Not unless the LTO would rescind it again

We received some reactions regarding our article in this column on the emerging proliferation of commemorative plates, the most prevalent of which is the combined letters and numbers of NBI 75.

Mr. Joel Pablo Q. Bunag wrote to say, “I recall that sometime in May 2009, the DOTC-LTO released Administrative Order No. ACL-2009-017 signed by Assistant Secretary Arturo Lumibao…”

And according to the memorandum, a copy of which Mr. Bunag provided complete with illustration, the commemorative plate may be attached on the exact place for the duly-registered official LTO plate.

Worried that I may have remembered erroneously the rule regarding the proper placement of commemorative plates, which to my firm recollection should not be where the official LTO registration plate should be, I called no less than the immediate former LTO head, Engineer Albert Suansing, who’s currently the Executive Director of the Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership (PGRSP).

And I found out that indeed, former Asec. Lomibao issued a memo allowing such placement of commemorative plates but such memo has been revoked.

Bert was categorical in saying, “When I left the LTO and transferred to the LTFRB, there was actually a memo released by former Asec. Lomibao that superseded my previous instruction while still LTO head not to allow commemorative plates to take the place of LTO-issued plates. However, when I was again designated LTO head for the second time, I rescinded the memo and instead again disallowed commemorative plates to be placed in the same rightful place of the LTO-issued official vehicle registration plates.”

I guess that’s that – unless the current officer in charge of the LTO during the temporary leave of LTO head Asec. Virgie Torres has again rescinded the last declared policy by Asec. Bert Suansing.

If you can’t go… Isuzu will bring the mountain to you

First done in 2004 for the initial launch of the D-MAX, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) again brought its executives and select members of the media (only those who have strong hearts) driving and trekking up the 2,922 meter-high Mt. Pulag in Benguet – the highest peak in Luzon and the second highest in the Philippines, next only to Mt. Apo, this time to mark the formal introduction of the 2011 Isuzu D-MAX.

“This event involves driving both on paved and rough terrain to show the D-MAX’s unparalleled versatility,” said IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki who gamely joined the stout-hearted trekkers to the summit of the famous mountain. Between puffs he added, “We want to show that the D-MAX is the ultimate adventure vehicle for people who live an active lifestyle. Whether in 4x2 or 4x4 version, our pickup continues to be popular among sports-minded Filipinos due to its performance, reliability, durability, fuel-efficiency and rugged good looks.”

New features on the 2011 D-MAX include a titanium-finish engine cover; front bumper guard; new-design six-spoke alloy wheels; chrome body molding; color-keyed step boards; chrome window molding; “4x4” decals; reverse camera with guiding marks; clear-lens stop lamp; two-tone leather seats; high-positioned center console; and new audio systems for the LS (fully-motorized 7-inch LCD head unit with Bluetooth and iPod connectivity), Navi-ready and the LX (Kenwood KDC MP3029 head unit).

During the send off, IPC senior vice president for business development, Art Balmadrid further established the relevance of the adventure to the D-MAX by stating, “Isuzu’s new product tagline for the D-MAX, ‘Possibilities are Endless’, aims to communicate to customers that the best-selling and award-winning pickup is the perfect vehicle to take on adventure activities such as trekking, mountaineering, biking and other extreme sports.”

During the long drive, which was covered by our Sunshine Television (STV) team, made various testimonies about how the D-MAX’s proven 4JJ1-TC CRDi-TEQ diesel engines and Flex-Ride suspension system demonstrated the pick-up’s on-road ride smoothness. The D-MAX units were fueled by Caltex Diesel with Techron D.

Party hard, worry-free courtesy of Chevy

The Elbow Room at Metrowalk was filled with motoring journalists, friends and other well-wishers as The Car Covenant Company, Inc. (TCCCI) also referred to Chevrolet Philippines had its victory party for the Chevy Cruze for winning the Car of the Year award for 2010-2011.

Atty. Albert Arcilla, Managing Director and coo, Lyn Buena, vice-president for marketing, et al of TCCCI have all the reasons to celebrate, what with the Chevy Cruze, despite being one of the “new kids on the block” having chalked up quite an impressive array of awards. Aside from the COTY, there was the title of 2010-2011 Compact Sedan of the Year – Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards aside from the race circuit laurels that it had won last year with more expected in his year’s series.

In the middle of the merry-making, Albert, the very young automotive industry executive who steered Volvo’s Viking Cars to its enviable position in the local auto sector, and in all indications would replicate his feat as he brings the equally enviable recognition and confidence to the Chevy brand in the country, made sure that his guests would enjoy worry-free the celebrations announced that there will drivers available for those who would have “one too many” after the party – indeed a precedent in the party circuit of the local auto industry – a boast to the worldwide efforts of road safety advocates to eradicate drunk driving.

Man versus the Nissan Navara

It was quite a competition that unfolded at the sprawling proving grounds at Evia Lifestyle Center in Daang Hari last Saturday, May 7, which was participated in by some members of the media, invited guests and members of the Navara Club Philippines.

To begin with, the event demonstrated the various performance attributes of the Navara by subjecting Nissan’s premier pick up to blistering sprints like a series of 0 to 100 km/hr drag strip-style runs and a precision driving challenge through what Universal Motors Corporation’s lady top honcho, Elizabeth Lee, dubbed as the “Delta Course”, a series of boulder strips, log crossings, mud pools, mounds and inclines to highlight the Navara’s 4-wheel drive capabilities.

And Beth was emphatic on this aim in her welcome speech, “…it is our aim to prove to you that, pound-for-pound, the Nissan Navara is second to none. In power, in durability, in versatility and even in utility, only Nissan Navara can do it without missing a beat. So we prepared a series of challenges for you to experience all the best of the Navara.”

There were also a series of challenges to find out if the participants were as tough and as strong as the Navara, like the 8-Crossmember Obstacle Course for toughness and the Power Zone, which challenged the participants to produce the human equivalent of Navara’s 174 PS engine.

The aim of the entire 2-day exercise is for all the participants to have a greater appreciation of the Nissan Navara as the real “Mother Trucker”.

Mitsubishi shows the way

Starting today, Wednesday, May 11 up to Sunday, May 15 you can drop by the SM Mall of Asia to catch the rare sight of a 15-vehicle Mitsubishi Showcase that includes an extensive product line up of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks and buses for the Mitsubishi Motors Expo. 

The Mitsubishi Motors Expo features also trade-in deals for those who want to swap their old cars with a new Mitsubishi Motors vehicle. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) will be giving P30,000.00 incentive over the appraised value of any car brand while MMPC will provide additional P20,000.00 more as loyalty incentive for those who will trade-in a Mitsubishi. Aside from these exclusive offers, buyers in the Expo will also have a chance to get additional discounts worth up to P50,000.00 and also a chance to win in the P500,000.00 cash back raffle. 

Additionally, MMPC will also provide a free 12-point check-up to all Mitsubishi vehicle owners while owners with navigation system such as Galant, ASX and Montero Sport can also avail of the free navigation map update. The Expo will also feature test drives of the best selling models such as the Montero Sport and Strada with Variable Geometry Turbo. The 2010-2011 Car of the Year Best Compact Crossover, ASX will also be available for test drive.

Included in the display is the replica of the Racing Lancer which made its debut in the 2009 Argentina Dakar Rally. Another attraction of the Expo which will surely capture the interest of young and young at heart is the Lancer Evolution X gamecar simulator, wherein you can play the Gran Turismo 5 inside a real Evolution X. And to make it more exciting, MMPC in partner with Sony Philippines will host a Gran Turismo 5 competition which will be held everyday, with the championship scheduled on the last day of the Expo on May 15, 2011.

Happy Motoring!!!

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