My Week in Cars Steve Cropley

Ira Panganiban Editor-in-Chief

EDITOR’S NOTE

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AUTOCAR PHILIPPINES

We are 5-years old, here at Autocar Magazine Philippines. Well technically, Autocar Magazine Philippines is 7-years old in the country if we count the time the franchise was held by a different company. Of course I was also the chief editor then too so maybe we count it as such.

Anyway, we are glad that we have reached a milestone like this. Before the pandemic hit in March of 2020, our company Autobrands Media Ventures Inc (AMVI) was beginning to see growth for our titles.

Support was increasing from our readers and subscribers and sponsors and advertisers were beginning to take notice and giving support. We were certainly happy that our efforts were bearing fruit.

But when the pandemic hit, we despaired because all these hard earned effort seemed to go to waste. Our future did not look so bright because “who wanted to buy magazines under a lockdown?” It was hard.

Still, we had letters and texts and messages from our subscribers telling us they would appreciate it if we could continue printing our magazine. They would understand if we stopped but urged us to continue.

So, we did continue printing, albeit at a much reduced run. The printing cost was now very expensive, and really, printing a magazine in a lockdown situation did not seem to be very good business sense. But we had customers to satisfy, so we sucked it up, rolled our sleeves and got back to work.

Almost year and a half later, and here we are. Still printing a limited number of copies which is being collected by our subscribers (according to their messages these copies would become collectors issues when the time comes.)

We have strengthened our digital presence though. It is what the times call for. All forms of media are now incorporated into the most popular medium today, the internets social media. We are not yet as large as those who started early, but we may get there soon enough.

For all of this, our prime motivator is, and will always be, our readers and viewers. In todays media landscape the proper term should be “audience.” You out there, reading and watching and viewing our content, whether online or in print, encourage us to keep on going.

So to everyone who has kept the faith and stayed with us through this difficult of times, thank you. Without you, our audience, we would have reason for being. Our gratitude know no bounds and we shall keep on improving ourselves to bring you the best content we can deliver.

Happy 7th Anniversary in the Philippines Autocar Magazine, Happy 5th Year with AMVI too.

Cheers.

Our gratitude know no bounds and we shall keep on improving ourselves to bring you the best content we can deliver. ❞

✉ irapanganiban@wheelsph.com