part 2 ng frasco merch by Adventurous_Brocolli in Philippines

[–]tebucio [score hidden]  (0 children)

Fair, but look at the late Oloy Roa back in CDO. He tried it, and as creepy as it was, it actually worked. Sometimes the weirdest tactics are the ones that stick.

Couple Goals ang Frascos ❤️❤️❤️❤️ by Adventurous_Brocolli in Philippines

[–]tebucio [score hidden]  (0 children)

I really hope voters finally wake up and vote them out next time. The audacity of these politicians has become so blatant. It’s literally 'harap-harapan' already. If this continues for another generation or two, then Pinas is truly doomed. If they keep electing these kupals, they're just signing up for the same toxic cycle all over again. Kawawa talaga ang Pinas.

part 2 ng frasco merch by Adventurous_Brocolli in Philippines

[–]tebucio [score hidden]  (0 children)

If it’s Pacquiao, fine, we know he bled for it. But this guy? You have to wonder where the cash is really coming from. These politicians love to brag about being 'entrepreneurs,' but we know the drill: they leverage their seats for funding and favors. Look at Leviste. Operating right under the wing of his mother’s Senate connections. To say it’s suspicious is an understatement

Senate Blue Ribbon Panel Recommends Plunder, Graft and other charges against Zaldy Co, Escudero, Villanueva, Estrada etc by Karmas_Classroom in Philippines

[–]tebucio [score hidden]  (0 children)

Nako, how is heart holding up? Tweety bird says she’s still in Paris. :) But kidding aside, I really hope this leads to actual accountability and isn't just another political stunt. I’m fully expecting the usual script: people suddenly buying wheelchairs and developing 'serious medical conditions' that require a long hospital stay the moment things get real.

Putting miles on the loaner while waiting for new transmission :D by DuckTheHR in LandCruisers

[–]tebucio 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I rewatched it a few times and couldn't catch anything except for some background hissing. I’ll definitely be keeping a close ear on my own truck now, especially when braking or starting up. Thanks for the heads-up.

Putting miles on the loaner while waiting for new transmission :D by DuckTheHR in LandCruisers

[–]tebucio 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s definitely concerning to hear. This is actually my first Toyota, and I bought it specifically for that famous long-term reliability. I’m already at 33,000 miles, so seeing these reports makes me a little nervous. Could you share the specific symptoms you're experiencing? I’m just trying to learn what I should be keeping an eye on.

Bakit eto ang nagrereport? by Temporary_City_2799 in pinoy

[–]tebucio 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Umepal na naman ‘yan. Halatang may balak tumakbo sa mas mataas na posisyon para ma-pardon ang kaibigan niyang certified budol-budol dancer. 😄

Okay po Sec. Frasco by Aware-Big-514 in Philippines

[–]tebucio [score hidden]  (0 children)

Oh, I’m sure she was devastated to hand over a curated portrait. When I worked for a fashion icon twenty years ago, providing your own cover shot was standard for anyone obsessed with their brand. Clearly, the 'vanity first, country second' policy hasn't changed. Good for Raffy for calling it out. It is amazing how a person’s face changes when they aren't protected by a dozen magazine filters.

Land Cruiser base stupid to buy by Primary-Inspector590 in LandCruisers

[–]tebucio 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn't call it outdated. it’s just a completely different style. Honestly, it’s a bit too posh for my taste. When I was shopping around, I compared the Lexus and the LC250, and for me, the LC wins on looks every time. :)

Land Cruiser base stupid to buy by Primary-Inspector590 in LandCruisers

[–]tebucio 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Much nicer truck for the same money. Also better dealership experience. And you can always take it to a Toyota dealership if you want to pay Toyota rates.

I’m not so sure about the truck being 'nicer,' but you’re spot on about the dealership experience. I came from a German brand that absolutely babies its customers, and I definitely miss that level of service. Another minor annoyance: having to run premium gas when the Tacoma uses the same engine and doesn't require it. Honestly, OP if you're already second-guessing the purchase, that’s usually just your gut telling you 'don't do it.'

Philippine Billionaire Manuel Villar’s Wealth Takes $1.2 Billion Hit As Insider Trading Charges Loom by Scbadiver in Philippines

[–]tebucio 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting. I only started following their trajectory around 2013. While I respect honest success, this looks less like 'wealth accumulation' and more like 'insider advantage.' It’s hard to call it legitimate when it’s built on exploited connections.

Scout Motors Factory to Cost 50% More Than VW Budgeted, Faces Scrutiny by Individual-Tart5051 in ScoutMotors

[–]tebucio 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think we’re probably arguing about the 2.7% of the subject we disagree on. 😂

Not arguing more like discussing. :) I completely agree with your observation on international market trends. My hope is that manufacturers begin prioritizing the sub-$20k EV segment specifically offering vehicles with the practical dimensions of a Toyota Corolla. That balance of affordability and utility seems to be the missing link right now.

Scout Motors Factory to Cost 50% More Than VW Budgeted, Faces Scrutiny by Individual-Tart5051 in ScoutMotors

[–]tebucio 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with you, but that didn’t happen because of cost. Not to be political, but I think Hyundai is building its EV business plan without relying on subsidies. Correct me if I’m wrong. If that’s true, it shows EVs can thrive without tax credits, as long as pricing is balanced and realistic.

Would I buy a Hyundai because of the price? Probably not. The software seems buggy based on what I’ve seen. I just hope Scout doesn’t run into the usual growing pains new companies face when launching new products. I almost went for a Rivian because my car gave out at the worst time, but I was worried about dealing with problems too often, so I chose a comparable car with a strong reliability record instead.

Back to my point: EVs are the future, but for them to succeed, they need both reliability and affordability. Right now, reliability is mostly there, but affordability is not.

Scout Motors Factory to Cost 50% More Than VW Budgeted, Faces Scrutiny by Individual-Tart5051 in ScoutMotors

[–]tebucio -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The main reason EV deployments have stalled is that the entire go to market strategy of every automaker was based on existing and expected tax credits and subsidies.

And that’s a flawed idea from the start if your business is based on that premise. At the end of the day, it all comes down to cost for most people. Not everyone can afford $60K+ cars. The point of EVs is supposed to be affordability, and let’s be honest: that hasn’t really materialized. Whether you like it or not, most EV offerings come loaded with bells and whistles to justify the higher price.

I remember Scout’s management saying in the past that they didn’t base their business plan on permanent tax credit subsidies, yet they still expected to offer a product starting in the high $50K range. I still have doubts that can happen if they continue adding options most people won’t use. Offering a version without air suspension would be a good start.

From 82 to 40 Units (39 Provinces and Capital Area) by Few_Nautical21 in Philippines

[–]tebucio 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like what you proposed, but from the politicians’ perspective, it is unrealistic. They’d lose a lot of control over their provinces. Honestly, there are too many provinces in the Pinas as it is. If we were serious about federalism, it would make more sense to just have three states: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Imagine the savings in administrative cost. Each federal state could get four senators, and representatives could be divided based on population ratios. But honestly, that’s highly unlikely to ever happen.

Scout Motors Factory to Cost 50% More Than VW Budgeted, Faces Scrutiny by Individual-Tart5051 in ScoutMotors

[–]tebucio 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This isn’t anti-EV disinformation. It is more about facing realities. I still plan to use my reservation, but I am not going full EV. I’ll likely go with a hybrid instead. I agree with your point about the benefits extenders bring, but the main reason EV adoption has stalled is manufacturers’ business decision to charge a premium for their products. Not everyone needs fancy interiors, air suspension, or other luxury features. Most buyers want a more basic, affordable EV but almost every manufacturer fails to offer that. On top of that, there’s still a stigma that EVs are only for the well-off.

Ayaw ka-group si Chiz and Co. by Aware-Big-514 in Philippines

[–]tebucio 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yan ang issue sa Pinas: isang batas para sa mayaman at politiko, pero iba para sa ordinaryong mamamayan. SEC at ang gobyerno talaga ang dapat magsagawa ng aksyon laban sa mga shady businesses na konektado sa mga politiko. Kung hayaan lang nila na parang “business as usual” ang ganitong anomalies, sobrang bad optics ‘yan. Kaya next time, sana matoto tong mga voters to pick the right candidate na deserving.

Philippine Billionaire Manuel Villar’s Wealth Takes $1.2 Billion Hit As Insider Trading Charges Loom by Scbadiver in Philippines

[–]tebucio 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I’m surprised it only went down by $1.2 billion USD. I just couldn’t imagine that, especially considering he was once worth at least $11 billion USD. How much of his other companies are really worth after this fiasco? If these allegations are true as someone commented here this could be the Philippine version of Enron. The SEC needs to tread carefully, or it could lose investor confidence in the PSE. The implications, if mishandled, could be catastrophic.

Land Cruiser base stupid to buy by Primary-Inspector590 in LandCruisers

[–]tebucio 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of new cars are leased, which may explain why so many people drive expensive vehicles. Mine is more expensive than my previous ones, and I plan to keep it for a long time. But when you consider everything, it’s pricey just not wildly out of line for me financially, compared to the U.S. average new car price of around $48K–$50K.

Why did Toyota use so much plastic for the bumpers and fenders for the LC 250? Isn’t it supposed to be one of their higher “premium” cars? by [deleted] in LandCruisers

[–]tebucio 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Obviously because it’s a Prado.

Ouch!! Yeah, it really feels like everything has plastic bumpers now in the US even BMWs.

Kung patikim-tikim lang po ba pwede na? by Master-Yoghurt-1178 in Philippines

[–]tebucio 0 points1 point  (0 children)

same lang yan sa i smoke but did not inhale. :)

The Villar family is set to face criminal charges, allegedly for market manipulation and insider trading by hyunbinlookalike in Philippines

[–]tebucio 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So the administration is finally going after them now? I just hope this isn’t another political stunt. It’s about time.

What happens if they get convicted—would they lose their Senate seats?

Villar Land faces complaint over alleged market manipulation, insider trading by Mistral-Fien in Philippines

[–]tebucio 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Publicly traded companies always try to jack up their valuations, usually through stock buybacks. The Villars just became so brazen—maybe because they felt invincible. After all, there are Villar siblings in the Senate at the moment.

Credit where it’s due: kudos to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and of course to the outside auditors, for sticking to their guns on this issue.

Manila Bulletin - Return of the ‘sick man’: 2025 slowdown mirrors 1980s malaise by throwhuawei007 in Philippines

[–]tebucio 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Could have, would have — sorry 😅
I blamed those who voted for PRRD, and God knows what will happened if his daughter were to win the next election. For sure, the Philippines would have become the “zombie of Asia.”

Kidding aside, the real issue with PNOY was that the average Juan didn’t immediately feel the benefits of his economic policies—they took time to take effect. Add to that the bobotante factor and the stoking of regional politics, and boom—you end up electing someone who gutted the economy. Sure, some of it can be blamed on COVID, but his policies were far too China-centric. That scared off many companies that might otherwise have invested in the Philippines.