BF Homes residents react

The other week we wrote on this column about the frustrating experience of a bona fide long-time resident of BF Homes Paranaque who was refused exit from one of the main gates of the subdivision where he legally resides despite showing his driver’s license (a legally-accepted government document indicating his official residence), only because the car the subject was driving did not have a sticker.

The article prompted reactions from residents, who all refused to be named due to possible repercussions (real or imagined) from the quarters that have been implementing this “no sticker- no entry or exit” policy, which some residents and homeowners have opined to be indeed more of a business enterprise rather than to raise funds that could be used for the sole benefit of homeowners and residents of BF Homes.

One of the “head on shoulder” reactions of a long-time homeowner questions the rationale behind the policy of requiring all vehicles that pass the main gates of BF Homes to have stickers being sold by what many residents consider as a possible self-proclaimed umbrella association of all homeowners’ associations, which have all been independently put up when the original developer of BF Homes reportedly abandoned the management of the subdivision, once considered the biggest in this part of Asia, sometime in the early 80’s. For their own security and protection residents grouped together and formed individual “hamlets,” which were individually gated with their own homeowners’ associations with security guards and other services provided from their own association dues. By accepted standards the hamlets have been considered as properly and safely secured by their own homeowners’ associations without any significant participation of the supposed umbrella organization.

Another long-time resident and homeowner, who recently sold his house and lot reluctantly for a price he could not resist, in a nutshell had this opinion to offer, “Progress and development have dawned upon BF Homes Paranaque as shown by the rapid transformation of Aguirre Avenue into a highly commercialized main thoroughfare. Other main arteries will soon inevitably follow suit to the benefit of all property owners as real estate values level up. These commercialized thoroughfares need to be opened to the public to ensure their viability and success. The “subvillages” within BF Homes are presently being safely secured by their respective homeowners’ associations from outsiders and this makes the supposedly umbrella homeowners’ association obsolete, most especially if its stand is to make access to these commercial establishments difficult by controlling entrance through the main gates. Their main concern should be to make everybody’s stay inside BF Homes safe, convenient and comfortable both for residents and non-residents including those patronizing business inside BF Homes.”

Actually many BF Homes residents who had young adults for children welcomed the sprouting of entertainment establishments in the early 90’s like restaurants, bars, etc. within the subdivision simply because they knew that their kids during weekends were just around the corner instead of going all the way to Makati or far away Quezon City. But then the city government supported the opening of Aguirre Avenue to support these business establishments knowing fully well that residents were securely protected within their hamlets by their homeowners association’s security detail.

But many residents have been wondering how the funds from the sale of stickers are being utilized when there’s even failure to provide the simple painting or marking of speed humps that proliferate the main avenues of BF Homes to warn motorists of their presence to avoid unnecessary damage on their vehicles’ suspension and for their mere safety as hitting these speed humps unknowingly and without warning can cause the unnecessary lose of vehicle control, which can in turn cause an avoidable accident.

And some residents are also saying that the suspicion that the vehicle sticker requirement in BF Homes is more of a business enterprise rather than to raise funds to provide services to its homeowners and residents like “security” from outsiders and intruders is further upheld by the mere fact that what used to cost P150 for residents to buy a vehicle sticker now costs P500-plus to have. And many are asking, what security from outsiders and intruders when non-residents can reportedly also buy a sticker? But of course, as also reported, they can for a lot more.

What puzzles most by many of BF Homes residents is the prohibition of the use of the Elizalde Street gate by vehicles without stickers even for exiting the subdivision. And worse even by those who can readily prove that they are BF Homes residents. What’s the logic? It couldn’t be security because all one has to do to exit is to make a right turn and avoid this gate and pass through the side streets. It couldn’t be for security when anyone can exit the subdivision through the main gate in Aguirre Avenue without being stopped for whatever reason. Some are beginning to think that it’s more of putting a high value on the stickers so that non-residents and including bona fide ones would be forced to buy stickers for the convenience of a shorter route to exit BF Homes—indeed an enterprising tactical business move at the expense of even those who legally reside in BF Homes—indeed a greedy disservice to BF Homes homeowners and residents.

These are unsolicited reactions from concerned BF Homes Paranaque residents to the article we wrote on this column the other week and in the spirit of fair and balance journalism we shall welcome reactions from those reportedly causing these inconveniences to the very concerned and negatively affected residents and homeowners of BF Homes Paranaque.

Car sellers beware

I received a letter from Mrs. Margot Manosa regarding her sad experience while selling her vehicle. She wanted us to give our readers an idea of her experience so that it may serve as a warning to the public against dealing with unscrupulous groups that present themselves to help to conveniently expedite the unloading of vehicles.

And as a public service to the general motoring public I gladly oblige.

To begin with Mrs. Manosa said that the agent who approached her to sell her car may have really done her homework well by researching on her friends and her family’s friends and making her believe that they share the same close friends thereby gaining her confidence to entrust to her the negotiations regarding the selling of her car.

When the final negotiations came they all went to a bank, which is the right thing to do in dealings like this, but she was never brought to sit down with any officer of the bank. The group worked real fast and even left her with a 9-year old boy who was presented as a nephew of one of the members of the group while the negotiations were being done to most probably appeal to her maternal instincts or to keep her busy while the scam was underway.

Well, to cut a long and disturbing story short, she was hoodwinked into selling her car short by more than 200 thousand pesos.

She strongly advises vehicle sellers not to fall for the lure of a convenient and fast-tracked selling of your vehicles by these groups as the offered comfort and ease in selling your cars would turn into your pitfall. Be actively involved every step of the way. It may not be a guarantee for not being victimized or conned by these experts but it can indeed serve as an effective deterrent. Make a valiant effort to make it hard for them to succeed.

Let’s all learn from this actual experience and thank you Mrs. Manosa for sharing this with the public with the aim of warning them should they find themselves in similar scenarios.

BYD celebrates 2nd year

Our congratulations to Star Corp., exclusive importers and distributors of BYD vehicles in the Philippines as it celebrates its 2^nd year in the country.

The milestone shall be marked this Saturday, September 26 at the Aruba Bar, Metrowalk in Pasig City by a special gathering of proud BYD owners as well as patrons and stakeholders.

The distinctive event, which will be lead by the young, energetic and highly-motivated managing director of BYD Philippines, Mark Tieng shall also see the launch of the BYD Auto Club.

The event’s special guest, Mr. Liu Xue Liang, GM of Asia Pacific Auto Sales Division of BYD Auto shall give the exclusively invited guests a glimpse of the unprecedented success of BYD globally.

Some of the many attractions of the celebration include the display of the BYD e6 Race Car and the test drive of the BYD Qin plus a raffle of prizes totaling P200K.

Congratulations Mark! Indeed BYD Philippines has gone a long way with you at the helm.

TV shows and websites for motoring and auto enthusiasts

Motoring Today airs every Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock and Auto Focus every Thursday evening at 10 o’clock both on Solar Sports on Sky Channel 70, Destiny Channel 35 and on Cignal Channel 55. Both are also online— www.motoringtoday.ph and www.autofocus.com.ph for present and past episodes.

Happy Motoring!!!

(email) [email protected] / [email protected].