Come hell or high water

There wasn’t much to expect as we were preparing a few days before the “media launch” of this year’s Auto Focus People’s / Media’s Choice Awards scheduled last Friday. Having another industry event where the same people from the motoring media were invited would surely split the pie.

My long-time friend, Cats Motors president, Felix Ang was having the launch of a remarkable model of the Mercedes-Benz right smack on our scheduled event with a promise right after of a long night of booze and food at the Republiq of the Resorts World. Nothing to cry about as Felix’s boys didn’t know about our launch as it was exclusive to the media and there was no advice to the industry about the event.

For a double whammy, rain poured like nobody’s business late Friday afternoon. So when I reached the venue expecting a lean crowd I decided to lessen the number of tables so as not to highlight such—“para hindi kakalug-kalog.

Both event’s attendance were surely affected by the pouring rain as I was receiving text messages of people regretfully apologizing for already being late or probably not being able to make it on account of the horrendous traffic. However, midway in the program, which I deliberately started late to give time to those who were still lined up in the streets under pouring rain, I noticed the very efficient waiters of Valle Verde Country Club’s Sports Den busily adding tables and chairs in whatever space they could squeeze them in to accommodate the late comers. What I thought to be “kakalug-kalog” turned out to be a full house—I didn’t realize I had so many friends.

The media launch turned out to be well-attended and we were able to communicate to our journalist-friends the little changes and fine-tuning in the rules for this year’s public polls to determine the country’s most preferred models in each category and the most popular vehicle, the Automobile of the Year—People’s Choice for 2013-2014. Likewise the same changes would be applied to what’s rapidly increasing in stature since it was started in 2008—the Auto Focus Media’s Choice Awards. To distinguish, the People’s Choice Awards are based on popularity while the choice of the media is based on the automobile models’ actual performance and discernable quality in terms of; engine performance, safety features, on-board entertainment and info set up, value for money and design—attributes that the motoring journalists are well aware of and akin to after countless model launches and extensive test drives.

One of the most significant tweaks in the rules was the assignment of automobile models to their rightful categories. There were issues raised by some well-meaning journalists wherein in past years some models have been placed in size categories where they do not visibly belong, like mid size models categorized as large or vice versa. To achieve this we got together motoring editors and writers and made them start with a clean slate to put each model where their extensive knowledge of automobiles dictates they should rightfully belong.    

The exercise was well-planned so as not to have decisions made based on what’s noisily argued. I rejected the viva voche way of voting for every model in question but instead insisted on secret balloting where the majority wins and as chairman of the proceedings, I break the tie after further deliberations.

Another significant change was to give those who have aspirations about what automobiles they would rather have but couldn’t afford or could have already bought another vehicle model a chance to vote for their favorites once every week instead of what was allowed last year, which was just once for the entire voting exercise. That would allow them an additional of 12 more votes in the 3-month polls.

The selection process will still be a combination of online votes through Face Book and actual unit sales as reported and documented by Stradcom, the LTO’s continuing IT provider based on sales report by automobile dealers to LTO regional and district offices covering the period from January to September 2013. The same voting weight factors would be applied, which is 60% for actual sales and 40% for online votes.

Online public voting for this year’s People’s Choice Awards starts officially at 12:01 am of July 1 and ends at midnight of September 30, 2013. The motoring media convenes to cast their votes electronically on October 5th with the grand awarding ceremonies is scheduled on October 18.    

Just like all STV (Sunshine Television) events, the media launch was capped with the traditional Texas Hold ‘em game among the “all in” enthusiasts both from the media and the auto industry.

Thanks for coming guys, “come hell or high water”.

Price of Lexus IS 350 got me floored

When I received the invitation from Lexus-Manila president Danny “Sir John” Isla for a test drive of a Lexus model at the Clark International Speedway I was a bit surprised. If my memory was serving me right, I thought it was the first ever for a Lexus model in a racetrack, if not, the last time was most probably eons ago that I couldn’t remember. What intrigued me further was that it was a major test drive event with a large contingent of motoring journalists staying overnight.   

It was the Lexus IS 350 that was on center stage. We were made to drive it and punish it through several driving exercises. It drove well, it is high performance, features-filled and what raised my eyebrows was the unexpected price of the automobile, especially after having a hands-on experience driving it and being awed by it.

The actual official launch came about two weeks after the exclusive media test drive and the event also came as a big surprise to everyone, especially “Sir John.” After having been to almost every launch of Lexus this was a standout. There were a lot who came and a lot of young people too—Lexus has arrived to the young executives and to the young enthusiasts who’ve got parents who can afford—but on second thought, not really, considering the comparatively very affordable price of the IS 350.

I just wonder if there will be enough units to meet the surging demand.  

Time to be pro active

Very soon we shall be utilizing a dual-media (print & TV) approach to help, in our own little way, improve motoring in the metro and ambitiously, in the whole country.

I have already started encouraging viewers of our TV show Motoring Today (Sunday, 12 pm, Solar Sports, Channel 70, Sky Cable Network) to send to us pictures or videos of motoring problems like intersection traffic lights that have not been functioning and causing chaos for some time, severe road ruts that not only cause traffic flow impediment but possible damage to passing vehicles as well, illegal jeepney or tricycle terminals that cause motorists’ and pedestrians’ inconvenience, etc., to include drivers’ blatant infringement of traffic laws and regulations like illegal loading and unloading of passengers, parking in absolutely “no parking” areas, smoke belchers and the like.

What happens is that we shall refer to the concerned government agency (MMDA, HPG, DPWH, etc.) these problems or violations referred to us for appropriate and immediate solution or investigation. We’ll play the role of a “short-cutter” or “facilitator.” We’ll help get together the concerned public and the authorities that can legally act on such problems or violations.      

Sending in videos and pictures of motoring problems would help shorten our required process of documenting and confirming reports before airing, while making it easy for the MMDA or HPG to document traffic law violations prior to possible prosecution.

This is something that’s not really new. We don’t mind being called “Johnnys come lately” or clones of others as long as we can propagate doing things that work and can help.

If you want to be counted as one of the few, but increasing number of concerned citizens, participate in this exercise. If you encounter any kind of motoring problem that adversely affects motorists or pedestrians alike, just take a picture or video of the problem, which must clearly show its exact location by including discernable landmarks in the area and send them to us. Similarly for traffic law violators with the picture or video clearly showing the plate number of the vehicle involved.

To establish the connection and for ease of referring to us these problems or violations, “like” us on our Motoring Today Facebook account and let’s immediately start this collaboration.

Happy Motoring!!!

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