MANILA, Philippines — Growing to give. Giving to grow.
With a successful business and a great deal to be thankful for, the Motortrade group and the Motortrade Life and Livelihood Assistance Foundation Inc. (LALAF) spread and shared joy to the needy last July 2 through its food package sharing project dubbed “Sa Motortrade, Alaga Ka Dito - A Day of Sharing, A Day of Joy.”
Indeed, Christmas came early to some 41,000 families nationwide as each of them received grocery packs containing basic food items such as rice, coffee, instant noodles and canned goods.
Family beneficiaries, some of whom still go to bed on an empty stomach, couldn’t contain their excitement as they thanked profusely the staff and officials of MLALAF, Motortrade and the motorcycle riders who joined the gift-giving activity.
Held simultaneously in 357 cities and municipalities from Luzon to Visayas, the event was held in coordination with the local offices of the Department Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Through this initiative, we hope to inspire other corporate entities and NGOs to do their share in spreading malasakit to the communities in need,” said Celso Namoro, Motortrade executive vice president for operations for Motortrade.
“Passing on the goodness could bring a domino effect, and would benefit more Filipino families nationwide,” he added.
Love is giving back
We rely on the people around us for support during good and bad times. As much as this need for connection is ingrained in us, it also goes the other way.
This is the essence of giving back to the community — supporting others just as they support you.
For years now, that’s what Motortrade has been doing — showing malasakit (concern) for others.
"Malasakit is part of the core values of the company,” shares Namoro. “Our chairman emeritus, Vicente N. Ongtenco, has always espoused this value even when he was just starting to sell motorcycles in his hardware store in Daet, Camarines Norte.”
Ongtenco’s concern, aside from making his business grow, was how to help customers who couldn’t afford to buy in cash their own motorcycles for livelihood.
“Even if it was risky, our chairman emeritus started financing the units himself. By doing so, he was instrumental in changing the lives of his customers as a lot relied on their motorcycles to make a living and support their growing families,” shared Namoro.
Since then, “Alagang Motortrade” has become Motortrade’s service trademark. This has been a staple activity for the company, even amid pandemic.
The company extended support to hospitals in need of medical supplies and equipment during the onslaught of COVID-19.
"Our team has also extended help to typhoon victims,” added Namoro “The recent initiative we had was the Roof of Hope project for Typhoon Odette victims.”
Motortrade also does its share in protecting and preserving the environment as it conducts tree planting activities nationwide.
Environmental awareness in the new millennium saw the shift from two-stroke motorcycles to four-stroke business models to help minimize pollution. Motortrade answered the call by offering the better alternative (four-stroke motorcycles).
During Holy Week, the company provides assistance to motorcycle riders by offering discounted prices for parts and services so that they’re safe for the long ride ahead.
A man for others
At 96 years old, Ongtenco devotes every minute of his life to contributing to whatever is good for society.
“Society is bound to collapse since here we are enjoying the benefits of the universe and pursuing our own personal happiness but do not give back. We’re just like termites that keep eating away until the house falls apart,” Ongtenco said in an interview with The Manila Times.
Ongtenco was born in Jinjiang in Fujian province. Though he came from a well-off family (his father owned and ran a factory), the young Ongtenco experienced hardships when he followed his brothers who fled their homeland during the Japanese occupation of China to seek greener pastures in the Philippines. He arrived in the country on July 4, 1946.
The Ongtenco family inched their way to Daet, Camarines Norte. With two of his brothers, Ongtenco set up Bicol Supply Center, an auto spare parts and hardware store. The rest, as they say, is history. The owner of a humble hardware store is now considered the “Godfather of Motorcycle Marketing.”
Ongtenco and his wife Luisa have eight children who are involved in the family business.
Organized by Motortrade LALAF, in partnership with Motortrade nationwide, the food-package-sharing activity for the marginalized sectors of the society was held in celebration of chairman Ongtenco’s 96th birthday.
"Experiencing life’s difficulties himself, our chairman emeritus provided the food packs to help alleviate their (beneficiaries’) hunger even for a day or two,” said MLALAF Directress Shirlyn Ko. “We hope that through this small act of kindness, more families will experience the heart of our chairman in a very personal way.”
Partners for life
Fueled by its passion and mission to uplift the lives of its customers by bridging capital and needs, Motortrade is considered by its loyal clients who use their motorcycles as their means of livelihood— their partner in life.
"Many of our customers started their individual businesses by getting a motorcycle through Motortrade’s in-house financing back then and using their motorcycles to augment their income, especially during the years when tricycle franchise was still easy to acquire,” shared Namoro.
With motorcycles becoming one of the primary means of transportation in the country, Namoro said Motortrade will always be at the forefront when it comes to its customers’ welfare and the growth of the motorcycle industry in general.
The company is proactive in campaigning for road safety with its Learn to Ride Safely Program, which aims to educate and prepare first-time motorcycle owners and riders with the basics of road safety and motorcycle riding. And yes, Motortrade continues to expand and evolve.
"Aftersales is also one aspect that we see a lot of potentials,” said Namoro.
Today, Motortrade is proud of its more than 800 stores in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.