BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Car manufacturing and sales continue to boom in the Philippines, proof that the country is no longer the “Sick Man of Asia,” but rather, “The Rising Tiger.”
The fact that the German company, Porche, has opened a dealership in the Philippines is a testament that there is a lucrative market for luxury cars in the country.
Now, Mercedes Benz has unveiled its latest model, available only in the Philippines — the Jeepney Benz. It is modeled after the military-style passenger vehicles which are the primary mode of mass transportation especially in the urban areas like Metro Manila and Baguio.
The first unit of the newly-assembled fleet of Jeepney Benz hit the road last weekend in Baguio City, summer capital of the Philippines. The launch coincided with one of the largest festivals in the country, the ‘Panagbenga’ or flower blossom festival.
A spokesperson for Mercedes Benz said that by the end of 2016, most, if not all of the aging passenger jeepneys in Baguio will have been replaced by the Jeepney Benz. Mercedes is offering a low-interest loan to jeepney operators to encourage them to trade in their old vehicles for the luxury model.
So, when in Baguio, ride in style. The Mercedes way.
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Secretary Dinky Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has a love-hate relationship with Manila’s homeless population and street children. She is known to have rounded up street families and hauled them to resorts outside Manila during the visit of Pope Francis as well as during the APEC summit.
Soliman now wants to make it up to these families.
National government officials — from the president to the members of the Supreme Court to Cabinet secretaries all have their summer houses and cottages in Baguio City. Most of them spend their Holy Week vacation in Baguio, as a way to unwind and escape Manila’s summer heat.
Well, this year, Soliman is making the ultimate sacrifice. She is offering her Baguio cottage to a dozen homeless families for an all-expense paid vacation to Baguio from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.
Most Filipino Catholics give up eating meat during the season of Lent. Soliman chose to give up her Baguio cottage.
The Adobo Chronicles 
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