A quarter of a century of public service

I can’t believe it. I never thought that the TV show would last this long. Probably it’s simply because all the time we were doing it we were always thinking of the present. Like what do we do for the next week’s episode to further inform our viewers on what were the latest traffic rules and regulations to guide motorists while on the road, how to properly maintain their vehicles so it would last longer and avoid expensive repairs, how to drive safely and avoid getting into road accidents, what’s the latest automobiles available in the market to choose from, who won and how did the last Formula One race go, and the World Rally Championship, how do we best address motoring problems presented to us by our viewers and to whom do we best refer them to for speedy solutions, and the list of other services to the general motoring public just went on and on. There was no time for us to think how long we would be doing this. It was more like hoping we would have more time to go on doing this public service—and continue to enjoy doing it.

The first two episodes of Motoring Today were taped at the Playboy Club of then Silahis Hotel courtesy of playboy-tycoon, Biboy Enriquez who was then aggressively promoting the elegant all-Bunnies club. It was a good combination of a program which has a male-dominated viewership with a venue in a men’s club. Our first guests were motor sports icons of their time, namely; Billy Martinez, a Cam Wreckers active member, Gus Lagman, a much sought-after rally navigator who’s now president of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), Boy Saycon, another top-notched rally driver and navigator and Robert Aventajado who was then lording it over the local auto rally scene. The topic of the interviews was the start and development of local motor sports from drag-racing to kart racing to the first Philippine Grand Prix that was held in Cebu and later continued at what’s now known as the Ortigas Business Center with only the Ortigas Building towering over the maze of roads and empty parking lots that were turned into a circuit and finally to the races held in BF Homes, where an accident happened, which somehow stunned the growth of the sport of circuit racing with no willing and appropriate venue to hold its events.

The first episode of Motoring Today was aired over PTV Channel 4 in June 7, 1987. Tomorrow Motoring Today celebrates its 25th anniversary.

There was perfect synergy when we started the show two decades and a half ago—for sponsorship there was Tony Sulit, whose sales wizardly was best demonstrated with his expert solicitation for sponsors of the PBA coverage, there was co-host Pocholo Ramirez, “the living legend of motor sports” and the country’s ultimate motor sports icon lending credence to an upstart TV program that began strongly with the airing of highlights of local and international motor sports events and then there was my innate passion for broadcast and modest experience in both TV production and marketing from my years with ABS-CBN during the pre-Martial Law era.             

 In the 25 years of Motoring Today, there were definitely a lot of milestones to speak of. Aside from the late Pocholo and myself actually being the first motoring broadcast journalists even before the country had a motoring beat to speak of, the show had the distinction of being the first local TV program that covered international racing events like the Macau Grand Prix in 1989 and the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, which was then held in Adelaide in 1991. For a long time it was also the only local TV program that aired World Formula One Series and World Rally Championship (WRC) races regularly and almost immediately after they were held. Few people who had access to the FEN broadcast from Clark shared the same experience.

Without us realizing it Motoring Today became a haven for motorist with motoring problems. The myriad of problems that were brought to our attention included street potholes that needed to be patched, unfinished road construction, open manholes, traffic lights that didn’t work, absence of road signs, corrupt traffic enforcers, etc., and that’s to mention only a few. But we took pride for having a close to perfect batting average to have these concerns addressed and solved within reasonable periods. Probably because in many instances we had to beg the government agencies involved to look into the concern rather than blame them for these problems. Besides, we made sure that we gave credits where credits were due. 

Then there’s the local auto industry, which was just a shadow of its present state when Motoring Today was born. But the industry being in the midst of the show’s reason for existence, we committed ourselves to help build it, to spread the word about it—its problems, its development, its triumphs and all its positive impacts on business and the society. And the commitment stands.

But at some point in time when the past administration was dealing with some coup plots, we were asked to give up our time slot together with other block timers presumably so that the government can make use of PTV 4 for aggressive propaganda. Fortunately we were welcomed with open arms by the Solar Sports management where we have been happily airing our program (Sundays, 12 noon, Solar Sports, Channel 70 on Sky Cable and Channel 34 of Global Destiny Cable).

Poch and I produced a glue-like chemistry. Our on-cam and off-cam tandem was a relationship that went way beyond professional to very personal—family even. But it’s not in our stars for the partnership to go on and last for a quarter of a century as the end came when the warrior in Pocholo succumbed to the ravages of the Big C in 2009. It was a sad day for the motor sports community that loved him, a sad for his family and close friends and a sad day for Motoring Today , a sad day for me.

But then life must go on. And so should the service to the general motoring public.

To add more meaning to its commitment to public service, Motoring Today recently became pro-active in its life-long quest to promote road safety. Since 2010 it has been conducting free seminars and workshops in schools to help make students learn to become safe and responsible road users by way of the Motoring Today Road Safety School Tour. More than 20 schools have benefited from this endeavor that’s supported by many auto manufacturers and importers and other stakeholders in promoting safety on the road.

As we look forward and beyond the quarter of a century of service to the general motoring public, we pray that the Lord would give us more strength to continue with our covenant as you can rest assured that our spirit will always be more than willing.

Happy 25th birthday Motoring Today!!!

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