Time to start clearing cyberspace mailbag

Readers Conrado Anonuevo and Lemmy Lemming have similar agreeing reactions to our column, "The C-5 is still a death trap" (Phil. Star, Sept. 4, 2002), with Mr. Lemming adding that he was even victimized by "tire nailers" or those who deliberately throw nails to the road just so their vulcanizing shops would have business–a very unscrupulous practice at the C-5.

Well, my warning stays–the C-5 is still a death trap.

In contrast, readers Herminio A. Liwanag and Paul Briones have contradicting opinions regarding the scrapping of the UVVRP or what’s more commonly known as the "color-coding" scheme in Metro Manila. Mr. Liwanag feels that the scrapping would bring more chaos while Mr. Briones thinks that the scheme deprives motorist from using their vehicles to the fullest.

I firmly believe that the traffic scheme has had its useful days. However, the MMDA may have to bring it back when work on the re-surfacing of EDSA begins.

Reader Esmer Escartin writes to find out the wisdom of using synthetic motor oil on diesel engines.

For me synthetic oil is indeed a wise option for use in either gasoline or diesel engines. Its major limiting factor though is its price, which can be very prohibitive to some people. So, if you can afford it – use it!

More of your letters next week. I promise to clear out this year’s mail before the New Year comes in. Thanks for your patience.

Isuzu – first to punch

IPC, Isuzu Philippines Corporation beat everybody to the punch last December 2 by coming up with this year’s first Christmas Party for the media at the newly re-opened Tavern on the Square.

The theme was "retro" and everybody was encouraged by IPC’s Myrna Gonzales and Timmy Naval to come in their coolest 60’s and 70’s outfits with a promise of a prize for being proclaimed the best. Many actually did come in retro clothes but I’m sure a lot more would have if not for the long walk from the parking area to the party site in "bell bottoms" that would have produced a lot of curious looks from Greenbelt shoppers.

But it could have been these possible curious looks that encouraged The Star’s Lester Dizon and Bulletin’s Aris Ilagan to don their most eye-catching retro outfits and summarily win the best and second best awards respectively, although I had the impression that Aris was just wearing his daily working clothes to the party that night. As for the ladies, the "motoring family’s" Pinky Colmenares of the Bulletin together with Malaya’s Peachy Fazon romped off with the awards with their "down memory lane" ensemble.

But when it came to lady luck’s choices, The Philippine Star was the star of the night as two of the major raffle prizes went to motoring section writer Brian Afuang, who may have left his car in the parking lot to go home in his brand new electric scooter and our very own motoring editor Junep Ocampo, who may now need an extra pair of hands to play the latest games in this brand new top-of-the-line XBOX gaming console to be added to his working table.

IPC’s very friendly top executives, Toru Koyasu and Hiroshi Ishino were also on hand to welcome the media and swing with its ladies in the dancefloor with toe-tapping and hip-swaying well-picked retro music ably provided by Dingdong Eduque’s Band. Being a Monday, I missed one of my badminton nights due to the party, but all the sweat from the dancing more than made up for it.

When the dust in the dance floor cleared, Art Balmadrid felt that the night was still very young, so he gamely decided to capped it with a "second party" in his very own piano bar lounge "Memoirs" at the Makati Creekside’s Mile Long, where all had a chance to strain their vocal cords in the midst of more fun and fellowship.

Ford’s ‘three-in-one’

Ford Group Philippines had all three reasons for a cheering celebration at the New World Hotel last Friday, December 6.

First, there’s the launching early in the evening of the 2003 edition of the Ford Expedition, a Ford Motor Company automotive jewel that has sold more than one million units worldwide since its debut in 1996 and has been a Ford Group Philippines top seller in the country from its introduction in 1998.

The 2003 Ford Expedition offers three rows of seats that Ford Group president Henry Co emphatically describes to be very comfortable in accommodating ten passengers. Henry added that the second and third row seats also fold flat to create a spacious cargo area that’s wider than its predecessor. Aside from a 1.7-inch wider tract, the new model also offers larger headlamps, tail lamps, mirrors and door handles.

"With the new fully independent double wishbone rear suspension, the new Ford Expedition provides superb road shock absorption, a smoother drive and impeccable handling", declared Dave Macasadia, Ford Group’s vice president for sales and marketing. Dave also announced that only 130 units of the new Expedition will be available for sale in December while Ford expects to sell around 700 units throughout next year.

The 2003 Expedition is available in 5 colors at an introductory price of P1.949 million and can be viewed and test driven in any of Ford’s 13 authorized dealerships nationwide. Later in the evening the 2nd Henry Ford Awards, the only award-giving body in the country for automotive journalism, were given out.

"Screening and choosing the winners was a tougher task this year with almost double the number of entries compared to last year, which of course were all well-crafted", according to Maricar Parco, assistant vice president for marketing and communications of Ford Group Philippines.

This year’s winners include the brothers Ulysses and Jason Ang. Ulysses for his article "The Ultimate Story: Porsche Boxster", which appeared in Rev magazine, while Jason for his Online Feature, "Get a Grip: How to Identify, Care and Upgrade your Tires". Bulletin’s photo-journalist Anjo Perez won the best published photo for magazine for his entry "Bicol Express" which appeared in Rev magazine while Rudy Liwanag, also of the Bulletin won best published photo for newspaper for his entry "Iron Wheels for the Iron Lady". Vernon Sarne of Rev Magazine for his article "Peeing on Cue" and Manny de los Reyes of Gadgets for his article "Ford Alternative Powerplants" shared honors for best auto industry story. The Star’s motoring editor, Junep Ocampo brought home the bacon for his entry "Cleaner, Cheaper, Safer" which topped the auto innovation category. The best TV feature award was given to television upstart Auto Extreme, while James Deakin of C! Magazine won the best Ford feature award.

Participants to the annual Henry Ford Awards are required to nominate their own works to the contest, which will be screened by an independent board of judges.

But the night did not end with the awarding of the prestigious awards. The local Ford Group’s three in a row offering was capped with the year’s Christmas party for the media. I may not have won an award in the Henry Ford Awards (I failed to submit an entry to begin with) but this writer went home with the "best dressed" prize for the evening to the protestation of Aris Ilagan, who thought it was again retro night. For the ladies it was Grace Mendoza of Rev Magazine who went home with the special prize for being "dressed to the nines".

This is only the start of Christmas parties galore for the local motoring media.

Happy motoring!!!

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