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IT has
been several months since the passing of the Bio-fuels
Law but we have not heard of any credible reports on
whether it is being implemented or not.
Most
gasoline stations in the country today are selling
premium gasoline, unleaded gasoline or diesel while the
supposedly mandatory mixture of ethanol and gasoline as
well as bio-diesel are rarely seen.
There
are several gasoline stations where unleaded gasoline
with mixture of 10-percent ethanol are being sold but
seldom do we see motorists lining up to fill their tanks
with it. Only those gasoline stations of the so-called
“new players” who sell biofuels are being patronized
these days by those jeepneys and other public transport
vehicles.
Is the
Bio-fuels Law just a mere piece of paper that is now
being left out in the cold right after it was signed?
We know
how many new companies are scrambling to set up their
ethanol plants in the country. Ethanol is alcohol made
from sugar cane and other crops that is mixed with
gasoline to produce bio-ethanol.
But the
main question is if the sugar cane or corn farmers can
supply the requirements of those processing plants
without affecting our food supplies. There are reports
from abroad that the prices of corn and even sugar are
being affected since farmers and planters are now
thinking twice about where they should be selling their
commodities—straight to the market or to those
ethanol-producing plants?
*****
ROLAND ODENTHAL (second from left), president and
managing director of Robert Bosch Inc., exclusive local
distributor of Blaupunkt, and Sanny Sarcia, proprietor
of C-3. Flanking them are Blaupunkt general manager
Jason de Leon and Yvette Sarcia.
BLAUPUNKT, one of the country’s premier car audio
brands, launched its second premium shop in the
Philippines
at C-3 Diesel Center in 27 Sgt. Rivera Street, San Jose,
Quezon City.
The
Blaupunkt Premium Shop now serves as a new landmark for
showcasing Blaupunkt products to all audiophiles and car
enthusiasts. At the inauguration were Roland Odenthal,
president and managing director of Robert Bosch Inc.,
exclusive local distributor of Blaupunkt and Blaupunkt
general manager Jason de Leon. Sanny and Yvette Sarcia
own C-3.
Blaupunkt is a subsidiary of the Germany-based Bosch
Group with Asia-Pacific headquarters in
Malaysia. The
company produces onboard entertainment, communication
and information systems for cars, coaches and trucks.
Through its local distributor and the newly opened
premium shop, quality Blaupunkt products further
establish the brand’s strong market presence in the
country. Blaupunkt is Europe’s leading car multimedia
brand exclusively distributed in the Philippines by
Robert Bosch Inc. Quality Blaupunkt products are
available at more than 100 leading car accessories shops
nationwide.
*****
THERE
are so many sports utility vehicles flooding the market
these days because of the appetite of many Filipinos for
vehicles that are big, comfortable and good-looking.
Never
mind the price but prospective owners are very sensitive
about the performance and durability of the SUV they are
looking for. Surprisingly, Filipinos have already moved
away from the line of thinking that “anything that is
American made is always durable.”
Take the
case of this Santa Fe of Hyundai. Although it is
categorized as a mid-size SUV, it has delighted even the
discriminating buyers in the United States, where it was
introduced two years ago.
Those
who have bought it and those who have tested it are
really satisfied with the performance and experience. It
is the reason why it was chosen America’s SUV of the
Year for two consecutive years.
There
are two variants that are being sold in the local
market: the 2.7 VG GLS 4WD and the 2.2 CRDi GLS 2WD,
which are both automatic. The test vehicle, which I
used, had a brown color that looks like a deep red in
broad daylight. Its stylish sidings perfectly matched
the bold frontage that is complete with powerful
projector-type headlamps and fog lamps.
It’s a
seven-seater but all my three kids—Juan Raphael, Juan
Carlos and Juan Miguel—fit very well in the spacious
middle seat. That’s why I folded up the third row to
give way to our belongings when the family decided to
whiz away to Subic for that long-awaited Ocean
Adventure. The folded seats cleanly gave way to a huge
baggage cabin where two golf bags and several other
valises were stashed inside when our motoring editor,
Popong Andolong, and I were invited to a round of golf
in Santa Elena in Laguna.
The
air-conditioning unit is superb as there are also vents
in the rear that give equal coldness to those in the
second and third rows. Its audio system, the very first
thing my wife Cecil and the kids inspected when they
first got into a vehicle, is perfect with an OEM 2-DIN
Radio that plays a cassette, CD, and MP3 with internal
amplifiers with six speakers. Tinkering with the audio
system can also be done through the steering wheel audio
remote control so you can set your eyes on the road all
the time.
The
17-inch alloy wheels make it very comfortable for the
passengers even on rough roads while the four-wheel
drive is engaged at all times. You could hardly hear any
noise coming from the engine or from the body itself
even if it hits some bumps along the way. The engine is
so powerful that passing is so smooth and can be done in
a wink of an eye.
I wonder
what they will do next for the next-generation Santa Fe?
I saw the Veracruz and other Hyundai’s new line-up of
cars during the recent Manila International Auto Show
but I haven’t taken a closer look at them yet. Maybe in
the near future when Hyundai Asia Resources Paeng
Batuigas (that indefatigable lieutenant of managing
director Fe Agudo) has already checked on his schedules
for those wanting a test-drive, huh! |
