Guy Gift list

September 18, 2023 | 12:09 am

SOME gifts are more exciting than others, and we’re feeling a bit left out as guys are sure to harvest another crop of socks and ties this coming Christmas. We’re taking a stand and making a list for cool gifts that will definitely be worn by the recipient.

Ray-Ban sunglasses

Dark glasses and race cars? What’s not to like? A new collaboration from Ray-Ban and Ferrari introduces a tough line made with Liteforce (a material used in aeronautics) and carbon fiber which sees classic shapes oozing with racecar-driver style. Next, how often have you had glasses slip off your face? A new line from Ray-Ban sees the lenses flipping over to the other side. The Ray-Ban Reverse switches the lenses from convex to concave, therefore hugging the face even tighter. The Reverse styles are available for the Wayfarer, the Aviator, the Boyfriend, and the Caravan. The new Ray-Ban collection is available in all SM Departments stores and Vision Express branches nationwide.

Tumi bags

Bag brand Tumi is releasing its Alpha X collection for Fall 2023, made with PX6, the brand’s most durable fabric to date (according to them). Tumi is known for crafting bags out of durable ballistic nylon. We’re eyeing the Alpha X Slim Deluxe Portfolio, with room for a tablet and other accessories (P47,990) and Tumi’s classic Product 4, with lots of pockets and enough room for a laptop (P61,990). The Fall 2023 Collection is available now via Tumi.com.

Thom Browne’s Samsung phone

You’ve got a nice phone, but is it from Thom Browne? New York-cool Thom Browne is collaborating with Samsung to dress up the Galaxy Z Fold5. The Galaxy Z Fold5 Thom Browne Edition, launched in limited numbers in the Philippines this month (we’ve been told it’s sold out; but you can try), features Samsung’s latest foldable technology, combined with Thom Browne’s signature design elements. This limited edition also includes two leather pouch cases and a special edition S Pen. Included as well is the Galaxy Watch6, epitomizing timeless style and coming with two leather straps: one with black pebble leather and the other with red, white, and blue striped leather. These colors are also used on the 25W travel adapter, the coin-style watch charger and an exclusive fabric USB-C to USB-C cable. — JLG

UK comedian Russell Brand denies media allegations of sex assaults

September 18, 2023 | 12:08 am

Russell Brand in a 2010 appearance on Conan. — IMDB

LONDON — British comedian and actor Russell Brand has denied any criminal wrongdoing as the Sunday Times newspaper reported four women had accused him of sexual assaults, including rape, during a seven-year period when he was at the height of his fame.

Mr. Brand, 48, the former husband of US singer Katy Perry, issued a denial to unspecified “very serious criminal allegations” hours before they were published online by the newspaper on Saturday.

The Sunday Times did not say if any of the women had made complaints to the police. Reuters was unable to reach Brand’s representatives for further response after the paper’s report was published.

The Times, which reported the alleged incidents had taken place between 2006 and 2013, said one woman had made an allegation of rape, while another said Mr. Brand assaulted her when she was 16 and still at school. Two of the accusers reported the incidents occurred in Los Angeles, the paper said.

Channel 4 TV’s documentary show Dispatches, which was due to air further details of the allegations later on Saturday, also broadcast a number of clips of the women on X, formerly known as Twitter, describing the alleged incidents.

In a video message posted on social media, Mr. Brand said the accusations contained “a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks as well as some pretty stupid stuff.

“But amidst this litany of astonishing rather baroque attacks, are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” he said.

“These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies. And as I’ve written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous,” Mr. Brand said.

“Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were absolutely always consensual.”

The Sunday Times said its report was the result of a joint investigation with Dispatches that began in 2019.

Mr. Brand was once one of Britain’s most-high profile comedians, known for his flamboyant style and appearance, a regular on television and radio, including working for the BBC, during the 2000s while he also starred in a number of films such as Get Him to the Greek.

He married Ms. Perry in a lavish wedding in India in 2010, but filed for divorce just 14 months later. He now mainly focuses on online projects and has a large following for his regular podcasts and shows on social media.

“I don’t mind them using my books and my stand-up to talk about my promiscuous consensual conduct in the past,” he said in his video message. “What I seriously refute are these very, very serious criminal allegations.” — Reuters

SEC warns versus three entities’ investment plans

September 18, 2023 | 12:08 am

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against investing in three entities as they are unauthorized to solicit investments.

In three separate advisories, the SEC said that Wealth Wise International Co./The Wealthwise International Management OPC; CCO Media/CCO Media Philippines/Clear Channel Outdoor Asia Corp.; and ALAO/ALAO Investment Platform do not have the necessary license nor authority to solicit, accept, or take investments from the public.

According to the SEC, Wealth Wise International is allegedly offering investment schemes to the public with a minimal amount of P500 to a maximum of P384,000. It has three compensation plans where investors are said to earn up to 15% for 15 days under the “quick” plan, 40% for 14 days under the “smart” plan, and 100% in 28 days under the “wise” plan.

The corporate regulator added that Wealth Wise International investors are promised to earn a 10% direct referral bonus and a uni-level bonus equivalent to 1% to 10%.

The SEC said the plans have the characteristics of a Ponzi scheme, where money from new investors is used in paying fake profits to prior investors. It said the scheme is “designed mainly to favor its top recruiters and prior risk takers and is detrimental to subsequent members in case of scarcity of new investors.”

For CCO Media/CCO Media Philippines/Clear Channel Outdoor Asia Corp., the offerings are investment products via online platforms, the SEC said.

The SEC said the alleged investment scam activities involve the use of the CCO Media Philippines App by offering investment products called original equity funds ranging from P200 to P1 million in exchange for daily returns from 3% up to 50%, depending on the level of investment.

It said US-based outdoor advertising company Clear Channel United States had claimed that CCO Media Philippines/Clear Channel Outdoor Asia Corp. had misappropriated its name, trademark, and intellectual property rights without its authority.

“Based on verification conducted, the fraudulent “Clear Channel Outdoor Asia Corp.,” is not in any way related to, affiliated or connected with the prominent American outdoor advertising company, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc./Clear Channel Outdoor and its affiliates,” the SEC said.

Meanwhile, the SEC said that ALAO/ALAO Investment Platform is allegedly enticing the public to invest in their projects. The minimum investment is P100 under its basic plan and up to P100,000 for its master plan.

The entity also promises that the investor could earn 2% for five days and 5% for 30 days depending on the project, as well as secure a P6,000 monetary reward for being a senior partner investor that also recruits two new investors as senior partners.

“ALAO/ALAO Investment Platform is not registered as a corporation or partnership and operates without the necessary license and/or authority to solicit, accept or take investments/placements from the public nor to issue investment contracts and other forms of securities defined under Section 3 of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC),” the SEC said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Colombian artist Fernando Botero, playful depicter of serious subjects, dies at 91

September 18, 2023 | 12:07 am

BOGOTA — Colombian artist Fernando Botero, whose sculptures and paintings of playful, rotund subjects in sometimes harrowing situations made him one of the world’s richest artists, has died at 91.

Heralded as South America’s answer to Picasso, Mr. Botero also tackled violence and political topics, including Colombia’s internal conflicts, as well as portraying daily life.

His works have featured in exhibitions across the world. His canvases and sculptures sell for more than $2 million each, according to Sotheby’s.

The artist’s bodacious subjects were portrayed in everyday situations — a corpulent naked woman lounging on a bed or a stout man riding a humorously out-sized horse — but served the artist’s more serious goal of transporting the reader to what he called a “superlative dimension,” where commonplace situations took on exaggerated proportions.

Despite the comic plumpness of many of his creations, the artist never shied away from serious subject matter — his series of paintings about the Abu Ghraib prison scandal generated discussion across the art world.

“Fernando Botero has died, the painter of our traditions and defects, the painter of our virtues. The painter of our violence and of peace,” Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.

Although widely known for his large subjects, Botero insisted his pieces were not focused on body type.

“I don’t paint fat women,” the artist told Spain’s El Mundo newspaper in 2014, “no one believes me, but it’s true. What I do paint are volumes.”

Mr. Botero’s work sometimes focused on Colombia’s long-running internal conflict — he painted the aftermath of a car bomb and a group of party-goers menaced by men wielding automatic weapons and bloody machetes.

He also created tongue-in-cheek portraits of public figures, including Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group founder Manuel Marulanda.

Botero also paid tribute to classic paintings with witty rehashings — his version of the Mona Lisa is notably bloated compared to Da Vinci’s original.

But it was his Abu Ghraib series which commanded global attention. The paintings, based on victim accounts and photos taken of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers, are explicit and harrowing.

The series was exhibited around the world, drawing tens of thousands of viewers. The New York Times said the paintings, while not masterpieces, “restore the prisoners’ dignity and humanity without diminishing their agony.”

Mr. Botero’s final decades as one of the world’s wealthiest artists were a far cry from his humble beginnings.

Fernando Botero Angulo, the son of a traveling salesman and a seamstress, was born on April 19, 1932 in Medellin, Colombia.

As an artist, Mr. Botero sought to make his work accessible, donating over 200 works to create the Botero Museum in Bogota, which is free and receives half a million visitors a year.

More than a hundred of the pieces were his own, while others were by masters including Picasso, Dali, and Monet.

He gave another 150 works to a Medellin museum and 23 of his sculptures are installed outside in the Plaza Botero.

Mr. Botero is survived by his wife Sophia Vari, two sons and a daughter. Another son, aged four, was killed in a car crash in 1974.

Even into his eighties, the artist painted for a minimum of eight hours a day.

“I want to die painting,” he told Colombia’s El Tiempo newspaper the year he turned 80. — Reuters

Smart wants coordinated response versus scams

September 18, 2023 | 12:07 am

SMART Communications, Inc. called for an investigation into the misuse of devices as well as a more coordinated response among stakeholders to address online and text scams.

In a statement over the weekend, Smart Vice-President and Regulatory Affairs Head Roy D. Ibay said that rather than setting a limit to the production or importation of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards, a probe should concentrate on the misuse of devices such as tablets, smartwatches, and electric vehicles.

According to Smart, SIM cards are largely imported and are used in the said devices aside from mobile phones.

“We need to dive deeper into how criminals operate and bring to light the entire cyber scam ecosystem. Instead of obsessing over or focusing on certain parts, all stakeholders should work together on a holistic solution,” Mr. Ibay said.

Smart is the wireless arm of listed telecommunications company PLDT Inc.

Previously, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said that to address text scams, it was considering a limit to the number of SIM cards that a prepaid subscriber could register.

The government is eyeing to limit the number of registered SIM cards to 10 per subscriber.

Meanwhile, Smart said it had blocked more than 24,000 mobile numbers involved in phishing, SMShing, and vishing activities a month after the July 25 deadline for SIM registration.

The telco company also prevented more than six million fraudulent messages from reaching customers in August.

The number of registered SIM cards totaled 118.91 million as of Sept. 3, based on data from the National Telecommunications Commission.

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Cargill’s C-Joy expects boost from holiday demand

September 18, 2023 | 12:06 am

POULTRY grower Cargill-Joy Poultry Meats Production, Inc. (C-Joy) is banking on increased customer demand during the holiday season to boost its overall performance and sustain its growth.

Mija Darlene Cachapero, C-Joy country director, said in an interview last week that the company is expecting high demand as the holiday season approaches and with the country’s return to normalcy after the pandemic.

“The demand remains to be high, especially since the Philippines has returned to normal,” Ms. Cachapero said.

“We are going to the peak season of the food industry, so we will be very busy for the next four months as we try to maximize our capacity,” she added.

C-Joy, a joint venture between Cargill Philippines, Inc. and listed food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC), operates a processing plant in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The plant produces raw and marinated chicken products for JFC brands such as Jollibee, Chowking, and Mang Inasal.

The processing plant currently has an annual capacity of 50 million birds, which is expected to increase gradually in the next two to three years.

In the first half, Ms. Cachapero described C-Joy’s performance as “very stable” and “on target.”

She added that C-Joy had been optimizing its operations to improve its bottom line.

“We also optimize our operations to try and make it as efficient as possible. That will also give us a better bottom line,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Cachapero said one of the challenges that could affect the company’s performance is inflation.

“Inflation has been something that we try to mitigate. It is not just felt by C-Joy, but the entire food industry. It will always be a challenge,” Ms. Cachapero said.

Preliminary government data showed that the country’s inflation rate rose to 5.3% in August from 4.7% in July amid higher prices of rice, vegetables, and fuel.

Ms. Cachapero said that another challenge for C-Joy is the supply of local talent, adding that some are now opting to work in other countries such as Canada, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic.

“Our talent pool has also been at risk because our skilled workers are being given opportunities to work abroad,” she said. “This is for the industry as a whole, not just Cargill.”

“There is a glut of skilled workers abroad and they are trying to attract Filipinos. We continue to navigate that aspect of our business right now,” she added.

Ms. Cachapero said that Cargill had made efforts to keep and engage local talent in response to the rising number of workers opting to work in other countries.

“We just have to make sure that the ones who are willing to stay [in the Philippines] will be taken care of and we give the best engagement program for them,” she said.

Cargill Philippines is the local unit of American food company Cargill, which is engaged in areas such as agriculture, animal nutrition, bio-industrials, starches and sweeteners, and texturizers and emulsifiers. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

Charge of the right brigade

September 18, 2023 | 12:06 am

VELO_PAGE1_KAP_image1 — Compared to the outgoing generation, the all-new Honda CR-V is bigger, is available with a hybrid powertrain, and now ditches the diesel variant. — PHOTO FROM HONDA CARS PHILIPPINES, INC.

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Honda Cars PHL formally resumes its electric journey here with the CR-V hybrid

HARD TO BELIEVE, but we’ve already cycled through five generations of Honda’s beloved CR-V nameplate. Interesting how you can see representation of these iterations share the road today — surely a testament not just to the model’s popularity but durability. From its introduction here in 1997, over 70,000 units have been sold.

Last week, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) officially unveiled the sixth all-new iteration of the crossover — effectively continuing the tale of the CR-V, and opening a new chapter in the brand’s drive to sustainability.

First introduced globally in July last year, the CR-V grows in length from 4,623mm to 4,691mm, in height from 1,668mm to 1,691mm, and in width from 1,855mm to 1,866mm. Crucially, the wheelbase has grown from 2,662mm to 2,700mm — translating to improved space within.

It’s been quite a year so far for HCPI. In a speech, HCPI President Rie Miyaki said that 2023 “is turning out to be a strong year” for the company. “Sales performance now stands at more than 11,000 units to date, or a growth of 21% compared to the previous year,” she revealed. As expected, the all-new BR-V continues to pace movement — breaching 6,000 units since its November launch.

Ms. Miyaki also confirmed the struggle to provide units of the previously launched HR-V. “The HR-V has faced a difficult supply situation,” she declared, “and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience to our customers. On a positive note, as we recently announced, we secured stable arrivals for the HR-V and we are now very happy to serve our customers with this elegant SUV with versatile and spacious interior, and dynamic VTEC Turbo performance, and enhanced safety with Honda Sensing.” In a prior press statement, HCPI said that the model “initially encountered global supply chain and stock challenges.”

Back to the all-new CR-V, perhaps most significant among the evolutionary changes to the model is the fact that crossover now boasts an electrified variant — while nixing the diesel-sipping one. This all ties in with the brand’s global goal “of realizing carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities by 2050.” HCPI said that the CR-V 2.0 RS e:HEV e-CVT (yes, it’s quite a mouthful) now takes its place as the halo model “in terms of advanced safety and driving technologies.”

If you’re still not on the lookout for a hybrid, HCPI also makes available an additional two variants powered by a traditional internal combustion engine. The 1.5 V Turbo CVT and 1.5 VX Turbo CVT AWD conscript a DOHC VTEC engine with “a new high-efficiency, high-response turbocharger and enhanced exhaust system that helps the engine maintain peak power over a wider power band.”

Asked by “Velocity” for the current sales figures of the CR-V during a Q&A session following the launch, HCPI General Manager for Sales Division Atty. Louie Soriano said that the company is currently moving around 160 units a month. With the all-new CR-V, that number is expected to nearly double to 300 a month — a number that the Thailand production facility from where the model line is sourced can supply.

While Honda already has several nameplates featuring its hybrid technology, HCPI chose to herald e:HEV here with the CR-V because, said Atty. Soriano, they are well aware of Filipinos’ acceptance of and affinity with the model line. “We’re going to start with the CR-V,” he revealed, but would not elaborate on the timeline when we can see the other electrified Hondas.

Next year? “It’s possible,” he replied with a smile.

Back to the hybrid CR-V, its system combines two electric motors (a traction one and a generator) with a new four-cylinder direct-injection Atkinson Cycle engine. The engine delivers 148ps and 183Nm, the electric motors submit 184ps and 335Nm. “While the motor operates throughout the low- to high-speed range, e:HEV relies on the gasoline engine alone for high-speed cruising. The e:HEV achieves a unique combination of environmental performance and driving pleasure that could not be achieved with an engine-only system,” reported Honda.

What you need to know is that you don’t have to furrow your brow and think about what’s going on. Honda said that the hybrid system can intelligently switch operating modes depending on driving situations. There’s an EV Drive Mode that solely relies on battery juice, a Hybrid Drive mode which switches between the electric motor and the engine, and an Engine Drive Mode. The end result is vastly reduced fossil fuel consumption. The e:HEV system also employs self-charging measures to extend electric range and recover friction loss. Energy is retrieved from braking and deceleration; and the ICE, of course, charges the battery as well.

If you do want your druthers, then a Drive Mode Switch lets you choose among Sport Mode, Normal Mode, and Econ Mode.

All told, the CR-V 2.0 RS e:HEV E-CVT can reportedly muster up to 29.4kpl in city driving, and the gas variants can return a maximum of 16.4kpl in highway driving. The petrol CR-V is certainly no slouch, with a highest-ever 190ps and 240Nm on tap.

The hybrid CR-V gets an RS-specific grille, panoramic sunroof, piano-black side mirror with turn lamps, door sash in gloss black, front and rear LED fog lights, a body-color rear spoiler with piano-black accents, piano-black shark-fin antenna, and 18-inch piano-black aluminum alloy wheels.

Inside, the model gets a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, new head-up display, intelligent dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, black leather seats with red stitching, four-way power lumbar support, and up to 1,064 liters of cargo space.

Of note, the all-new Honda CR-V also sees the local debut of Honda Connect, an application that allows the vehicle to communicate with the user and even Honda itself. Features include Find My Car, Geofencing Alert, and Emergency Call. “Find My Car helps avoid situations wherein the owner is having a difficult part in locating their vehicle by sending a pin location to their mobile device. Geofencing Alert, on the other hand, notifies the owner if their car was taken beyond a set area limit, while Emergency Calls makes it easier to access emergency contacts through the app,” reported Honda. Convenience functionalities are Car Status, Remote Vehicle Control, and Service reminder. “Car Status alerts the owner of anything that requires attention and doubles as the vehicle’s diagnostic support system. This feature can also remotely check the fuel level, battery, lock and air bag status.” The CR-V also gets the Honda Sensing suite of assistive driving aids.

Hybrid CR-V buyers get an eight-year/200,000-kilometer battery warranty.

The all-new CR-V is priced as follows: 2.0 RS e:HEV E-CVT (P2.59 million), 1.5 VX Turbo CVT AWD (P2.28 million), and 1.5 V Turbo CVT (P2.1 million). Colors include Lunar Silver Metallic, Meteoroid Gray Metallic, Ignite Red Metallic, and Canyon River Blue Metallic. An additional P20,000 will be charged for the special Platinum White Pearl color. The gas variants will be available this month; the hybrid arrives in October.

Check out the all-new CR-V at Honda’s “Drive the Future” event in SM Mall of Asia Central Atrium from Sept. 21 to 24 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.). For more information, visit www.hondaphil.com.

Romance in the air as Paul Costelloe, Bora Aksu open London Fashion Week

September 18, 2023 | 12:06 am

PAUL COSTELLOE fashion show — YOUTUBE.COM/@PAULCOSTELLOEOFFICIAL

LONDON — Paul Costelloe opened London Fashion Week on Friday, with the Irish designer saying he was “bringing back a bit of romance” to the catwalks with feminine dresses and soft, fluid looks.

The 78-year-old’s spring/summer 2024 collection, called “Il Giardino” (The Garden) dressed models in unstructured jackets — some with tails, wide-leg linen trousers, V-neck jumpers and floral printed dresses. (View the collection here: (297) PAUL COSTELLOE SPRING/SUMMER 2024 – YouTube )

Plain dresses had ruffle details on the front and shoulders. He stuck to a color palette of breezy blues, cream, sand and ecru.

“(I’m) bringing back a bit of romance and a bit of femininity into fashion,” Mr. Costelloe told Reuters. “We’ve become so aggressive and independent and all these other things that people have to require but I’ve just gone back to the old style of beautiful fashion show, beautiful models.”

Against an illustrated garden backdrop, some models carried tennis rackets or croquet mallets.

There was also plenty of romance at the Bora Aksu show, with the Turkish-born designer returning to his roots to present an array of embroidered dresses, cropped jackets, and layered skirts.

Aksu used lots of lace, crochet, ruffles and intricate embellishments on suits and frocks. Floral patterns nodded to styles reminiscent of Ottoman Palaces.

“I grew up with … my mum and my grandma… doing all these kind of knitted blankets, crochet dresses,” he told Reuters. “I wanted to bring that back… with a fresh perspective.”

London is the second leg of the month-long spring/summer 2024 calendar that began in New York. Over coming days, London will host presentations from Burberry, JW Anderson, Erdem, and Molly Goddard, among others.

This year, the British Fashion Council (BFC) is celebrating 30 years of its NEWGEN program, which provides financial support and mentoring for new designers.

Past recipients have included the late Alexander McQueen, as well as Erdem and Anderson. As in previous years, this year’s cohort will showcase their collections at London Fashion Week, which runs until Tuesday.

“To be in London is incredible … a great melting pot of creative industries intertwined but the cost of rents, the cost of living, the increased costs, the impact of Brexit I don’t think has ever been any harder (for young designers),” BFC Chief Executive Caroline Rush told Reuters. “It is really difficult for our young designer businesses to get partnership and sponsorship opportunities for their shows. So I know that many businesses have really focused creatively on how they can produce a show this season, as well of course, the creativity of the collections,” Ms. Rush said. — Reuters

Tax court denies OceanaGold’s P407-M refund claim

September 18, 2023 | 12:05 am

THE Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) has denied OceanaGold Philippines, Inc.’s tax refund claim in the total amount of P407.37 million allegedly representing its wrongly paid excise taxes for the period July to December 2016.

In a decision dated Sept. 8, the tribunal said the mining firm failed to present documents proving the taxes were illegally imposed and diminished its operating expenses in connection with a financial technical assistance agreement (FTAA) it had with the state.

“Petitioner (OceanaGold) failed to present evidence that its payment of excise taxes had had an adverse effect on its financial position and/or performance as it did not also offer in evidence its audited financial statements during the subject period,” Associate Justice Jean Marie A. Bacorro-Villena said in the ruling.

Under the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, the government can only start collecting its share in the financial agreement after the FTAA mining contractor has fully recovered its pre-operating, exploration, and development expenses.

The tribunal cited a report from an independent accountant, which did not mention any “detrimental” effect on the firm’s operating expenses due to the tax payments.

The petitioner is a Canadian-Australian multinational gold producer that has a regional office in Makati City.

Last year, the CTA declined a separate OceanaGold appeal seeking to refund its alleged erroneously paid taxes worth P136.4 million based on the same conclusion.

Taxes collected during an FTAA contractor’s recovery period can only be deducted if it is proven to be recoverable by the company, it noted.

“As it is, the records of these such cases do not yield any evidence showing that such excise tax payments resulted in losses (to petitioner),” the court said. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

TVS Apache RTR 310 naked moto launched

September 18, 2023 | 12:05 am

PHOTO FROM TVS MOTOR COMPANY

TVS MOTOR COMPANY recently revealed the latest addition to its Apache lineup: the TVS Apache RTR 310. The motorcycle, which will now becomes the line’s flagship model, is said to “lead in innovation right from its unique design, engine layout, heat management and many differentiated technologies which are focused on rider engagement, safety, and comfort.”

Built from ground up, the motorcycle’s 312.2cc engine has a unique reverse inclined DOHC engine that provides a compact engine layout resulting in mass centralization. The all-new forged aluminium piston is 5% lighter which produces a peak power of 35.6ps at 9,700rpm and maximum torque of 28.7Nm at 6,650rpm. The engine is tuned for all-range torque delivery and allows a “fastest-in-segment” zero-to-60mph acceleration of 2.81 seconds.

Power is delivered through a six-speed transmission with all-new bi-directional “quickshifter,” especially tuned for widest operating range starting from 2,300rpm, all the way to the red line. A throttle-by-wire system is comprised of an intelligent 46-mm large throttle body that provides crisp power delivery. Additionally, the motorcycle offers Race Tuned Linear Stability Control (RT-LSC) that includes straight-line dual channel ABS, cruise control, linear traction control and rear lift protection. The first-in-segment cruise control maintains the set speed without any throttle or clutch input helping in reducing rider fatigue over long distance riding. The cruise control feature allows downshift and upshift up to two gears to achieve optimum cruise rpm and use cruise for a longer period.

Speaking at the global launch, TVS Motor Company Managing Director Sudarshan Venu explained, “TVS Motor Company has always transformed and redefined technology with the TVS Apache series at the helm, where we brought to life tech led innovations such as ride modes, slipper clutch, connectivity, fully adjustable suspension and the Built to Order Platform… With the TVS Apache RTR 310, we’re taking our engineering to a whole new level, offering enthusiasts a motorcycle that’s not only powerful but also brings together different technologies to give a unique riding experience. This motorcycle is positioned to be the flagship product for many global markets including India, Europe, LATAM, and ASEAN.”

Joined TVS Motor Company Head of Premium Business Vimal Sumbly, “The TVS Apache RTR 310 is the first of a new generation of Apaches that inherit a 40-year racing pedigree and are based on our Track to Road philosophy. This machine will be the start of a new era of Freestyle Performance Motorcycling with a core essence of thrill and fun.”

The TVS Apache RTR 310 has 12 exclusive freestyler accessories including knuckle guard, visor, pannier and top box kit and 14 safety gear items and lifestyle merchandise. Free roadside assistance and hassle-free servicing comes with its annual maintenance contracts. The motorcycle is launched in three standard SKUs and three BTO customizations with a pricing of P165,962.17 to P180,305.17. The BTO (Built to Order) price starts at P6,830.

Coco Chanel’s influential fashion on show at London exhibit

September 18, 2023 | 12:05 am

LONDON — With displays ranging from tweed suits to an array of little black dresses, a new London exhibition looks at the work of one of fashion’s most famous names — French designer Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.

Opening at the V&A museum on Saturday, “Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto” is the first British exhibition dedicated to the designer’s creations and longstanding influence on fashion.

Her famed tweed suits, loose fitting and low-waisted dresses and dazzling evening gowns are among the outfits on display.

Her designs, accessories and perfumes, particularly Chanel No. 5, were hits and today the Chanel fashion house, founded in 1910, remains one of the world’s most famous luxury brands.

“One of the key influences that Gabrielle Chanel has had on the way we dress today is a sense of adaptability and practicality,” Connie Karol Burks, curator of the department for textiles and fashion since 1900 at the museum, told Reuters.

“She was constantly thinking about movement and being comfortable and being able to enjoy wearing your clothes.”

Chanel died in 1971, aged 87. Late designer Karl Lagerfeld took over the luxury brand’s creative helm in 1984 and remained there until his death in 2019, when he was succeeded by current creative director Virginie Viard. — Reuters

Okada Manila kicks off its ‘The Guest Bartender Showcase’ with mixologist Ian Osillo at La Piazza on Sept. 20

September 18, 2023 | 12:05 am

In celebration of Negroni Week happening around the world in September, Okada Manila launches its ‘The Guest Bartender Showcase’ beginning with its first renowned mixologist-guest, Ian Osillo. He will have his guest shift at Okada Manila’s spectacular Italian restaurant, La Piazza on Sept. 20 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., where he will be showcasing an amazing off-menu of his signature drink concoctions, including his own unique twist on the iconic Negroni drink.

La Piazza: Well-Curated Italian Menu Complemented with Premium Cocktails and Wines

La Piazza will serve as the venue of the roll-out of ‘The Guest Bartender Showcase’. The beautiful restaurant offers a well-curated menu of premier Italian dishes complemented with a premium range of cocktails and an impressive wine selection. La Piazza has two beautifully designed areas for guests to choose from – the Trattoria, which has a more casual vibe and its magnificent Ristorante for a fine-dining experience.

Ian James Osillo: A Master of Craft Cocktails

Ian James Osillo is brand ambassador of Campari Philippines. He has carved a name for himself in the industry for his innovative tipple creations that frequently trend on social media. He entered the scene via a speakeasy bar, which ignited his passion for the craft and rapidly expanded his horizons in craft cocktails.

He champions traditional techniques but also takes pride in his experience and learnings that have enabled him to further enhance his bartending skills. He relishes guest shifts to meet new people as they enjoy his drink creations, as well as the great network they provide with both industry veterans and novices.

Okada Manila’s ‘The Guest Bartender Showcase’

Okada Manila featured its first guest bartender, national bartending champion Kate Osmillo in July. Following its success, ‘The Guest Bartender Showcase’ offers an exciting line-up of world-class guest bartenders set to take over the property’s various premier spaces. After Osillo, Ichii Itoh and Tina Tubig will do a bar takeover at the Sportsbook on Oct. 13 followed by Ralph Allen, dubbed as the Dean of Spiritual Arts at La Piazza on Nov. 10.

For inquiries and reservations, email RestaurantReservation@okadamanila.com or call +632 8555 5799. To learn more, visit https://okdmnl.ph/GuestBartenderShowcase.

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