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Ranging from P2-4M:20 SUVs that show you’ve made it (Part 2)

By Ulysses Ang

SPORT utility vehicles or SUVs have gone a long way. From vehicles known for their utility and practicality, they’ve become symbols of success. True enough, pickup-based SUVs, like the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Ford Everest, Nissan Terra, and Chevrolet Trailblazer, have become the top choice of vehicle, displacing midsize executive sedans in the process.

But what if you want to stand out from the sea of Fortuners and Monteros? What if you’re ready to plunk down several thousand grand more in your down payments and monthly amortizations? What else is out there?

In the Philippines, there are 20 or so SUVs in the 2-million- to 4-million-peso price range — and all of them have something unique to offer. Here is part two of the list in alphabetical order:

SUV 1

MAZDA CX-9
Premium design, elegance, and a fun-to-drive attitude come together in a three-row, 7-seat SUV. Boasting a sensual design, the signature curves and energy of Mazda’s KODO design language are ever present, imbuing this SUV with a quiet air of sophistication.

Furthermore, it uses the groundbreaking 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine with Dynamic Pressure Turbo technology reducing turbo lag and improving overall performance.

The front-wheel drive Touring variant already comes well loaded, but the new all-wheel drive Signature ups the luxury even more. Not only does it get features like a 12-speaker Bose sound system, power front seats and tailgate, it also gets a Nappa leather interior and a 360-degree camera as standard equipment.

SUV 2

MERCEDES-BENZ GLA
Characterized by its sporty design and light-footed handling, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class has been well-received. For 2019, it gets a stronger SUV look with the new headlights, reshaped bumpers, and varied alloy wheel designs.

Inside, the GLA-Class offers enhanced levels of craftsmanship thanks to new materials. Changes include new silver chrome trim on the storage compartment in the center console as well as on the climate nozzle rings. There are two variants of the GLA-Class.

The GLA 180 Urban has a turbocharged 1.6-liter mill with 122 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, for those who want the security of Mercedes-Benz’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive, the GLA 200 is available with the 1.6-liter turbocharged motor massaged to produce 156 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque.

SUV 3

PEUGEOT 3008
Boasting of a feline-inspired exterior, the Peugeot 3008 displays its strength and character with its wide checked grille, long hood, large wheels, and high ground clearance. It may be bigger than its predecessor, but it’s still lighter thanks to its new lightweight platform and downsized turbocharged gasoline engine.

Inside, the 3008 features Peugeot’s next-generation iCockpit. It’s the French car maker’s way of giving a modern, ergonomic, and interactive environment for driver and passengers alike. The most notable feature of the 3008 is its 12.3-inch all-digital instrument panel. It also comes with advanced connectivity with its Mirror Screen functionality. Apple CarPlay, MirrorLink, and Android Auto are all accessible through the 8-inch capacitive touchscreen.

SUV 4

SUBARU OUTBACK
Out in the market since 2015, the Subaru Outback is made safer with the inclusion of the EyeSight driver assistive system. It integrates five functions: Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Sway & Departure Warning, Lead Vehicle Start Alert, Pre-Collision Braking System, and Pre-Collision Throttle Management making this one of the safest SUVs ever.

Marking the changes is a bolder redesign with the C-shaped headlights, wider lower grille openings and bumpers. Enhancements have also been made to the chassis including the fitment of STABLEX-Ride System dampers.

Inside, the 2018 Outback receives enhancements with new premium materials and a redesigned center console. The Outback’s 3.6-liter flat-6 produces 260 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque — more than enough for that drive to the boardroom meeting.

SUV 5

MINI COUNTRYMAN
The biggest and most versatile model in MINI’s history, the Countryman reflects considerable advancements in space, functionality, athleticism, and premium characteristics. It’s got genuine space for five adults and their luggage. The rear seats also have a neat trick, sliding fore and art to free up more room for passengers or cargo.

Outside, the all-new Countryman boasts of a powerful, yet more mature character. In the cabin, the Countryman combines the classic MINI flair with modernity and refinement. Riding on an all-new platform, the MINI Countryman is solely available with one engine: a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine, the power and torque outputs of which vary depending on the model (either 150 horsepower or 190 horsepower).

TOYOTA FJ CRUISER & LAND CRUISER PRADO
It looks nothing like any other Toyota because the FJ Cruiser is a nod to the original FJ40 Land Cruiser — a model sold in the 1980s. As such, it successfully captures nostalgia and bottles it in its round headlights, protruding front fenders, white roof, and chunky C-pillar.

Naysayers will immediately point out that the FJ Cruiser isn’t practical: it’s huge and cramped, but this SUV manages to transcend these adjectives. It’s meant to go over any obstacle with its almost 245-mm ground clearance, 34-degree approach, and 31-degree departure angle. The tractive effort for this canyon crawler is provided by a 4.0-liter V6 with 268 horsepower and 380 Nm of torque.

While sharing the same platform as the FJ Cruiser, the Land Cruiser Prado takes on a very different character. First launched in 2009 and refreshed in 2018, it gains new styling elements which are functional as they are aesthetically pleasing. Inside, the Land Cruiser Prado benefits from a revised dashboard with new designs for the instrument binnacle and center console. The engines remain unchanged and with that, the gasoline variant comes with a 4.0-liter V6 (shared with the FJ Cruiser) with 275 horsepower or a 3.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel with 163 horsepower.

SUV 8

MITSUBISHI PAJERO
The Pajero nameplate brings with it a rich heritage, from rally championships to being a symbol of luxury and power. As it proves to continuously perfect the right balance between capability and opulence, the latest model benefits from a visually tweaked exterior.

Inside, the Pajero features a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, 4-way power adjustable front passenger seat, and options of black or beige plush genuine leather seats. Together with the new visually relaxing interior color combination of carbon fiber, piano black and silver accents, the Pajero offers an elegant ambiance.

The upgraded 3.2-liter 4-cylinder engine now gets 192 horsepower and 441 Nm of torque along with its proven Super Select 4WD-II system as standard equipment as well as M-ASTC or the Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control system.

SUV 9

NISSAN PATROL ROYALE
Nissan’s flagship SUV is reliable, unbreakable, and reasonably affordable. Synonymous with ruggedness, the Patrol Royale opted to drop the hardcore edginess with softer new surfacing for a sense of modernity and road presence.

Inside, it features generous amounts of leather, polished aluminum, and wood while also delivering more room and comfort than ever before. It gets new black leather seats (tan leather is an option), an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen, second-row headrest monitors, and a 13-speaker Bose sound system.

The 5.6-liter V8 gasoline engine makes this the most powerful SUV here with 400 horsepower and 560 Nm of torque. Together with this new power plant is a 7-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels.

SUV 10

VOLVO XC40
The Volvo XC40, the Swedish company’s smallest SUV yet, aims to make the daily urban commute less stressful and more enjoyable, as drivers in the segment can now rely on the award-winning safety, connectivity and infotainment technologies known from Volvo’s acclaimed new XC60 and XC90 SUVs.

The XC40 rides on Volvo’s new Compact Modular Architecture or CMA while making it available in either gasoline (247 horsepower) or diesel (150 horsepower) flavors.

US corn, soy stocks top forecasts as flooding threatens planting plans

CHICAGO — Massive supplies of both US corn and soybeans remained in storage bins around the country ahead of spring planting, US Agriculture Department (USDA) data released on Friday showed.

USDA also said that farmers planned to boost their corn plantings by 4.1 percent but severe flooding in the US Midwest may curtail final acreage.

“Nearly all of the data were collected before the flooding began,” Lance Honig of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service said on Twitter. “It will take time to determine what impact it has on final plantings.”

In its quarterly stocks report, USDA pegged domestic corn supplies as of March 1 at 8.605 billion bushels, down from 8.892 billion a year ago but still the third-biggest on record.

Analysts had expected corn stocks of 8.335 billion bushels, according to the average of estimates in a Reuters survey.

Corn prices plunged after the report was released, with the most-active Chicago Board of Trade corn futures contract dropping 4.6 percent to a four-month low. It was the biggest daily price drop for corn in percentage terms since July 2016.

In its prospective plantings report, the government said farmers planned to seed 92.792 million acres of corn and 84.617 million acres of soybeans this spring.

The plantings outlook was based on surveys of farmers conducted during the first two weeks of March.

At least 1 million acres (405,000 hectares) of US farmland were flooded after a “bomb cyclone” storm left wide swaths of nine major grain-producing states under water this month, satellite data analyzed by Gro Intelligence for Reuters showed.

The glut of supplies allowed traders to shrug off concerns about a reduction in corn acres.

“We are lugging around 8.6 billion bushels of corn, which gives us a bigger buffer than we thought,” said Don Roose, president of US Commodities.

Soybean stocks of 2.716 billion bushels were the largest on record for the time period and also were above market forecasts for 2.683 billion. Wheat stocks stood at 1.591 billion bushels, the second-biggest in 31 years.

A bitter trade fight with China, the world’s largest buyer of soybeans, hindered the US export program during the winter months, typically a period of high global demand for US supplies.

Soybeans dropped to a three-month low while wheat futures hit their lowest in two weeks. — Reuters

Barty beats Pliskova to win maiden Miami Open title

MIAMI — Ashleigh Barty defeated Karolina Pliskova 7-6(1) 6-3 on Saturday to win her maiden Miami Open title and become the first Australian woman since 2013 to reach the top 10 in the world rankings.

After dominating the first set tiebreak, Barty broke the big-serving Pliskova in a 12-minute game to open the second set.

From there on the fatigued Czech, whose semi-final win over Simona Halep finished after 1 am local time earlier on Saturday due to rain delays, put up little resistance. Barty pumped her fists when Pliskova sent a forehand long on match point to hand the 22-year-old the biggest win of her career, which includes a $1.3 million pay check.

Barty said the key to the match was extending rallies on the warm day in Southern Florida.

“It was important for me to try to make it physical,” Barty, the first Australian to win the Miami Open singles title, said in an on-court interview.

“Kaja has the ability to really hit you off the court and take it away from you so I knew I had to have my running shoes on today to try and make as many balls as possible.”

Barty fired 15 aces, with Pliskova barely making an effort to return some of them.

“I tried to make the most of it,” she said of playing an exhausted opponent.

“You don’t get these opportunities every single day and it was important for me to continue and try to do the right things and enjoy the moment as well.”

Pliskova, who will rise to world number four on Monday, praised her conqueror.

“I’ll make it quick because I’m very tired and it was a long two weeks,” the 27-year-old said. “Congrats to Ashleigh. She played incredible all week, all the matches were close and especially today I thought she came up with some good tennis.”

The win capped a memorable week for the 2011 junior Wimbledon champion, who took a break from tennis in 2014 to play professional cricket for the Brisbane Heat.

Barty, the 2018 US Open women’s doubles champion, is the first Australian women since Samantha Stosur to crack the WTA’s singles top 10. — Reuters

City of Dreams Manila drives Premium Leisure earnings higher

PREMIUM LEISURE CORP.’s (PLC) attributable profit rose by 23% in 2018, driven by higher gaming revenues from integrated resort and casino City of Dreams Manila.

In a regulatory filing, PLC said net income attributable to the parent reached P2.16 billion, higher than the P1.76 billion it reported in 2017. This followed a four percent uptick in revenues to P5.15 billion.

The listed firm’s share in City of Dreams Manila’s gaming revenues went up by 23% to P3.21 billion.

“This increase was brought by the growth in the gaming segments of City of Dreams Manila, especially driven by the strong mass market,” the company said. PLC is entitled to a share in the casino’s gaming revenues through its wholly-owned unit Premium Leisure and Amusement, Inc. (PLAI).

PLAI, along with Sy-led Belle Corp. and other consortium members of the SM Group, is a co-grantee of a provisional license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp to operate an integrated casino and resort complex in the state-run Entertainment City.

The company has since partnered with SM Investments Corp. for a cooperation agreement with Melco Resorts and Entertainment (Philippines) Corp. for the development and operation of City of Dreams Manila.

On the other hand, revenues were tempered by a 21% drop in PLC’s equipment lease rentals to P1.45 billion due to the decrease in lotto and KENO ticket sales volume. PLC leases online betting equipment to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office for lotto operations in Visayas and Mindanao, through its 50.7%-owned subsidiary Pacific Online Systems Corp.

The company attributed the decline to the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, “which drove the increase in ticket prices because of documentary stamp tax and at the same time lowered the prize payout due to the tax on winnings.”

PLC’s higher earnings for the year allowed it to declare a regular cash dividend of P0.05024 per share, for a total dividend payment of P1.59 billion. This was paid out to shareholders of record as of March 8 last March 22.

“PLC remains committed to look for various opportunities for growth through profitable investments that will increase the company’s shareholder value for partners and investors alike,” the company said about its plans for 2019.

Incorporated in 1993 originally as Sinophil Exploration Co. for oil and gas exploration, PLC was able to change its name and primary purpose to that of a holding firm in 1997. — Arra B. Francia

She Decides, She Votes: Woke Women

By Mechu Aquino Sarmiento

THE FUTURE may be female, but it isn’t here yet. However, since women generally outlive men — even the natokhang (summarily executed) are overwhelmingly male — the future will definitely have more feminine features. More women are realizing that all politics is not just personal but local too, and they are flexing their collective muscle. A recent manifestation was the widespread outcry over the interpretation of a Caloocan City ordinance on what constituted decent attire. The mayor himself had to declare that he was all for amending or scrapping this controversial piece of city legislation, which was deemed to discriminate against every woman’s right to wear short shorts in public. A senate bill is set to have the whole country follow Quezon City’s lead in penalizing cat-calling and wolf-whistling. Women continue to fight for every inch of safe space. Eternal vigilance is the price they must pay to keep the bastos (rude and crude) at bay.

For women who want to be more than keyboard warriors, there was “She Decides, She Votes,” a two day electoral campaign bootcamp. It was non-partisan, but in accordance with the so-called “Humankind Act,” whose purpose was “to educate Filipino voters to actively participate in the defense of democracy against would-be tyrants.” Several of the speakers were part of the Martial Law Chronicles Project (martiallawchroniclesproject.com). The volunteer, forward-looking Filipino association Catholics for Reproductive Health led by Bic-Bic Chua, was also very much at the forefront.

She Decides is actually a global political movement to advance the fundamental right of girls and women everywhere to enjoy their bodies, to make their own choices, to have access to comprehensive sexuality education and the full range of quality care that unite all parts of her sexual and reproductive life and health. The nearly two-decades long battle for the Reproductive Health Act bears witness to the state’s presence in every woman’s bedroom. It is never “just politics.”

Given the political climate of the day, the 50 or so participants were asked to momentarily refrain from posting photos and status updates on social media with details of the event until it was a done deal. Significantly, around 15% of the workshoppers were male, mostly avowedly gay or proudly transwomen. One woke young man, 14-year-old Luis, in Grade 9 at the Ramon Magsaysay High School, declared that he was there because he sincerely wished that equal opportunities for women went beyond mere lip service and tokenism. “There are still incidents, although admittedly isolated, of bullying and cat-calling even in our school,” he related. He and four 8th grade girls (the oldest was 13), all school government officers, and budding youth leaders, are too young to vote this May, but they believed it was not too early to prepare and to get organized.

Emilia, the acting president of The Campus Integrity Crusaders, as their school organization was called, had faith that children like them could work for change. Giving up one weekend to learn how to convince their voting age peers and their elders to do the same was a small price to pay. They were all game to leave their comfort zone and step into the learning zone.

SHOESTRING BUDGET
Arlene Santos of the Institute for Politics and Governance gave an overview of the elements and complexities of political campaigning on a shoestring budget. Apart from building up one’s base of tried and true family and friends, it was strategic to target the undecided who could still be swayed and the uninformed who were willing to listen. Ms. Santos matter-of-factly mentioned the importance of identifying the bag men and the money distribution centers, a nod to the late Cardinal Sin’s compassionate pronouncement that it was all right to “take the money, because you are poor; but please vote according to your conscience.”

With the elections barely a month from now, volunteers were advised not to waste time on the hard-liners. As for the band-wagon effect, the power of one person was recently proven again by the win of Vice-President Leni Robredo whose supporters literally went door-to-door. Despair and apathy are the enemies of change.

Towards the end of having a more politically mature electorate who will vote based on pressing national issues — not on personalities or celebrity — and in keeping with a noble vision and worthy values for the Philippines, there was a literal walk-through the highlights of Philippine history. A photo exhibit with explanatory notes were posted all along the hallway outside the workshop venue. After all, most of the attendees had not even been born during the Marcos Martial Law dictatorship. The millennial majority were in grade-school throughout the GMA Administration and the nadir of the “Hello, Garci” and ZTE debacles. There was much to unlearn.

A wide-eyed 12-year-old revealed she had been taught that the first EDSA People Power Revolution was to overthrow the Aquino’s for corruption. Cory and Ninoy were responsible for our country’s current economic morass. It was a shock to hear such alternative facts from someone living in the Upside-Down*. A woman who had been this child’s age during the Marcos Martial Law Dictatorship gently set her straight, and the girl sweetly thanked her.

Aimee Santos-Lyons of the Association for Women’s Rights and Development (AWID) taught the participants how to do one-on-one campaigning, which was all about kamustahan and making a connection. Simply handing out fliers and campaign materials was not enough. You have to communicate your values, ask about their problems, explain what the solutions might be, and get their commitment to genuine political change.

For those who prefer to express themselves on social media, the respected digital marketer Lawrence Gerochi Villegas spoke on creative engagement and making content social and shareable. One’s own brand was essential in effectively communicating, and in understanding the voter’s decision-making journey. For the vloggers, veteran advocacy filmmaker Elnora Ebillo gave a quick run-down on how to shoot one’s own Cine Minuto phone video.

Towards the end, there was a looking back. Susan Quimpo, who wrote of how her two brothers had both been killed by state forces during the Marcos Martial Law (Subversive Lives: A Family Memoir of the Marcos Years), unflinchingly recalled the heinous tortures, the many outrages and struggles of that period of our recent history. She observed that the corpse of her eldest brother had never been found while the dictator Ferdinand Marcos now lay in a hero’s grave. The young audience did not look at their screens, but kept their eyes on her as she spoke. But as the poet Audre Lorde wrote, their silence would not protect them. Perhaps they now understood that it is their turn to stand in the gap.

 

* Referring to Netflix’s Stranger Things.

Los Angeles Lakers shut down LeBron James for final six games

LOS ANGELES — The team announced Saturday that it will hold out James for the final six games of the regular season to rest a groin injury originally suffered on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors.

“After consulting with our team doctors and medical staff, we have decided to hold LeBron out of games for the remainder of the season,” president of basketball operations Magic Johnson said in a statement. “This decision will allow his groin to fully heal, and is best for the future success of both LeBron and the Lakers.”

James, who has appeared in the past eight NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, signed with Los Angeles in the offseason, hoping to lead the Lakers to their first postseason appearance since 2013.

But the first major injury of James’ career cost him 17 games and he lately had been dealing with a left knee contusion. He had been playing on a minutes restriction for most of this month after the Lakers, beset with injuries to other players, fell out of playoff contention after being 25-21 on Jan. 17.

James averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 35.2 minutes in 55 games.

He posted the 81st triple-double of his career last Sunday in a 111-106 win against the visiting Sacramento Kings, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

James, 34, will not be in the playoffs for the first time since 2005, his second season in the league with Cleveland.

The Lakers (34-42) said James will travel with the team for a two-game road trip that begins Sunday in New Orleans. — Reuters

Peso to weaken on fears of slowing global growth

THE PESO will likely depreciate this week amid persistent signs of slowing global growth.

On Friday, the peso closed at P52.50 versus the greenback, up 25 centavos from Thursday’s finish of P52.75, boosted by demand for riskier currencies driven by developments in the US-China trade negotiations. Week on week, however, the peso weakened from the P52.32-per-dollar finish last March 22.

“The dollar is expected to move sideways with an upward bias this week as demand for safer currencies might improve amid new signs of slowing global growth,” a market analyst said in an e-mail on Sunday.

On Monday, the peso is expected to appreciate slightly on weaker-than-expected US economic data on personal income, personal spending and personal consumption expenditure inflation, reinforcing views of a slowing US economy. However, the analyst said the depreciation of the dollar may be capped by the demand for safer currencies.

“Towards the end of the week, the dollar is still expected to move sideways, but with some upward bias, as likely softer economic data from China and the Eurozone could fuel concerns on slowing global growth, thereby increasing investors’ appetite for safer currencies like the greenback,” the market watcher added.

However, the greenback might shed some of its strength on the release of the local inflation data for the month of March.

For this week, the analyst expects the peso to move between P52.20 and P52.80, while a trader gave a P52.30-P52.80 range. — K.A.N. Vidal

Autohub Group appointed as sole Pagani agent in PHL

Words and photos by Ulysses Ang

ON ITS 20th anniversary, the Autohub Group announces that they have been appointed as the exclusive selling agent of Pagani in the Philippines. The deal was formalized by the arrival of Horacio Pagani, the founder of Pagani Automobili. This comes a year after the Autohub Group announced its plans to bring in the ultra-exclusive Italian hypercar brand.

Since every Pagani automobile is bespoke, the Autohub Group is in the process of setting up a Pagani Lounge in Bonifacio Global City where interested buyers are given the chance to explore various customization options. If the buyer has specific requirements, the Autohub Group can make those arrangements.

“We first met Horacio Pagani back in 2015 in Shanghai, China and then we visited the Pagani factory in Modena, Italy in the same year,” reveals Willy Tee Ten, Autohub Group president. “He’s a really humble guy considering what he did for the whole automobile industry. Now that he’s in Manila, I’m looking forward to seeing his creations on our roads very soon.”

Mr. Tee Ten reveals that several people have already expressed interest in acquiring a Pagani, but he cannot elaborate further citing customer privacy. He did offer hints that pricing for the standard model starts at €1.056 million (approximately P62.67 million). Looking through the options list, some bespoke features can quickly escalate the price. The “Full Carbon Bodywork,” for example will set owners back €112,500 (P6.67 million). It won’t be an exaggeration to expect a Pagani to cost something north of P100 million apiece.

To that end, Mr. Pagani sees purchasing his hypercar as the ultimate dream.

Born in Argentina, Mr. Pagani came from a family of bakers. Yet, at an early age, he showed a keen interest in the mechanical. A self-taught car designer, he moved to Italy to pursue his passion. He ended up working at Lamborghini where he built the Countach Evoluzione — a one-off prototype used by the Italian supercar maker as a testbed. It was here when he toyed with the idea of building cars using carbon fiber composites. Unfortunately, when he approached Lamborghini’s management at the time, they refused. Eventually, Pagani broke off, forming the car company that bears his name in 1992.

Despite the company growing to 177 artisans, Mr. Pagani remains in charge of everything. He has a hand in every part of the design and engineering, and even personally meets every new owner as they accept delivery of their new car.

As Mr. Pagani set foot in Manila, he does so in the wake of an important milestone. Coinciding with the Autohub Group’s 20th anniversary, Pagani is also celebrating the 20th year since the brand’s first commercial release, the Zonda C12. Debuting at the 1999 Geneva International Motor Show, it took Pagani seven years to build and it fused Formula One technology with the science of space rocketry, rightfully earning it the status of “the hypercar.”

Mr. Pagani says his cars are inspired by objects that are imbued with art and science, design and engineering, emotion and functionality. He considers jet fighters and endurance racers as some of his inspirations. He also likens the making of his hypercar to putting together a high-end Swiss watch like a Patek Philippe.

“When I got to see Patek Philippe watches being made, I realized that they combine the precision of machine-made parts with the warmth of human craftsmanship. It’s the same feeling we have at Pagani Automobili. The parts are all precision-made by machines, but the way each of them are designed and assembled, it’s imbued with the unmistakable human touch,” Mr. Pagani says.

Today, the Zonda’s successor, the Huayra is just as celebrated as its predecessor. It has helped Pagani grow from the dream of a single man to a company with 177 artisans, all driven by the same passion that birthed the Zonda. Each car that comes out of the Modena-based atelier is a hand-built work of art, continuing the original spirit that defined the first Zonda.

DMCI Homes starts turning over Linden units ahead of schedule

THE PROPERTY unit of DMCI Holdings, Inc. has started turnover of units at the first building of Maple Place in its township in Taguig City, as it finished the project 13 months ahead of turnover target date.

“Four years after its launch in 2015, DMCI Homes’ Maple Place development in its Acacia Estates township in Taguig has opened its doors to its initial batch of residents following the turnover of its first building, Linden, early this year,” DMCI Homes said in a statement.

The company said that Linden, a six-storey residential building in Maple Place, was completed in January. It was initially scheduled to be turned over in February 2020.

The boutique hotel-inspired mid-rise project is just one of the three buildings in Maple Place. Aspen and Spruce are set for completion within the year. All units will have two and three bedrooms, each with a balcony. Each building will also have one to two basement parking floors.

Maple Place is situated within the company’s 150-hectare township property Acacia Estates in Taguig City. Its outdoor facilities include a children’s playground, kiddie pool, lap pool, leisure pool, gazebo, jogging and biking path, and picnic area. Indoor amenities include a landscaped atrium, open lounge, game area, audio-visual room, and a gym. There is also a 27/7 security system.

The resort-inspired township is situated near business districts like McKinley Hill, Bonifacio Global City, and Makati City.

Early this year, DMCI Homes said that it is allotting P17.9 billion for capital expenditures to fund 10 project launches this year. This is 23% higher than what allotted for 2018 at P14.5 billion.

DMCI Homes reported its net income rose 9% to P3.9 billion in 2018, due to a one-time gain from the sale of land in Quezon City worth P715 million. Without this, its core profit fell by 11% due to the higher cost of raw materials, as well as the adoption of a new accounting standard that changed the recording of broker’s commissions. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

UST team researching seaweed cancer treatment

RESEARCHERS have claimed that a Philippine seaweed has some of the properties of the Japanese fucoidan, used to treat cancer and inflammation, and could serve as a substitute for the more expensive Japanese variant.

Ross D. Vasquez, administrator of the University of Santo Tomas Laboratory Equipment and Supplies Office (LESO) and a Professor, was the lead researcher for the study alongside Ariane Marie G. Bayro and Mary Jho-Anne T. Corpuz. The group studied a form of seaweed used to prepare the Ilocano dish pukpuklo.

“My group is doing research on marine polysaccharides, like carageenans and fucoidan, and we are looking for a local counterpart of the very expensive fucoidan, which is well-known for anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties,” Mr. Vasquez said.

Mr. Vasquez said at this stage of the study, the seaweed used in pukpuklo was found to be toxic to cancer cells.

“We saw that they are cytotoxic to cancer cells,” Mr. Vasquez told BusinessWorld on Friday at UST. He said the seaweed preparation was tested on MCF-7 — breast cancer cells.

The project ran between 2016 and 2017, funded by the National Research Center of the Philippines (NRCP).

Mr. Vasquez said that his group extended it until 2018.

Mr. Vasquez said pending full validation of the findings he has been receiving proposals from businessmen to market the seaweed used in pukpuklo as an anti-cancer product.

Full validation of the finding will require animal and human testing, Mr. Vasquez said.

“We have done it on rats, but we are looking at two things: either anti-cancer or pharmaceutical importance as cosmetic ingredients for skin ageing, improvement of collagen secretion, or if it could inhibit MMP1 production,” Mr. Vasquez said.

“MMP1 is responsible for skin ageing. We saw that pukpuklo has the potential for that…,” Mr. Vasquez added.

Seaweed used in pukpuklo can be found in Cagayan Province, and is considered a regional delicacy, eaten either fresh in a vegetable salad.

According to Mr. Vasquez, pukpuklo-type seaweed is a source of sulfated polysaccharide similar to that contained in fucoidan.

Sulfated polysaccharides from green seaweed are known to have antitumor, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties.

Mr. Vasquez clarified that the anticancer and anti-ageing benefits of pukpuklo can only be accessed once processed, and not when eaten as food.

“When taken as food, as nutritional functional food, you only get the proteins, vitamins, minerals. You have to process it. We are not sure of the [anticancer and anti-ageing properties] when eaten,” Mr. Vasquez said. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio

And then there were two

PIA ALONZO WURTZBACH was crowned Miss Universe in 2015, and was the country’s third Miss Universe. Ms. Wurtzbach achieved a degree of notoriety after the pageant’s host Steve Harvey called the name of Miss Colombia as the winner, instead of hers. After he realized the mix up, Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega had to take the pageant’s crown off Miss Colombia’s head and pass it on to Ms. Wurtzbach.

Her fame has been sealed as she is now memorialized in wax.

Last week, Ms. Wurtzbach unveiled a wax figure of herself by Madame Tussauds, the world-famous wax museum founded in the 1800s. Madame Tussaud, born Marie Grosholtz, was an art tutor for the French royal family. During the French revolution, she was forced to sculpt the decapitated remains of her former students, executed via the guillotine. Escaping the Revolution, she settled in London and opened her museum of wax figures of prominent figures, juxtaposing royals and infamous criminals.

The museum has changed hands many times, and is now operated by Merlin Entertainments. The museum has opened various branches around the world.

Ms. Wurtzbach’s wax figure will be displayed at the museum’s Hong Kong branch next month.

A few days ago, Ms. Wurtzbach’s figure was displayed at SM Mega Fashion Hall as the highlight of a Hong Kong travel fair by Klook. Ms. Wurtzbach’s statue wears a replica of the blue Michael Cinco gown she was wearing when she passed on her crown to the next Miss Universe, Iris Mittenaere, in 2016.

The figure is posed as if ready to crown someone with a replica of the Miss Universe Phoenix Mikimoto crown, in line with the museum’s focus on the wax figures being interactive.

In an interview with BusinessWorld, Ms. Wurtzbach said that she had to stand for hours holding the pose for the Madame Tussauds artists. “They measured everything,” she recalled.

Ms. Wurtzbach is also the first Filipino to be honored with a Tussauds wax figure. About this, Ms. Wurtzbach said, “It’s a big achievement.”

“Our Filipino guests have always been very important to us and we’ve always believed we should have a Filipino wax figure, so we’re very pleased to have Ms. Pia Wurtzbach mark this milestone with us,” says Madame Tussauds Hong Kong General Manager Jenny You. “We can’t imagine having anyone but her to represent the Philippines in this way.”

Ms. Wurtzbach is also happy that the figure will be stationed in Hong Kong, a site for many OFWs and tourists. “They have somebody there, and they’ll feel at home.”

“I can’t wrap my head around it. I’ll be next to Kendall Jenner,” the beauty queen said, musing about the other statues in the museum.

Seeing the wax figure up close is weird. The wax figure has Ms. Wurtzbach’s skin down pat, from the blush on her arms, to the many other features besides. Seeing Ms. Wurtzbach beside it, is a bit creepy as it’s just like her, only it doesn’t blink. One can be forgiven for mistaking one for the other.

“It’s surreal. Especially when I go right in front of it,” Ms. Wurtzbach said, looking at her statue in the eye. — Joseph L. Garcia

Pedaling through history, eliminating further ‘bloodshed’ (Part 2)

Text and photos by Aries B. Espinosa

TO OUR pleasant surprise, our group not only survived, we found that we enjoyed the entire experience, with some participants (even the non-cyclists) even noticing some unexpected health benefits. It certainly helped that our expert vegan chef Edilberto Villamor of Greenery Kitchen (a quaint restaurant along Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City recently voted by international vegan experts as among the world’s 50 best vegan eats) concocted some of the tastiest Pinoy favorites that he veganized using his tried-and-tested recipes, with Quorn vegan mycoprotein goodies on the side, and the freshest vegetables, fruits and spices bought from the local markets.

By going vegan for a full five days, and using the most frugal yet powerful diesel-propelled vehicles available in the market, our group of 28 people were able to minimize our carbon footprints and our overall impact on the environment. Ultimately, no more innocent blood (this time, the blood of livestock) was needed to be shed for us to conquer the passes. Buckets of sweat, certainly.

We were in sync with Mother Nature for those five days. From the food we ate, and the ingredients we bought (from markets just a few kilometers from our stops) to the vehicles we rode, even to the cooking and kitchen utensils we used (no single-use plastics, all reusable plates and metal mugs), we made sure that our tourism lifestyle was 360-degrees environmentally sustainable, and 100-percent compassionate and cruelty-free. It was a victory for life, and many steps forward towards the conservation of precious resources.

And yes, up here in the mountains, there’s unlimited water, too. Cool, refreshing, life-giving water.

THE ‘PROJECT V360’ ROUTE
Day 1: Carranglan, Nueva Ecija to Dalton/Balete Pass (elevation 914 meters/3,000 feet), then Aritao, Dupax Del Sur, Bambang, ending in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (102 km)

Day 2: Bayombong to Solano, to Kiangan in Ifugao (at the Ifugao Museum), back to Lagawe, then on to Banaue, Ifugao (102 km)

Day 3: Banaue, Ifugao to Mt. Polis Peak (elevation 1,895 meters/6,216 feet), to Bontoc, Mountain Province, to Sagada, then Besao, ending in Tadian, Mountain Province (104 km)

Day 4: Tadian to Aluling Bridge, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, to Bessang Pass Shrine (elevation 1,500 meters/4,920 feet), to the towns of Suyo, Santa Cruz, Santa Lucia, and Salcedo, then ending in Gregorio del Pilar (122 km)

Day 5: 4 km trek from GDP town proper up Tirad Pass Shrine (elevation 950 meters/3,120 feet), then trek back down to Gregorio del Pilar, ride bikes to cross Patupec River to Salcedo, then end in Candon City. (8-km trek plus 25-km bike). From Candon City, all participants rode vehicles back to Manila.

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