Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 9153

Hunan International Open

Hunan Belt and Road International Open
Hunan, China
July 29-Aug. 6, 2019

Final Top Standings

1 GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly IND 2638, 7.0/9

2-3 GM Yu Yangyi CHN 2736, GM Bassem Amin EGY 2707, 6.5/9

4-9 GM Ivan Cheparinov GEO 2666, GM Wang Hao CHN 2725, GM David Anton Guijarro ESP 2678, GM Francisco Vallejo Pons ESP 2687, GM Wei Yi CHN 2737, GM Maxim Matlakov RUS 2701, 6.0/9

10-14 GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son VIE 2636, GM Yu Ruiyuan CHN 2464, GM Zhou Jianchao CHN 2608, GM Bogdan-Daniel Deac ROU 2621, GM Ju Wenjun CHN 2595, 5.5/9

Total Number of Participants: 73 players, out of which there are 43 International Grandmasters, 21 International Masters and 2 FIDE Masters.

Time Control: 90 minutes with 30 second increment from move 1

The Belt and Road China Hunan International Chess Open was held in Tongguanyao town, Changsha city, Hunan Province, China, from July 29-Aug. 6 this year.

A side note: The “Belt and Road Initiative” is the plan of China to recreate the Silk Road, a network of trade routes which connected the East and West and ran through China from the 2nd century BC to the 18th century. “Belt” refers to the overland routes for road and rail transportation, and “road” refers to the sea routes.

The tournament was notable for the huge prizes, most especially USD$50,000 for 1st place, roughly P2.6 million. This is why so many 2700+ GMs made the trip to Hunan in Central China to compete. The top 6 seeds were:

Wei Yi CHN 2737

Yu Yangyi CHN 2736

Wang Hao CHN 2725

Le Quang Liem VIE 2713

Bassem Amin EGY 2707

Maxim Matlakov RUS 2701

In the end it was the 15th-seeded Indian GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly (2638) who came through with an undefeated 5-win, 4-draw performance for 7.5/9 and solo 1st place. Second prize of USD$25,000 (P1.3 million) went to Yu Yangyi while the Egyptian Bassem Amin came through with a strong showing and earned USD$15,000 (around P780,000) 3rd prize.

Ganguly is principally known as the longtime second of former world champion Vishy Anand, especially during his title matches with Kramnik (2008), Topalov (2010) and Gelfand (2012), but is a very strong player in his own right. Born Feb. 24, 1983 in Kolkata he is a six-time champion of India and won the Asian Continental Champion in 2009 held in the Subic Exhibition and Convention Center in Subic Bay, Olongapo City. He tied for 1st again in the 2015 Asian Championship with Salem A.R. Saleh, but the UAE player got the title on tie breaks.

In Hunan Ganguly was always among the leaders but his 5th round defeat of Wei Yi allowed him to tie for the lead and a 2-win 2-draw finish was enough for him to finish ahead of the chasing pack.

Ganguly, Surya Shekhar (2638) — Wei, Yi (2737) [A33]
Hunan Belt and Road Open 2019 Hunan (5.2), 02.08.2019

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.g3 Qb6 7.Ndb5

Ganguly is known to favor this line so the opening could not have been a surprise for Wei Yi.

7…Ne5

The main move. 7…Bc5 is known to be bad, not because of 8.Nd6+ Ke7 9.Nde4 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Bb4+ when Black has chances, but because of 8.Bg2! Bxf2+ 9.Kf1 Ng4 10.Qd6! when White is clearly better (Andrzej Lipinski-Wladyslaw Schinzel Poland 1978). Nc7+ is threatened and after 10…Kd8 11.Qf4 Nce5 (11…h5? 12.Qxf7 Be3 13.b4! Bxc1 14.c5 Qa6 15.Qxg7 Re8 16.Rxc1 White is clearly winning) 12.Na4! (12.Bf3 right away is met by 12…Be3) 12…Qa5 13.Bf3 Black cannot disentangle.

8.Bg2 a6

Black should not take the c4 pawn: 8…Nxc4 9.b3 Ne5 (9…a6 10.bxc4 axb5 11.Nxb5 d5 12.0 — 0 Bc5 13.Rb1 Black has got to be careful here) 10.Be3 Qa5 11.0 — 0 Bb4 12.Nd6+ Ke7 (12…Bxd6 13.Qxd6 Qxc3 14.Bd4 White is clearly better) 13.Nce4 Nd5 (13…Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Kf8 15.a3 Be7 16.b4 Qc7 17.Rc1 Black’s position is not easy to play) 14.Bd4 f6 15.a3 Bxd6 16.Nxd6 Nf7 (16…Kxd6? 17.e4 wins) 17.Nc4 Qa6 1 — 0 Kazakov, K. (2302)-Kozganbayev, E. (2249) Kostanay 2012.

9.Qa4

GM Evgeniy Agrest (Sweden) introduced 9.Na3 during the 2002 championship of Sweden in Skara and it is now considered to be White’s best chance for retaining the initiative. After 9…Bxa3 10.bxa3 Nxc4 11.0 — 0! (White will play Bg5 only after Black castles) 11…0 — 0 12.Bg5! d5 13.Rc1 Nxa3 14.e4 d4 15.e5 Nd7 16.Ne4 Nxe5 17.Nf6+ gxf6 18.Bxf6 Ng6 19.Qh5 White threatens, of course, Qh5 — h6 — g7 mate. Black counted on 19…e5 but did not reckon on 20.Rc6! and now he can resign. Howell, D. (2685)-Jumabayev, R. (2607) Tallinn 2016 1 — 0 27.

9…Bc5?

In annotating a game from the 2016 Baku Olympiad GM Mihail Marin remarked that 9.Qa4 is long known for not offering much because of 9…Rb8 10.Be3 Bc5 11.Bxc5 Qxc5 12.Qa3 b6 13.Nd6+ Ke7 14.Qxc5 bxc5 15.Nxc8+ Rhxc8 16.b3 d5! 17.cxd5 c4! (trying to open the c-file for his rook) 18.b4 Rxb4 Black is doing well. Timman, J. (2630) — Alterman, B. (2595) European Team Championship 1997 0 — 1 33. Wei Yi probably knew this but did not expect Ganguly’s next move.

10.Bf4!

Opening preparation. Maybe Wei Yi expected the usual 10.0 — 0 when he intended to continue 10…Nxc4 11.Qxc4 axb5 12.Qxb5 Qxb5 13.Nxb5 0 — 0 when White is a bit more comfortable but Black should be able to hold.

10…Bxf2+

Obviously surprised, Wei Yi took 21 minutes before playing this. Other moves don’t work:

10…d6 11.Nxd6+;

10…Nxc4 11.Nc7+;

10…Nfg4 11.h3 Bxf2+ (11…Nxf2 12.Bxe5 Nxh1 13.Nc7+ wins for White) 12.Kf1 is the same as what actually occurs in the game.

11.Kf1 <D>

POSITION AFTER 11.KF1

At first glance White is trying to weather a strong attack but on closer look Black is in dire straits — he does not have any direct threats and White is threatening to capture the knight on e5. If he moves the knight then that clears the way for Nc7+]

11…Nfg4

[11…Bd4? 12.c5! unveils a double attack on the d4 bishop]

12.h3 g5

What do do?

12…Ne3+ 13.Kxf2 Nd1+ 14.Ke1 Nxb2 15.Qb3 Nbxc4 16.Na3 Qxb3 17.axb3 Nxa3 18.Rxa3 f6 19.Na4 Rb8 (19…b5?? 20.Bxa8) 20.Nb6 (threat is Ra3 — a2 — c2) 20…d5 21.Bxe5 fxe5 22.e4 d4 23.Ra5 Black is lost;

12…Bg1 13.c5! as in the game

13.Bxg5 Bxg3 14.c5!

It is important to lure the black queen to c5 so that Ne4 later on will attack the queen. Not 14.Ne4? right away because 14…Ne3+ White cannot play Kg1.

14…Qxc5 15.Ne4 Qg1+

Now we see why White had to preface his Ne4 with c4 — c5, because now 15…Ne3+ 16.Kg1 there is no good discovered check for Black as then White will simply capture the queen.

16.Kxg1 1 — 0

Not 16.Rxg1?? Nh2#

Former Russian (2001) and European (2014) Champion GM Alexander Motylev did not do so well. He got the wind completely knocked out of his sails by this loss:

Zeng, Chongsheng (2551) — Motylev, Alexander (2654) [C59]
Hunan Belt and Road Open 2019 Hunan (6.8), 03.08.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6

The Two Knights’ Defense! Not so commonly seen nowadays.

4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nh3

This old move of Steinitz, considered an eccentricity, became popular when Bobby Fischer used it to defeat GM Arthur Bisguier in 1963 Poughkeepsie.

9…Bc5 10.d3 0 — 0 11.Nc3 Nb7 12.0 — 0 Bxh3 13.gxh3 Qd7 14.Bg4 Nxg4 15.hxg4 f5 16.gxf5 Rxf5 17.Ne4 Raf8 18.Qe2 Rf3

Black only needs to make one more move and he is completely winning. After 19…Qh3 his threat of …Rf8 — f5 is deadly. 20.Ng3 does not work because of 20…Rxg3+ 21.hxg3 Qxg3+ 22.Kh1 Qh3+ 23.Kg1 Nd6 followed by Nd6 — f5 — h4.

19.Kh1! Qh3 20.Nxc5 Nxc5

[20…R8f5!? does not work because of 21.Nxb7 Rh5 White can force a draw with 22.Bf4! exf4 (22…Rxf4? 23.f3 with the mate protected White will win) 23.Qe8+ Kh7 24.Qe4+ Kg8 25.Qe8+ draw]

21.Be3 R8f5 22.Rg1

Of course not 22.Bxc5? Rh5.

22…Rh5 23.Rg2 Ne6 24.Rag1 Kh8 25.Bd2 Nd4! 26.Qe4 Rf7!

With the idea of …Nf3.

27.Bf4 Rxf4??

Correct is 27…Rh4

28.Qh7+! Horrified, Motylev realizes that 28.Qh7+ Kxh7 29.Rxg7+ Kh8 30.Rg8+ Kh7 31.R1g7# is mate and so he resigns. 1 — 0

A lot of bloodthirsty chess was played in Hunan. I will show you some more on Thursday.

 

Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.

bobby@cpamd.net

Right direction

Heading into the final round, The Northern Trust appeared to be in the news for all the wrong reasons. Headlines were being grabbed by developments off, and not on, the 7,370-yard pride of Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. Masters champion Tiger Woods, still golf’s biggest draw, had to withdraw from the tournament prior to the second round due to a “mild oblique strain that led to pain and stiffness;” never mind that, in negotiating his first 18 poorly, he appeared rusty and not injured. At the same time, social media habitues also focused on slow play, and particularly on egregious examples put forth by so-called mad scientist Bryson DeChambeau.

Fortunately, The Northern Trust finished with aplomb courtesy of a stellar performance by 2018 Masters titleholder Patrick Reed. It wasn’t just that he consistently displayed good form from Day One; more importantly, it was that he proved unflappable under pressure, coming up with clutch shots in the back nine to both reclaim the lead and ensure he didn’t lose it again. And, certainly, the irony wasn’t lost on avid followers of the sport; although the subject of many an article on his failings outside the ropes, he wound up distinguishing himself under the klieg lights.

For a while there, Reed didn’t look ready for prime time. Following his remarkable victory at August National last year, he seemed to stumble in the face of greater scrutiny. Even his beloved Captain America persona suffered from his poor Ryder Cup showing and subsequent attempts to pin the blame on skipper Jim Furyk and frequent playing partner Woods. To his credit, though, he moved to recover from his missteps; he made amends to those he slighted, and then aimed to fix his game by first clearing his mind.

As Reed explained yesterday, “I was pushing too hard and trying too hard, and all of a sudden, it was going in the wrong direction.” To this end, he took a three-week-long spring break in the Hamptons that included 10 straight days of golf-free stuff. “My team was smart enough to tell me to back off, shut it down, and reset and get clear — because we can finish the year right.” And, needless to say, his triumph at Liberty National gets him moving in the right direction; it ended a 16-month drought and catapulted him to 12th in Presidents Cup standings and second overall in his bid for the FedEx Cup.

Reed has never lacked confidence; in fact, he has such an abundance of it that it borders on cockiness. With the win, however, he gets validation as well. He locks in a Tour Championship berth, claims prime position for the $15-million pot, and puts himself back in the conversation as, at the very least, an at-large selection for the Presidents Cup. And, make no mistake, he wants to secure an outright spot in Team USA and, en route, repair his image as a stalwart for the red, white, and blue. Momentum is on his side, with his win preceded by Top 10 finishes at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and the British Open. As he noted, “if you play good golf, that all takes care of itself.”

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

DoF: Mining tax reform still on the table

By Charmaine A. Tadalan
Reporter

INCREASING the state’s share in mining revenues is one of the tax reforms targeted by the government for enactment in the next two years, even as President Rodrigo R. Duterte did not mention it in his July 22 State of the Nation Address (SoNA), but it will take a back seat to the other measures, a senior official of the Department of Finance (DoF) said last weekend.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, in his fourth SoNA last July 22, asked Congress to approve the remaining tax reform packages, starting with the proposal to reduce the corporate income tax rate to 20% by 2029 from 30% currently and rationalize fiscal incentives by making them more time-bound and performance-based. He also cited proposals to increase excise tax rates for alcohol products and e-cigarettes, centralize real property valuation and assessment, and simplify the tax structure for financial investment instruments.

Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito G. Lambino II said in a mobile phone message on Sunday that the measure that will reform the fiscal regime of the mining industry is “still part of the comprehensive tax reform program and we will pursue it after the others are enacted.”

At the same time, “[w]e are prioritizing presidential directives from the SoNA,” Mr. Lambino said.

The proposed tax reform for mineral products nearly made it out of the 17th Congress that ended in June, as the Senate adopted House Bill No. 8400 with minor amendments. The said bill reduced the royalty on large-scale mining within mineral reserves to three percent of gross output from five percent currently and introduced a 1-5% margin-based royalty on those outside mineral reserves.

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri have each filed bills increasing the government’s revenue share from mineral products; while three bills have already been filed in the House of Representatives.

If enacted, this will be levied on top of other taxes, such as the corporate income tax, excise tax which Republic Act No. 10963 doubled to four percent, royalty to indigenous people and local business tax, among others.

The government has so far enacted RA 10963, which slashed personal income tax and increased or added levies on several goods and services; RA 11213, which offers estate tax amnesty and amnesty for delinquent accounts that remained unpaid even after being given final assessment; and RA 11346, which will gradually increase excise tax on tobacco products to P60 per pack by 2023 from the current P35.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III had earlier said that tax measures should be approved by Congress within 15-18 months, which Senator Pia S. Cayetano, ways and means committee chairperson, had said is a “reasonable time to study and vote on the four priority measures.”

Her counterpart, Albay 2nd District Rep. Jose Ma. Clemente S. Salceda, for his part, plans to apply Rule 48, which will allow the House ways and means committee to immediately submit for plenary action a measure that secured third-reading approval in the preceding Congress.

Moody’s Investors Service, in the annual credit analysis on the Philippines that it e-mailed to journalists on Friday last week, gave a “moderate(+)” score on “the government’s demonstrated ability to pursue its economic and fiscal reform agenda in the face of increasing political noise” and the country’s “longer track record of sustaining improvements in its fiscal profile than its peers.”

At the same time, while “[t]he strong pro-administration majority in both houses of the legislature enhances the prospects for further reform… the government has a comparatively short window of about two years to pursue its legislative agenda,” Moody’s said.

“We expect campaigning to detract attention away from reform in the year prior to the next general election scheduled for 2022.”

The mining industry has struggled under a trying policy environment since Executive Order No. 79 in 2012 imposed a moratorium on permits for new projects until enactment of a new law that would give the government a bigger share in industry revenues.

But Fraser Institute’s Survey of Mining Companies 2018 released at the end of February showed that while the Philippines has stayed at the bottom fifth of mining territories in terms of investment attractiveness, it has been improving in rank in terms of mineral potential.

Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) data as of May 30 showed metallic mineral production in the Philippines growing in value by 11.57% to P27.466 billion in the first quarter from P24.618 billion a year ago.

Mining contributed about 0.66% to gross domestic product in this year’s first three months, roughly steady since at least 2016.

Taxes, fees and royalties from the industry have been on a steady decline from P35.494 billion in 2016 to P25.691 billion in 2017 and to P11.733 billion last year. Levies totaled some P268.8 million in the first quarter, MGB data showed.

SEC eyes release of new REIT rules by September

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) targets to release the final guidelines for real estate investment trusts (REIT) by September, while remaining optimistic that the first such product will be launched within the year.

SEC Commissioner Ephyro Luis B. Amatong said they are now working on the draft framework for REITs which will be out for public comment this month.

“We hope to have the rules out for public comment within the month… most likely there’s a 15-day comment period. If it’s not too complicated, we can expedite it,” Mr. Amatong told reporters on the sidelines of Ayala Corp.’s Integrated Summit on Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Sustainability in Makati last Friday.

Salient provisions in the draft guidelines include the reduction of the minimum public ownership (MPO) to 33%, from the current requirement of 40% on the first year of listing raised to 67% on the second year.

This places the Philippines at par with the 20-33% MPO requirement seen for REITs in other Asian markets.

Mr. Amatong said reduction of the MPO comes with the condition that all proceeds from the REIT vehicle will be plowed back to the Philippines. “The amount equivalent to the REIT proceeds must be reinvested by the REIT sponsor, which is the developer… [They] should be reinvested in the Philippines within one year in either real estate or infrastructure,” he said.

The commissioner said corporate regulators are still working out the mechanics of this provision with the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, including penalties should a REIT vehicle fail to comply.

“There’s a suggestion also that there’s a holding period of about four years after you’ve reinvested the proceeds. May mga comments pa ako dun, but once we are able to agree on the concept, then magagawa na namin ’yung regulation,” Mr. Amatong explained.

Republic Act No. 9856 was enacted back in 2009, yet no company has launched a REIT vehicle since due to the hefty MPO requirement, issues on independence of the REIT fund manager and the 12% tax on transfer of real properties once such assets are placed in a REIT.

Enactment in late 2017 of RA 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, has since resolved the taxation issues, while the SEC has taken steps to address the first two issues.

Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) is set to become the first company to launch a REIT, composed of its premium office assets in the Makati Central Business District. ALI said the REIT company will be valued at about $500 million, about $300 million of which will be offered to the public.

“We’re still very confident that we’ll get one (REIT listing) within the year,” Mr. Amatong said, shrugging off the current weakness of the market as he cited apparent interest of investors to participate in the country’s first REIT listing. — Arra B. Francia

Which Philippine economic segments contributed to growth last semester?

Which Philippine economic segments contributed to growth last semester?

Co-ops pressed on P238 million from universal charge

STATE-LED Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) has uncovered up to P238.3 million in universal charge (UC) collected from electricity users by electricity cooperatives but not remitted to the agency, which is the fund’s administrator.

In a statement on Sunday, the Department of Finance (DoF), whose top official chairs PSALM, said final demand letters had been sent to 11 electricity cooperatives “with a stern warning that aside from being liable for interest charges, these cooperatives and their officers will face civil, administrative and criminal charges.”

“Non-remittance of UC collections to PSALM is fraud perpetrated against the consumers who paid for the UC and against the government that is mandated to use the UC in accordance with EPIRA (Republic Act No. 9136 or Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001),” PSALM President and Chief Executive Officer Irene Joy B. Garcia said in the statement.

The head of the National Electrification Administration, which oversees the country’s 121 electric cooperatives, as well as the lawyer of the Philippine Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, the biggest industry group, did not immediately respond when asked to comment on the DoF statement.

Ms. Garcia said PSALM “will continue to relentlessly pursue all efforts to collect what is legally due to it.”

“It will not allow delinquent co-ops to get away with illegal use and misappropriation of the UC collections.”

In the demand letters, PSALM told delinquent cooperatives that each month of non-remittance of UC to PSALM is one count of violation of the EPIRA, punishable by fines and penalties of up to P50 million.

The universal charge is collected monthly by distribution utilities, including cooperatives, from power users to recover so-called stranded debts and stranded contract costs incurred by the National Power Corp. when the country built up its energy assets to meet deficient supply.

Collected funds are supposed to be remitted to PSALM, as administrator, by the 15th of each succeeding month.

PSALM’s demand letter reminded directors and officers who allowed the violation by the cooperatives that they may be liable for imprisonment of up to two years and/or fine of double the amount of damages.

It said refusal to comply with EPIRA requirements may further expose officers to a fine of up to P5 million and/or imprisonment of up to six years.

It also said non-remittance of UC collections is tantamount to estafa by misappropriation under the Revised Penal Code, and thus punishable by imprisonment of up to 20 years.

Ms. Garcia said that, after sending out the demand letters, PSALM will take legal steps against the erring power distributors and their officers and directors without any further notice to them.

In its statement, the DoF identified Camarines Sur III Electric Cooperative, Inc. as topping the list of 11 delinquent co-ops with the biggest unremitted UC collections amounting to P66.281 million.

Another utility in Bicol followed — Albay Electric Cooperative, Inc., with unremitted UC collections totaling P40.6 million.

Abra Electric Cooperative, Inc. came next with P36.886 million.

PSALM also called out co-ops that not only failed to remit, but also refused to submit the required monthly collection reports. The agency said non-submission is a violation of the UC guidelines issued by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

These are Maguindanao Electric Cooperative, Inc., with unremitted UC collections of at least P26.28 million based only on available reports, Ticao Electric Cooperative with at least P9.421 million, Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. with at least P8.685 million, and Siasi Electric Cooperative with at least P2.764 million.

The other co-ops that were sent demand letters were Basilan Electric Cooperative, Inc. with P31.531 million; Cotabato Electric Cooperative, Inc.-PPALMA with P7.428 million, Masbate Electric Cooperative, Inc. with P4.917 million and Romblon Electric Cooperative, Inc. with P3.456 million. — Victor V. Saulon

Auto Nation Group rolls out all-new Mercedes-Benz GLE

Words and photos by Kap Maceda Aguila

MERCEDES-BENZ Philippines fancies the GLE a “trendsetter” in its portfolio of SUVs, and the latest iteration surely adds to this lore as it is packed with “a suite of intuitive safety systems (and) the most advanced technology.”

The all-new, fourth-generation of the mid-size SUV is a “tweener” — bigger than the C-Class-based GLC, and smaller than the GLS (with which it shares a platform).

The GLE’s tech accoutrements are led by the integration of the so-called MBUX or Mercedes-Benz User Experience, which had debuted in the all-new A-Class last year and is slowly rolling out to all new Mercs. The system is able to learn preferences of the driver and such thanks to artificial intelligence.

The SUV showcases two 12.3-inch touchscreens positioned side-by-side for a wide-screen look. Mercedes-Benz says that “the comprehensive touch control concept… combines the functionalities of the touchscreen, a central console touchpad, and touch-control buttons on the steering wheel for less driver distraction and stress.” A Burmeister surround sound system gives expression to audio sources.

An intelligent virtual assistant can be activated with the press of a button in the steering wheel or by saying, “Hey Mercedes” from anywhere in the cabin. It allows users to execute voice commands to control infotainment functions such as destination input, phone call, music selection, climate control, and ambient lighting. Aside from a natural speech recognition program to help it recognize and understand “nearly all sentences from the fields of multimedia and vehicle operation,” the system also features Apple CarPlay for an even heightened hands-free experience.

The cockpit has been rendered sportier, bannered by a stylish dashboard design “capped by 64-colored premium ambient lighting to set the driving and riding mood.” The company says the GLE wheelbase is “considerably longer” compared to the outgoing model. This provides more space, especially for the rear passengers. Speaking of which, the third-row seats are a first for a Mercedes-Benz SUV. These are electronically adjusted and can be folded to accommodate more cargo. A power liftgate can be opened with a kicking motion underneath it.

“(Since 2005, the GLE) has been regarded as an icon of confidence among our discerning customers who want a premium SUV that offers absolutely no compromise,” said Auto Nation Group, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Francis Jonathan Ang in a speech ahead of the unveiling. “This GLE is a new result of generations of design and engineering.” Auto Nation Group is the authorized distributor and service provider of Mercedes-Benz in the Philippines.

The executive added that SUVs are “a major structural pillar in the Mercedes-Benz product portfolio and greatly contribute to the growth of the Mercedes-Benz brand globally.”

A lone variant is available for the GLE, the GLE 300d 4Matic (priced at P5.69 million). This is powered by an in-line, four-cylinder, turbodiesel — mated to a 9G Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission. The system outputs 245hp and 500Nm. The “4Matic” means the GLE is an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

The GLE also heralds the market entry of EQ Boost, the Stuttgart brand’s mild hybrid feature which recovers energy from braking and systematic engine shutoffs for later use as boost “when needed or when eliminating turbo lag.”

The GLE boasts a redesigned, athletic body, complemented by large 21-inch light-alloy wheels. It shares the look of its sedan siblings through chrome accents around the windows. Headlamps are new multi-beam LEDs with Ultra Range beams to aid driving visibility. The rear lights are divided into two sections to enhance width and provide character.

In an interview with Velocity, Ang said that Auto Nation Group extends a two-year, unlimited-mileage warranty for the GLE, and expressed confidence that customers will see the benefits in the vehicle’s “software-hardware integration.”

Meanwhile, Auto Nation Group AVP for Public Relations Joseph Ayllon said, “Mercedes-Benz has been developing a strong line of SUVs since founding the premium SUV segment in 1997 with the launch of the M-Class.” He reported that the German automaker has sold more than five million SUVs globally.

CLA TO ROUND UP 2019 LAUNCHES
Following the recent unveiling of the all-new B-Class and, now, the GLE, Ang shared that the company is not done yet for the year. He disclosed to this writer that the CLA-Class is set to be launched next month. The second-generation CLA-Class debuted last January at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It is a fastback powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (good for 221hp and 350Nm) mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Front- and all-wheel-drive versions are available, but it is unclear what variant the domestically available CLA will be.

Toyota goes on 2nd leg of Hybrid Campus Tour

By Manny N. de los Reyes

TO BOOST its efforts in bringing vehicle electrification closer to the public, automotive leader Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) established a partnership with De La Salle University (DLSU) and staged the second leg of its Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Campus Tour in the university’s Manila campus.

The partnership, meant to expand the knowledge of the academe through the latest automotive industry trends and direction, was made possible through DLSU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Students and faculty members participated in an educational seminar conducted by Toyota’s technical experts, which focused on the beneficial effects of Toyota hybrid technology to the environment. A brief forum was also opened to discuss common misconceptions about hybrid electric vehicles.

Aside from the seminar, attendees were given the chance to see the Prius model up-close, which was displayed at the school’s Central Plaza. Free vegetarian snacks courtesy of Quorn were also distributed to students throughout the day, in line with the activity’s sustainability theme.

“Our continuous activities on HEVs are geared towards the youth because they are the ones who will benefit most from this technology. With enough support and proper implementation, the untapped potential of hybrids can improve our transportation systems and our environment in the long run,” said TMP First Vice-President Cristina Arevalo. “Toyota is driving the future, one university at a time.”

The DLSU leg of the Hybrid Campus Tour series is part of Toyota’s global initiative to promote vehicle electrification towards sustainable mobility. In the Philippines, Toyota is firm on its stance that HEVs are the ideal transition phase for a greener and more energy-efficient automotive landscape.

Last May, the Toyota Hybrid Electric Technology Conference at the Grand Hyatt Manila was attended by over four hundred guests from different sectors like the government, academe, and environmental organizations. Prior to the conference, Toyota started its Hybrid Campus Tour series by partnering with Mapua University last March.

In order to further widen the use of hybrid technology, TMP is looking to bring electrified versions of its existing models to the Philippines. This business direction is aligned with the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050, aimed at eliminating the company’s carbon emissions by the next three decades.

“TMP is well on its way to introducing various technologies and features available in other countries, such as the Hybrid Synergy Drive for fuel efficiency and Toyota Safety Sense for human safety,” she added. “This year will be an exciting time for the motoring public as we continue the push for electrification, and customers can definitely expect more options from Toyota if they’re looking to own environment-friendly cars.”

Honda launches City and Jazz Sport Limited Edition

HONDA HAS launched sporty limited edition variants of the evergreen City and Jazz. This offering aims to satisfy the desire of the Filipino car buyers aspiring to own a sporty and fun-to-drive Honda. Customers may now place their reservations at any of the 38 Honda Cars Dealerships nationwide.

NEW HONDA CITY 1.5 SPORT CVT
As one of Honda’s locally produced and best-selling models in the Philippines, the City has established itself as one of the top-of-mind vehicles for customers in the competitive subcompact sedan category, thanks to its powerful and efficient 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine, spacious interior and cargo capacity, and numerous convenience features.

For 2019, the new City 1.5 Sport CVT now comes with a more dynamic appearance enhancing the City’s sporty image. Up front, the new City Sport features LED headlights and LED foglamps for a more aggressive front fascia.

At the side, power folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals and chrome door handles give this variant a sporty yet premium-looking side profile. At the rear, the new City Sport features a ducktail spoiler and Sport Edition emblem to distinguish this City from its siblings.

The new City 1.5 Sport CVT has a retail price of P899,000 and will be available in two colors: Taffeta White and Modern Steel Metallic.

NEW HONDA JAZZ 1.5 SPORT CVT
Together with the City Sport, the Jazz is another Honda nameplate that is well established in the Philippine market. Enjoying a strong following with its hatchback body styling, impressive packaging, and powerful yet fuel-efficient drivetrain, the Jazz has become the best-selling subcompact hatchback in its segment.

The new Jazz 1.5 Sport CVT is equipped with new exterior features derived from the Jazz RS variant, namely 16-inch RS Design black alloy wheels, RS Design tailgate spoiler and black door mirror caps, all of which give this subcompact hatch a more aggressive stance on the road.

To complete the overall sporty image, the new Jazz 1.5 Sport CVT also comes with a Sport Edition emblem at the rear.

The Jazz 1.5 Sport CVT has a retail price of P933,000 and will be exclusively available in Brilliant Sporty Blue. Only 30 units of this Limited Edition variant will be made available nationwide.

For more information on these two new sporty vehicles and other Honda Models, visit Honda’s official Web site at www.hondaphil.com or visit your nearest Honda car dealership today.

LIPAD to take over Clark airport

THE consortium led by JG Summit Holdings, Inc. and Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) is preparing to take over the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the Clark International Airport by the end of the week.

“By Aug. 16, we’ll be ready to turn over the O&M (of Clark International Airport) to LIPAD Corp.,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said last week.

Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp. is composed of JG Summit, FDC, Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions, Inc.(PAGSS) and Changi Airports Philippines (I) Pte. Ltd.

LIPAD Chief Executive Officer Bi Yong Chungunco said the company will take over Clark airport’s existing passenger terminal building, while the new terminal is still being completed.

“As of now we just take over and see how it goes. We will look at all procedures and things like that. We’ll see what changes will be needed. But as of now, it’s okay,” she told reporters.

The new terminal, which is currently being built by the tandem of Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Infrastructure Ltd., is scheduled to be finished by 2020. It will expand the capacity of the airport to 8 million passengers annually from the current level of 4.2 million.

“We are ready to open and make operational Terminal 2 of Clark by June at the earliest, July at the latest, of next year,” Mr. Tugade said.

Ms. Chungunco noted once the new terminal opens, LIPAD wants to repurpose the old terminal, citing several possibilities such as a turning it into a convention center.

“We’d like all the airlines to go to the new terminal. And then we repurpose the old terminal… Then once the new terminal maxed out the capacity, we go back to the old terminal. So that’s why we keep it on hold,” she said.

LIPAD, formerly called North Luzon Airport Consortium, was awarded by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) the 25-year O&M contract for the Clark airport in January.

Clark International Airport recorded 2.1 million passengers in the first half of the year, growing 63% from a year ago. It is being positioned as the alternative to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City. — Denise A. Valdez

Chevrolet’s tips for rainy season driving

THE RAINY SEASON has officially begun. Torrential rain presents unique challenges to drivers that can catch them off-guard, including reduced visibility, slippery surfaces, unseen obstacles and flash floods.

With high stance, traction control and stability systems, the Chevrolet Trailblazer midsize SUV and Chevrolet Colorado pickup offer a distinct advantage over smaller cars because they can wade through water as deep as 800mm. Other functions such as auto rain sensors and automatic headlights also allow the driver to focus on driving and pay attention to surrounding situations.

Before the premium SUV and iconic American pickup truck contended with actual monsoon conditions, validation engineers at General Motors subjected the vehicles to extreme water intrusion tests using dunk tanks, water spray booths and flooded trenches.

“Truck and SUV customers around the world expect to get to their destination no matter what’s happening outside the vehicle — be it a flooded road, river crossing or storm,” said Chatchawan Chantaket, general director of Product Engineering, GM Southeast Asia. “When you think of all the sensitive equipment on vehicles these days it is critical to ensure that Colorado and Trailblazer customers will never have to worry about how their vehicle will perform in extreme conditions.”

GM’s dunk tank simulates static water fording, like when customers are idling in deep water during flood conditions like those that frequently occur during Thailand’s rainy season. Water floods into the dunk tank up to the truck’s rocker panel, allowing engineers to examine the effect on underbody and chassis components, such as electrical wires and venting systems. The dunk tank test was inspired in part by the kind of severe flooding that occurs in Southeast Asia every year, impacting millions of motorists.

GM’s universal water test booth helps determine long-term reliability by using 330 nozzles to spray 3,123 liters per minute for eight minutes from the bottom, sides and top. This tests the robustness of a vehicle’s door and window seals to ensure no water leaks into the cabin during a severe rainstorm or other wet conditions. The test also helps ensure that water doesn’t interfere with powertrain venting systems and other underbody components.

The universal water test booth also enables a test that simulates the kind of misty conditions found in places like the northern Thailand. A fine mist can creep into areas of a vehicle that larger drops of water do not, potentially creating a leak by having water wick through weather strips.

GM’s 15-meter outdoor deep fording trough is designed for slow treks through water, like a stream crossing during a camping trip when water intrusion can compromise transmission fluids and powertrain components like the rear exhaust.

GM engineers also use high-pressure sprayers to test charge ports, powertrain vent and fuel system vent systems as well as vehicle air induction systems behind grille openings to ensure that consumers who do the same won’t damage components.

“Hopefully, most of our truck customers will never have to deal with extreme water conditions, but in case they do they can take solace in the fact that we’ve designed our vehicle components to handle it,” Chatchawan said.

DRIVING THROUGH FLOODED ROADS
When driving through flooded roads, there are four things that a driver should always remember:

• Check depth

• Proceed cautiously

• Go slow

• Avoid stalling

Chevrolet recommends never driving through anything you cannot see or walk through, or is deeper than the center of your wheels. Large SUVs and trucks can operate in deeper water, but find out what is the fording depth specific to your vehicle.

Floodwater hides what is underneath. So, if you have to drive through a flooded stretch, make sure the road is still underneath the water and not washed away. Also be wary of unfamiliar roads that may have dips too deep for fording. Alternatively, stop and observe if others can drive through it safely.

If you have to go through a flooded road, aim for the “crown” of the road, or near it, as the water is at its shallowest here. Use high revs and a low gear — first or “L” depending on the type of transmission. Keep a constant speed. Do not take your foot off the accelerator. A decelerating engine may induct water through the exhaust pipe and damage the catalytic converter. You also do not want the air filter in front to ingest water into the engine so drive very slowly. In both cases, damage will be severe and repairs costly.

Ease into the water at no more than 3 km/h, and increase to 6 km/h in the water. This will create a bow wave in front of the vehicle and a depression in water level around the engine bay, reducing the chance of water induction via the air filter and also damage to electrical and electronic components. Speeds higher than this will just push water into the engine bay through the front grille.

Proceed one vehicle at a time so you will not be forced to stop in the middle if the vehicle in front stalls. Also ensure no vehicles are coming the other way, as the wake it creates may drown your vehicle, especially if it is moving at unreasonable speeds.

Once out of the water, apply the brakes gently to dry them. “Ride” the brake with your left foot if you are familiar with this technique. Release when you feel the brake starts to “bite.” Also stop to inspect and ensure nothing such as plastic bags or other debris is stuck in the grille or radiator fins behind it.

Keep this in mind the next time you drive in the wet — 15cm of water will reach the bottom of some passenger cars; most passenger cars will start to float in 30cm of water; 60cm of flowing water can sweep most vehicles — even SUVs — away. It is not the speed of the flow, but the force and volume, so do not take risks.

Style across generations

FOR HER 2019 holiday collection, Criselda Lontok showcases her bold colors and designs for the sophisticated woman.

The fashion show, held at Rustan’s Makati’s The Gallerie, featured gowns and separates were adorned with the designer’s signature elements of nature such as leaves and flowers.

The models including Joy Rustia, Marga Nograles, Jojo Ocampo, Liza Chan Parpan, Penny Lopez, and Ria Fernandez, began the show with vibrant outfits of hot pink, lime green, and royal blue. The designs are fit for everyday wear, special events, or a night out.

The second half of the show was a lineup of Christmas and New Year hues of bold red and green, as well as sparkling silver and gold.

“It’s [about] nature. As usual, I’ve always identified with flowers,” Ms. Lontok told BusinessWorld shortly after the fashion show on Aug. 8, of her undying inspiration for her designs.

Besides her usual clientele, Ms. Lontok has explored styles for the young, with cocktail dresses, bomber jackets, and halter tops.

Much like spirited women she dresses, the new holiday collection is for, as Ms. Lontok puts it: “The usual, but younger.”

Criselda Lontok is exclusively available at Rustan’s Makati, Shangri-La, Alabang, Gateway, and Cebu. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

1...9,1529,1539,154...12,768Page 9,153 of 12,768
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube