A total waste of money

The Alterra Conquers Guimaras Island Despite the driving rain and the floods that came with it the evening before, with a big part of the main road going to the airport known as Imelda Avenue still calf-deep in water the morning after, all the motoring journalists invited to a test drive of the Isuzu Alterra in Guimaras Island arrived, some just in the nick of time, for the 9 o’clock PAL flight to Iloilo City that very wet Friday last week, September 16.

Done in partnership with Caltex Philippines that provided the fuel and Negros Navigation, which shipped the 4 brand-new Alterra SUVs and 2 D-MAX pick-ups a few days in advance, the "Isuzu Perfect Combination part 2" was another one of those "test drives and see the Philippines" trips that Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) is now very well known for and has also learned to do perfectly well. I guess the team work of Timmy Naval, Ronald "Isuzu Joe" Baladad, Fidel Portillo, Ellen Dizon, Joy Andrada and Hermes "chairman" Canon has jibed like clockwork precision in thinking and providing for all the invited motoring journalists’ every need in detail, including the concern on how we would go home from the airport — talk about being really taken care of. No wonder attendance of motoring journalists to IPC events are almost always perfect.

After an almost flawless touchdown at the Iloilo Airport, it was a real tummy-filling brunch that the motoring journalists enjoyed con gusto at the Marina Restaurant located at the Manduriao highway just before a 30-minute boat ride to the Guimaras mainland.

Our first stops in the mainland were courtesy calls we made to brothers, Honorable Felipe Hilan Nava, Mayor of Jordan town and Honorable JC Rahman Nava, Governor of Guimaras province. The very warm welcome and hospitality shown by the brothers were ominous of things to come in our trip — more warm welcomes and sincere hospitality from the people of Guimaras.

The actual test drive was not scheduled until the next day, Saturday. But the drive from the Municipality of Sibunag, where we failed to meet the Mayor for his courtesy call due to a previous commitment, to the San Isidro wharf, where all the vehicles were left for another boat ride, this time to Costa Aguada (the island resort that was to be our home for two nights), turned out to be the more challenging, as we drove through changing road surfaces. I was on the wheel for my maiden test drive of the Alterra since it was launched, with fellow SPMJ (Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists) founding members Popong Andolong of Bulletin’s Overdrive and Ron delos Reyes of Auto Review joined by IPC’s vice president for business development Art Balmadrid as passengers all through out this trip. Admittedly, I can’t help but just praise the very comfortable ride of this SUV not to mention its very nimble handling in all the changes of road surfaces — from paved to non-paved and even at times, to off road. With or without Art, our very gracious host, with us I would still be all praises for the Alterra’s outstanding suspension. The unusually smooth ride of this SUV despite the harsh road conditions is something that can be difficult to keep as a secret and hard not to talk about, especially among motoring journalists who are always out to look for the good and the bad of every vehicle — basically a second nature to many of us (the legitimate ones anyway. I don’t really know about the wannabees).

Upon reaching Costa Aguada after the second boat ride for the day, a heavy merienda was served at its Coconut Pavilion restaurant. Although the journalists were each assigned a cottage to stay for the night, ghostly stories exchanged during merienda time made some willing to give up such distinguished accommodations just to have somebody to sleep with. But then, after considering the usual boozing that would come after dinner, some thought perhaps it wouldn’t really matter come the time to hit the sack.

It was breakfast by the seaside when we woke up the next morning. This was immediately followed by a boat ride back to where we left the Alterras to start the test drive cum sightseeing and tour.

The convoy of brand new Isuzu vehicles (Alterra and D-MAX) had its first stop at the Guisi Lighthouse, which was built by the Spanish government in 1896 as part of the master plan to light the maritime coasts of the country. From there we motored to the Valle Verde Mt. Spring Resort for another hearty meal complete with lechon and all, a kind of fare that Manila Standard’s Dino Directo wouldn’t mind having all throughout the day. Right after lunch it was a trip to the Our Lady of the Philippines Trappist Monastery (The only men’s monastery in the country) for some bit of history about this long-time order of monks, the Cistercian Order of Strict Observance and some shopping of religious items and some kakanin.

From there the convoy proceeded to the Oro Verde Mango Plantation, at 237 hectares, the largest mango plantation in Guimaras and one of only three agri-tourism destinations in the country. This was where the first of a series of fun games that Art and his group worked on to give the journalists some competitive fun and the chance to win some valuable prizes. I never knew that trying to get as many ball pens as you can get that were hidden in mango trees can be all that fun! The rest of the series were played upon our return to Costa Aguada right after dinner.

In conclusion it was a learning experience for us all motoring journalists — knowledge about the unique features of the Alterra that sets it apart from its close competition and the knowledge and appreciation of the beauty of Guimaras Island that we would not have ventured to explore if not for Isuzu Philippines. There was only one downside of that trip — the world-renown, ever-sweet mangoes of Guimaras were not in season. Except for that, the whole trip was a lot of fun and filled with fond memories.

Way to go Isuzu and thank you for having us!

Revival Of The Honda Media Challenge It was indeed a wet maiden race for the 2005 Honda Media Challenge last Saturday, September 24 at the Carmona Racing Circuit.

After a hiatus of a full year, this institution of a motor sports event that’s exclusively for the media went to the racing circuit for the first time. In the past, the Honda Media Challenge participants have experienced subjecting various Honda models to different racing conditions — from dirt to tarmac — and it’s only now that it’s done with real racing ambience.

In previous staging, the Civic and the City were the models put into the test by the people who review these automobiles themselves in the different media publications and networks, now it’s the Honda Jazz 1.5 VTEC that’s going through a very close scrutiny.

My co-host in the TV show Motoring Today (Sunday, 11:30, NBN Channel 4), Pocholo Ramirez, the Philippine’s racing "living legend" and this year’s Race Director of the event made an assurance during our on- camera interview that they have made certain that the "amateur" racers from the media would be safe by way of the procedures that they are implementing and designs that they have adopted in the track, which has always been actually a karting circuit.

Arnel Doria, deputy head for marketing of Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI), the event’s major benefactor and sponsor and admittedly the man who conceived the original concept of the event strongly feels that the Honda Media Challenge would best demonstrate to its customers the quality, durability and reliability of the various Honda models that have gone through the grueling and abusive driving that they are subjected to in competitive racing.

Takeshi Sekiguchi, the very friendly and soft-spoken HCPI president, maintains that the Honda Media Challenge’s revival would continue to project the "sportiness" of all Honda models, especially the Honda Jazz, which is this year’s racing car for the event.

Welcome back Honda Media Challenge!

Pit Lane Notes Fernando Alonso is World Formula One Champion for 2005 — the youngest in the history of Formula 1 and the first Spaniard to ever clinch the title.

However, the saga continues as the Constructors Championship is still wide open.

Motoring Tip Of The Week With the convenience of using a motor vehicle for our transport needs is the responsibility of owning one.

Responsible automobile ownership starts with having a proper place to park your vehicle. It is also imperative to always maintain your automobile in very good working condition — reliable and safe while on the road. To stall on the road due to bad maintenance and causing inconvenience to other motorists, pedestrians and the general motoring public is irresponsible automobile ownership. So is owning an ill-maintained vehicle that is unsafe and may cause the loss of life or limb.

Be a responsible motor vehicle owner — always keep it safe and reliable to be road worthy.

Happy Motoring!!!

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