Month: October 2017

Tuk-tuk

The weird models that I mentioned in an earlier blog post were tuk-tuks. I’ve never seen scale models of these before, and the fact that these were priced a little high (around 180 pesos; an ordinary Majorette costs around 110 pesos) implies that there were probably a lower number of them produced (because their quality seems to be similar to that of ordinary models).

The quality is pretty good for the price. The main body (colored red, green, or blue) is made of metal; the rest are made of plastic. The models are made in Thailand and have a scale of 1:47 (which is a problem since most of my models have a scale of around 1:64).

I found models in three different colors; I don’t know if there are models in other colors. At the top of the roof is a sign labeled “TAXI,” the rear of the vehicle has a sign labeled “THAILAND,” the right side has a sign labeled “มจ 1964” (possibly “MC 1964”), and the front has a sign labeled “มจ 1964” plus a few more Thai characters that I couldn’t read.

20th PMO: Instructions for Qualifying Stage (Region 5)

The 20th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad Qualifying Stage will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, October 28, 2017.  It is a written exam consisting of fifteen multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each, ten multiple-choice questions worth 3 points each, and five answers-only questions worth 6 points each.

The Regional Testing Center for Region V is Ateneo de Naga University. The qualifying stage will be held at the first two floors of the Pedro Arrupe, S.J. Hall of the ADNU Bagumbayan Campus (Ateneo Avenue, Bagumbayan Sur, Naga City); registration will be done in the same building.  The participants must be in their assigned examination rooms by 1:00 pm.  The exam starts at 2:00 pm and ends at 5:00 pm (even for those who arrived late).

Participants must be at the venue before 12:00 nn to register.  The registration fee of PhP 150 per participant must be paid before the exam starts. An official receipt will be given for each school (and not for each participant).  Applicants who submitted their application forms through e-mail must submit the original application forms to the registration staff during registration. Participants and coaches must bring identification cards that have ID pictures, preferably those issued by their schools.

Scratch papers will be provided during the exam.  The only materials that the participants are allowed to have on their desks immediately before the examination are:  blue or black ballpoint pen, pencil (required), eraser, ruler, compass, and protractor.  All other items such as notes, books, cellular phones, etc. are not allowed on the participants’ desks, but these may be placed in a designated area in the room.  Calculators are not allowed.

Participants are not allowed to leave the examination room during the exam. (Participants who need to use the bathroom must do so before the exam starts.) Participants who leave the room before the exam has ended are considered to have finished the exam; they must submit their questionnaires and answer sheets to the proctor before they leave and they are not allowed to return to continue the exam.

Certificates of appreciation for each student and each coach and certificates of appearance (only for those who explicitly request it) will be distributed to the coaches or school representatives.

Majorette Transporter

Earlier today, when I arrived at the toy shop I usually visit, I saw lots of new Majorettes. There were a few long models and there were two copies of this car carrier trailer. I immediately got one, then saw some weird models that caught my interest. Another guy (who was probably the same age as I was) was also going through the Majorettes. I showed him the weird models, but he said he wasn’t interested in them. Later I see that he had taken the other car carrier trailer that was being sold. It seems that he was also looking for these.

I have always wanted a car carrier trailer scale model ever since I saw one in a Matchbox catalog when I was a child. I bought my first one last year (with a scale of 1:64), and this is my second one. This is my first Majorette and it is made in Thailand. The windows, the base, the wheels, the ramp, and the top level are made of plastic and the rest are made of metal. The price of around 400 pesos was reasonable. The card says the truck is a MAN TGA XXL, but the text at the bottom of the model states that it is a MAN TGX. The latter also states that the scale is 1:87, the same as my Siku truck with trailer and compact excavator. Unfortunately, most of my scale models have a scale of around 1:64, and I don’t know if any of my cars will fit on the truck. I might open the package in the future to find out. (When I mentioned this to my wife and my daughter, they were a little shocked.)

Tomica Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4door

I bought this Tomica Subaru Impreza WRX STI 4door around one and a half weeks ago at the Toys “R” Us in Robinsons Place Naga. There were two units for sale.

At 500 pesos, it was not that expensive, considering that a typical Tomica costs around 200 to 300 pesos, with premium models costing around 400 pesos. I noted that a previous price tag had been removed, which I took to mean that it was previously being sold for a higher price.

The model had a plastic base and what I assume is a metal body covered in what I assume is chrome paint. I had absolutely no idea how rare the model was, but I finally decided to buy it because of the plain looking box. My previous experience with Tomica models is that the rarer the item, the simpler the box.

After I bought it, I searched the internet for more information about it. I didn’t find much, but unofficial sources say that this model was never meant to be for sale; it was a give-away during special events. A few of these were being sold. One selling for HK$ 125 (around 800 pesos) had been sold, and I think another one selling for around 900 pesos had also been sold. One priced at US$78.80 (around 4000 pesos) is still available.

I passed by the same store this afternoon and the other unit was still unsold.