Such enthusiasm to learn about Road Safety

The first of a series of Road Safety seminars and workshops for students for 2011 was met with feverish enthusiasm by almost 500 students of the Don Bosco Technical College from 3rd and 4th year high school.

A corroboration between Socio Com Foundation for Asia (Socio Com) and Sunshine Television (STV) in cooperation with the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) and with the participation of Petron Corporation and Ropali Corporation, the 2011 Young Street Smarts Club Road Safety School Tour is a series of seminars/workshops that are conducted free with the aim of making the youth safe and responsible road users of the present and the future.

The road safety advocacy project is now on its second year. A total of eight schools were chosen last year where the road safety seminars/workshops were conducted, which included; Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, Rizal High School in Pasig, Sitero Francisco National HS in Valenzuela City, Makati Hope Christian School in Makati, St. Anthony School in Manila, St. Joseph’s College Quezon City, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, Bulacan State University in Malolos.

Engineer Loy Reyes, Don Bosco chief security and vp for internal affairs of the Safety Organization of the Philippines, Inc. (SOPI) welcomed the School Tour team, which included Sunshine TV’s Road Safety Consultant, Mr. Arnel Doria, VP-Production Manager, Jenny Bleza and Ropali Motorcycles’ LTO licensed road safety instructor Aris Pascon. Ms. Jocelyn David, Guidance Coordinator graciously accepted the Certificate of Participation for Don Bosco, Mandaluyong.

Contagious enthusiasm was demonstrated by the Don Bosco students as they willingly participated in the discussions of varied road safety topics during the teach-in. The contests held after every topic discussed as a measure of what the students may have learned and retained kept the interest of the students at a maintained level. Prizes given by almost all auto industry players, major stakeholders in the concern for road safety, kept flowing to the students all throughout the seminar.

The goal for 2011 is to conduct these seminars in 10 schools at the least but with a total target of 15 schools.

Letters of appeal for help to keep the project going have been sent to major auto industry organizations like the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers, Inc. (CAMPI) with its president, Ms. Elizabeth Lee at the forefront and the Philippine Automotive Competitiveness Council, Inc. (PACCI), headed by it Chairman Emeritus Feliciano “Thotie” Torres both major stakeholders in this universal concern to promote road safety, having as members the major manufacturers and importers in the country’s auto industry.

We appeal to other companies with a strong sense of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to help us defray the serious logistic requirements of the project so we can continue making our youth more aware of the importance of road safety and make them the country’s future safe and responsible road users.

The students have shown their willingness and enthusiasm to learn. Let’s reciprocate by having the same eagerness to help teach them.

Let’s all work together to keep everyone, especially our children, safe while on the road.

Slip of computer keys

If there’s such a thing as a “slip of the tongue”, I guess what happened to me was a simple case of “slip of the computer keys” (blame it on my developing carpal tunnel syndrome) when I mentioned in this column last week that Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has again, for the “7th consecutive time” captured the Triple Crown Title in the local automotive industry.

That’s not doing justice to the continuous and uninterrupted sterling performance of the country’s number one manufacturer/importer of remarkable, high quality automobiles for the past so many years with the last 9 years exceptionally well.

That’s right. TMP has achieved being first in Passenger Car sales, first in Commercial Vehicle sales and first in Overall Industry sales, a feat that earns the Triple Crown Title for the past 9, not 7 but 9 consecutive years.

I discovered the mistake myself as I was reviewing my column last week straight from a copy of The STAR’s well-read weekly motoring page. Nobody called my attention to the error, perhaps simply because of any or all of the following reasons, namely; first, they are embarrassed to point out the error, second, they don’t know any better, third, they don’t really mind what I write, fourth, they don’t really read me, or fifth, all of the above.

Whatever, the fact remains that Toyota Motor Philippines closed the year 2010 outstandingly strong with year-end sales of 56,855 units registering a whooping 33.7 per cent share of the entire Philippine automotive market and at the same time registering a record of “the highest number of vehicles sold in the history of the local automotive industry.”

For good measure to rightfully own the much-coveted Triple Crown Title, TMP sold 21,032 units in the Passenger Car category or a 35.5 percent share with the strong market performance of the Vios, Camry and the new Corolla Altis. Similarly, a top of the ladder sales performance in the Commercial Vehicle category with 35,823 units sold for a dominant 32.8 per cent share.

These figures would remain dreams without the Toyota customers translating them to reality and this Mr. Yuji Goto, TMP executive vice president acknowledged, “For Toyota’s part, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to our customers for their continued patronage of Toyota, to whom we owe all these achievements.” With such expression of appreciation comes this pledge from Goto-san as he added, “In return, we shall continue to enhance our operations to provide innovative products and outstanding service to our customers who have made and will keep us number one.”

Toyota Motor Philippines captures the Triple Crown Title for 9, again not 7 (as one stupid motoring journalist typed on his computer keys last week), but for 9 awesome consecutive years – Congratulations!

Affordable Mitsubishi vehicles

Our friends, Froy Dytianquin and Arlan Reyes from Mitsubishi Motors Philippines were so excited to let us know about their year-opening move to make owning a Mitsubishi vehicle “fast and easy” with its Mitsubishi’s Affordables promo.

Here’s how it works. From February 4 to March 31, 2011, with Mitsubishi’s Affordables your first 2-months amortization is absolutely free under the “2 Months on Us” scheme. Through this scheme, 2 months of the monthly amortization plan will be waived and payment will start on the 3rd month for all variants of Lancer EX, Lancer 1.6 and L300 CC models. This also includes a free 3-year LTO registration.

Other Mitsubishi’s Affordables exciting offerings with other Mitsubishi models like the Adventure, Lancer EX GLX, Grandis, etc., include zero interest plans, low down payment and low monthly payments of from 36 to 60 months, free SM Gift Cards worth P15,000, free 1-year comprehensive motor car insurance, etc.

Using an old clique, Froy and Arlan suggest interested buyers to “See posters and print ads for details”.

Make way for Isuzu’s Alterra Urban Cruiser

Surely, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) believes in “not fixing what ain’t broke” but this does not stop IPC from “making better what’s already good”.

Take the case of their sport utility vehicle (SUV), the Isuzu Alterra. Despite existing market-endearing attributes like its “flex-ride” suspension system, inarguably the best in its class as many motoring journalists would attest to after having test-driven all other models, they have again introduced add-ons to make it a real enviable vehicle to own.

Let’s start with the name.

As formally announced to the motoring media during an event held last February 3 at the Pico de Loro Beach & Country Club in Batangas, the popular diesel SUV shall henceforth be officially called the Alterra Urban Cruiser.

With a new name for 2011, the Alterra Urban Cruiser has also been given new front and rear sporty chins with new exterior colors like Nautilus Blue for two-tone variants and Mineral Grey, Silky Pearl White, Sterling Silver and Starry Black for monotone units. Inside, a high-tech entertainment system features a motorized 7-inch touch screen and dealer option I-Navi system, including ceiling mounted aircon vents, map lights, sunglass holder, second row reading lamps, etc.

To demonstrate the versatile sporty lifestyle features of the Alterra Urban Cruiser including transporting mountain bikes, either with the use of bike racks or with the vehicle’s spacious room at the back, IPC organized a biking competition at the Pico de Loro Resort among the motoring journalists. The challenge included bike precision time trials and other activities like bike assembly and mounting that were all under a prescribed time.

Emerging as the winning team was the group composed of Sunshine TV’s production manager Jenny Bleza and ace cameraman Matt Mallari, Manila Times motoring editor Brian Afuang and Top Gear associate editor Paulo Subido.

It’s the Alterra Urban Cruiser – “For the Journey that Matters”.

Insights into the local auto industry

Tomorrow evening at 10 o’clock, try tracking us down on Sky Cable’s Channel 13 (HSN) for this week’s edition of Auto Focus, the country’s premier auto TV news and features magazine. We shall have the major shakers and movers of the local auto industry with their outlook for 2011. Straight from the horses’ mouth – “what lies ahead this year in the country’s automotive industry”.

Happy Motoring!!!

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