Category: Auto Guid

At a time when Nairobi’s satellite towns like Ruiru, Utawala, and Ruai are thriving with new apartment blocks and high rental demand, Buruburu, once the pride of Kenya’s middle class, is struggling to attract decent renters.

The estate’s streets still carry traces of the 1970s promise of modern living, but that charm no longer appeals to today’s professionals.

‘Buruburu was designed to serve the emerging middle class in the 1970s,’ says real estate investment analyst Johnson Denge. ‘It comprises five phases built between 1974 and 1984.’

Five decades later, that vision is showing its age. Many of the maisonettes are now 40 to 50 years old, with outdated designs and little renovation.

‘The estate is nearing obsolescence,’ Mr Denge says. ‘Without regeneration, it cannot attract as much rent as newer areas.’

Buruburu’s early appeal lay in its neat rows of maisonettes, gardens, and paved roads. While similar estates such as South C and Kilimani have transformed to accomodate the tastes of today’s middle class, Buruburu has not given in to the pressure, remaining stunted.

‘Areas like Ruiru and Utawala have taken over because they offer modern designs and better planning,’ Mr Denge notes. ‘Tenants looking for value for money prefer those locations.’

The unchecked conversion of homes into commercial spaces has worsened the situation. ‘People are extending their houses to tap into high-density demand, which erodes the estate’s original appeal,’ he says.

Infrastructure has also declined. Poor roads, congestion, and rising insecurity have pushed the middle class elsewhere.

‘Buruburu is now surrounded by lower middle-income estates and suffers from poor infrastructure and social ills. The middle class has options, and Buruburu is no longer one of them,’ says Mr Denge.

He estimates that maisonettes of 100-200 square metres fetch between Sh35,000 and Sh60,000 monthly, rates that have barely changed in years. ‘The rent should be around Sh300 to Sh500 per square metre, depending on condition,’ he says.

The zoning hurdle

One of the biggest barriers to redevelopment is Buruburu’s zoning restrictions, which prohibit high-rise apartments.

‘Unlike South B and South C, where the county government relaxed zoning rules and upgraded sewer systems, Buruburu remains tightly controlled,’ Mr Denge explains. ‘Investors prefer nearby areas where they can build higher and maximise returns.’

Even if zoning were relaxed, expansion options are limited since the estate is fully built up. ‘Buruburu was fully built up, so there is very little room for expansion. To spur development, the county must allow higher densities to attract private investors,’ he suggests.

Property agent Christine Otieno of Urban Realtors says tenants nowadays prioritise convenience and aesthetics, qualities Buruburu struggles to offer.

‘A modern two-bedroom unit in Kamakis or Utawala goes for Sh35,000-Sh45,000, with amenities such as rooftop laundry areas, parking, a gym, and security. In Buruburu, for the same rent, you get an older maisonette that needs renovation,’ she says.

Many tenants, she adds, would rather pay Sh5,000-Sh10,000 more for a modern, secure home. ‘For them, it’s about lifestyle, not just shelter.’

Rental income

Data from several agencies show that while a standard maisonette in Buruburu rents for Sh35,000-Sh60,000, similar units in newer estates like Greenspan, Nasra, or Mihango fetch between Sh45,000 and Sh70,000, and tenants are willing to pay the difference.

Ms Otieno says that middle-class tenants increasingly view Buruburu as ‘an outdated option,’ despite slightly lower prices.

‘When clients compare a fresh apartment in Ruiru with an old Buruburu unit with cracked terrazzo floors and little parking, the choice is obvious,’ says Ms Otieno.

According to Moses Akumu, another property agent, single rooms go for Sh4,000-Sh8,000, bedsitters Sh8,000-Sh12,000, one-bedroom units Sh12,000-Sh18,000, and two-bedroom houses Sh18,000-Sh30,000.

Buruburu’s golden era

In the early years, Buruburu homeowners bought their units through the Housing Finance Corporation (now Housing Finance Group), paying gradually while in occupancy.

Phase One resident Patrick Mwai, who now chairs the Buruburu Phase One Residents’ Welfare Association, recalls buying a house for about Sh44,000, a significant cost then.

‘Salaries were about Sh600-Sh800 for government workers,’ he says.

He fondly remembers the estate’s original setup: ‘We had short wooden fences, shared courts with trees, flower beds, and car parks. It was a planned, green neighbourhood.’

But over time, matatus began using estate roads, and livestock grazed freely. Residents also started building upwards, beyond the original one-storey limit.

‘We have been resisting that, because if you build a house on three floors because they block sunlight and airflow,’ Mr Mwai says.

Estate ranking

A 2023-2024 KNBS real estate report ranks Buruburu in the ‘Nairobi Middle’ category alongside Kasarani, Donholm, Kamulu, Ruai, and Madaraka, the third of four residential tiers.

A two-bedroom bungalow in Buruburu now averages Sh11.2 million, far below the Sh66.3 million average in upper-tier areas. A three-bedroom maisonette costs Sh13.5 million, compared to Sh31.3 million in Kilimani and Sh88 million in Karen.

Kariobangi South MCA Robert Mbatia blames poor roads for further dampening Buruburu’s prospects.

‘Phase One has very dilapidated service roads that have never been repaired since construction,’ he says. ‘They’re now bare and muddy, especially during the rains, one of our biggest challenges.’

African countries must heed to experts’ recent call for stronger collaboration between scientists, policymakers and communities to bridge the gap between research and implementation.

Lamentably, there is limited impact of African research on public health and community wellbeing. That is why the call made by researchers, policymakers and journalists at the recently held, first national science research translation congress, must be taken seriously.

According to African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), about 80 to 83 percent of research resources are wasted because they are not being translated into action.

Even as universities and institutions generate ground breaking research, a significant portion remains underutilised. They do not inform policy, not guiding programmes and do not improve lives as it should.

Research and innovation are indispensable for achieving universal health coverage and national development priorities.

That is why more should be done to produce, translate and apply research. Even more important is the need to measure research impact on people’s health and wellbeing.

From disease surveillance to vaccine introduction, to digital health and health financing models, research provides the evidence required to make informed decisions.

Technology should be used to bring interventions closer to the people. Scientists should use digital tools and artificial intelligence to speed up research translation and regulatory approvals.

As some experts have noted, sheer volume of scientific data regulators must review is major cause for delays in approving life-saving drugs such as heat stable carbetocin-medication used to prevent postpartum haemorrhage-which took years to be approved and registered.

Artificial intelligence can help scan through thousands of pages in minutes. It is important to leverage AI to strengthen healthcare systems. AI tools can improve supply chains, clinical decision-making, disease surveillance, and health information systems.

At the same time, more should be done to build capacity of policymakers on health research utilization. One of the key challenges to research utilisation in health policy is limited capacity of policy makers to demand and to uptake research.

Also, media must be a key ally in transforming research into public good. Scientists are not always the best communicators, but through the media, they can influence healthier behaviors. Collaboration with journalists is vital to ensure scientific information reaches communities in clear and relatable language.

Researchers, policymakers and journalists must work together to make science palatable to the ordinary person.

Equally important, Scientists should leverage digital media platforms such as Instagram, facebook, linkedin, X, YouTube and TikTok to make research more visible and understandable.

Digital branding and strategic communication should not be viewed as publicity but as an essential part of science communication that shapes how policymakers and the public use research evidence.

Scientists should stop speaking among themselves, and engage more with the people who need the solutions.

Partnerships that aim at solving real problems are essential. Scientists, government officials and media professionals must work hand in hand to ensure ground breaking discoveries made in laboratories translate into real-world benefits for communities.

It is not enough for research to exist in silos. It must be accessible, understood and implemented in ways that directly impact public health and wellbeing.

Millions of gamblers will soon be forced to cede a portion of their betting stakes to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and pension in line with legal changes that will make gambling costlier.

The Gambling Control Act 2025 gives the betting regulator powers to develop policies that will include, among other things, a mandatory savings component for SHIF or social retirement benefit for every betting stake.

A mandatory pension contribution or payment to SHIF will make betting costlier given that gamblers also pay 15 percent excise tax and 20 percent withholding tax for each winning bet.

This is likely to increase the pool of SHIF members and ultimately grow contributions to the scheme, on which the State is relying on to provide medical cover for all Kenyans.

According to previous estimates, there are more than 12 million gamblers in the country.

All Kenyans are required to enrol with SHIF and pay their contributions, with formal workers paying at rate of 2.75 percent of their monthly pay, while the same rate applies to households in the informal sector.

However, the Gambling Control Act 2025 does not say what will happen to gamblers who are already contributing to SHIF, either as salaried workers or under the household category.

‘The Authority (Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya) shall develop policies for placing of bets for betting, lotteries and gambling that include a savings component for social health insurance or social retirement benefit,’ the Gambling Control Act 2025 says.

‘The minimum amount set under subsection (1) shall be inclusive of such a saving component for the player as shall be determined by the Authority in consultation with the Cabinet Secretary.’

Impact of levies

The State has progressively increased the 20 percent withholding tax and 15 percent excise tax levied on gambling over the years as part of its efforts to discourage gambling.

Compulsory SHIF or pension deductions from every betting stake will provide the government a windfall, given that punters place bets worth more than Sh150 billion every year.

These mandatory SHIF contributions come at a time when the State health insurer is grappling with a Sh76 billion unpaid bill to both private and public medical facilities.

The government is also keen to encourage a savings culture, especially among those working in the informal sector, as evidenced by the latest push to deduct money from betting stakes.

The newly formed Gambling Regulatory Authority of Kenya, the successor to the Betting Control and Licensing Board, is currently drafting regulations on the mandatory SHIF or pension contributions.

Increased betting levies are intended to reduce the appeal of the craze that has over the years turned into an addiction for millions of Kenyans seeking quick cash to foot bills.

According to a joint report by the Central Bank of Kenya and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 40.4 percent of Kenyans aged between 18 and 45 years are actively betting.

Last year, gamblers spent an average of Sh1,825 on betting a month, with most of them viewing it as a source of income.

The 2024 FinAccess Household Survey also shows that younger, more educated individuals bet more than their rural peers.

Kenya is home to the largest number of youthful gamblers on the continent, at 76 percent, ahead of bigger economies like Nigeria and South Africa.

However, the increased taxes have failed to halt the gambling craze with more betting firms joining the fray to cash in on the billions of shillings that gamblers spend in pursuit of quick returns.

The minimum betting amount is Sh20, but the mandatory SHIF or pension savings mean gamblers must have more money in their betting accounts before placing a bet.

Currently, there are 188 licensed betting firms operating in the 2025/26 financial year, up from 100 three years ago, with the growth defying the steep taxation regime that has forced others to exit the Kenyan market.

Betting firms pay 15 percent tax on their gross gaming revenue, which is remitted to the Kenya Revenue Authority by 1am each day. They also pay a corporate tax of 30 percent on their profits.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has been barred from collecting 16 percent value-added tax (VAT) from firms that link banks, mobile money operators and payment service providers, marking a major win for Kenya’s three main payment switch companies.

In a ruling on October 24, the Tax Appeals Tribunal faulted the KRA’s move to levy VAT on Kenswitch’s services, finding that the firm provides financial rather than ICT services.

The tribunal noted that these financial services are exempt from the consumption tax.

Kenswitch, which interconnects banks’ automated teller machines (ATMs) and point-of-sale (POS) networks, had challenged a tax demand of Sh41.6 million on the portion of interchange fees it received for switching services. The taxman argued that such services were ICT-based and therefore taxable.

However, the tribunal sided with Kenswitch, declaring that the company’s switching role is integral to the financial system and squarely within the VAT exemption.

‘The tribunal is persuaded that KRA erred both in law and in fact in finding that the appellant’s services are taxable under the VAT Act,’ the ruling stated.

‘The appellant’s services clearly fall within the meaning of ‘financial services’ exempt from VAT under Paragraphs 1(b) and 1(m) of Part II of the First Schedule to the VAT Act, 2013.’

It added that the VAT assessment of Sh41,637,843 issued on July 9 and confirmed on October 4, 2024, was ‘erroneous and unlawful’.

Besides Kenswitch, other licensed switch companies include PesaLink (operated by Integrated Payments Services Ltd-IPSL), a subsidiary of the Kenya Bankers Association.

Switchlink Africa, which supports fintechs and payment processors, is the third firm offering payment switch services.

A switch acts as the ‘traffic controller’ of Kenya’s digital payments highway, directing money and data between banks, mobile money operators and card networks.

These firms are licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) under the National Payment System Act 2022, and related regulations.

The KRA had relied on the Banking Act to argue that Kenswitch was not a ‘financial institution’ and that its commissions amounted to software-related income subject to VAT.

It claimed the company used third-party software supplied through Mauritius-based EFT Corporation and global provider ACI Worldwide, and therefore its services were excluded from VAT exemption as ICT.

The tribunal dismissed this reasoning, noting that Kenswitch neither supplies ATMs nor sells software and that its core function is financial intermediation rather than ICT services.

In a card transaction, several parties are involved: the cardholder, the issuing bank, the acquiring (receiving) bank, a merchant and the switch company. The acquiring bank deducts an amount from the money due to the merchant for the transaction, known as a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR).

The acquiring bank pays the balance to the merchant and then apportions the MDR between the card companies, the switch payment service firm and the issuing bank. The money paid to the issuing bank is the interchange fee.

The tribunal faulted KRA for seeking to charge VAT on only one of these parties while leaving the other two unaffected.

The stakes around switching are set to rise as the country moves toward a national switch that will enable customers to move money across any mobile provider or banking institution promptly and at reduced cost.

The CBK has announced plans to develop a ‘single integrated solution with multiple functionalities (national switch).’ While mobile money already allows instant transfers between Kenyan banks and digital wallets, coverage often depends on bilateral agreements, leaving gaps.

As part of its National Payments Strategy, the CBK wants to introduce a financial sector-wide interoperability system to allow users to send and receive money instantly, regardless of the bank or financial institution they use.

Kenya’s payments ecosystem remains fragmented, with mobile money platforms like M-Pesa and Airtel Money operating separately from other financial institutions; for example, some banks and microfinance institutions still do not allow transfers to Airtel Money wallets.

Mobile money continues to dominate Kenya’s payments market. In 2024, mobile money services processed over Sh8.7 trillion, outpacing traditional methods like cheques (Sh2.48 trillion). High-value transfers through the Real-Time Gross Payment System stood at Sh27.86 trillion in the eight months to August.

In what can be described as a commendable departure from an entrenched disposition by its political elite to blame outsiders for the challenges confronting the region, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has unveiled concrete home-grown initiatives designed to address the problems of poverty and underdevelopment in Northern Nigeria. At the end of the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit (NNIIS), convened by the NEF in Abuja from September 29 to 30, the group announced the formation of the Northern Nigeria Economic Development Council (NNEDC) to serve as an institutional framework to implement a new Northern Nigeria Economic Development Master plan.

The NNIIS focused on security, policy coherence and private capital as building blocks of the region’s economic emancipation and transformation, with particular emphasis on mining, agriculture and power. It is well known that Northern Nigeria is immensely endowed to flourish in the mining and agricultural sectors given her vast arable land and bounteous mineral deposits, while power and other critical infrastructure are imperative to unleash the potential of other dormant sectors for the benefit of the people of the North and the country’s economy as a whole.

This initiative by the NEF is far more productive than the recent preoccupation, for instance, by sections of the northern elite with blaming the incumbent President Bola Tinubu administration for allegedly marginalising the region in terms of appointments and budgetary allocations for infrastructure projects. Detailed statistics released by the presidency have since debunked this notion and it is heartwarming that the NEF is charting a more positive cause. It is up to the elite of the North to seize the bull by the horns and assume responsibility for the development of their region; a task that no one else can do for them.

Following the showcasing of investment opportunities by investment promotion agencies, corporate sponsors and deal room/matchmaking sessions, it is significant that pledges worth over $10 billion were made by investors across the mining, agriculture and power sectors. This is surely a foretaste of the tremendous potential of this regional development initiative if its foundational principles and blueprints are meticulously and efficiently implemented.

For one, the scope of participating stakeholders at the summit that produced these developmental initiatives was wide-ranging and comprehensive. They included representatives of the Federal Government, northern state governors, academics, private sector operatives, civil society representatives, financiers and development partners.

The truth is that all hands must be on deck to meaningfully address the conundrums of poverty and underdevelopment that have ravaged and made most parts of the North a hell on earth. However, we believe that representatives of the local government councils, traditional rulers and community leaders as well as security agencies in the region should also have been part of the deliberations.

Equally important is the need to work closely with the newly established North- East, North-West and North-Central Development Commissions to actualise the region’s developmental goals. It is important for the region to cultivate and link up with international development partners to aid in achieving these goals.

A key feature of the summit was the signing by the governors of the region of the Northern Nigeria Economic Development Charter, through which they committed their states to a unified regional economic vision. There is no reason why the state governments should not be more impactful in realising developmental objectives and improving significantly the well-being of their citizens given the humongous resources available to them as a result of the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms.

The implementation of the Northern Nigeria Economic Development Master plan (NNEDM) will be coordinated jointly by the NEF and the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum, which will also supervise the new Northern Nigeria Economic Development Council. It is indicative of the seriousness that went into the deliberations that a Joint Implementation and Monitoring Taskforce (JIMT) has been charged with overseeing transitional actions and publishing an operational roadmap within 60 days.

There is a sense of urgency about the action plans and prescribed mode of operations that suggests a desire to go beyond the talk shops that previous summits represented and transform theory into visible practice this time around. For instance, the NNEDC has been charged with issuing quarterly scorecards to track measurable outcomes such as jobs created, energy capacity added and investments mobilised. We agree with the Director-General of NEF, Professor D.D Sheni, that this event signalled ‘a decisive pivot in Northern Nigeria’s development journey and that ‘With security as the bedrock, policy coherence as the framework, and private capital as the engine, Northern Nigeria can transform its endowments into sustainable growth ‘.

Some of the measures outlined to achieve the sectoral goals of the development initiative include mobilising capital market instruments such as infrastructure funds, sukuk/green bonds, and project bonds to finance generation, transmission, distribution and off-grid/mini-grid solutions in provision of power; institutionalising land administration reforms, including digitised cadaster, clear titling and time-bound consent with community benefit agreements and grievance redress mechanisms to modernise agriculture and launching a Northern Nigeria Capital Mobilisation Programme to leverage Direct Foreign Investments, pension funds, as well as sovereign and diaspora capital, among others.

This initiative to extricate Northern Nigeria from the stranglehold of poverty and underdevelopment acquires added urgency as the socio-economic situation in the region continues to deteriorate with attendant worsening youth unemployment, declining agriculture, a collapsed industrial sector, a dearth of qualitative social services in education and health and gradual descent into existential anarchy.

Some features of the abysmal quality of life in the North include high child mortality with 187, 134 and 97 deaths per 1,000 live births in the Northeast, Northwest and North central, respectively; about 16 million out-of-school children; high rates of malnutrition, with millions of children in particular affected by stunting, wasting and anaemia; high electricity deficit worsened by incessant vandalisation of public power supply infrastructure; over 90 per cent reliance on firewood and charcoal as cooking fuels with deleterious effects on human and environmental health, as well as drastic plummeting of agricultural productivity as a result of sustained insecurity and the consequences of climate change.

Impressive as these proposals for fundamental transformation in the North are, we can only hope that they indeed transcend rhetoric and impact the development of the region positively. Northern Nigeria is too richly endowed to continue to be bogged down by the blight of poverty.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Bauchi State Investment Summit, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, stressed the need for such summits to translate into practical results as the North’s challenges called for homegrown solutions motivated by visionary leadership.

In his words, ‘We come together, deliver fine speeches, and host prominent industrialists – but at the end of it all, what do we achieve?.No one can develop our region better than we can. We must take charge of own destiny ‘. These are words of truth and wisdom.

Fercullen Irish Whiskey has made its debut in Lagos.

Head of Sales, Ryan Stapleton, said: ‘We are delighted to launch Fercullen Irish Whiskey. I am sure people who know good wine will love it. The launch showcases our best of brands.

‘We showcase unique product launches and are excited about this whiskey as the cask was hand-chosen by our ambassadors.’

The event, attended by Elozonam, Uriel, and Denrele, celebrated the brand’s heritage and craftsmanship, with an after-party.

The party introduced four expressions of Fercullen Whiskey: Fercullen Falls, Single Malt, 15-Year and the 21-Year.

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have raided Zhibi, a community neighbouring Dei-Dei town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) but located in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.

Abuja Metro learnt that the attackers abducted a businessman, Muhammad Shuaibu, along with his two daughters – a 200-level university student and her younger sister.

A member of the family told Abuja Metro that the assailants broke into the victim’s home around 12am on Friday through the backyard door after destroying a burglar-proof padlock.

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‘They did the same thing in the room where the wife of the family head was sleeping. She woke up suddenly to see them inside her room, so she quickly ran toward her husband’s room,’ the source recounted.

The source added, ‘They summoned all the family members to the sitting room, threatening to take all of them. But the wife knelt down and kept pleading with them to spare her baby. That made them spare her and the baby.’

According to the source, the attackers seized the mobile phones of the man and his wife and also demanded foodstuffs, which were not available in the house.

He said the police outpost in the area has only a few personnel, and efforts to get a response from the Dei-Dei Division did not yield any result, as, according to him, they always insist that they are under the FCT command, while the area falls within Niger State.

It was further learnt that no communication had been established between the kidnappers and the victims’ relatives as of Monday afternoon when our reporter visited the residence.

The Police Area Commander in Suleja, Muhammad Sani Musa, did not respond to phone calls made by our reporter on Monday.

However, a police source in the area confirmed the attack, adding that efforts were ongoing to track the abductors.

DESPITE the ongoing madness in the local political landscape, the Philippines also got good news one after the other recently.

In a matter of only 24 hours, Jessica Sanchez won America’s Got Talent (AGT), Kirk Bondad was proclaimed Mister International, and Veejay Floresca took home the grand prize in Project Runway US.

Sanchez’s victory was imminent after a stunning, soul-stirring performance of ‘Die with a Smile’ ( a collaboration between Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga) during the final show before Americans started to cast their final votes.

Sanchez is from Chula Vista in San Diego and married to Ricky Gallardo. She recorded a short video upon getting home: ‘I cannot believe what just happened. I was a complete mess onstage emotionally, and I’ve just been doing interviews and stuff, and I still feel the adrenaline and I’m soaking it all in with my husband. I’m just so honored and so grateful to everyone who believed, cheered and voted for me.’

The big dream started 20 years ago when as an 11-year-old hopeful, she joined AGT but didn’t make it very far. In 2012, she almost won American Idol, finishing runner-up to Philip Philips.

In a post victory interview, Sanchez talked about her big dream. ‘That dream started on the AGT stage a long time ago and I think it ignited this fire in me to believe in something bigger. Even though I didn’t make it through that time, and I was devastated as a 10-year-old, I’m so glad to have found that little bit of strength to keep going, and throughout the years it’s really been hard and challenging trying to find myself as a woman and as an artist. But you know, the biggest message is perseverance and just finding that little bit of faith to push though and believe in yourself again. So, here I am, the AGT winner of Season 20, and it’s just so amazing and so crazy,’ she enthused.

Floresca was a surprise winner for Project Runway’s season 21, which has been bashed consistently for many things: choice of designer contestants and judges, constant bickering and drama, boring outputs, and just the overall quality of content in many aspects of the show.

But in the end, after the many plot twists, the US immigrant from the Philippines made history as the first-ever transgender winner of the series, much to the delight of his fans and followers.

Once more, Floresca has proven that not giving up on our dreams is indeed very crucial because it is the reflection of our deepest desires and potentials.

‘If you have thought long and hard about something and it feels right, and it does consistently feels good, then you should not let anyone talk you out of it. Reaching for our dreams require bravery. And bravery is not the absence of fear but the strength to keep moving forward despite every hurdle. The path may seem challenging, even rough, but being brave means embracing all these struggles and continuing, knowing that the reward is always worth the effort you give,’ she told us when she first learned that she made it to season 21 of Project Runway.

Floresca added, ‘Giving up was never an option because it can lead to missed opportunities. I’ve always wanted to be a designer-a good, successful and respected designer. I know Project Runway will open bigger doors and make this dream of mine come true.’ For her feat, Floresca, who competed in the local version of Project Runway in 2008, won a cash pot of $200,000, plus six-month representation by Agentry PR, a mentorship program with the Council of Fashion Designers of America and a spread in Elle magazine.

And then there’s Kirk Bondad, who won Mister International in Thailand a few days ago. Bondad, only the third Mister Philippines to have won the crown after Alexander Aquino in 2001 and Florencio Mata Jr. in 2014, was obviously nervous before he was called out as the winner.

‘Your vision is unique to you and only you, and even if others might not see what you see, it is what you think and and what you feel that matter most. After my devastating loss in Mister World, I knew I cannot give up on my dreams,’ he told us before flying to Thailand earlier this month.

Bondad, who is half German and half Filipino, carries his mom’s surname in all his modelling and pageant activities. His father’s surname is Wachsmuth.

In summation, these victories reaffirm that it takes courage to pursue a dream, especially when others doubt or dismiss it. Just always follow your inner voice, keep your heart and intentions real and pure, and your mind undistracted. It is always okay to reset, restart and refocus, but never give up on your dreams.

Indeed, the big wins of Jessica Sanchez, Kirk Bondad and Veejay Floresca only confirm that big dreams, when pursued with courage, mindset, determination and hard work, have no deadlines.

MOST visual artists treat solo exhibitions as platforms to showcase something new, something fresh. Then there’s acclaimed abstractionist Katrina Cuenca, who, in her latest one-artist presentation, made no bones about maintaining the status quo.

‘As with all of my work, it’s the same principle,’ she said about the theme of her most recent exhibit at Art Lounge Manila-Alabang, underscoring instead the consistent sense of optimism that radiates from her colorful, kinetic artworks. ‘The intention is always for the viewers to feel some semblance of peace and happiness-a sense of calm.’

In no way does Cuenca’s statement suggest a lack of vision. If anything, it feels more like a refreshing approach, one that challenges the notion that novelty serves as the lone currency of an artist’s creativity. While Cuenca’s own practice has evolved into other mediums, she chooses to ground her artworks on the principle it’s best known for, communicating the same message she still finds fulfilment in spreading.

As always, positivity shone bright in her latest show, Elysium. Around 30 artworks comprised of paintings and her newer ventures into sculpture filled Art Lounge’s high-ceiling exhibition space at Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang from September 17 to 29.

During the artist’s reception over the weekend, the self-taught Cuenca shared that she tries to keep true to her practice’s identity no matter what. The exhibit’s featured series, for instance, was created during a ‘dark period’ following her mother’s passing. And yet, her artworks still hold form as vintage Cuenca with its twisting forms and entrancing palette, reminiscent of a betta fish dancing underwater. It’s a disarming sight, eliciting from the viewer a sense of surrender, as if saying let go and let be.

‘That’s how I wanted to feel [during that challenging period,]’ she said, ‘and I think people can relate to that, as well.’

The message pervades Cuenca’s Elysium. In the sizeable 44′ x 77′ painting Regal Atmospheres, we see her signature forms bursting from a void, its motion and drama heightened with a strategic framing made of silverleaf. Cuenca also uses goldleaf in other artworks, pointing to how as a self-confessed ‘Discovery Channel nerd,’ the idea that people are attracted to shiny objects like gold always stuck with her. She remembers that it’s also described as a ‘happy color,’ that interacting with it releases happy hormones.

‘It’s a sort of lucky charm,’ she said. ‘It’s like whoever is the custodian of my work, I’m giving that person luck.’

The same goes for Cuenca’s auspicious Talisman series, which features golden diamond backgrounds that accentuate her dynamic figures. Meanwhile, the exhibit also presented Cuenca’s more recent forays into glass sculptures, including the cerulean Fractus Caeli, which appears like an elemental block taken straight out of the ocean, frozen in time.

Cuenca’s experimentation with different materials and explorations into other mediums demonstrates her natural inquisitiveness. ‘As an abstract artist,’ she said, ‘it’s my job to keep experimenting.’

She’s also excited to test the artistic potential of various items, just like dichroic films, stretched beyond its industrial applications. Even the way she paints puts limits to the test. Her process involves her placing the canvas upside-down and in other different positions just to see how her forms dance at every angle.

What remains constant amid all the changes, however, is the positive, inspiring and enriching energy of her artwork.

Cuenca said, ‘I think that’s where I found my purpose.’

MOST visual artists treat solo exhibitions as platforms to showcase something new, something fresh. Then there’s acclaimed abstractionist Katrina Cuenca, who, in her latest one-artist presentation, made no bones about maintaining the status quo.

‘As with all of my work, it’s the same principle,’ she said about the theme of her most recent exhibit at Art Lounge Manila-Alabang, underscoring instead the consistent sense of optimism that radiates from her colorful, kinetic artworks. ‘The intention is always for the viewers to feel some semblance of peace and happiness-a sense of calm.’

In no way does Cuenca’s statement suggest a lack of vision. If anything, it feels more like a refreshing approach, one that challenges the notion that novelty serves as the lone currency of an artist’s creativity. While Cuenca’s own practice has evolved into other mediums, she chooses to ground her artworks on the principle it’s best known for, communicating the same message she still finds fulfilment in spreading.

As always, positivity shone bright in her latest show, Elysium. Around 30 artworks comprised of paintings and her newer ventures into sculpture filled Art Lounge’s high-ceiling exhibition space at Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang from September 17 to 29.

During the artist’s reception over the weekend, the self-taught Cuenca shared that she tries to keep true to her practice’s identity no matter what. The exhibit’s featured series, for instance, was created during a ‘dark period’ following her mother’s passing. And yet, her artworks still hold form as vintage Cuenca with its twisting forms and entrancing palette, reminiscent of a betta fish dancing underwater. It’s a disarming sight, eliciting from the viewer a sense of surrender, as if saying let go and let be.

‘That’s how I wanted to feel [during that challenging period,]’ she said, ‘and I think people can relate to that, as well.’

The message pervades Cuenca’s Elysium. In the sizeable 44′ x 77′ painting Regal Atmospheres, we see her signature forms bursting from a void, its motion and drama heightened with a strategic framing made of silverleaf. Cuenca also uses goldleaf in other artworks, pointing to how as a self-confessed ‘Discovery Channel nerd,’ the idea that people are attracted to shiny objects like gold always stuck with her. She remembers that it’s also described as a ‘happy color,’ that interacting with it releases happy hormones.

‘It’s a sort of lucky charm,’ she said. ‘It’s like whoever is the custodian of my work, I’m giving that person luck.’

The same goes for Cuenca’s auspicious Talisman series, which features golden diamond backgrounds that accentuate her dynamic figures. Meanwhile, the exhibit also presented Cuenca’s more recent forays into glass sculptures, including the cerulean Fractus Caeli, which appears like an elemental block taken straight out of the ocean, frozen in time.

Cuenca’s experimentation with different materials and explorations into other mediums demonstrates her natural inquisitiveness. ‘As an abstract artist,’ she said, ‘it’s my job to keep experimenting.’

She’s also excited to test the artistic potential of various items, just like dichroic films, stretched beyond its industrial applications. Even the way she paints puts limits to the test. Her process involves her placing the canvas upside-down and in other different positions just to see how her forms dance at every angle.

What remains constant amid all the changes, however, is the positive, inspiring and enriching energy of her artwork.

Cuenca said, ‘I think that’s where I found my purpose.’