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IF the
success of the recent Petron E10 Premium Run held on
September 17 and 18 would be used as a gauge, then the
newest biofuel-compliant product of one of the biggest
local oil companies is expected to be a hit with
motorists in the next few weeks.
Several media representatives were on
hand to witness and experience the power and smoothness
of Petron’s E10 Premium blend that it introduced to the
market.
No, the new blend is not just a new
product but one that conforms to the basic rules of the
new law being implemented as the country looks for other
alternatives to the rapidly depleting gasoline.
We were there when ADBM Resources
assembled a bunch of media people, most of whom were
half-asleep due to a previous all-night event, at the
Café de Lipa inside the Petron Square Macapagal in Pasay
City.
After a short briefing by race director
Raul Asuncion, the first of four events that will use
cars from Honda Cars Philippines, Mitsubishi Motors
Philippines, Nissan Motor Philippines and Toyota Motors
Philippines was immediately started.
All the 10 cars were flagged off
simultaneously in the “Cannonball Run” and we were told
to report to the Petron Marilao station by using routes
that would be traffic-free. The tandem of Dino Directo
and Lester Dizon arrived there first onboard their
Nissan Sentra. My partner, Señor Al Mendoza, and I
arrived in seventh aboard the very comfortable Honda
Civic 2.0.
Then, the Sampaguita Run was next
wherein those checking in at Petron Marilao were
required to reach the Petron Lakeshore station, some 50
kilometers away, within the prescribed 40-minute period.
The tandem of Ron de los Reyes and Glen Arganda was
victorious in this section aboard their Nissan X-Trail.
After a sumptuous lunch of rice, beef
mechado, dinuguan and pancit luglug washed down with the
special halo-halo of Razon’s, followed by an hour-long
rest, the “road warriors” tackled the Speed Trap, which
served as the third leg from Petron Lakeshore to the
mouth of Subic Bay in Tipo via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac
Expressway (SCTEx). Cars were required to travel at
exactly 100 kph while being “shot” by a speed gun along
the new 50-km highway. Only one car was successful—the
Toyota Altis of John Nieves and Val Villamar.
Then, the last leg was the Navigator’s
Run where all cars looped around the huge Subic Bay
Freeport using navigational information given at the
Tipo entrance. Who was the winner? The Honda Civic 2.0,
of course, ridden by Mendoza and this writer!
After a brief nap, we all gathered later
in the evening at 720 Bar of the Lighthouse Hotel for
the awarding ceremonies and fellowship.
Almost all the participants swore that
they didn’t feel any loss in power throughout the
grueling but very exciting ride.
To those who haven’t heard about it yet,
Petron E10 Premium, according to Petron general manager
for marketing services Lito de Jesus, “is a new,
especially formulated unleaded gasoline that meets and
exceeds the requirement of the Philippine Biofuels Law.
It contains 10-percent fuel-grade ethanol and 90-percent
Petron premium unleaded gasoline with enhanced fuel
additive that allows the removal of existing deposits
that results in improved performance and fuel economy.”
De Jesus added that Petron E10 premium,
which is less than P2 per liter compared with the
regular Petron Unleaded, “may be used in a majority of
new and old fuel-injected vehicles. It can be used
without the need for expensive engine modification,
except in carbureted engine models in which the
manufacturers’ advice must be sought.”
He added that Petron E10 Premium can
safely be added with other unleaded gasoline anytime and
even with other E10 fuel brands. But, to maximize the
benefits of delivering better performance, enhanced fuel
economy and reduced tailpipe emissions, it is advisable
to use Petron E10 Premium consistently, de Jesus said.
THE
Toyota Driving Tomorrow Awards, held on September 18 at
the Makati Shangri-La, was the first journalism and
digital arts contest to be held by Toyota in the
country.
First placer Gilbert Semillano from
Laguna was declared the winner in the digital arts
category and he received a whopping P200,000, while
second placer Kristofferson Paunil of Cebu was declared
second placer with P150,000 and Mark Angelo Argarin of
Valenzuela was third with P100,000.
For print, the gold trophy went to Manny
de los Reyes, while the silver trophy was won by Jason
Ang. Tessa Salazar got the bronze trophy. Other
finalists that were also honored were Vernon Sarne,
Iñigo Roces and Junep Ocampo.
In the video category, Ardie Lopez won
the gold, Jong Uy bagged the silver and Mitch Genato
snatched the bronze.
THE half
portion of One Esplanade in Pasay City was filled with
lots of American music of the ’60s and the ’70s as
General Motors celebrated its 100th year on September
16.
No less than the Vice President of the
Republic Noli de Castro was there as the guest of honor
while the No. 1 American car manufacturer celebrated its
milestone with a preview of former super cars of the
past and the present lined up inside and outside the
venue.
The event was punctuated by a fireworks
display, after which the celebration continued with
several heart-warming renditions of local and
international melodies by violinist John Lesaca. |
