Sometimes it is the landlords themselves that get rid of them to renovate their homes,” he said at his sparsely decorated office. “But lets not kid ourselves. A drug addict who sells you 20 azulejos in a plastic bag at one euro a piece, there is a strong chance that it was a theft.”

Pinto had gone to the flea market the day before to try, in vain, to recover over 1,000 18^th century ceramic tiles pulled down overnight from an abandoned building in Lisbon’s riverside Baixa district.

The Portuguese capital’s tourism boom “could contribute to an upsurge in thefts,” he said.

Ceramics maker Cristina Pina, 55, thinks she has found a solution to stop tourists from buying old tiles – she has set up a small shop near the market that sells reproductions of azulejos made in the 18^th century.

“I prefer it if tourists buy beautiful reproductions of azulejos as souvenirs of Lisbon, which will allow the originals to remain in the country,” she said. – AFP

Team Lakay’s Belingon, Kelly eye Malaysia win

August 16, 2017 | 12:06 am

ON the ascent of late, Filipino mixed martial arts fighters Kevin “The Silencer” Belingon and Edward “The Ferocious” Kelly are looking to sustain their solid form when they descend on Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, later this week for ONE Championship’s “Quest for Greatness” live event.

Team Lakay’s Belingon, Kelly eye Malaysia win — Team Lakay’s Kevin Belingon faces Australian Reece McLaren in ‘ONE: Quest for Greatness” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday. — *ONE CHAMPIONSHIP*

Happening at the Stadium Negara on Aug. 18, Friday, Messrs. Belingon and Kelly, both fighting out of Team Lakay in Benguet, try to extend their respective win streaks in ONE, Asia’s largest sports media property.

Bantamweight Belingon (15-5), winner of his last two fights, will face Australian Reece “Lightning” McLaren in a virtual eliminator for another shot at the division’s title currently held by Brazilian Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes while featherweight Kelly (9-3) aims to make it four wins in a row when he takes on American Emilio “The Honey Badger” Urrutia.

“My initial goal is to continue winning until I get closer to the title and become a champion,” said Mr. Belingon, who is coming off an impressive first-round technical knockout win over Toni Tauru last April, of his upcoming fight.

“I believe I will face Bibiano Fernandes if I can defeat Reece McLaren impressively. My dream of finally becoming a world champion is still there. It still lives in my heart. My upcoming bout is another journey to elevate my status as a contender for the title,” added the 29-year-old fighter, who fell in his first shot at the title against Mr. Fernandes in the first round via submission in January last year.

Going up against Mr. McLaren (9-4), who made a good account of himself last time around when he stretched Mr. Fernandes to full five rounds and nearly took the title by losing on a split decision in his own title shot, Mr. Belingon said he is training hard along with his team.

“I’m deep in training with my Lakay brothers and I’m in the best shape of my life for this bout. There will be no excuses on the day of the match. By the bout’s end, my hand will be raised,” said Mr. Belingon.

“We spent a lot of time in training camp. I am always prepared in all of my bouts, but in this matchup against a talented martial artist like Reece McLaren, we have to exert more work and effort,” he added.

For Mr. Kelly, it is all about maintaining his turnaround with ONE Championship after starting his career with the promotion losing three of his first four fights.

His recent victories all came last year, the last one coming at the expense of Indonesian Sunoto Peringkat last December by way of TKO in the third round.

He credits his steady form of late to the “dedication he is putting in training and just continuing to believe in his abilities.”

In Mr. Urrutia (9-4), Mr. Kelly will face a fighter who is making his ONE debut but has won his last two fights.

Apart from Team Lakay’s Belingon and Kelly, Filipinos seeing action in ONE’s Malaysia event are strawweights Robin and Rene Catalan against separate opponents.

ONE: Quest for Greatness is headlined by the title fight between featherweight world champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov of Russia against Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Australia. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

No amicable settlement with business tax evaders, reiterates Cebu City mayor

August 16, 2017 | 12:06 am

MAYOR TOMAS R. Osmeña yesterday stood pat on the position that the Cebu City government does not intend to entertain amicable settlements with businesses that have been evading the payment of local taxes by failing to renew their permits. Last week, the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) reported that about half of Cebu’s more than 28,800 businesses have been found to be operating without securing business permits, which need to be renewed annually. Mr. Osmeña has formed a special team, with him as the head, to go after the violators and close down their operations. “Now, I am warning them. I don’t care who you are… There is no exception,” said Mr. Osmeña last week, adding that violators have a slim chance to settle and reopen their respective businesses after being closed. “I want to make one thing very clear: You get caught and just apply and pay, you’re excused? No. Your business will remain closed for five years, one year…depending on the situation,” he said. — The Freeman

Lopez Holdings Q2 profit plunges

August 16, 2017 | 12:06 am

LOPEZ HOLDINGS Corp. reported a 48% decline in its attributable profit in the second quarter, due to “one-off losses and the absence of one-off gains at its associate” First Philippine Holdings Corp. (FPH).

A regulatory filing showed the holding company of the Lopez family posted a net income attributable to equity holders of the parent of P721 million in the April to June period, significantly lower than the P1.37 billion during the same period a year ago.

For the first six months of 2017, Lopez Holdings saw a 34% drop in attributable net income to P1.76 billion, from P2.668 billion reported in the same period in 2016.

“One-off losses and the absence of one-off gains at its associate, as well as higher consolidated finance costs and foreign exchange losses accounted for the lower income,” the listed company said in the quarterly report.

Consolidated revenues rose 22% to P26 billion during the second quarter, bringing the first half figure to P51.48 billion, up 17% year on year.

FPH, which is 46% owned by Lopez Holdings, saw its attributable net income decline by 59% to P607 million in the April to June period. For the first half, FPH’s attributable profit fell 28% to P2.51 billion.

“FPH booked one-off losses totaling P1 billion related to the debt extinguishment of operating units in 1H2017, while it booked P1.3-billion liquidated damages from a contractor in 1H2016. The absence of such one-off gain, higher finance costs and unfavorable forex movement led to the lower income,” Lopez Holdings said.

Excluding forex and other nonrecurring items, Lopez Holdings said FPH’s consolidated recurring net income would have gone up 14% on higher profits from energy, real estate and manufacturing units.

On the other hand, ABS-CBN Corp.’s attributable profit slipped 28% to P1.03 billion in the second quarter, from P1.43 billion during the same period a year ago. For the first six months of 2017, the figure stood at P1.45 billion, 36% lower than the P2.27 billion in the previous year.

Lopez Holdings, which has a 56% economic interest in the media giant, attributed the lower profits for ABS-CBN to the slower ad revenues due to the absence of election-related revenues.

A holding company, Lopez Holdings receives revenues from asset sales and dividends from investees.

VW Golf GTI takes to the racetrack

August 16, 2017 | 12:05 am

THE Volkswagen Driving Experience allowed owners of the Volkswagen Golf GTI to discover “for themselves the performance, handling and ride capabilities” of their cars in a “safe, secure, international-standard raceway,” Volkswagen Philippines said.

Held on July 15 at the Clark International Speedway in Pampanga, the event also gave customers the chance to test-drive a Golf GTI, as well as a unit fitted with an Oettinger kit and an ABT power-up module.

Volkswagen said its “ultimate sportsman” showed event participants the performance of the Golf GTI’s 2.0-liter turbocharged, 217hp, 350Nm engine, which is mated to a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission. It added also demonstrated during the racetrack activity were the car’s sport-tuned suspension, electronic stability program, anti-slip regulation, electronic differential lock (with XDS plus), and engine drag torque control systems.

The Golf GTI sold locally is equipped with 18-inch Austin alloy wheels, LED tail lamps, spoiler package, dual tailpipes, and Bi-Xenon head lamps with DRL and dynamic control. The Oettinger kit adds a two-piece front spoiler with a splitter, side skirts and a rear apron insert with diffuser. The ABT power-up module increases horsepower by 32%, or to 286hp, and torque by 20%, or to 420Nm. This leads to a standstill-to-100kph sprint time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 254kph for the car.

Volkswagen said it displayed during the event a Golf GTI with ABT package, which was fitted with head lamp covers; special grille, front spoiler and side skirts; FR20-Sport alloy wheels with 235/30 tires; a rear skirt set (with a diffuser); and quad tail pipes. The company added it also offered test drives of the Volkswagen Beetle Club Edition, Passat, Tiguan, Touran, Jetta and the Golf GTS.

Two plays looking at love’s complications

August 16, 2017 | 12:05 am

TWO upcoming plays look at the complexities of love.

The Necessary Theatre presents David Harrower’s Blackbird, an Olivier winner for Best Play, on Sept. 1, 3, 8 and 10 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of Makati City’s RCBC Plaza.

BART GUINGONA and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante star in The Necessary Theatre production of *Blackbird*.

The play follows Una, 27, and Ray, 55, who meet for the first time after 15 years. Back then Ray had seduced Una, then only 12 years old. He was convicted of statutory rape, and she found herself ostracized.

The play delves into their complex feelings for each other.

Topper Fabregas directs theater veteran Bart Guingona and Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante who play Ray and Una.

Tickets range in price from P500 to P1,200 and available on TicketWorld (891-9999).

HAPPINESS IS A PEARL GETS A RERUN
Happiness is a Pearl, an original play penned by Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall of Famer Rody Vera, will have a rerun from Aug. 25 to Sept. 17 at Arts Above, Artist Playground II, 112 West Venue Bldg., West Ave., Quezon City.

The play revolves around three characters: Kenji, a male courtesan with a pearl stitched under the skin of his penis; Maria, a poor Pinay Japayuki he falls in love with; and Mari, a wife who falls in love with Kenji.

Directed by Paul Jake Paule, it stars Glen Asaytona, TJ Dela Paz, Julian Roxas and Arvin Trinidad alternating as Kenji; Cathrine Go, Micah Musa, and April Jasmin Rosales alternative as Mari; and Ahlyxon Leyva, Sheena Ramos, and Ira Ruzz alternating as Maria.

For tickets, call TicketWorld at 891-9999.

2017 All Souls Regatta sails November 3-5

August 16, 2017 | 12:05 am

PUERTO GALERA — The Puerto Galera Yacht Club announces the dates for the 2017 All Souls Regatta: the largest annual yachting event in the Philippines. The 2017 All Souls Regatta will be held on Nov. 3-5.

2017 All Souls Regatta sails November 3-5

The Puerto Galera Yacht Club is expecting at least 35 yachts to participate in this year’s All Souls Regatta, up from 32 entries last year.

According to Club Commodore, Jurgen Langemeier, “initial indications are that we may have as many as 40 yachts this year but we are really just happy that the event grows every year.

“We have strived to provide simply the most fun yacht racing and the best parties on the planet around Halloween and as the news slowly filters through the yachting community more arrive each year from all corners of the World.

“It is good for Puerto Galera, good for the Philippines and good for the sport of sailing.”

The largest yacht in the fleet is expected to be the elegant, 70-foot Andrews, Bella Uno, while the smallest is likely the 26-foot, Folkboat, Aniko.

Every year a handful of yachts are offered for visiting crews to rent and this regularly attracts teams from Hong Kong, Japan and other nations, making the All Souls Regatta a truly international sailing event that promotes the beauty of the Philippines and the opportunity that the country offers for the sport of sailing.

There is no other event that makes sailing more fun in the Philippines than the All Souls Regatta in Puerto Galera.

Our regattas are unique in the Philippines as we use Pursuit Racing format, which means that the theoretically slowest boat starts first and the fastest boat starts last, following the theory all boats should finish simultaneously. The winner is the first boat to cross the finish line. The trick is to catch the boat in front while staying ahead of the boats coming up behind — excitement all the way!

From start to finish, a true test of seamanship: knowing your boat, helming, sail handling, trimming, team work and knowledge of the wind and tides.

The All Souls Regatta was first organized in 2004 and has been the main attraction on the Philippine yacht racing calendar ever since. One of the reasons that the regatta is so popular is because the All Souls Regatta usually enjoys the first of the cooler, northeast monsoon breezes that slowly progress down the country from mid-October. It is typical to have eight-18 knots of easterly breeze along the Verde Island Passage around Halloween and Puerto Galera is uniquely positioned to take advantage of these perfect sailing conditions.

The second most important reason for the success of the All Souls Regatta is that the post-race parties have become legendary in there own right, with cultural shows, fancy dress parties, great food and music under the stars; some teams spend weeks preparing for the fancy dress party.

Visitors without yachts can now fly daily direct from Manila to Puerto Galera by seaplane.

The 2017 All Souls regatta is a sponsored event and sponsors are signing up, almost one a week. So far the major sponsors are: Royal Cargo, Tricom Projects, Philippine Retirement Authority, Socolics and Broadwater Marine. Watch out for our sponsors update in a couple of weeks time to see who has joined the party!