A portion of the northbound extension of the Skyway within Muntinlupa City. (source – Ramon S. Ang Facebook page)
āWe are on track to deliver the northbound section of the Skyway Extension project by December, and with this, motorists from the south can easily access Makati, Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, and the North Luzon Expressway,ā said San Miguel Corporation (SMC) president and chief executive officer (CEO) Ramon S. Ang in a press statement.
To put things in perspective, SMC fully funded the project with P10 billion and it is designed to extend the Skyway from Susana Heights on the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to Sucat and back, and provide direct access to the elevated section of the Skyway. The South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway (MCX) will get connected to the Skyway at Susana Heights which will bypass Alabang and should result seamless and shorter travel from south to north via the Skyway system.
āUnder normal Metro Manila conditions, you will be lucky if you can get from SLEX to the North Luzon Expressway in under three hours. You would have to pass through traffic gridlocks in Alabang, Magallanes, practically the whole of EDSA, or various areas through Manila. With the Skyway Extension and the completed Skyway 3, you can get there in 30 minutes without stopping,ā Ang further elaborated.
In addition, motorists coming from the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Batangas will be able to bypass Alabang which should also ease traffic in Muntinlupa as well as along Alabang-Zapote road.
At this point of time, things are really looking very good as far as Luzon highways and Metro Manila travel are concerned. Being able to travel from Alabang to north of Metro Manila and back with much faster speed and much less stress is something I have always dreamed of. That old dream will soon be realized! Keep an eye on the Skyway and the completion of the extension.
In ending this article, watch and enjoy this very recent Skyway update video.
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It is all out in the news here in the Philippines and it is the best piece of infrastructure and travel-related news for travelers, business stakeholders and other concern parties specifically here in Metro Manila and the communities outside its boundaries ā San Miguel Corporation (SMC)ās president and chief operation officer (COO) Ramon S. Ang announced the completion of the Skyway 3 project (AKA Skyway Stage 3) which is almost eighteen kilometers long. Right now, they are working on completing the finishing touches before formally opening it to the public.
Personally, I am happy for their achievement!
A great view of a portion of Skyway Stage 3. (source – Mark Villar Facebook page)
For the newcomers reading this, the Skyway 3 project is composed of a 17.93 kilometer stretch that links the norther and southern parts of Luzon by means of a modern highway. More specifically, once the newly completed project finally opens, travel from the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) will take only twenty minutes which will be a major improvement from the average of 2-3 hours (without Skyway 3). It should be noted that the project was completed way before the October 31, 2020 target of completion.
āIām happy to announce that the whole structure of Skyway 3 is now complete. With this, Skyway 2 in Buendia is now officially extended all the way to the North Luzon Expressway. After many challenges, this project faced in previous years, the dream of connecting north and south and providing an alternative to Edsa is now a reality,ā Ang said in a press statement released on October 13.
As mentioned earlier, I am happy for the completion of Skyway 3 and soon it will finally be opened to public motorists (who can afford to pay the eventual toll fees). Each year for the past several years, I travel from Alabang to Clark and Subic Bay to attend important events. During those times, it was a struggle to move from south to north and back WITHOUT Skyway 3. The traffic along EDSA (which passes through different Metro Manila cities and on the maze of roads within the City of Manila were often bad, time-consuming and unpredictable.
Another stretch of Skyway Stage 3 over water. (source – Mark Villar Facebook page)
With Skyway Stage 3, travel between SLEX and NLEX will be much faster. It is stated in the press statement that travel from Magallanes to Balintawak will only take about 15 minutes, Balintawak to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) also only 15 minutes, and Valenzuela to Makati in just 10 minutes. As for people from the cities of Muntinlupa, Las PiƱas, ParaƱaque and even further south from Laguna province who need to travel to Subic Bay faster in the near future, imagine going north using the SLEX, then the Skyway (in the south) moving through the metropolis in quick fashion to reach the NLEX thanks to Skyway 3’s stretch and then take the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) to get to Subic Bay faster than ever before. Travelers from Cavite province will also benefit from the improved access and travel too since their province has highways that connect to the SLEX. Really, a lot of people, especially families business people who need to travel within Metro Manila and those who want to go further north or south will really benefit from the eventual operation of Skyway 3 not for just a year but in the years to come.
From this point on, watch out for SMCās announcement of the formal opening of Skyway 3. Congratulations to SMC and their strategic partners for their accomplishment! Thank the Lord in Heaven also for making big dreams a reality!
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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the FB group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Inside BF Homes subdivision in ParaƱaque City, Aguirre Avenue is famous mainly for being the kilometers-long stretch of commercial joints, especially restaurants, cafes and bars. Some people referred to it as the Food Strip given the many places of food joints there are plus the wide variety of meals, drinks and other food items they offer collectively. More established brands like Shakeyās and Starbucks are present.
Due to the pandemic and community quarantine, a major economic downturn hit the entire Philippines which severely affected many businesses along Aguirre Avenue, reaching the point of having no choice but to shut down and layoff their employees. One of the food joints I featured before closed down sadly and left their Aguirre Avenue commercial space.
Subsequently a new food joint opened up in that very same commercial space which turned out to be the local branch of an existing business called Lola Nenaās. A few days ago, their BF Homes branch had its soft opening and quickly attracted several customers. Just yesterday, out of curiosity, I took the opportunity to visit them and take home something.
The counter at the Lola Nena’s BF Homes branch.
So what is Lola Nenaās? According to their history, they are a food joint that started in the year 2012 as a result of their founders who were inspired to recreate the famous Pichi Pichi of their family. What was a small starter on selling Pichi Pichi quickly grew in terms of popularity eventually compelling them to cook the said food in batches so that demand can be met. Today, Lola Nenaās sell Pichi Pichi by the bilao for those who want to buy a lot of it!
As the years passed by, Lola Nenaās (which heavily uses the color red) started offering more snack items and pastries. They also went on to offer pancit (noodle meals) and food products in bottles. In 2017, they launched their Classic Old Fashioned Donuts which went on to become a commercial hit. This year, they launched their Triple Cheese Donuts which caught a lot of attention on social media.
So there I was at the BF Homes Lola Nenaās branch. There was no line of customers but a few ones standing a few feet apart from each other. I noticed the place lacked indicators (marks or signs) as to where exactly should people stand to line up heading towards the counter for ordering and picking up products.
As I waited in line, I overheard some details between the customers and the Lola Nenaās personnel in front of me. Certain meals, a customer was told, will take forty-five minutes to be prepared and released due to high demand (many orders taken already) and the effort to prepare them properly. Customers were politely asked if they were willing to wait.
And then it was my turn. Out of curiosity, I decided to order one box of their Classic Old Fashioned Donuts to bring home for my family. As it turned out, there were already boxes filled with the said donuts waiting to be released. Right after I ordered, the lady at the counter pulled one box and properly prepared it for me. Then I paid for it and got the receipt I requested which was quickly done. It was a painless and quick transaction.
Once I got in the car, I decided to open the box (note: the boxes at Lola Nenaās counter were taped closed already) to see exactly whatās inside. After viewing, I deliberately avoided touching the doughnuts, closed it, and go back home.
The box from Lola Nena’s. There are some instructions written inside on preparing the doughnuts.
The eight Classic Old Fashioned Donuts I paid for. These last for up to 48 hours in room temperature. As such, you should be mindful about when to consume these at your home.
Finally, after arriving home, I shared the doughnuts to our household members. They all enjoyed it.
Each of the Classic Old Fashioned Donuts of Lola Nenaās were coated with sugar, had some sweet substance on the surface and even had small portions of cheese inside. These doughnuts, by the way, do not resemble the round doughnuts people know. Lola Nenaās doughnut are thick, were not really round and had no openings in the middle. Regardless, I personally found it to be delicious and enjoyable.
The Lola Nena’s doughnut up close.
For a box containing of eight of their Classic Old Fashioned Donuts, you do get good value and taste in return for the current price of P120. What you need to watch out for is your blood sugar level since these doughnuts were made with lots of sugar.
You will get to see a huge Lola Nena’s sign along Aguirre Avenue.
If you are planning to visit Lola Nenaās in BF Homes, head on to 287 Aguirre Avenue. In closing this, posted below is my video of the food joint.
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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. Also my fantasy book The World of Havenor is still available in paperback and e-book format. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
Comic Quest, a notable retailer of comic books and geek stuff (including premium products like action figures) here in the Philippines, announced yesterday that it will be closing its 35-year-old business due to the tremendous economic difficulties related to, unsurprisingly, the ongoing pandemic and also the disrupted state of the international distribution of comic books. Before the end comes, however, a Farewell Sale at their SM Megamall branch in Mandaluyong City has launched and will last until sometime in October. The said sale will have all items discounted at least 50%.
In my experience of the past decade, as a resident of Alabang, Muntinlupa, I often bought new comic books (especially Wonder Woman) at the Festival Mall Alabang branch of Comic Quest. It was also at the same store located a short walk away from the cinemas where I also ordered and received hardback editions of EC Comics Archives. Comic Quest Alabang was a favorite weekend destination of mine for many years. Even before I became a collector of comic books (specifically superhero comics), I first heard about Comic Quest way back in 1990 in the classroom where I had a few classmates who bought comic books from them. Back in the 1990s, Comic Quest had a branch in Makati and it was there where I bought Web of Spider-Man #100 in 1993.
As time passed by, my personal interest in comic books waned and I actually stopped buying comic books (both new and old) shortly before the lockdown here in the Philippines was implemented. The pandemic and related lockdown brought entire economies down worldwide and the Philippines was not spared. It is also depressing to learn that many people lost their jobs as well as their income. No disposable income, no more demand for entertainment products like comic books, theatrical showing of movies, shows and the like. The priority now of people living during the pandemic goes to the essentials.
Yesterday, hours after Comic Questās closure announcement, I took the opportunity to visit and see their Festival Mall branch in Alabang. It is gone!
The commercial space in the middle used to be occupied by Comic Quest inside Festival Mall. This picture was taken hours after the closure announcement.
Comic Questās decision to close down is understandable and acceptable. They did the best they could to survive and prevent their employees from becoming unemployed until the pandemic-related depression overwhelmed them (as well as the many other businesses of different types and sizes).
Just a few years ago, another comic book specialty retailer had to close down their Alabang Town Center branch. Itās clear that comic books as a business continues to fail especially now that people are often online and find their kind of stuff through digital services/retailers.
In closing this, posted below for your reference is the complete closure announcement of Comic Quest. The retailer will be missed!
This is a special announcement for all our valued customers. We hope you ‘re doing well and staying safe during this difficult time.
We just want to let you know that because of the combined pressure of the pandemic, as well as the disruption of the global distribution of comic books, we’ve had to make the difficult decision to begin the process of closing down Comic Quest. It is and has been an extremely challenging time for us, and we feel that this is our best option moving forward.
It has been a long and amazing road, from our earliest days in our first branch at BF Homes in Alabang, to Greenhills to Makati to multiple branches as far away as SM Cebu. But now the time has come to say goodbye, and let all of you know how much we appreciate being given the chance to be part of the comic book industry.
We want to thank each and every one of you for being one of our valuable loyal customers and a very important member of the Comic Quest family. We wouldn’t have reached 35 wonderful years in business without loyal customers like you. Our sincerest and most heartfelt thanks for being with us through all these years.
In line with our decision, we’re holding a special FAREWELL SALE from September 16th and into October, at our SM Megamall branch. During this time we will be selling ALL items from at least 50% off and up.
Please help us spread the word and share this message with other friends and collectors whom you think might be interested.
While our time in this wonderful industry comes to an end, we’re wishing you many more years of happy collecting! And in the words of the great Stan Lee- Excelsior!
Best wishes,
Comic Quest
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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
It has been seven years since prominent BF Homes resident and business tycoon Antonio P. Antonio died as a result of a tragedy that happened at his familyās home. It all happened on September 11, 2013 when Antonio (referred to as Tonton by his friends and associates) was shot several times by his son Nelson after their private meeting at Villa Antonio and, after a desperate attempt to get him treated at Asian Hospital in Alabang, passed away at age 63. Antonio has been buried at Everest Hills Memorial Park in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City, where friends and family members pay their respect to him each whenever his death anniversary passes.
His son, the suspect Nelson, is still being tried in court in ParaƱaque City for the charge of parricide. The trial has yet to conclude.
His other children ā Xialen, Vladimir and Lenin to name a few ā have taken over the family business left behind.
Prominent in BF Homes and overseas
The late Antonio P. Antonio.
The late Antonio P. Antonio was well established with many community leaders and personalities in BF Homes subdivision (which itself is part of ParaƱaque, Muntinlupa and Las PiƱas). Apart from being highly successful in the world of business, Antonio served as a director as well as president of the old federation United BF Homeowners Association, Inc. (UBFHAI).
Over in Japan, Antonio P. Antonio has his own OHAKA tombstone in a cemetery in Odawara. This is in relation to his being honored by his Japanese business associates who trusted and believe in him very much. He is the only GAIJIN or foreigner to have a tombstone in the mentioned cemetery and it is a high honor for the Japan to do to a friend.
Remembering the father
On behalf of the family, Xialen Antonio shared some insights about their father and how the family turned out over the past seven years.
āI can only say that life hasn’t been easy without our father, his demise simply put us in a chaotic life. Eventually, life paved the way on how we can deal with our loss. Our lifestyle has changed dramatically and it only made us humble before the LORD,ā Xialen stated.
When asked what she missed the most from her father, she pointed to his presence, his sense of calm, and protection towards adversities. Xialenās siblings simply adapted ways to build resilience especially in trying times. The tragedy, unsurprisingly, compelled them to adjust themselves and live on.
Justice pursued
As mentioned earlier, justice for the father is being pursued by Xialen and her family. The parricide trial of Nelson Antonio is continues to be held at Branch 257 of the ParaƱaque Regional Trial Court (RTC). The status of the trial is as followsā¦
āWe are down to the cross examination of our last witness which will happen very soon. We can never be confident until we finish this trial and there are still obstacles in fighting for the Justice of APA. But then I have put our faith in our justice system, the local government, the police, the media and with the help of the community that put focus and attention to this case,ā Xialen stated.
What led to the trial
When tragedy struck on September 11, 2013, Antonio P. Antonio was seen wounded and bleeding shortly after the shooting. His son Vladimir and their driver rushed him to the Asian Hospital in Alabang in an attempt to save his life. Before passing away, the former UBFHAI president told Vladimir that it was Nelson who shot him with a gun.
Back in BF Homes, suspect Nelson arrived at the Philippine National Police (PNP) sub-station along Elsie Gatches street, ParaƱaque City to surrender himself. Based on the written Investigation Report at the Las PiƱas City PNP signed by three officers (SPO2 Edmund Alfonso, PO2 Christian C. Yanga and PO2 Mark Billy S. Carbonell), Nelsonās arrest from the ParaƱaque PNP sub-station was confirmed. This meant sending a Las Pinas police team to fetch the suspect at the ParaƱaque sub-station. What was noticeable, however, was that the report had no indication of the recovery of the firearm that was used in killing the father.
Because of the fact that the Antonio residence occupied the border of the cities of Paranaque and Las Pinas, there was confusion with regards to jurisdiction. In fact, police officers from both cities visited the site of incident. Suspect Nelson was turned over to the police of Las PiƱas. A release order dated September 27, 2013 was issued by Las Pinas City Prosecutor Zelica Longcob due to the lack of jurisdiction.
After much struggle over the issue of jurisdiction, the case for parricide was tossed back to legal system in ParaƱaque, specifically at Branch Number 257 of the local Regional Trial Court. On February 27, 2014, Branch 257 Judge Roland G. How issued a Warrant of Arrest for Nelson who was charged with parricide (Criminal Case Number 14-0222). By the time the order was made, the suspect was already overseas. According to flight records, Nelson left December 28, 2013 for Singapore.
On February 16, 2018, Nelson Antonio was arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This was the result of a particular overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who saw an investigative report on television (aired December 2017) which exposed the suspect. The OFW recognized Nelson and contacted the Philippine police attache to arrest him. Eventually an international arrest warrant (the Interpol Red Notice) was issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) which alerted the police force in the UAE.
Escorted by law enforcers, Nelson Antonio arrived here in the Philippines on April 30, 2018.
Xialenās message to the readers
āOur family would like to seek the support from our community to help us fight for Justice for APA. We want to be the living example of how we can attain TRUE JUSTICE during these unprecedented times. May we request everyone to pray for this and let this be a community standard of a wonderful collaboration among all sectors that are involved.ā
An official portrait of the late Antonio P. Antonio.
As soon as my friend and I entered Mattyās, there was this peaceful and relaxing atmosphere inside that welcomed us. The interiors really looked nice and there was a large wooden table (good enough to accommodate some customers who sit by) plus a few smaller tables with chairs. There is also a hanging monitor where you can see some cable TV movies or news feed shown. Wifi is also available. Further inside is the counter as well as a selection of beverages and prices displayed on the nearby wall. There you can make your choices and order over the counter. Oh yes, like Mang Pandesal, 1 Corinthians 10: 31 is displayed clearly. For your reference, the scripture reads:
Whether you eat or drink, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God.
1 Corinthians 10: 31 (TPT)
Tables and chairs await customers. Matty’s also has TV and wifi as well. (note: this photo is a property of Matty’s and permission was granted to use it for this article.)
A very nice looking counter and menu-on-the-wall inside Matty’s. Displayed on the counter is 1 Corinthians 10: 31.
Pandesal from Mang Pandesal and chilled coffee from Matty’s make a GREAT combination!
My friend and I had a nice time talking while enjoying the really tasty drinks we ordered: a Mattyās milk tea and an iced coffee with jelly. There was also smooth music played which added more to the relaxing atmosphere. I also noticed while inside, we had a view of the road outside as well as the nearby corner of Tropical Avenue and El Grande Avenue where vehicles pass by all the time.
For those of you who love drinks, Mattyās has nice selections of milk tea (multiple variants), fruity drinks, hot coffee and iced coffee. Good food? They have it too such as their specialty Sylvanas and the Rich Leche Flan in jars to name a few. I brought home Sylvannas and the leche flan and they both really tasted good! In fact, I highly recommend them to you all! Through their website, you can even make orders in advance before visiting Matty’s to pick up. By the way, I must state that Matty’s in-store personnel are very helpful and attentive.
Two great tasting products of Matty’s that you should try: Rich Leche Flan in jar and Matty’s Sylvanas.
Matty’s Sylvanas for your viewing…
and a closer look at one of the Sylvanas. Each one tasted really good!
Matty’s Rich Leche Flan in jar is indeed rich and delicious!
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com
Recently the Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) announced that it is accepting applications (for brand new and renewal, and for residents and non-residents) for the 2020 edition of the vehicular stickers for Alabang Hills Village, Barangay Cupang, Muntinlupa City. Motorists whose applications got approved will see their brand new AHVA stickers released to them.
For your visual reference, see the images below.
The front page.
The back page.
As seen in the images of the 2-page application form, required (in the form of the latest photocopies of the requirements) if the vehicle is under the applicantās name are the vehicleās Official Receipt (OR) and the Certificate of Registration (CR) of the vehicle. If the vehicle is not under the applicantās name, required are OR, CR and a notarized Deed of Sale.
If the vehicle is under the name of a Company, required are the OR, CR and a Company Certification signifying that the applicant is the authorized user. If the vehicle has been recently acquired and has no license plate yet, required are the Delivery Receipt and Sales Invoice.
Most notable of all, as listed on the application form, are some changes on the application procedure which is the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Take note that things will be a little bit different compared to last year. Firstly, the application form must be filled-up with details (for non-residents, this includes an endorsement from a legitimate Alabang Hills Village resident, from your homeownersā association or from a school or organization) and must be signed by the applicant (on the back page). Secondly, the signed application form and the required documents (note: must be attached with the form) must be sent to the AHVA through email at alabanghills@yahoo.com(note: you donāt need to personally and physically submit your application form and documents. You only need to scan them for the purpose of sending them to AHVA via email)
Thirdly, the applicant must wait for the AHVA to reply by email from the Sticker Processor on the payment arrangements and day of appointment. That being said, you must prepare yourself for whatever amount will be charged and whatever method of payment will be revealed. Constantly monitor your email. Fourthly, an authorized crew member of the AHVA will install the new vehicular sticker on the windshield (driverās side) of your vehicle on the day of appointment.
One last thingā¦the AHVA confirmed to me today that they charge P1,200 for a 1-year sticker (2020-2021) and P2,400 for the 2-year sticker (2020-2022) for non-residents.
Inside Alabang Hills Village, I spotted a tarpaulin (located a short distance away from the Tirona street gate) about the different schedules of the start of applications of AHVAās 2020 vehicular stickers for different types of applicants. The following details are:
August 24, 2020 ā Non-residents
September 14, 2020 ā Residents
September 28, 2020 ā Commercial
October 12, 2020 ā Motorcycle/bicycle
Meanwhile, the old vehicular stickers issued by AHVA in 2019 for private vehicles (both resident and non-resident) and commercial vehicles will expire on September 30, 2020. Meanwhile, the 2019 AHVA stickers issued for motorcycles and bicycles will expire on October 30, 2020. As such, anyone who have expiring stickers need to apply and renew as soon as possible.
Inside Alabang Hills Village.
If you have further questions for the AHVA, send them email at alabanghills@yahoo.com or call them at 8850-8254 and 8850-9631.
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For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from official documents published by the Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
Alabang Hills Village HOA: Tirona street gate to reopen July 6, 2020 (Monday)
Hey everyone and fellow residents of South Metro Manila (Muntinlupa, ParaƱaque and Las PiƱas)!
Would you happen to be a motorist looking for ways to travel more efficiently between BF Homes subdivision and Alabang without having to go through the traffic along Alabang-Zapote Road, Concha Cruz Drive and other roads that lead deeper into Las PiƱas City?
Well, if you have a vehicle with a VALID vehicular sticker of BF Homes and Alabang Hills, you will be delighted to know that the Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA) in Muntinlupa City announced very recently via their Community Bulletin (#53) that the shared gate along Tirona street will reopen on Monday (July 6, 2020).Ā The said gate was supposed to reopen on July 1 via the announcement by the BF Homes federation but something happened that prevent it.
Check out the images below I took from their village clubhouse bulletin board.
As it is seen in the above images, AHVAās Community Bulletin #53 is loaded with lots details about varied matters. Tirona Gate, which has been closed for the past few months due to the COVID-19 crisis, is specifically listed under item #3 on the first page.
The Tirona street gate shared by Alabang Hills Village Association and BF Homes.
For the newcomers reading this, Tirona Gate (pictured above) is shared between AHVA and the federation of BF Homes subdivision. Tirona street is a long stretch of road that leads and connects to Aguirre Avenue within the jurisdiction of ParaƱaque City (which has a major COVID-19 problem of its own so if you visit the city, be extra careful to avoid infection. As of this writing, ParaƱaque has more COVID-19 confirmed cases than Las PiƱas and Muntinlupa cities combined).
As written in the Community Bulletin, Muntinlupa City Health Officer Dr. Teresa Tuliao met with AHVAās top officials ā President Tiggs Caronongan, General Manager Lanie Rosas and Director Zenaida Celestino) ā and in relation to Tirona Gate (identified as Gate 2), Tuliao emphasized that the mere passing of vehicles through village gates DOES NOT raise the risk of infection of COVID-19.
On the other hand, there is more risk of getting infected by visiting places where social distancing was not properly observed.
That being said, a decision was made by AHVA (in coordination with Barangay Cupang) to reopen Tirona Gate on July 6 although there is nothing written about what time exactly will it happen that day (a Monday).
So, there you have it! Unless something drastic or a major last-minute change would happen, Tirona Gate will reopen this coming Monday and the motorists who will benefit are those who have valid non-resident, pass-thru stickers of both AHVA and the BF Homes federation. As such, let me remind you motorists to always respect and follow the in-village traffic rules and speed limits.
To motorists of BF Homes and other Barangay BF Homes communities (example: Tahanan Village), do you plan to go to Alabang by passing through the Tirona Gate on Monday? For reactions, please post in the comments below.
If you have questions or suggestions for AHVA, you are free to contact them at landlines 8850-8254 and 8850-9631, and email address ahvainc08@yahoo.com.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also sayĀ NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation,Ā NO to plagiaristsĀ andĀ NO to sinister propagandaĀ when it comes to news and developments.
SOSIA issues advisory on the confiscation of driverās license by security guards
Hey readers! Has any security guard confiscated your driverās license in recent times? The latest news and details below deserve your attention.
The Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA) issued on June 15 a new advisory signed by Acting Chief Police Colonel Sidney N. Villaflor regarding the confiscation of driverās license by security guards. This is pursuant to Republic Act Number 4136 (An Act to Compile The Laws Relative To Land Transportation and Traffic Rules, To Create a Land Transportation Commission and For Other Purposes) regarding the power to secure and/or confiscate drivers licenses are lodged under the capacity of LTO personnel and others who are duly deputized by the said Agency.
Below for your viewing and reading is the picture of the June 15, 2020 advisory from SOSIA.
Item #2 on the advisory states as follows: This pertains to incidents wherein security guards deployed in private villages and subdivisions require the drivers of vehicles to surrender their driverās licenses prior entering the premises, as directed by the Home Owners Associationsā (HOAsā) leadership.
Item #3 makes clear that the power to secure and/or confiscate driverās licenses are lodged under the capacity of personnel of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and others who got deputized by the said Agency.
Item #4 is the hot one and it makes clear who or what organizations do NOT have any authority to confiscate driverās licenses. It reads as follows: the HOAs and the security guards of subdivisions, villages and condominiums are not authorized under traffic laws to take custody, even on a temporary basis, the license issued by the LTO.
For more insight, Section 29 of RA 4136 states as follows:
Confiscation of Driverās License. ā Law enforcement and peace officers of other agencies duly deputized by the DirectorĀ shall, in apprehending a driver for any violation of this Act or any regulations issued pursuant thereto, or of local traffic rules and regulations not contrary to any provisions of this Act, confiscate the license of the driver concerned and issue a receipt prescribed and issued by the BureauĀ therefor which shall authorize the driver to operate a motor vehicle for a period not exceeding seventy-two hours from the time and date of issue of said receipt. The period so fixed in the receipt shall not be extended, and shall become invalid thereafter. Failure of the driver to settle his case within fifteen days from the date of apprehension will be a ground for the suspension and/or revocation of his license.
Item #5 clarifies that drivers of vehicles entering the above stated properties may present to the security guards any valid ID cards issued by the government. As such, the security guards are supposed to be professional in their work while being courteous to everyone.
Here in South Metro Manila, the cities of ParaƱaque, Las PiƱas and Muntinlupa have a lot of subdivisions or villages combined. From time to time, I saw written feedback by other uses on social media that some incidents occurred in which drivers trying to enter a village had no choice but to surrender the driverās license because other government-issued ID cards (example: COMELEC ID card) were not accepted by the security guard at the gate.
Now that the SOSIA June 15, 2020 advisory above makes clear that HOAs and security guards are not authorized to confiscate driverās licenses at all, drivers are more protected. In fact, Section 19 of RA 4136 specifically states: Ā The license shall be carried by the driver at all times when operating a motor vehicle, and shall be shown and/or surrendered for cause and upon demand to any person with authority under this Act to confiscate the same.
So there you have it, my readers, SOSIAās June 15, 2020 advisory is a big reminder when it comes to the driverās license and encountering security guards.
If anyone of you motorists was forced to surrender your driverās license to an insistent security guard when trying to enter or was traveling inside a private subdivision, please feel free to inform me about it privately (send me a message at Carlo.Carrasco@gmail.com) or by commenting below if you want to express it openly.
Also feel free to print a hard copy of this article (which includes the picture of the June 15, 2020 SOSIA advisory) to bring with you when traveling to other villages. Thank you.
This article was published for public information related to travel and local communities.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also sayĀ NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation,Ā NO to plagiaristsĀ andĀ NO to sinister propagandaĀ when it comes to news and developments.
Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from my sources within Alabang Hills Village in Muntinlupa City, Philippines. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.
The coronavirus disease COVID-19 that started in China clearly halted societies and economies around the world, reaching to the point of pushing the less fortunate people to despair.
Here in the south of Metro Manila, villages that had confirmed cases of COVID-19 among their residents tightened access into their territory as a means of preventing the risk of infection. This is not surprising at all and it is quite understandable.
At this time of the year, it is normal for motorists to prepare themselves in anticipation of the new edition of the vehicular stickers (residents and non-residents) from the Alabang Hills Village Association (AHVA). For the newcomers reading this, Alabang Hills Village (Muntinlupa City) strategically connects to BF Homes (via Tirona Street gate), Alabang-Zapote Road, the long road (Don Jesus Boulevard) leading to other communities, Madison Galeries and the service road by the highway. Alabang Hills is also where San Beda College Alabang and New Life Church are located at. These factors make AHVA vehicular stickers a must-have. Back in July 2019, I published the story about the 2-year vehicular sticker for non-residents. I also published about the 1-year non-resident vehicular sticker.
Of course, due to this ongoing pandemic, things are still looking uncertain this year as to when the AHVA will issue the next edition of their vehicular stickers (Year 2020) for both residents and non-residents. The people whose old AHVA vehicular stickers are about to expire are unsurprisingly concerned.
I reached out to the AHVA for answers:
As of this writing, the AHVA still has yet to make a formal announcement about the 2020 edition of their vehicular stickers. This means no registration process yet, no issuance of new stickers too.
That being said, the AHVA did confirm to me however the following:
1) Motorists with valid non-resident vehicular stickers are allowed to enter the village. – Just today, I did exactly this before doing a U-turn to exit the same gate I entered (because the places I tried to visit inside were both closed). It was the Alabang Hills Alabang-Zapote gate specifically.
2) The old AHVA vehicular stickers are still valid at as long as there are still no new stickers (Year 2020) formally announced. – This news I got from the AVHA and from two of their gate security guards should provide some relief to those who were worried about their AHVA stickers expiring this year. Your old stickers are still valid as of now.
So there you have it, my readers and fellow residents of South Metro Manila! If you want to help others who have vested interests in Alabang Hills Village, please share this article to them.
While waiting, you are free to contact AHVA at landlines 8850-8254 and 8850-9631, and email address ahvainc08@yahoo.com.
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation,NO to plagiarists and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments.
Author Carlo Carrasco 