Bylines Botchi Santos

Pains of a short-sighted plan for national development

IN MY LINE of work, I have been fortunate enough to travel to many places all over the world, places that make me wonder why the Philippines, or specifically, the Filipino people cannot emulate. …

The all-new Audi A4 is a class leader in refinement and comfort

Being in the far east, we tend to get cars quite late. On an extreme example, it took Nissan nine years to launch the R35 GTR in the Philippines. On a less extreme case, Audi’s much lauded…

8 things to know about the brains behind Nissan R35 GTR Hiroshi Tamura

WE had the pleasure of spending some very casual time over dinner and drinks with Hiroshi Tamura, the chief product specialist and brains behind the Nissan R35 GTR.…

Chevrolet brings the int’l launch of the all-new Trailblazer, Colorado to the Philippines

Chevrolet International together with The Covenant Car Company Inc. recently unveiled the new Chevrolet Trailblazer 7-seat SUV and Colorado pickup truck to members of the Asean Press in Cebu, Philippines.…

To the highest power

Mitsubishi’s Strada is one of those vehicles that is well-balanced: it’s not in-yer-face like a Ford Ranger with all its high-tech toys, nor does it have that mean-looking, confident stance of the Toyota Hilux, or the far-better…

Mazda CX-3: another runaway hit for the Hiroshima-based automaker?

Mazda is perhaps the country’s most exciting brand at the moment. With a greatly improved, renewed and invigorated stewardship under Berjaya Auto Philippines, the Malaysian-based conglomerate that is also into hospitality, real-estate education and many other industries,…

Full circle with Nissan’s R35 GTR

As a motoring journalist, I have the opportunity to drive the newest and latest cars all over the world. It’s a great job, but a tough one as well.…

Toyota Vios: Can the country’s best-selling car get any better?

THE UBIQUITOUS Toyota Vios best represents the face of the Philippine automotive industry. Taxis, sales representatives, private car owners and everyone else in between drive a Vios. …

Montero Sport’s 10 best features

I’m often asked which among the current crop of SUVs is my recommended choice, and my answer has always been the same: Mitsubishi’s Montero Sport. …

12 facts about the Aston Martin Vantage V12S

I had roughly 24 hours to spend with Aston Martin’s very beautiful and alluring, not to mention, sensually seductive Vantage V12S. …

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