Bringing road safety awareness to schools

Last Friday, July 4th marked our first road safety seminar for school year 2014-15 as we found our way back to the Judge Feliciano Belmonte, Sr. High School in Quezon City. This is our second visit to this school that’s being headed by its principal, Mrs. Zenaida Padullo, having conducted a similar workshop exactly a year ago.

The Young Street Smarts Road Safety School Tour is a joint project of SocioCom (Social Communications Foundation for Asia) and STV (Sunshine Television), which is a series of free road safety seminars and workshops that aim to teach students to become safe and responsible road users.           

We are on our 5th year conducting these free seminars. And for this school year we welcome the renewal of continuing support of Asian Carmakers, official importers of BMW vehicles as confirmed by its lovely lady president, Ms. Maricar Parco, also that of Columbian Autocar, exclusive importers of Kia vehicles courtesy of its equally charming lady president, Ms. Ginia Domingo, the up and coming czarina of the country’s premier professional basketball league with Kia’s recent entry into the PBA, that of Chevrolet’s licensed importers and distributors, The Car Covenant Company, Inc. with its dynamic president and executive director, Atty. Albert Arcilla at the helm, similarly that of Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, for providing transport support by way of donating an L300 to haul all our teaching paraphernalia and TV equipment for our school sorties, thanks to Froy Dytianquin, vp for marketing services and Arlan Reyes, top honcho for advertising and also that of Toyota Motor Philippines with first vp Jing Atienza and vp for sales Sherwin Chua Lim assuring us of Toyota’s yearly involvement. We must also make mention of the involvement of Chevron Philippines worked out by Ms. Raissa Bautista. Being just close to the opening of the school year, we are still awaiting the renewal of support from our good friends Felix Ang and Greg Yu, president and chairman respectively of Cats Motors, Danny “Sir John” Isla, president of Lexus-Manila and word from Rod Franco president of MCTC-NLEX and Marlene Ochoa who heads corporate communications. 

Noticeably most of these mentioned companies are fierce competitors in the local car industry. But being deeply concerned stakeholders in the promotion of road safety, they are joining hands to make sure that the conduct of these seminars would continue undisrupted. And possibly with their continuing support, be expanded to more schools in the country.

Similar to last year, the students of Judge Feliciano Belmonte, Sr. High School were all enthusiastic and eager to participate and learn from the seminar and workshop as we were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Narcissa Clemente, 4th Year Level Chairperson.

The teach-ins are all proactive as exciting contests and competitions among the students are held after every topic for the purpose of not only to perk up the exercise but also to find out how much of what was taught were assimilated and retained.

The workshop’s subject matters include the importance and meaning of traffic signs & road markings, rules of right of way, road courtesy, pedestrian and commuter safety, dangers of drunk driving and safe motorcycle riding. The entire session is supported by audio/visual presentations.

The YSS Road Safety School Tour seminar is conducted free of charge and the only responsibility of the host school is to provide the workshop venue and the students (4th year high school) that will attend.

When we first started this endeavor most of the school officials we approached were a little timid to include the seminar in their already tight school calendar. Some were actually apprehensive that their students may be exploited by some commercial scheme behind the concept only to request us after the seminar to make sure that their school would be part of the next year’s short list.

If you are a teacher interested to have this seminar conducted to your students or a parent who realizes the importance of having your children be taught the basics of safety while on the road, you can bring up the idea to your school authorities and when everybody’s interested write me in the email address that you can find below. At this point in time we may have a couple of slots left that are available in our schedule.

More reasons for more thanksgiving parties

Indeed Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has a lot to be thankful for this year and they just did that—host a mid year thanksgiving party.

As presented by TMP president, Mr. Michinobu Sugata in his welcome remarks to the exclusive motoring media guests, the litany of record-breaking achievements starts in March when TMP breached the 8,000 units sales, the very first time a local car manufacturer have reached such level of performance—and this they did for two consecutive months, March and April. 

Not content on resting on its laurels TMP with a strong dealer network of 44 outlets nationwide including Lexus recorded 9,132 units sold in May. It was a feat of double significance as it also broke the 9,000-unit mark since the start of its operations in 1988.

TMP actually started 2014 with a bang launching 4 new models—the all-new Corolla Altis, the new Innova, the new model Wigo and the all-new Yaris, all in the first 3 months.

A more dramatic achievement for TMP is its highly successful revival of circuit racing’s popularity among the country’s motor sports enthusiasts and more by way of the Toyota Vios Cup. Being a self-confessed motor sports buff himself, Sugata-san can’t seem to musk his excitement talking about the enviably remarkable 30-car starting grid and a record-breaking spectator attendance of 8,000 people at the Clark International Speedway.

Sugata-san was effusive in showing his appreciation to the motoring media for its unwavering task of reporting the goings on and the latest developments in the local auto industry, including those in Toyota.

As for the motoring journalists, it’s being thanked for something that we are here to do.

To Toyota, thank you for your thank you. It has always been a pleasure doing our jobs.

Highlights of top international motor sports events

If you don’t have the time to track down or watch the entire coverage of the on going World Formula One series, the World Rally Championship (WRC) or even the exciting legs of the MotoGP, your other option is to watch Motoring Today, which airs every Sunday, 12 o’clock noon on Solar Sports, Channel 70 of Sky Cable.

Race Weekend, one of the most-watched segments of the longest-running motoring TV program in the country features the highlights of all these international motor sports series mostly a week after they are held. You don’t have to watch a start to finish coverage of any of these motor sport events as Race Weekend shows only the chosen videos of the most exciting and game changing stages of the competition. And lately it has also included the highlights of the on going Vios Cup series.

And speaking of the TV show, Motoring Today, which just celebrated its 27th year on Philippine television last month, like Auto Focus, the weekly TV magazine that’s exclusively dedicated to the automobile and the auto industry, which is now on the web, Motoring Today will also have its cyberspace version very soon—watch out for Motoring Today ONLINE. 

Voting is on going for Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards

Now you can vote once daily for your favorite automobile model and help see it enshrined as the 2014 – 2015 Automobile of the Year—People’s Choice. This year there are two category winners, Standard and Luxury. You can also vote for your most preferred model in each category of sedans, SUVs, MPVs, pick ups, sports car or van, likewise distinct for Standard and Luxury models.

Check out Facebook for voting details and instructions then cast your vote and stand the chance to win valuable prizes in daily electronic raffles. For instant tally of your votes you can log on to www.autofocus.com.ph and check out how your favorite automobile models are faring in the public polls.

Happy Motoring!!!

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