And now the "pink cloth"

Indeed the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has tirelessly concocted one scheme after another in order to achieve what many Metro denizens already consider an "impossible dream" — a Metro Manila of disciplined motorists and pedestrians.

Every time the MMDA comes up with an innovation to traffic management, almost always loud howls of protest come from motorists or pedestrians or both, with the loudest screams coming from the public utility vehicle drivers who are more often than not the target of such creative measures all aimed to keep everyone in tow.

There were the traffic "cages" that aimed to make drivers of private or public utility vehicles stay in their respective lanes and stop the obstructive if not dangerous practice of weaving in and out of lanes, which those who oppose consider as a system more meant for herding cows and animals. And do I hear some MMDA officials say, "Oh, yes!"

There was also this "wet rag" approach that was used to keep the pedestrians safely on the sidewalk instead of being right on the streets while waiting for their ride or risk getting wet as a wet rag is used to make a sweep on those off the sidewalk. A practice viewed by many local officials as very severe compared to the little infraction it was meant to stop. To this observation some MMDA officials reportedly reacted by saying, "Using truncheons would be considered as really severe."

Now here comes the "pink cloth", which is used to block the bus doors to bar commuters from further getting into buses that have overstayed in the loading areas. What will they think of next?

I doff my hat though to Chairman Bayani Fernando for his ever innovative and hands-on management of metro affairs that is within the MMDA’s mandate. Sorry to say this, but to me no past MMDA chairman came close to his style, dedication, political will and perseverance.

However, I feel sorrier, and this feeling I share with many metro citizens, that no MMDA chairman, including the present one, none of whom ever dependent on votes to stay in their position, had the strongest political will to just implement the law — deprived of gimmicks, innovations, etc. — just implement the traffic laws and consider none above them — policemen, media, government officials, etc. — no one above the law, and you’ll eventually find everybody obeying the laws to the letter.

"Hulihin lahat ng lumalabag sa batas trapiko nang walang kinikilingan".

Over simplified? Nope. Because that’s just what they simply do in other countries. And we don’t even have to go far — there was the Subic experience where every driver stopped at intersections even in the middle of the night when there were no vehicles and policemen around. And I know that you all agree with me that that’s the only solution to rid our metro streets of anarchy and chaos.

Bite the bullet and tell everybody why you’re doing it but "do it right". The citizenry will be behind you regardless of any transport strike.

Now that’s political will!

Toyota’s "work hard, play harder" philosophy

Forty and "some" journalists were all in the southern part of the country the other weekend for the 2nd Innova Road Trek — from Cagayan de Oro to Davao.

The objective of the exercise is to show and prove to all and sundry that the Toyota Innova is not only a pretty and durable urban people mover but can also be a weekend multi-purpose, multi-lifestyle vehicle.

You should have seen the awesome sight of 10 Innovas mounted with inflatable rubber rafts on their way to some rough White Water Rafting Adventure along the Cagayan de Oro River. It can really be a very convincing scenario to prove the Toyota Innova’s versatility and dependability. And cap this with a 5-hour, 275 kilometer ride on various driving conditions and road variants.

Well, the 40 motoring journalists went through the physically-demanding river adventure while the "some" other journalists opted for the more demanding chores of playing golf or bumming in the beach or cavorting in the pool — I was part of the "some".

Toyota Motor Philippines 1st VP for marketing Daniel "Sir John" Isla, together with vice presidents for vehicle sales, Raymond Rodriguez and Jing Atienza and marketing services manager Ariel "Anak" de Jesus (last hurrah?) made sure the motoring media had a lot to remember in this trip aside from another revealing test drive of the Toyota Innova. With the assuring assistance of Elijah Marcial and the rest of the Toyota team from Manila and Davao, TMPC president, Hiroshi Ito couldn’t say anything less in his speech during the awards night party at the Pearl Farm Resort than, "The 2nd Innova Roadtrek was indeed very successful — with everybody working hard and playing harder." Way to go Toyota!

Switch tires and save fuel!

Michelin says that if the more than 300,000 trucks and buses that ply the Manila area and nationwide were to switch from bias/nylon tires to radial tires, an estimated fuel savings of at least 6% or even more would be achieved. Now, radial tires are vaunted to be sturdier and built to last twice longer than bias/nylon tires, therefore with the switch of tires we’ll also have half less than the discarded tires we presently have annually. That’s lessening our country’s wastes.

Now, the fuel efficiency claims were clearly documented last week with actual tests made similarly with a bus and a truck, which were made to run a total of 210 kilometers from Angeles, Pampanga to Bocaue, Bulacan and back.

No less than the Dept. of Energy, Usec. Peter Abaya was present to witness the tests together with members of the Philippine motoring media and top executives of Michelin, namely; Philippe Chul, marketing manager, Michelin Services, Southeast Asia, Yang Sai Hoi, GM, Michelin Asia with Riz Dalangin, Country representative of Michelin and Nilo Luna, GM of Tiara Comm’l, distributors of Michelin in the Philippines.

A 6% savings in fuel costs is more than substantial for any business concern. Can you imagine what it can do to a country’s economy?

Felix of Cats — a natural golfer?

After TV icon Emy Arcilla swore to me that he saw my good friend Felix Ang, president of Cats Motors hit the ceremonial ball (and made it fly!) for the Philippine Mercedes Trophy Golf Tournament at the Sta. Elena Golf Club last Monday, May 15th, I had nothing else to say except he must be a natural golf player knowing that he rarely plays golf, if at all.

After being staged in eight Asian countries for the past 15 years, the prestigious tourney was finally hosted in the country by Cats Motors, Inc. — Mercedes-Benz’s Philippine exclusive distributors.

During a chat with Cats Motors’ genial chairman, Greg Yu, he said, "Mercedes-Benz has been staging the sought-after golfest as part of the company’s overall sports marketing concept envisioned as a vital platform for long term, customer care and support for Mercedes-Benz owners." Greg also added that he now sees this as a yearly concern of Cats Motors.

In his welcome remarks Felix was so elated about the weather change from stormy during the weekend to a perfect golfing day that Monday. But I guess he was more ecstatic about his ceremonial tee shot because he announced that he would be definitely playing next year.

Now the guys who won and who’ll represent the Philippines for the finals to be held in Australia later this year are the following; Class A — Lee Go Hil, Class B — Emmanuel Te and Class C — Freddie Sarabia. Let’s show them guys, and congrats to Cats Motors for the smashingly successful golf tourney.

Pit Lane Notes

I guess San Marino wasn’t just a fluke after all. Michael Schumacher and Ferrari did it again — they reigned supreme in Nurburgring right in front of Michael’s home crowd. It was win number 86 for Schumi, so good luck to anyone who’s trying to beat that number. It was hardly a walk in the park for the former world champion though — it took him 38 laps and a second pit stop by Fernando Alonso to grab the lead. It was indeed a red letter day as Ferrari’s second driver, Felipe Massa, grabbed the first podium finish of his career. While both Fernando and Kimi Raikkonen put up a gallant fight, they were simply no match for the confident and experienced German. This is where Michael gets dangerous — he’s got his swagger back after back to back victories, so it looks like the rest of the pack has to scramble to catch up. With his new-found confidence, his racing instincts in top form, and the Ferrari pit crew performing the way it is, they are back to being the team to beat. The Renaults and McLarens better find a way to strategize their pits and to work on their reliability if they don’t want to hand over the victory on a silver platter.

The race for the Constructor’s Championship is hardly over though — it’s really just beginning. Thanks to Schumi’s new lease on life, things are definitely heating up for us fans, and the recently concluded Spanish Grand Prix definitely proved this. Fernando Alonso grabbed his 3rd victory of the season, relegating Schumi to second place. It was a hard-fought race, but at the end of the day, the lone red racing uniform on the podium was sandwiched by two Renault drivers — Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella, who came in 3rd. Chalk up a double victory for both Team Renault and Michellin! Fernando no doubt bolstered his confidence by thinking of the thousands of fans in the stands screaming out his name — it was, after all, his home race. The Spaniard led practically all the way, and we all witnessed his boundless potential on the track. Renault’s three stop strategy worked wonders for them, and the rest of the pack could only watch helplessly as Fernando grabbed the chequered flag. So far, Renault and Ferrari are monopolizing this season’s victories. When will Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren step up?

75 years of service to the motoring public

Last weekend saw the festivities celebrating the 75th anniversary of the AAP, Automobile Association of the Philippines.

Formerly known as the PMA, Philippine Motoring Association, the AAP’s three quarters of a century of service to the motoring public was marked by its first ever "AAP Motor Show" at the Forum, PICC, CCP Complex. It had a array of activities that include the launching of the coffee table book "Fast Lane". It’s a compilation of photos and text tracing the growth of motoring and motor sports in the country. 

Among the activities that were part of AAP’s 75th Anniversary Celebration were the Fun Rally and Treasure Hunt, Vintage and Car Clubs Parade, Alternative Fuels Conference and those on Road Safety.

Congratulations to the AAP and more years of service to the motoring public.

Happy Motoring!!!

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