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Defining ‘tough’ with Suzuki’s Grand Vitara

Zest Magazine takes a closer look at Suzuki’s Grand Vitara 2.4L A/T.

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And to think I already thought Suzuki’s Jimny was (somewhat) rugged (in a nice kind of way). But then came along the Grand Vitara, a somewhat mean-looking/performing vehicle, and, well… I’ll have to do some reconsidering.








On the outside, the car actually looks… Spartan (if not – to be very blunt – common).

Yes, I’d say that just as expected from Suzuki, this one is also not boxy, and its curves give it a sporty appearance. This is “helped” by the car’s 188mm ground clearance (thank you 17-inch alloy wheels!) that give one that (driver’s) feeling of being an overlord (i.e. that “I’m taller than you all!” feeling). But there’s nothing… memorable on the outside of the Grand Vitara for me, even if it has an extra pair of fog lamps, third break light, silver accents to the car’s side and up top for the roof rails, signal repeaters installed on the side mirrors, and (at the rear) a coy pair of tail lights on the opposite sides of the 5th door (where the cover for the spare tire and door handle have the same shade as the body).

Some say it’s “minimalist”; and that it’s not “calling attention to itself” (unlike, say, Jeep’s Wrangler, or even Suzuki’s Swift). I’d still say… “usual”.

It is in the inside where, for me, the Grand Vitara starts to become somewhat more… ostentatious.








The seats are fabric upholstered; but unlike, say, Ertiga, this one (from the get go) seems to say it’s okay being messed with, with its dark-colored everything (dark seats, and black leather with pale trimmings on the doors). Akin to Ciaz, the stereo controls are embedded on the tilting/telescoping steering wheel. The (I have to say somewhat big, particularly when you first see it) dashboard is segmented into three “parts” to show the tachometer, speedometer and fuel/temperature gauges. There are also stats for real-time fuel mileage, average fuel consumption, and distance showing an estimate of how many kms the car can still cover before you run out of juice. There’s a touchscreen Android-run player (again, similar to Ciaz), connectivity ports stuffed inside the glove compartment (these don’t work, though, if that radio’s turned off), and dual 12V sockets.

The legroom was great for both front and back; but the headroom’s not that great at the back (surprising considering the car IS big inside).

The fifth door at the back reveals the luggage space. This isn’t big; but it suffices…

BTW, from the driver’s seat, I have one “issue”. The overall feel of the car is “sturdy”, with everything seemingly constructed firmly/thickly. This is – generally speaking – A-OK for me; but while driving, this “thickness” was also troublesome for me as it had that tendency to cover up my line of vision, particularly as far as approaching vehicles at my left are concerned…






Performance-wise, the Grand Vitara more than sufficed for me, thanks I should say to its 2.4-liter engine (the 16-valve DOHC engine also comes with variable valve timing or VVT).

For instance, I drove the car to:

  1. Cape Santiago in Batangas, where – while heading there – one wrong turn means needing to brave rocky roads. Though the car felt “big”, it fit even tight spots (e.g. that “bridge” from the main road going to Cape Santiago’s lighthouse). It was also able to tackle unpaved roads there…
  2. Lake Pandin in San Pablo, Laguna, a somewhat new tourist attraction that doesn’t have the best roads (yet). Similar to the Cape Santiago experience, the Grand Vitara survived the trip.
  3. Lucena City from Tagaytay via Talisay-Tanauan Road. If you’re familiar with this route, you’d know that driving here means braving very STEEP and very NARROW roads. Grand Vitara didn’t choke (not even once) climbing or going downhill…
  4. Luisiana, Laguna (to buy the famed bibingka), where the car was able to survive numerous turns, twists and bumps.

There are two issues I encountered re Grand Vitara that are worth mentioning.

On the one hand, it’s a bit of greedy with fuel consumption (in my experience, just 325kms from full tank to nil), averaging around 8km/L fuel consumption (for combined city and out-of-town driving).

On the other hand, while the Grand Vitara had no issues accelerating (even when climbing steep slopes), it did have issues with turning corners. If you’re familiar with the way many roads are expanded in smaller towns/provinces, you’d know that some of these expansions are done STUPIDLY – i.e. the roads are widened, but the electric poles, giant trees, et cetera are retained right in the middle of the expanded parts. When in these roads, therefore, overtaking may mean hitting a pole in the middle of the road. And with the Grand Vitara’s issue re cornering, this (for me) proved challenging…

All in all, for those looking for a “sturdy” car sans any of the dramas (e.g. “sexy”, “butch”, and so on), then the Grand Vitara is definitely worth considering. This one can make one confident while being on the road…

The Suzuki Grand Vitara comes in: Superior White, Silky Silver Metallic, Quasar Grey Metallic, Bluish Black Pearl and Bison Brown Pearl Metallic. It is available in two variants: Grand Vitara 2.4L – A/T, which sells for P1,160,000; and Special Edition 2.4L – A/T, which sells for P1,210,000.








M.D. dela Cruz Tan is the founder of Zest Magazine. And no, the initials (i.e. M.D.) do not make him a "medical doctor" (as many have erroneously thought in the past); he is actually a graduate of Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) of the University of Newcastle in New South Wales Australia (just don't ask when, he says), and Master of Development Communication from the University of the Philippines-Open University. He can: photograph, do artworks with mixed media, write (of course), shoot flicks, community-organize, facilitate, lecture, research (with pioneering studies under his belt)... this one's a multi-tasker, who is even conversant in Filipino Sign Language. Cross his path is the dare (read: It won't be boring).

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Sun Life appoints Bianca Ilibasic as Managing Director, Sun Life Global Solutions

She will lead SLGS across India and the Philippines, providing strategic direction to multi-functional teams spanning Technology, Operations, Analytics, Actuarial, HR, Finance, and Risk & Compliance.

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Sun Life has appointed Bianca Ilibasic as the Managing Director for its global capability centre, Sun Life Global Solutions (SLGS). She previously served as Vice President & Chief Operations Officer, Sun Life Asia.

In her new role, Bianca will lead SLGS across India and the Philippines, providing strategic direction to multi-functional teams spanning Technology, Operations, Analytics, Actuarial, HR, Finance, and Risk & Compliance. Her mandate is to further scale SLGS as a high-impact, enterprise capability supporting Sun Life across 28 markets.

During her time in Asia, Bianca advanced straight-through processing, accelerated digital adoption, and shaped a forward-looking AI roadmap to drive business growth — strengthening shared platforms and enabling scalable outcomes.

Commenting on the appointment, Laura Money, EVP and Chief Information and Technology Innovation Officer, Sun Life, said, “Over the past four years, Bianca has been a driving force behind operational excellence and digital transformation, leading with clarity, courage, and a deep commitment to our Purpose. Advancing our AI roadmap and scaling impact across common platforms, Bianca has been consistently delivering results while building strong, empowered teams. She is a visionary, insights driven leader who brings energy, heart, and ambition to everything she does, and I could not be more thrilled to see her step into this role.”

Reflecting on the opportunity, Bianca added: “I am excited to begin this new chapter. Sun Life Global Solutions is more than a capability centre — excellence, innovation, and dedication are consistently demonstrated via brilliant, passionate teams across India and the Philippines who support our Purpose and our Clients every single day. What excites me most is the opportunity to build on our foundation and deepen partnerships, accelerate transformation, and relentlessly focus on outcomes that truly matter to our Clients.”

Bianca’s appointment marks a defining moment for SLGS, strengthening its role as both a strategic engine for enterprise value and a platform where empowered teams can shape what’s next for Sun Life. We look forward to everything Bianca and the SLGS team will achieve together.

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Manulife continues legacy of service in PH with Impact Week 2026

All five Manulife organizations in the Philippines—Manulife Philippines, Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation (MCBL), Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corporation (MIMTC), Manulife Business Processing Services (MBPS), and Manulife IT Delivery Center (MITDC)—held activities that advanced environmental, educational, and social causes.

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Manulife hosted its inaugural Impact Week, a global volunteer initiative designed to strengthen well-being, build social connection and unite teams through purpose-driven community action.

All five Manulife organizations in the Philippines—Manulife Philippines, Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation (MCBL), Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corporation (MIMTC), Manulife Business Processing Services (MBPS), and Manulife IT Delivery Center (MITDC)—held activities that advanced environmental, educational, and social causes.

“Manulife’s Longevity ambition is about helping people live longer, healthier, and more financially secure lives—and we believe that starts with strong, resilient communities,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines. “Impact Week brings this to life by mobilizing colleagues across our Philippine entities to volunteer at scale, working side by side with our community partners and reinforcing the shared purpose that strengthens long-term well-being. Through these collective actions, we are creating immediate impact and helping build a more sustainable and inclusive future for the communities we serve.”

Results and Highlights from Impact Week 2026

During Impact Week, more than 1,200 colleagues participated in volunteering activities, logging more than 4,700 volunteering hours. 

Beyond the numbers, Impact Week strengthened connection across teams, bringing colleagues together around shared purpose and reinforcing a culture of inclusion.

  • Ongoing tripartite impact: As part of a tripartite collaboration with the Corazon Sanchez Atayde Memorial Foundation (CSAMF) and Haribon Foundation—combining Manulife’s community investment commitments, CSAMF’s financial literacy program, and Haribon’s biodiversity and environmental work—Manulife Philippines, Manulife China Bank Life (MCBL), and Manulife Investment Management and Trust Corporation (MIMTC) led the on-ground activities in Infanta, Quezon Province.
  • Supporting financial resilience through Peso Smart: Volunteers supported Peso Smart Pinoy (PSP) through challenge-based activities in Brgy. Alitas, Infanta, culminating in a graduation ceremony recognizing PSP participants and their progress toward greater financial confidence. Peso Smart is a financial literacy program that has reached more than 4,000 learners across 18 schools nationwide since 2017,
  • Contributing to a healthier planet: Volunteers, together with Haribon Foundation and the Alitas Farmers Folks Association (AFFA), planted 2,500 mangrove seedlings, advancing the Ridge-to-Reef Reforestation Initiative and adding to Manulife and Haribon’s total of more than 31,000 trees planted since 2023.
  • Prioritizing health and well-being: Volunteers partnered with Rise Against Hunger Philippines and Waves for Water Philippines to support food security and water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives. Together, they packed 17,700+ rice meals, rescued 1,200+ kg of surplus food, distributed 500 hot meals, produced 3,300 mushroom bags for livelihoods, assembled 150 water filtration kits, and developed 100+ concepts for food bank and mobile kitchen initiatives.
  • Supporting community education: MITDC delivered its Code4Future program to 28 young learners from St. Martin de Porres Kid’s Home—using coding and creativity to build problem-solving skills and digital confidence.

Extending Impact Together

In addition to the company organized activities, individual colleague teams across the Manulife organizations were supported in leading their own volunteer initiatives with local non-profit partners. For each eligible team-led initiative, Manulife provided a $1,000 donation to the partner organization, extending the reach of Impact Week.

“The most meaningful work is often personal. At Manulife, volunteerism grows when people are trusted to lead on the causes they care about,” said Ardhi Siregar, Chief People Officer, Manulife Philippines. “That’s why we empowered our teams to identify a community impact need, choose a local non-profit partner to collaborate with, and lead the effort themselves—with team grants helping extend that impact through added support where it matters most. That sense of ownership and purpose is what fuels deeper engagement and inspires our colleagues to drive impact that endures.”

With more than 13,000 volunteering hours logged across all Philippine entities in 2025, Impact Week 2026 reflects Manulife’s growing culture of service in the communities where it operates and stands to make a difference.

Volunteering: A Longevity Driver Impact Week aligns closely with the work of the Manulife Longevity Institute, a global research, thought leadership, innovation, advocacy, and community investment platform that will help people thrive at every age. The Institute’s work will support Manulife’s Impact Agenda strategy as our always-on commitment to drive better outcomes for our customers, our communities, and the world we share. We believe collective action can accelerate change and, by collaborating with like-minded partners, we can make a meaningful impact.

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Manulife launches GoalReady health solutions

GoalReady for Health combines investment-linked savings with critical illness and life protection—helping customers build their funds while protecting their goals if a serious illness strikes.

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Manulife Philippines and Manulife China Bank Life (MCBL) today announced the launch of Manulife GoalReady for Health, an investment-linked savings plan with comprehensive critical illness and life insurance coverage.

GoalReady for Health combines investment-linked savings with critical illness and life protection—helping customers build their funds while protecting their goals if a serious illness strikes. Designed for Filipinos who want to stay on track with their long-term goals, it helps manage the potential financial disruption caused by health setbacks.

As more Filipinos plan for longer lives, staying on track with their life goals increasingly means being prepared for rising healthcare costs, prolonged illness, and the financial strain health setbacks can place on families. The plan addresses the growing gap in financial preparedness for health emergencies among Filipinos. The recent Manulife Asia Care Study revealed that about four in five Filipinos believe their financial wellbeing has great impact on their health span (both physical and mental) and lifespan.

The financial stakes are steep: A study on the economic impact of cancer in the Philippines found that Filipino patients spend an average of ₱181,789 out-of-pocket within the first year of diagnosis, highlighting the significant financial burden of treatment. Yet Filipinos remain financially underprepared for these possibilities. According to latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Filipinos’ household out-of-pocket for medical expenses stood at 42.7%, while a recent Manulife study found that 33% of Filipinos feel they have insufficient insurance coverage.

GoalReady for Health enables customers to build a dedicated pool of savings for future health needs through professionally managed, investment-linked fund options designed to support long-term goals. At the same time, it provides built-in critical illness protection, helping customers stay on track with their plans even when a serious health event occurs.

“Many Filipinos work hard to build toward their goals, but a serious illness can quickly turn years of progress into an unexpected financial burden. Manulife GoalReady for Health brings together critical illness protection and investment-linked savings for future health needs, helping customers stay financially prepared while protecting what they’ve worked hard to build,” said Rahul Hora, President and Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Philippines.

“With Manulife GoalReady for Health, we want Filipinos to move forward with confidence, knowing that a health shock need not become a financial setback—so they can focus on recovery while keeping their savings and life goals on track, and live better for longer,” Hora added.

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