Norkis turns 40

CEBU CITY — People in this Queen City of the South are still talking about the grandeur and excitement of the recently concluded Sinulog Festival.

Talks abound of how there were more cities that sent their contingents to participate this year, and how alive Cebu had become because of this annual event, held in honor of the Sto. Nino, the child Jesus, that has touched the lives of majority of the Cebuanos.

A week after the festival, another prestigious event is being held, this time in celebration of the 40th year of Norkis Trading Co., Inc., a company that has likewise touched the lives of many Cebuanos, and of people from other parts of the Philippines, as well.

Humble start

Founded in January 1962 by Norberto Quisumbing Jr. and his wife, Britta Bartolome Quisumbing, the company started with a capital of only P 5,000 and a lean staff of 5 people. It became the local distributor of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. under a provisional contract that was subject to performance. Norkis (from the first syllables of Norberto and Quisumbing) initially imported 11 Yamaha YG-1 motorcycles and quickly found customers for these. Demand increased dramatically after each importation, and Norkis found itself in the number one position only a few years after its inception.

Today, Norkis has sold over a million Yamaha motorcycles through its network of 200 branches and 600 dealers across the country. It now employs 5,000 workers known as "Norkisans", half of which are based in Mandaue. It has grown into the Norkis Group of Companies, which is composed of four flagship companies and 34 other companies involved in various business ventures such as the production, distribution, sales and servicing of Yamaha motorcycles, Econobikes, Multicabs, and Filcabs. They are also involved in other ventures such as financing, metal fabrication and engineering work, agribusiness and real estate while earning much needed foreign exchange by exporting furniture and metal crates. Recently, the Norkis Group added the distribution of Chrysler vehicles to their automotive business, while the nationwide distribution of Golden Aire air conditioners was added to their business ventures.

Turning 40

The lavish and meticulously prepared celebration of their 40 years of achievements has endeared Norkis to their guests. This writer and other media persons who flew in from Manila Friday morning were afforded the same amenities as the dealers and guests of honor. One cannot help but feel the personal touch of the Quisumbing family in each event. Kudos should also be given to the Norkisans who have helped in making the Ruby Anniversary a memorable one.

The first event on our agenda was the test ride (and test drive) of Norkis products around their Mandaue complex on Friday afternoon. We tested two new Yamaha motorcycle models with air-cooled 4-stroke, single-cylinder engines, the 125-cc STX and the 105-cc Crypton while a Japanese representative of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. took note of our individual ratings of the new models. We also tested several variants of the Multicab and Filcab models. Both brands are produced through the innovative N4RS or Norkis 4R System: recycling, re-engineering, re-conditioning and rebuilding. The Suzuki-powered Multicab and the Daihatsu-based Filcab are very popular in Cebu and serve as public transport and as delivery vehicles, as well as personal vehicles for the middle-class segment. We were also given a preview and a brief test drive of the Dodge Dakota pick-up and Dodge Durango SUV, both vehicles powered by 4.7-liter V-8 engines.

An early morning breakfast at the Marriot hotel attended by Norkis chairman Norberto Quisumbing Jr. (known fondly as NQJr), his son Luis B. Quisumbing (LBQ), officials from Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Norkis Group officers started our Saturday schedule. Cebu-based media groups joined us as we took the opportunity to delve further into the principles, current status and future plans of the Norkis Group.

A little after lunch, we went to the Norkis Mandaue complex for the ceremonial roll-off of the Yamaha STX production line. Yoshio Mabuchi, director of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. and Luis Quisumbing headed the ceremony attended by representatives from Yamaha, Norkis dealers and Norkis workers.

We were then driven to Canamucan, Compostela, about 40 minutes south of Mandaue, for the blessing of the new Norkis factory. This 15-hectare plant will increase the production capacity for Yamaha motorcycles, Multicab and Filcab models, as well as house the Chrysler vehicles and Golden Aire production lines. A housing project will be built near the plant for Norkisans who have relocated from Mandaue to Compostela.

The inaugural ceremony, starting with the Quisumbing tradition of planting trees was attended by several dignitaries from Congress led by House Speaker Jose de Venecia, presidential son and Pampanga vice-governor Mikey Macapagal Arroyo, Compostela mayor James Cabatingan, Yamaha representatives, Chrysler representatives, Norkis partners, dealer principals and the Cebu elite. A motor show was organized in the spacious warehouse to showcase the various Norkis products, ranging from Yamaha motorcycles, Econobikes, Multicabs, Filcabs, Chrysler vehicles to Golden Aire units.

Notably on display were two late-model Yamaha V-Star models, a 1100-cc V-twin and a 600-cc V-twin that wetted our appetites for future introductions of Norkis products.

We were then driven back to the city and dropped off at our hotel. Around 8 p.m., we were invited to join the dignitaries and guests who were at the Compostela inauguration for an elegant dinner at the City Sports Plaza. Red wine flowed freely, a fitting hue to cap the Ruby Anniversary celebration of an enduring Filipino-owned enterprise.