MIAS: The biggest show on wheels

The biggest show on wheels in the Philippines for 2024 is happening this weekend at the World Trade Center Manila and at the SMX Convention Center.

“The Manila International Auto Show (MIAS), the Philippines’ largest annual motoring event, returns for another thrilling edition on April 4-7, 2024 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and SMX Convention Center Manila. This 2024, MIAS celebrates its 19th year as it continues to widen its reach in the automotive industry, embodying this year’s theme – Bridging the Future.”

I dub it the “biggest show on wheels” because of the number of participants joining this year, as well as the volume of new vehicle brands and models, new technology combinations as well as a convergence of industry stakeholders that will be offering test drives, financial evaluation or assistance as well as on-the-spot sales.

“MIAS 2024 is a world-class auto event with car launches to take place during the Mobility Marathon. The country’s top car brands will debut their latest vehicles along with show-stopping performances. Visitors get to check out the country’s finest show cars at the MIAS-Petron Custom Classic Car Competition. Participants vie for ‘Best of Show’ by displaying their well-restored and highly-customized vehicles and share some useful tips on how to set up your own dream show car.”

“MIAS 2024 will feature a combined exhibition floor space of 41,000 square meters at TWO world-class venues simultaneously – World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTC) and SMX Convention Center Manila (SMX) throughout the four-day exposition. A single P150 ticket enables access to both MIAS venues. With dual venues, this year’s MIAS promises to offer better insights into the latest automobile technologies. Car buyers can make well-informed vehicle choices by experiencing the latest models the automotive market has to offer. Free shuttle service will be provided throughout the day at designated pickup and drop-off points.”

MIAS will be the best marketplace to check out and test drive your dream car at the Test Drive Zone. From big trucks, off-road and camping rigs, to reliable commercial vans, MIAS 2024 will take you on an exhilarating adventure of off-road and outdoor driving at the Truck Zone. See the breathtaking driving of British precision driver Russ Swift, holder of three Guinness World Records – parallel parking in the tightest space, J-turn in the tightest space and the fastest donuts – as he drives the latest Subarus at the Russ Swift Stunt Show.

The 2024 MIAS is co-presented by BPI Auto Loans and Shell and supported by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) and Petron. Participating passenger car and commercial vehicle brands include BAIC, BAW, Bestune, Changan, Chery, Chevrolet, DAF, Dongfeng, Foton, GAC, GWM, Hongqi, Hyundai, Hycan, JAC, Jetour, JMC, Lynk & Co, Kinglong, MG, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Omoda & Jaecoo, Peugeot, Seres, Subaru, Suzuki and Weichai.

Founded in 1996 by Worldbex Services International, the leading event organizers in the country, the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) is widely recognized as one of the most popular and influential expositions in the country. MIAS continues to raise the bar in the industry and promises to keep its track record of record-breaking visitor count. MIAS will be showcasing world-class automotive technology for the Filipino market.

Be part of the Manila International Auto Show 2024 this coming April 4 to 7, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at two venues – World Trade Center Metro Manila and SMX Convention Center Manila. Get your exclusive promo tickets through https://manilaautoshow.com/

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Meanwhile, back at the farm…

I recently had an interesting conversation with an enterprising Grab driver who shared with me that his side hustle somewhere in Camarines Sur or CamSur is not tourism, but raising pigs. What’s interesting is that he is no longer the exception.

More and more individuals have been telling me that they have slowly and cautiously started to go back to hog raising but with a new approach of sorts. Instead of raising pigs in their backyard, these courageous individuals have set up their pens away from the populated areas and built pens and farms sa “bukid” or several kilometers away from their town or barangay where people rarely wander or go.

This of course is to minimize exposure or contact with the African Swine Fever or ASF. These small raisers have also turned away from the traditional practice of selling to viajeros or consolidator middlemen who were largely blamed for the spread of ASF from farm to farm in past years.

The decision to cut ties is also payback for the many years of being underpriced, cheated with rigged weighing scales and essentially being taken advantage of. Many of those returning to backyard hog raising have finally picked up on what I have been teaching during various BMeg Fiestahan seminars.

I have, for many years, encouraged them to maximize their profit by selling cut meat or processed pork such as longganiza, tocino, etc. and limiting their marketing within their community. In so doing they have a captured market; they can sell based on paid pre-orders and their documentary requirements are often within the barangay only.

These emerging stories of risk-taking and correcting business models prove that Filipino backyard raisers can and will do what’s needed to restart the hog raising sector. This is also a good time for the Department of Agriculture to get up their backsides and develop “showcase” or samples of pig pens or hog pens that are based on the idea of bio-security.

Given how the DA is so notorious for starting pilot projects that are never really promoted or established nationwide, maybe they can maximize their penchant for “pilot projects” and build bio-secure structures and systems in every town that farmers can simply copy.

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