EMONG'S JOURNALS

It used to be the bigger the better in Metro Manila, but nowadays fuel economy, easy parking and the ability to glide through the Edsa traffic are key features to look for. With rising gasoline prices and the current traffic gridlocks in the city, many car drivers are considering changing at least one of their vehicles to something smaller that will provide better gas mileage and road maneuverability. This is especially true if the driver has a long commute to work. Smaller cars, often referred to as subcompact cars, now gets you on the high ground. Here are 10 big reasons to buy a small car, so you can make an informed decision on the advantages of owning one. 1. Parking - The struggle is real. How many times have you find it hard to fit into a tiny parking space? In Metro Manila, the first and most obvious problem is parking space, may it be at home, at the mall or on the streets. With a small car, you will be able to fit it anywhere; without breaking a sweat. And ta...

There's nothing more beautiful than watching a sunset while sitting on your motorcycle in a cold breezy afternoon. There's nothing more exhilarating than feeling the air rush in front of you as you're heading toward a new outdoor destination for an overnight stay. And there's nothing more relaxing than hanging out with your girlfriend on your motorcycle waiting for the sun to rise. But, before you buy your first motorcycle, you need to be ready to commit yourself to master the obvious skill of safely piloting a fast and furious machine. But, more than always, you have no real clue about what you’re getting yourself into. All you know is that you’re about to have the time of your life on one of the coolest vehicles on the road. Really, there are things that you have to figure out yourself. You'll never know anything about something until you put yourself out there and try it. Here are 10 motorcycle truths that first-time riders will find out after a y...

Metro Manila and driving isn’t that complicated. However, when you're driving on the road, etiquette immediately becomes extremely important. You don’t want to make anyone unsafe, particularly when some of the vehicles you share with Edsa carry women and children on board. There’s no quicker way to attract an instant road rage or worse, the attention of MMDA traffic enforcers . Unfortunately, many people don’t seem to understand the basic rules of driving. That can result in some appallingly selfish behavior. Don’t be one of those people. Here's a list of the 10 bad driving habits most people do while on the road; ask yourself which of them you've done already. 1. Parking in PWD (persons with disability) slots and other illegal areas You've seen them all on social media. But despite those big, bold, 'wheelchair' signs painted in white, drivers continue to park where they shouldn't. This includes red zones along curbs ( which you should know ea...

The Mitsubishi Xpander was an instant phenomenal hit when it came out on 2019 and has remained so until today. Xpander's major competitors in the MPV market, Toyota Rush, Innova and Avanza, Honda BR-V and Mobilio and the Suzuki Ertiga, were caught by surprise by the Xpander's popularity and it's taking them forever to offer a proper response. Meanwhile, the Xpander's continued superiority paved the way to a new variant, a crossover SUV called the Xpander Cross which was unveiled in Indonesia November 2019 and is expected to hit the Philippine market in the first quarter of 2020. Fortunately, Suzuki might have something under its sleeves, too. The new Suzuki XL7, the Ertiga-based crossover SUV which is set to premiere for March 2020. The Suzuki Ertiga was also a phenomenal hit and is said to be a contributing factor of Suzuki's massive sales in 2019, which increased by 21% (23,919 units compared to 19,740 units in 2018). This big increase catapulted Suzuki to fift...

(Screenshot from the Angkas website) Buckle up, bike riders – we have 10 new rules! The government's inter-agency technical working group (TWG) is announcing major changes in the motorcycle taxis' short but impactful pilot run. This came after a public outcry over the decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to enforce a limit on the number of riders of Transport Networking Companies (TNC) in Metro Manila. Earlier, the LTFRB has allowed entry to two more bike-taxi firms: JoyRide and Move It apps. Here's the 10 new features of the Motorcycle Taxi Guidelines. The TWG or a designated information technology expert will have access to each provider’s database for validation and verification. All riders will have to register with the LTFRB to form a database of participating riders. The providers will submit a list of riders registered in their platform. The providers must also submit data on any modifications or update...

Sadly, the cost of driving a car is choking our wallets to coma. While we stand helpless amid the never-ending surge of gasoline prices, we can only devise practical ways to save on fuel to make our hard earned pesos last longer. Or we can switch to a motorcycle! Not everybody rides a motorcycle specifically for enjoyment. A lot of people in the Philippines are realizing motorcycles make incredibly practical transportation, especially in crowded cities. Not only do they cost astronomically cheaper than regular-sized sedans, their fuel consumptions are insanely lower than cars. The price of a regular brand new 125cc motorcycle costs around P70,000 and can take you to a long stretch of 44 kilometers in just a liter of gasoline! The savings on parking are also incredible. You can always find all kinds of places to park for free. Pull them up on the sidewalk or park them under trees. Motorcycle parking is almost always available close by. Keep in mind, though, that when decidi...

An average all time high of gasoline prices at P53+ per liter is a dark day for motorists, and there were predictions they could go even higher this summer. The increase has been caused by a combination of factors. The global rise in cost of wholesale price of petroleum products and the implementation of the new TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. Generally, we'll be in the mindset of finding ways to conserve fuel -- from bikes to scooters to buses to MRTs and even our own two feet -- to get us from here to there. In the mean time, many of us still find ourselves in need of automobiles, and some of us need new automobiles. With that in mind, we present this list of the 10 most fuel-efficient cars * , ranked by kilometers per liter, that you can actually buy this year. GASOLINE CATEGORY 1. KIA Picanto (Automatic Transmission) 29.23 kilometers per liter Type: Sedan Price: P696,000 Engine Displacement: 1248cc 2.  Toyota Vios (Automatic Transm...

It can be confusing at times. When you go and shop for a family car, chances are you've considered big, bulky vehicles that can accommodate more passengers and at the same time, allow a generous cargo space. You could have chosen between a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a crossover multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Both vehicles can carry 7 passengers, and both permit a liberal amount of load in their boots. If you're starting to wonder "what's the difference?", here's how you can distinguish one from the other. The difference is all about the platform SUV - A sport utility vehicle or suburban utility vehicle (SUV) is a vehicle which uses the chassis of a light truck, but operated as a family vehicle. SUVs are similar to a large station wagon or estate car, though typically featuring tall interior packaging, high H-point seating, high center of gravity, high ground-clearance and especially four- or all-wheel-drive capability for on- or off-road ability...

The AUV workhorses are set to ride off into the sunset. The Isuzu Crosswind, Mitsubishi Adventure and the L300 are being retired this year, following the scheduled phase out of select car models that couldn’t comply to the government's stricter fuel emission standards. Having shifted to Euro 4 emissions standard since last year, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has set a December 31, 2017 deadline for the initial (new car) registration of these vehicles and other non-Euro 4 compliant vehicles in the country. By January 2018, only cars equipped with Euro 4 compliant engines will be allowed to enter the market, as the DENR will no longer accept Euro 2 Certificates of Conformity (COC) as a basis of initial registration with the Land Transportation Office or LTO. This means all new Euro 2 standard vehicles which haven't been registered cannot be registered anymore. New engine needs new parts, new assemblies The AUVs cannot just replace their...

UPDATED January, 2020 Metro Manila’s hordes of workers pour in by UV Express. Times are a-changing. With the increasing temperature in the metropolis coupled by its worsening traffic condition , a newer, more convenient alternative of transporting people had risen above all else. They're called the commuter vans, or what are now popularly known as the Utility Vehicle (UV) Express and FX vans. READ: Complete Guide To nCoV: How Not To Misinform Yourself About The Coronapocalypse UV Express vans are all air conditioned, seat an average of 14 passengers and charge relatively cheap compared to the usual metered taxicabs. Their fares range from as low as P20 to as high as P50 per passenger. With the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) serving as regulator of the UV Express franchise, the commuter vans has increased its service routes exponentially all around the country, including Metro Manila. READ: My Epically Awesome Traffic Jam Day In...

N o garage, no car. This is what the new law on buying a car is all about. Called House Bill No. 5098 or "The Proof of Parking Space Act," filed by Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, the new measure shall require buyers of brand new cars, whether individual or firms, to execute an affidavit indicating the availability of existing parking space for the vehicle to be bought. In other words, if you don't have a parking space for a car, then you won't be allowed to buy one. The proposal was brought about by new statistics that by the year 2015, vehicle sales can reach to about 300,000 units. Logically, if buyers don't have their own garages, this cars will end up parked at side streets. In his website , Gatchalian explained “Although it is good news for the automotive industry, it is bad news for Metro Manila motorists and commuters who must brace themselves for slower traffic as more cars join the vehicle population,”   “And traffic congestion ...