Have You Seen Changes in GRAB Lately?

Every Filipino riding Grab must be feeling a little lucky lately. With the company offering true wallet friendly features, smart ones get the GrabCar Saver, GrabFood Saver Delivery, and for the hungry ones, GrabFood Saver Meals. They also have subscription plans such as GrabUnlimited and Grab Ride Saver which I often use going to events and places here in the metro.  

GrabCar Saver

GrabCar Saver has been implemented recently. In it, you get 15 percent cheaper rates in booking a standard Grab Car. For now, it is being done Metro Manila and in Pampanga (Central Luzon). Pretty soon, it'll be done in all Grab areas, though you'll have to note, you will have to wait a little while longer. You can also use GrabShare and use it to be with another passenger. This is useful for those who are not really in a hurry and you'll get even cheaper rates with it. You can get 30 percent savings from it, which is quite nice for those who are watching their transportation spending these days.

GrabFood Saver

It's been offered for quite some time now in the Grab Superapp. If you're fond of ordering from restuarants and establishments, this gives you the option of enjoying your food and have it delivered with the Saver option. Fees will certainly be less than usual, I do this when I have lots of time in between meals and I even do it when I have guests coming a little late than usual. I just order ahead of time so it could reach my location perfectly. These are great prices especially if you love gatherings. Imagine only 15 pesos? That's a steal.

With the rates already low, get the GrabUnlimited for major discounts on GrabFood, GrabMart and GrabCar. You can opt to get the annual plan instead since it'll cost you even lower. I have the Grab Ride Saver though as it slashes 10 percent for 60 rides, I use it all and pay only 99 pesos for it. Quite nice if you ride Grab Cars regularly. Grab certainly is changing the way we ride each day, for that, I'm quite thankful for the perks I get when I avail them. They're really good at it.

TOYOTA's Treat: Car Maintenance Week!

It's almost Christmas and yes, Toyota is feeling generous this season, so what better way to benefit all Toyota owners by launching Toyota's Car Maintenance Week. This will happen from December 15-21 and this means all Toyota owners will have Periodic Maintenance (PM) or Express Maintenance at up to 40 percent off on Toyota Genuine Motor Oil- Mineral Grade. So head on to all Toyota dealers and service centers so you can avail of this promo.

For those who don't know, they just concluded the Php 10 Million blowout promo where 10 winners got to enjoy Php 100,00 cash rebates via their Live Life on the Safe Side Promo. They got deals that offer low payment structures and pay light options aside from the usual discounts they give customers nationwide. For owners of Wigo (2014-2015), Vios (2002-2015), Innova (2005-2015), Fortuner (2005-2015), Hilux (2005-2015) can avail the Change Oil and Filter Package at a discounted price. This is going to be available til December 29, 2020. Toyota is also offering the special rate of Php 499 for the Vehicle Inspection package if customers avail Periodic Maintenance packages from their service centers.

To know more about this, customers are advised to call their nearest Toyota hubs or visit their website www.mytoyota.ph for this Christmas treat! 

 

Now isn't that nice?!

The New 2020 Toyota Hilux

Toyota Motors Philippines just launched the new Toyota Hilux, the country’s favorite pickup truck. It’s the toughest on every road and has served Filipinos for years. This new model also comes in cargo mode which would be perfect for businesses who require heavy loads. It’s 4x4 variety has a 2.8 diesel engine, 201 HP, very fuel efficient despite its size, and very nice interiors. Of course, it’s why the name came from “high luxury”.

They also got a new color variant called Emotional Red. It also does Apple Car Play and Android Car, connects to bluetooth in a cinch, and does a very smooth ride. It also has got cruise control so you get relaxed in long drives, it also detects things if you are near possible bumps when parking. Six Speed or Automatic, and Manual Transmission, they all work good with any type of driver. The 7 air bags also makes sure you are safe when accidents happen.

Atsuhiro Okamoto says “Hilux sales may have been affected by the pandemic, all models. But in this situation, the small vehicles are doing okay. Overall, the demand is still there and we are waiting for guidelines  for the next few months, hopefully more relaxed and if that happens, demand will normalize.”

Rommel Gutierrez FVP for Corporate Affairs says “We have sold only hundreds of cars this month, we have seen the trend is increasing, hopefully this is going to be hitting the years targets less 30% which we expect to happen.”

Sherwin Chualim says “The lack of transportation hs increased the sales for Hilux because of the need for carrying people and goods in the market. It has a more powerful engine but 15% more fuel efficient than its predecessor. It has been the number one pickup truck in the past few years because it is tough for business or leisure use. We made it more safer on the road and more relatable to users. This is legendary, still. It will have one price across the country, it has built in value rates, tradein rebates and free periodic maintenance which customers can take advantage.”

Hilux customers will love the new version, assembled in Thailand, this will be 20,000 strong in the Philippines hopefully before the year ends. At 840,000-1.8 Million price range and 12 varieties of this Hilux (cargo and FX included), it fits a lot of budget points for consumers. You can check it out on Toyota.com.ph for a virtual showroom tour. This is why the 7,000+ Hilux units are already out there just this year, hopefully more before the year ends. 

So who wants a tough vehicle?

Michelle Vito,Jon Lucas, Akihiro Blanco for "Dito Lang Ako"

Early morning blog conference today with the stars of new romance movie "Dito Lang Ako" with Michelle Vito, Jon Lucas and Akihiro Blanco.

Aside from the three good looking lads, the film also includes Ms. Boots Anson Road, Freddie Webb, Rey PJ Abellana, DJ Durano, , Garie Conception, Senpai Kazu, Road fill of Moymoy Palaboy with the special guest appearance of James Deakin.

Just like you, I was dumbfounded why BLADE a car accessory center suddenly went into movie production. Talking to Blade’s Founder and CEO Robertson Sy Tan he says “This was all planned as content for our social media channels but after shooting it, the budget grew, the stars aligned and we followed the same Hollywood formula. This love story will encompass generations, young, old, LGTBTQ, and everything in between so you really would have something for everyone. We thought if this was just for our social media content, it would have been a waste. So we decided it was good to actually put these episodes together and use the content as a film. With the way the first people who watched it reacted, they saw something good and apt for cinema. This is how “Dito Lang Ako” happened. James Deakin is very influential, he became our friend and we just asked him to be involved in the project and he inmediately said Yes, he didn’t hesitate to help us.”

Akihiro says “I play the role of Victor, son of the owner of the Blade store where she works. That’s also the place where she’s working, it’s where I fell in love with her. We all helped each other, we took time to make things work. They have been so good to me, Jon and Michelle are so chill in and out of the set. Romance and effort, respect, it was all present in that age so you’ll learn from that.”

Michelle Vito sas “I play the role of Nelia, an employee at Blade. I was so happy to do this but nervous at the same time. I hope people would like the film. I had to take strides doing shots because sometimes I had to think every shot is critical, we had to do it fast and precise in every scene. The 70’s is different, we had to speak differently, dress differently, and we had to do it consistently. They need to watch this so they could learn what was good during that time. Some kids are so rough today so this may serve as a little reminder on how we should do things. I hope people understand that in everything, we need to do good, treat people with respect. They can fall in love with that. Ms. Boots will be me in the present sense, Mr. Freddie Webb will be Jon. It’s a fun project and we can’t wait for you to see that.”

Jon Lucas adds “I play Delfin, the first person to fall in love with her. A little crazy but he’s a good man. I was a little pressured to do this. This one is challenging because in a sense it is a period film. The clothing, the way we speak, it was all set in the 70’s. We are also a romance - drama genre, I am glad to work with our director because he made all things easy for us to do. Millennials need to watch this, they need to see how courtship was done during this era. People will realise that breakups are not solutions to relationships, both have to work on it. When I went out with my baby, I had really good feedback, they appreciated that I said the truth. I learned to be a responsible parent, I think that counts.”

This film is directed by Roderick Lindayag and is produced by Blade Entertainment. This will be shown on August 8 in cinemas nationwide, premier night on August 6. Visit ditolangako.com for more details about the film.

KUMAGCOW
Fresh Blogs Fast!

Auto-Gard Waterless Car Wash

Isn't the weather crazy? I mean one minute it's cool and windy, the next day it's super hot and you're all sweaty and then the next day you're dripping wet because of monsoon rain and it happens when you're just about to go out with friends and family. You may struggled all morning to clean your car with soap and water only to find out that your precious shiny vehicle would look like a wet rag because the rain always find its way to ruin your plans as mother nature intended it to be. Well don't take that pail and shampoo out yet because we might have a better solution to your car wash problems. This one however comes in a bottle.

By using this with the Auto Gard Microfiber cloth, a simple task of cleaning your car would save you about 20-100 liters of water for each bottle. This is designed however for light dirt and grime and not when you're doing 4x4 or off road driving (no it's not the answer to your heavily soiled car). It provides like an extra layer of protection on your car's surface so it won't be that dirty the next time you plan to do another car wash. For porous or non porous places like your windows, glass, wheels, headlights. this thing will make your car clean even without the use of water. You just simply spray it on and wipe it off. Auto Gard Waterless Carwash also gives your smooth plastics and chrome the shine it deserves so you won't look bad when other people are inside your vehicle. Like shiny new.

The High Performance Microfiber cloth also makes sure you won't be wiping it on and off your car like a wet rag because the darn thing sucks up water like it's thirsty, like a man who just got out of the Sahara desert and can be squeezed out as if it's almost dry. You ca use it over and over again and can last you a couple uses so you don't have to worry you're not keeping a dirty rag in your garage all the time. 

It's easy to apply, and only costs less than a few hundred pesos (Php 199 SRP). You also save on water, on effort and protects your car from the harmful elements of everyday driving. It's not going to stick to your car's surface that much and may well serve you with less effort in cleaning that car on an everyday basis. Getting a car wash these days are so expensive so saving a few bucks by doing it yourself will definitely be the better alternative. You'll have more time to prepare to go to work rather than slaving away with soap and water all the time. Isn't that a good thing?

I know, I'm using it right now for our family's huge van and I think it'll save is a lot of time, and money too.

KUMAGCOW

Fresh Blogs Fast!

How to Clean Your Car Like a Pro with Auto Gard

I've been rearing to write about this a couple of weeks ago but my schedules were just pretty tight. I had about 3 events every day so think about that LOL. Anyway, I tried and schedule to have my van cleaned and take photos of it but when I arrived in my friendly neighborhood car wash, there were like 8 cars in the garage and no obvious place to take pretty photos of the experience using these new products (^_^) and heaven forbid they should make some space for me but I figured I could always tell you how it is on how to use these products. I asked the car wash boys to use it (I admit I don't really wash cars that much!) and they were a little hesitant at first. They have their own different set of soaps and shampoos and it wouldn't be done faster, but I arranged this a couple of weeks ago with the owner and I only got the nod the day before so they didn't really have any choice, I'm that convincing. 

 Our van is the Mitsubishi Space Gear Delica Executive Edition, obviously from the same Japanese car maker. It's green and it's a bit old, but very comfy. The version we had wasn't the short one and is pretty roomy. The reason I don't really wash cars is because it's a real burden to do because I normally use rags, soap and foam. Takes me around a couple of hours to finish because I want it clean as a whisk. Add to that a real weird phenomena, because of the 5 times I did that, it rained 4x afterwards. Imagine my face after seeing it clean and dry in the morning, then wet and full of marks in the afternoon. Not funny. I spend quite an enormous amount of time wiping it with rags and newspapers so I could see the glass shine. I only thought about having it cleaned by other people because with the labor and back aches I got from doing it my self I don't think it'll be worth it. But this might actually change my mind.

Have you heard of Auto-Gard? They sent me a full cleaning kit a few weeks ago and I wanted to put it to the test. I had them use the Auto Gard Car Wash Shampoo. When I saw the brand, I thought I probably have seen it a couple of times as they've been in the market since the 90's. It comes with instructions on how to use it, but I think it's pretty simple. You just have to know the ratio, 5 bottle caps in 4 liters of water. You can use a sponge and do the karate kid moves so you can hone your skills and battle the forces of evil afterwards. This takes no rocket science and you just need to rub it in on the front of the van and work your way to the back. It was not as thick as I thought it would be and it was easy to apply. What's good is that even after all these things, it's going to be fine on the paint because it wouldn't promote oxidation. Doesn't that sound so re-assuring?

The sponge they were using at the car wash was actually a little dirty and worn out so I also asked the kind kuya to use this instead. The Auto-Gard Super Sponge was handy, and it was better because one dip on the pail means it could get more of the Auto-Gard Shampoo solution in one go. It's a time saver, aside from that, it takes care of the surface of the van without being too abrasive. Plus it made all the windows clean, no lint residues on the surface at all. You also don't need to put too much effort drying and polishing the car. It's that good.

For those who fear the infamous water marks, fear not because they won't leave you standing in the rain. They've got the Auto-Gard Waffle Weave Drying Towel to make sure you've got those removed. You can also use this and squeeze the water off and you won't have a hard time to get the car dry. Again, that's just going to be less time for chores and more time with the bae, I mean family. Believe it or not, this cloth can actually absorb 10x its weight in water. I would have used this on my oily face but the van is our priority today! Ha-ha!

Aside from that, I also had another guy get the job finished with this Auto-Gard High Performance Microfiber Cloth. This thing attracts and lifts dirt and dust so if you've got some left on the van, then it's going to be easy to check every nook and cranny. If you're van is clean and you don't leave anything wet, then you're taking care of your vehicle right. No water means no rust, no rust means you're going to have your car last for a long time. It's your baby, it's your high ticket investment, and Auto-Gard is just the right way to take care of it. By using the right cleaning materials and products,  it would benefit you, your friends and family for generations to come. Your car isn't just a tool to get you from point A to point B, it's your refuge, it deserves proper care. You spend a LOT of time in it and if you don't take care of it, it won't be getting that great resale value either if you plan to upgrade in the future.

For those who want to experience Auto-Gard you can get them easy at Ace Hardware, Handyman, Wilcon Depot, Truevalue and all leading car wash shops nationwide. Oh by the way, the guys over at the car wash wanted to keep the left over shampoo and cleaning kit, but NOPE, not gonna happen! It's mine!

For more information about their products:

Auto-Gard Premium Car Care Products

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Visit their official website

https://www.milesandlevels.com

/*cto,photo of van not mine.

The Smart and UBER Partnership

Everybody was all smiles when this happened a few days ago. Imagine, two giants, one from the Telecom industry and the other from transport. It's a synergy bound to change the landscape of ride sharing in the whole Asian region as they start a groundbreaking partnership that will ultimately benefit thousands of Filipino riders and give them convenience where they need it, when they need it. This is the work of Smart, the country's biggest network and UBER, the ride sharing app that's connecting riders and drivers around the world!

Smart, PLDT and UBER's executives now plan to roll out the first ever FREE WIFI service in all UBER cars, a feat that hasn't been done in UBER rides anywhere else in Asia. Now, you can have your favorite streaming services like iFLIX and Viewstream, Facebook, Instagram and internet services  right in the comforts of your own UBER ride starting with the UBER Black Cars. They're still rolling it out right now and pretty soon all your UBER rides will have this on board. 

Aside from that, Smart and UBER is giving away voucher codes to all first time UBER riders that's got SMART Postpaid, SMART Prepaid and SMART BRO Postpaid accounts. You need to be a smartphone user, be in NCR, a credit card holder and a first time UBER user to take advantage of this great promo. Just download the UBER app on the App Store or Google Play store, use the voucher code SMARTUBER as part of the registration or after it. This means you'll get 2 UBER rides worth Php 300 each for FREE. You may click here and register your number for convenience.

Total Philippines Releases New EXCELLIUM Diesel Formula

Peugeot Car powered by Total (photo credits Peugeot and Total)

Total Philippines just unleashed one excellent addition to their Excellium Product Line. This is TOTAL EXCELLIUM DIESEL. It's got a new formula which promises to clean and protect your engine. They also have been gearing towards products that would significantly reduce carbon emissions so they could take care of the environment. That alone is something very impressive coming from an oil company and I heard the EXCELLIUM Diesel also improves your car's fuel economy so you can have more miles with a smaller amount of it in your automobiles.

Total Excellium Diesel is made in France, developed in various European laboratories so you can be sure that you'll only experience the best kind of drive every time you have it in your car. It uses special detergent molecules so you can get your engines protected, cleaned in just one formula. It hastens the metal parts in your engine to have smoother transitions, less friction so your engine could last longer and perform at it's peak when you need it, where you need it too.

It's also now available in all Total Service Stations today. You'll feel the benefits of every drop when you get to that kilometer and feel your engine run better whether you're just in the city and out of town. The people who made these are the same people behind the great products you've been seeing in Total Gas Stations nationwide. In Metro Manila, you can check out their branches in EDSA-Pasay, Alabang, Fairview, Valenzuela, Makati, Shaw Boulevard, Merville Subdivision, Greenhills, Balintawak, West Service Road, Las Pinas, Zabarte Road in QC and Sucat 2 in Paranaque. They're also across Northern Luzon in places like San Fernando, Tarlac, Tuguegarao, Solana in Cagayan, Clark in Pampanga and Camp 7 in Baguio City. They're just starting to open branches in Visayas though so you can visit the one in Plaridel, Cebu if you want to see how the Excellium Diesel Formula can help you there! Extreme fuel economy is needed these days and Total can definitely bring you there!

For more information about their products:

TOTAL Philippines

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Visit their official website

http://www.totaloil.com.ph/

The New Caltex Havoline Engine Oil Products

In small ceremonies at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City, Chevron re-launches some of their celebrated product brands Havoline. They're in new product labels and pretty slick look. They're also going full force with Havoline ProDS Fully Synthetic ECO 5 SAE 5W-30, the Havoline Synthetic Blend SAE 5W-30 and the Havoline Super 4T Synthetic Blend SAE 10W-40. All of which are now going to be available in selected Caltex Stations, supply stores and shops nationwide.

These Havoline products all have Deposit Shield Technology that protects the engine, make contact parts durable with its proprietary protective coating that shields it from engine deposits for optimum performance. Their over 75 years of experience says it all and with the fresh new look, the fully synthetic range will protect everything that matters because of the Deposit Shield Technology they're putting out there.

Aside from this awesome launch, they're starting off the ultimate road trip so they can educate Pinoy drivers with their 4 pillars of protection namely Investment, Fuel Economy, Engine Performance and the Environment. Havoline has been the go to brand when it comes to this. Tune up your car, change the oil and make it the Havoline ProDS Fully Synthetic ECO 5 SAE 5W-30, the Havoline Synthetic Blend SAE 5W-30 and the Havoline Super 4T Synthetic Blend SAE 10W-40. It will retail at Php 2468.84, Php 1480.00 and Php 244.00 respectively. It works on the molecular level and will prevent carbon build up. Please visit http://www.caltex.com/ph if you want to see these and other products from the same company. 

For more information about their products:

Caltex Philippines

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Visit their official website

http://www.caltex.com/

The 5th Philippine International Motor Show

It was a night of fun and laughter as we joined the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) a few nights ago at Draft at the Fort Strip when the shakers and movers of different car manufacturers in launching the 5th Philippine International Motor Show. It will happen on September 18-21, 2014 and on these 4 fun filled days they'll be whipping out new concept cars, their new flagship vehicles and internationally released ones just to be seen in the Philippines. Last year was well attended and this is why they are even bringing more things to the table including additional facilities for after sales service sections so brands can show how they implement best practices after consumers get their cars. There's new software and prime technologies included in the exhibit where other brands would also be able to see competitors in the same industry to ultimately trump each other. Consumers then would be able to check where research and development goes as far as the automotive industry is concerned.

Hon. Gov. Jose Alvarez, the Chairman Emeritus of CAMPI, was so happy to see the participants getting bigger every year and thanked the Presidents and Executives of the respective brands. With the advent of even bigger profits this year pegged 22% this 2014, the future seems bright with the Philippine auto industry. This years exhibitors will include Beijing based BAIC and China's JMC, German car maker BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Korea's Daewoo, Kia, Japan's Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Suzuki, Lexus and French car maker Peugeot.

Atty. Rommel Gutierrez says that it's also the perfect time to show that the organization is serious about driving economic progress in the country. They are ready to make the theme "Progress in Motion" a reality, that's why they are eager to show this year's line of exclusive, prototype cars to aid and see where we are right now in the automotive business line. 

Dante Santos, the current VP of CAMPI also informed us that this won't be a complete celebration without getting in the consumers in the mix, before the toast, he told us that there will be huge sales that will only be offered on PIMS days at the World Trade Center and you won't see them anywhere else. Aside from big savings, you will also be able to take advantage of perks coming from the brands directly... some of which can't be even seen in display rooms anywhere else. Other than that, you'll learn more about the newest model of cars available in the Philippine market and get the best deals without breaking a sweat. Meet ups of car clubs, pretty car show models, accessories, parts and services will be at your fingertips if you come over. Remember, it all starts when you come to the World Trade Center Philippines on the 18th of September. Be with the world's best car manufacturers even by staying in one place and you'll see what the Philippine International Motor Show is all about!

For more information about their event:

5th International Motor Show

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Visit their official website

http://www.campiauto.org