Gone drooling!

There was a time in the United States when a store owner or business owner would find the weather either too hot or just too nice to spend all day in the store especially when customers were far and few in between. That was reason enough to pack it up, close shop and put up the sign by the door that goes: “GONE FISHING.”

Today, a large contingent of motoring journalists and car enthusiasts from the Philippines will probably have a sign on the door or their FB account saying they’ve “GONE DROOLING” because that’s what most motoring journalists from the Philippines will experience as they head out to Tokyo, Japan to join the 45th Tokyo Motor Show. In fact nearly all motoring journalists in Metro Manila have been invited by different car, trucks, and parts manufacturer to join the Tokyo Motor Show. This is a never to be missed invitation because it is one of the Top 3 or Top 5 auto shows in the world and takes place only every two years. On this occasion, I will be with a dozen other Motoring Journalists, some of whom are editors, broadcasters or internet based practitioners, all of who have been invited by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC).

As Motoring Journalists if you want to see what future cars will look like in 5 to 10 years chances are you will see the actual models on display at the 45th TMS. When I first saw “electric vehicles” and “hybrids” on display several years ago, I didn’t pay much attention then because I thought they were too far in the future and “electricity” or electric cars would be to complicated for a “Third World Country” like the Philippines. The last ten years has nullified that thought as we now see electric tricycles, electric mini-jeeps, as well as high end electric and hybrid vehicles driving around in Metro Manila and the Philippines. It may not be all there but the fact is the future ten years ago, is now shaping up to be our way of life now.

Aside from drooling at the concept cars, journalists also spend days covering the show because this is where and when many Japanese and western carmakers often launch their never before seen new vehicle models. So if you are a car nut or interested in knowing what the new models look like pay close attention to the various main stream and on-line motoring journalists because the next few weeks will surely be spotlighting or blogging on the coming models.

Aside from the seeing the actual vehicles on display, many journalists get invited to visit manufacturing plants, testing facilities and if you’re really lucky you even get a chance to drive select vehicles in proving grounds or a company owned racing circuit. On this trip, I’m hoping to check out a new model to be launched in the Philippines early next year by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, that features a compact, all purpose vehicle that can be great for “soccer Moms,” new and small businesses that need utility and capacity as well as protection for deliveries, or as a practical first car for starting families or first time car buyers. From what I heard the product has good looks, performance and competitive pricing. After buying a pre-owned Mitsubishi Montero, a smaller, multi-purpose vehicle with a diesel engine may just be one of our answered prayers for 2018.

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You could say that motoring journalists get to have too much fun when you read articles like this, but all the fun stuff get front loaded first because it’s considered impolite or being ungrateful to talk about the realities of covering major events such as the Tokyo Motor Show or the 20 to 30 other motoring events we get invited to in a year. Ask any flight attendant or pilot and they can tell you that after the first year of multiple flights, most airports start looking the same, the hotels become just another room and the more you travel in a year the more you miss your family and feel how everyone is missing out on what could be a family thing.

Even if you are treated as VIPs by companies, there is still quite an expense involved out of pocket as you have to be prepared in terms of attire, comfort clothing and foot wear. It is not uncommon for motoring journalists to buy at least one business suit and one good pair of walking shoes. There is also the connectivity concern and some sign up or rent pocket WIFI’s that costs several thousand for a week.

There are also physical challenges that begin with your days starting at 3:30 am Manila time or similar time zone issues, long distance walks covering huge exhibition halls which is quite a challenge to the more senior editors or journalists suffering from back pains, gout or rheumatism, an entire day on a bus traveling to different factories or venues. I remember one trip to Tokyo where we got stuck in traffic for hours and I ended up doing my pasalubong shopping and eating dinner at a gas station. Believe it or not, weight gain is also a constant challenge if not a curse for motoring journalists as we often operate on “Feast and Famine” mode. Many of the journalists will “pig out” then work late into the night to write or file their story and then go out for another round of meals because “all that hard work sure worked up an appetite.” 

Maybe that’s why everybody keeps coming back. Where else do you get to see the toys for the big boys, see the future and drive cars way before the general public can and still do them the service of telling them what’s headed their way and helping them make informed decisions. And if all that excess weight builds up around the belly or as gout, well, someone’s got to do it.

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