The day I met Fernando

Some people have always been fascinated how things clicked, ticked, and moved. I happen to be one of these. The kid who creates a magic world of old radios, stereos, hair dryers, and other such stuff dismantled out of pure curiosity – you know the kind. A screwdriver or a wrench in my hands over the gamepad of the family computer – what heaven! Spending weekends dismantling and assembling my BMX bike, contemplating each part and putting them together for the spin or two around the track where QC Pavilion now stands.

A sacred life’s mission had been determined.

My first foray into tinkering with cars and their engines was in my Dad’s ancestral home in Mabolo. I would climb up the side of my late Tito Meo’s jeep – a Willy’s - and stay on top of the engine, waiting for instructions from my uncle. Although the task of loosening already loosened engine bolts was superfluous, it somehow sparked my interest in what would be a continuing love affair with cars.

In 1991, I was thrilled to bits when I got my first car. It was a sleek coupé called the Macho Machine endorsed by PBA Hall of Famer Robert Jaworski. The lanky 115pound, 5’7” youngster I was back then might have diminished the macho and the magic of this wonder machine. Nevertheless, that car gave me my first ever trophy in Motorsports at the age of 18. It was a National Event called the 3rd Mayors Cup Drag Race held in the North Reclamation.

Then, around this time, my fascination with Formula One and open-wheel racing started. I would spend Sunday mornings watching the Ayrton Senna/Alain Prost rivalry in a week delayed motoring show, as cable and satellite television weren’t available back then. My eyes popped out at the sight of the young, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher in his blue and green Benetton livery. I got so obsessed with the color scheme that I had to paint my car with the same color.

In 1997, Mike Potenciano’s MP Turbo Team brought karting clinics and races to Cebu. Knowing full well that the likes of Senna, Prost and Schumacher started their racing careers in karting, I participated in the clinic. Later on, I found myself racing in a makeshift racetrack in Cebu Business Park. This was a dream come true. Little did I know that on that fateful day I would be hoisting my first ever champion trophy as a beginner. It was also the very same day that my passion for Motorsports was cemented.

Despite my newfound love for open-wheel racing, I still had a passion for Drag Racing. The sport of drag racing had a revival of sorts with a series of Adrenalin Rush Events from 2000-2005. Aside from winning over-all trophies, I was blessed to gun for the record for the Fastest All- Motor Car in the Philippines.  I came so close… I was two-thousands of a second shy of getting the record. Nevertheless, it was a great experience and a highlight.

Going back to open-wheel racing, I was part of a nomadic group of karting enthusiasts who, from 1999-2000, would go from unfinished subdivisions, open parking lots, and convert them to temporary karting tracks just to quench our need for speed. All these nomadic forays ended in 2001 when Kartzone in Barangay Kasambagan was opened. At last, we had the proper venue to practice, socialize and race with local, national and international karters. In more than 14 years of racing, I have won multiple races and was even crowned Overall Masters Champion.

Of course in motorsports you also have your share of risks and incidents. In one of our out-of-town races 2006, a racing incident caused my kart to launch a few feet into the air and land upside down with me pinned under the kart. Despite the seriousness of the accident, I was fortunate enough to leave with only a broken shoulder. This did not diminish the motorsport flame that was burning inside me. Rather, it made more aware of my responsibility as a racer to promote awareness and safety when operating any motor vehicle.

My experience in competing in various motorsports gained me the nod of my peers when the nomination for Sporting Director was opened. As Sporting Director, I am tasked to oversee motorsports event and to ensure that the event is run safely and professionally. That does not mean, however, that I have finally hung my racing helmet in exchange for waving a flag. I still race and have also been teaching kids, as young as 4 years old, the fundamentals of driving, racing, importance of using the right equipment and on-track safety.

I had actually considered being a sporting director to be the highlight of my motorsport passion. Happily, I was proven wrong. Last year, I was one of the privileged few who were chosen to fly to Italy for a racing program. It was a 4-day course which included rallying, autocross, stunt driving and circuit. All these done behind the wheel of Fiats, Alfa Romeos and Ferraris! I even had the rare privilege to pilot a race trimmed Scuderia F430 racing down the Fiorano Straight at 260kph.

Was this the highlight? I thought it was. Until I got to meet the chauffer of my soon-to-be ride in a 3-seater Ferrari Formula One car. It was none other than 2-time Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso. My grin was wider than ear to ear as Alonso had the 3-seater Ferrari zipping around the corners and zooming down the straights at over 300 kph. That, I could say, is what I would consider to be the highlight of my passion…. for now.

An Italian driving instructor once asked me if I would accept tons of cash in exchange for all my racing experience and the data bank inside my head, I said, no way!