EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
www.edgedavao.net
12 PAGES
Serving a seamless society
MOTORING Special Supplement
MAKING
LIFE BETTER Angcore’s business principle is anchored on helping others By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO
D
njb@edgedavao.net
riving a brand-new car can be one of the great experiences of life. Walking into the dealership business and being able to stay competitive, on the other hand, ranks up there with public speaking and visits to the dentist atop most people’s lists of anxiety-inducing experiences.
But it’s not really that scary if you’re prepared and knowledgeable. Especially when you grew up in the business as a second generation car salesman. Then you can stride into that dealership informed, confident, and in charge of the whole process. That’s Tobi Ang, vice president for operations of the Angcore Motor Group, one of Davao’s leading car dealerships. We asked for a one-on-one with Tobi but since he is always in the move, we sent a ten questions for this interview via email and he returned it with 9 out of 10 answered. Whichever is that he did not answer is between the two of us and will be kept under the hood. But suffice it to say, Tobi had more than given us a panoramic and microscopic view of the automotive business in Davao.
The Angcore Group has centered its mission to providing the best ownership experience for our customers. We’ve made significant investments recently to ensure that this mission becomes a consistent reality. Here is how we picked the brain of this next generation Joe Girard, the man who sold 13,001 Chevys in 15 years. 1. When was Angcore established and who are the incorporators? TA: Our family has been in the automotive industry for over 20 years, in its many forms. Those businesses have all been consolidated to what is now collectively called The Angcore Motor Group. 2. What paved the way (motivation) for its creation? TA: I’ve always believed in creating a central vision, to help guide us in how we conduct business. So Angcore’s vision of “making life better”, is starting to emanate through all of our businesses. 3. How did the car brands evolve in
the inventory of Angcore? Which brand came first and which are the latest? TA: Through the years, we’ve had the privilege of handling many brands, and during the crises of the 80’s and the 90’s some of the distributors left the country or gave up the business, and we were forced to let go of those brands. Today, the Angcore group is built upon its 2 main brands, Kia & Mahindra, as well as its sister brand Chevrolet (AB&T). 4. How is the car industry market in Davao? TA: Like the rest of the country, the automotive industry here in Davao has grown significantly in the past few years. We’re starting to be a significant market outside Metro Manila. 5. What are the primary considerations of Dabawenyos when buying vehicles? TA: Like most markets, the concerns are standard - fuel efficiency, features, financing options, power, etc., but something I’ve been noticing more and more in recent years is quality of service. This is also why, The Angcore Group has centered its mission to providing the best ownership experience for our customers. We’ve made significant investments recently to ensure that this mission becomes a consistent reality. 6. What are the car financing offers of Angcore and who are your financing institution partners? TA: Angcore works with most of the banks in the country, and we have
F Angcore, 2 TOBI ANG. CEO, Angcore Motor Group
S2 MOTORING
Special Supplement
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
TOBI’S LIST W
hat are we looking for in a vehicle? Let us count the ways. Some people buy vehicles primarily as a means of transport for work or business. No debate about that. When it comes to size, it now boils down to the size of the car owner’s family. For the looks and style, aahh it’s all about one’s character. We asked Tobi Ang, the youthful CEO of The Angcore Motor Group, the dealership of Kia and Mahindra in Davao his top 10 Cars list. He made our job a lot easier by sending his list. Not 10. But 2. Tobi’s two top cars in his list are the versatile Kia Grand Carnival 11-seater and the ruggedly gorgeous Chevrolet Colorado. Tobi’s picks: 1. Kia Grand Carnival 11 Seater “As a family man who also likes to drive, this is probably the best value for money vehicle anyone can buy today. You can ask anyone who has purchased one.”
CHEVROLET COLORADO. Urban beast.
2. 2017 Chevrolet Colorado “The best pick-up period. The unit doesn’t get as much media coverage and love as other brands, but I urge you to give it a try, you will not be disappointed.” I cannot agree much with Tobi’s list. The Kia Carnival 11-seater and the Chevrolet Colorado are two vehicles you buy because that is exactly what you need, and then some. The Carnival is practical. The Colorado is an urban beast. (Neilwin Joseph Bravo)
KIA CARNIVAL. 11-seater royal coach.
Angcore... FROM 1 financing programs that will fit almost any customer’s needs. Tobi Ang meets Mahindra Deputy General Manager Kini Prashant as the latter recently paid a visit to Mahindra Davao.
Mahindra showroom in Davao City.
7. What after-sales support does Angcore offer to its clients? TA: We are firm believers of following the periodic maintenance schedule. At Angcore we make sure we remind you to come back for regular service visits. We treat cars like people and like people, we believe the key to a healthy life is prevention rather than cure. However, in the event a cure is necessary, we also have industry leading warranty. So what we really try to provide is the best ownership experience, from buying your car all the way to trading it in to buy a new one.
TA: I think the Davao car market is slowly starting to mature, and car sales will be more about customer service & relationships, rather than specifications & price. We’re not there yet, but that’s the direction we are headed.
9. Is Davao traffic getting worse because we have more cars today while we have the same roads? TA: Yes we have more cars on the road today and yes we may not have enough roads, but I believe this government is doing something about it and we see a lot of spending on infrastructure. The problem with infrastructure spending is that it requires massive foresight. You’re never spending for today, and always for tomorrow. So sometimes we’re not in sync. Preventing or limiting car
sales to prevent traffic is like preventing a child from growing just because her clothes don’t fit. Growth should never be limited.
Kia showroom
8. What is the future of the car sales industry in Davao?
H o w e v e r, preventing or limiting car sales to prevent traffic is like preventing a child from growing just because her clothes don’t fit. Growth should never be limited. So yes, I don’t support the massive excise tax on the car sales.
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
EDGEDAVAO
MOTORING
Special Supplement
S3
S4 MOTORING
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
Special Supplement
In cadence with time By Jimmy K. Laking
T
o be sure, we are part of a story that revolves around a growth rate of 39% in terms of the state of car sales in Mindanao. Last year, car sales peaked to 5,421 at the end year, only to shoot up to 7,528 sales before the year has even ended in 2016. In both years, Subaru performed well. The reason behind is that there is still a lot of potential for Subaru in Davao and in the entire island of Mindanao.
To reach out to Filipino car buyers, we considered it essential to promote out our brand through all the platforms available: internet and social media, manufacturer site, display centers, auto expos and dealer sites or visits. Social media plays a tremendous role in in influencing car buyers on why should they consider a specific product. It is the fastest and easiest way to introduce the product into wider range of market.
We also make use of mall exhibits to showcase the specific car model into more targeted areas, allowing potential car buyers the chance to be able to see and to check the car at their convenience. In showroom, they can have the opportunity to see all the brand models of Subaru which they can consider and have the chance to test drive any model they may interest them. Of course, we also strive to reach out to our potential buyers through mall roadshow display,
social media, market saturation, print media ads, telemarketing and bank displays. We also give premium to targeted events where we highlight the cars’ most salient features even as stress the value of money based on the top of the line features of our vehicles. Not only that. We are continuously on the lookout for extending our efforts to further promote the brand into a wider range of market. To achieve this, we do also explore all the possible mar-
keting opportunities on below the line and above the line activities. Subaru’s advantages can best be shown in the following illustration below. Watch out for the new launches happening next year and an SAWD caravan. We want to harp on the SAWD capabilities of Subaru. Most of our cars (XV, Forester, Levorg, Outback, Impreza, WRX, WRX-STI), except BRZ (Rear Wheel Drive) are SAWD capable. Also, standard 7 airbags across all models.
This year we launch Subaru Levorg—this is a car perfect for new family. Not your usual dad car, and not your usual mom car.
T
The 2016 list of top 10 countries with the most vehicles
he Gazette Review came out with its list of top 10 countries in the world with the most number of vehicles on September 9, 2016. The list featured “vehicle to people” ratio as the basis of their ranking and came out with the following: San Marino -- Does it surprise you that the United States is not first on the list? Situated on the northeastern region of the Apennine Mountains, San Marino has the world’s greatest vehicle to people ratio of 1139 cars per 1000 individuals, a stunning feat, for such a small micro state! To put things into perspective, with an area of just a little over 61 square kilometers, San Marino is over ten times smaller than the city of Chicago. In terms of vehicles, San Marino is the only nation in the world with more cars than it has people with a population of 32,000 citizens and a ratio of 1139 vehicles/1000 people, that comes out to a total of over 36,000 cars in the country! However despite this, the new car market in the European country appears to be declining with a decrease of approximately 4% every year.
1
2
Liechtenstein -- Try saying the name of this country five times really fast! Located between Switzerland and Austria, the German speaking country of Liechtenstein currently ranks second in our list, with a vehicle to people ratio of 744 cars per 1000 individuals, close to 400 less
than that of San Marino. With a land area of over 160 square kilometers, Liechtenstein is a fairly small nation with an estimated population of 37,000 - over 5000 more citizens within its country borders compared to that of San Marino. As a highly prosperous nation, Liechtenstein is home to some of the richest individuals in the world, a fact that appears to make sense when you take into consideration the number of passenger vehicles in the country. With the growing economy, the car market in Liechtenstein has also been seeing a rise within the past few years.
3
Monaco -- Not far behind Liechtenstein, is the independent micro state of Monaco. Located in the western region of Europe, the country of Monaco ranks third on our list with a vehicle to people ratio of 729 per 1000 individuals, just a smidge under that of the number two ranking nation. With a tiny area of 2 square kilometers, Monaco is the second smallest country in the world (second to Vatican City). However despite its underwhelming size, it has a staggering population of 38,000 - effectively making it the most densely populated country across the globe. Known for the world-famous Monte Carlo and the ward of Larvotto, Monaco is also the home of many rich individuals, a fact that probably has something to do with the country’s large amount of passenger vehicles!
4
Luxembourg -- Fourth on our list, is the tiny wealthy country of Luxembourg. Located between France and German in Western Europe, the nation has a vehicle to people ratio of 667 per 1000 individuals, a stunning amount considering its relatively small land area of 2600 square miles. With an estimated population of 525,000, Luxembourg is in fact, one of the least populated countries in all of Europe. According to various sources, the automobile sector in the country has always been on the rise; in fact, the car market in Luxembourg went up by 6% in 2014 and has been pretty stable since. Here’s another interesting fact -- the Audi A3 and the VW Golf were two of the best selling cars in the country in 2014.
5
Iceland -- It seems to be a trend that small countries have some of the world’s greatest number of vehicles -- the island nation of Iceland is no exception. With a vehicle to people ratio of 646 per 1000 individuals, the Nordic country takes the fifth spot on our list. Located between two large bodies of water, the Arctic and the North Atlantic Oceans, Iceland has an area of 103 square kilometer and a population of approximately 330,000. It is currently the least densely populated country in all of Europe. Known for its volcanos, mountains and glaciers, Iceland also has relatively low taxes compared to other nations. According to recent statistics,
Iceland saw a whopping rise of 48% in new car sales last year; with the Skoda Octavia being the best-selling car in the country.
6
Puerto Rico -- The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico currently ranks sixth behind Iceland with a vehicle to people ratio of 629 per 1000 individuals. It is also the first American territory to be featured on our list. Situated in the north-eastern Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico is an archipelago with a land area of 9100 square miles; it also has a relatively large population of 3,500,000 and a density of 382 per kilometer squared. With the large number of vehicles always present on the streets, the government has been actively trying to improve the Puerto Rico’s public transportation systems in attempts to decrease the amount of vehicle clutter on the island’s highways. However despite their effort, it seems like most Puerto Rico citizens still prefer to travel in the comfort of their own car!
7
Italy -- With a large number of car manufacturers in Italy, it almost seems natural that they would be on the list. With many of its citizens being car-lovers, Italy has a vehicle to people ratio of 605 to 1000 individual and ranks seventh on our list. Known for its boot-shaped peninsula, Italy is the home of various luxurious car brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Fiat, to name a few. Located in southern Europe, Italy covers a fairly
large area of 300,000 square kilometers and has a sizeable population of 61,000,000. Considering the country’s relationship with cars, it’s also no surprise that their automobile market has also been increasing at a rate of 3% per year. The best-selling vehicle in Italy in 2015 was the Fiat 500X.
8
New Zealand -- It seems like small countries aren’t the only ones populated with cars nowadays, but island nations too! With a vehicle to people ratio of 597 to 1000 individuals, New Zealand ranks eighth on our top 10 list. Consisting of two main islands, New Zealand is situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, next to the Tasmanian Sea. The English speaking country has an area of approximately 270,000 square kilometers and relatively large population of 4,700,000. Known for its beautiful landscapes, it’s no doubt that many of the country’s citizens enjoy driving through its streets. In 2015, the best-selling vehicle in New Zealand was the Ford Ranger, with the Toyota Corolla trailing at a close second in the car market.
9
Malta -- Just a couple of cars behind New Zealand, the European country of Malta made it onto our list at the ninth spot. It has a vehicle to people ratio of 595 to 1000 individuals - just a tad less than that of both New Zealand and Italy. Known for its historic structures and beautiful
scenery, Malta has a land area of 316 square kilometers and is considerably smaller than some of the other previously mentioned island countries. With a population of approximately 450,000, the country is also one of the world’s tiniest and most densely populated nations in the world -- with a noteworthy population density of 1410 per kilometer squared. One thing’s for sure, drivers in Malta must have a hard time finding parking considering how much land area there is in the country after accounting the buildings and other structures!
10
Lithuania -- Located in the southern tip of Europe, Lithuania just made it onto our list with a vehicle to people ratio of 565 to 1000 individuals. As one of the three Baltic States, the country is also neighbored by the south eastern part of the Baltic Sea. With a reasonable land area of 65,000 square kilometers, Lithuania is the 26th largest country in Europe; as of 2015, it also had an estimated population of 2,900,000. Equipped with a number of modern highways throughout the country, it only makes sense that the Lithuania’s citizens would prefer driving as opposed to other means of transportation. The car market has also been flourishing, having increased by 17% in 2015 compared to the previous year. The best-selling vehicle in 2015 was the Fiat 500, for the fourth year in a row.
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
EDGEDAVAO
MOTORING
Special Supplement
S5
S6 MOTORING
Special Supplement
EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
EDGEDAVAO
MOTORING
Special Supplement
S7
S8 MOTORING
Special Supplement
EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
S9 Shacman and BeiBen Heavy-Duty Trucks Now in Davao
EDGEDAVAO
MOTORING
Special Supplement
By Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto
A
subsidiary company of Golden Mindanao Global Holdings, Inc. in Don Julian Sr., Ma-a Road, Goldens Dynasty Motors Inc. (GDMI), opens its doors to the industry of quarrying, mining, hauling, trucking, oil/ fuel/ water/ liquid chemical transportation service, concrete mixing transportation, and other businesses that requires quality, reliable, and cost-effective heavy-duty trucks. With varieties of tractor head trucks, dump trucks, cement mixer trucks, oil or water tanker trucks, and other heavy-duty transportation truck line-ups, GDMI’s 3S Shop (truck sales, service, and spare parts) is conveniently located along Lanang -- adjacent to the Anflocor building – Damosa Davao City. Goldens Dynasty Motors, Inc. general manager Eric Borromeo, is currently handling both the Shacman and Beiben companies. Asked why Davao, of all the many cities in the Philippines, he says that, “Davao’s progressive and developing in all aspects. The city is very enticing especially to investors all over the world. Hence, it is but the right choice.” Goldens Dynasty Motors, Inc. distributes a range of brands of Shacman Quality Trucks (MAN Diesel – Germany) and Beiben Trucks -- a North Benz (Mercedez Benz) Company. Shacman trucks, known for their heavy duty trucks, are completely-built units (CBU) manufactured in Shaanxi, China. Shacman, the name, describes its engines as having the aggressive qualities the same as sharks hence Shac (aggressive as the shark) and Man (adopted from MAN Diesel of Germany). Shacman covers offroad vehicles, medium, light and heavy trucks and medium-sized passenger car (chassis). Also included are heavy-duty axles. The Shacman heavy trucks available in GDMI’s
showroom are F3000 Series 4x2/8x4/6x4 Lorry Truck, F2000 Series 8x4/6x4 Dump Truck, F2000 Series 4x2/8x4/6x4 Mixer Truck, F2000 Series 8x4/6x4 Oil Tank Truck and FC Series 6x4/4x2 Tractor Truck. BeiBen Truck (Baotou BeiBen Heavy-Duty Truck Co), on the other hand, also involves a range of heavy-duty prime movers, dump trucks and tractor head trucks. The manufacturer is based in Inner Mongolia, China. Founded in 1988, BeiBen (North Benz) is part of the North industries Group Corporation or NORINCO. Also in 1988 was when BeiBen signed an agreement with Daimler-Benz to manufacture MercedesBenz trucks. Mercedes was to deliver CKD kits for assembly by BeiBen. Within a few years, the trucks would contain 90% domestic parts. By 2010, BeiBen was building 40,000 trucks a year. GDMI diversifies its market, not only in Davao City, but also in neighbouring cities and throughout the Philippines. It has a branch office in Quezon City. GDMI upholds its commitment in uplifting the businesses of truck industries with quality, reliable, and durable heavy – duty trucks. According to GM Borromeo, the company’s goal is to present, promote, and sell the Shacman heavy-duty truck line and as well as Beiben trucks to consumers who are in the business of quarrying, mining, hauling, trucking, oil/ fuel/ water/
Beiben trucks
Shacman trucks
liquid chemical transportation service, concrete mixing transportation, and related businesses that requires quality, reliable, and cost-effective heavy-duty trucks. The general manager added that they also seek to consolidate information regarding market trends, market preferences and competitor’s market activities & promotions of each business sections with the exploitation of heavy duty trucks in a specific area. “In this manner, sales research and development team may further enhance its capacity to promote our featured products and formulate greater strategies in providing quality and quantitative heavy-duty truck sales to our valued consumers.”, GM Borromeo added.
S10 MOTORING
Special Supplement
EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
Pinoy Popemobiles:
A history of Papal Rides
By Antonio Figueroa
B
efore the era of steam engines and inflated tires, popes on religious rites or official state visits were carried on open chairs, the sedia gestatoria (‘chair for carrying’), which were actually portable thrones lifted on their shoulders by six Swiss guards, while the pontiff greeted the crowds that wanted to see him in person. This practice was first introduced in the early 1800s. The first papal carriage was the horse-drawn Berlin di Gran Gala, which resembles the fairy wagon used in Disney wonderland movies. The carts, priceless and historically enriched, are well preserved in the Vatican Musem’s Carriage Pavilion. The first real popemobile, ‘specially-equipped vehicles used to transport the Pope at various public appearances’, was the German-made 1930 Mercedes-Benz Nurburg. In 1929, Pope Pius XI rode on a Fiat 525, an Italian creation, and later an American-made Graham-Paige Type 837. Mercedes-Benz’s historical link to the papacy, starting in 1930, has been consistent. Save for the occasional employment of other popular brands, this German trademark remained the preferred car until Pope Francis I, the pontiff of the squatters, started to use ‘humble cars’, namely the Korean Hyundai Santa Fe, Filipino 2014 Jeepney, Japanese 2015 Isuzu D-Max, Korean 2015 Kia Sedona, French 1984 Renault 4, Italian 2015 Jeep Wrangler and 2015 Fiat 500L. Prior to the ‘age of personal security’, Vatican chose transports such as the 1930 Mercedes-Benz Nurberg, 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300d, 1964 Lincoln Continental, 1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman, 1974 Citroen SM, and the 1973 Fiat Campagnola as official papal vehicle. When the threat of assassination became an issue, Vatican started introducing armored vehicles, mostly heavy units, among them the 1973 FSC Star, 1979 Ford D-Series, 1980 Mercedes-Benz 230-G, 1982 Range Rover Review Car, 1982 Leyland Constructor, 1982 SEAT Panda, 1984 GMC Sierra, 1985 Mercedes Benz 500 SEL, 1987 Mercedes-Benz 608, 1987 Peugeot 504, 1988 Ferrari Mondial, 1997 Mercedes-Benz S-class convertible, 1999 Bus, 2002 Mercedes-Benz ML340, and 2007 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon.
Pinoy popemobiles Although there were other papal stopovers to the country in decades, there were only few pontifical visits recorded. On Nov. 27-29, 1970, Pope Paul VI, now a saint, visited Manila, officiated the Mass at Rizal Park, and was received at the Malacañan Palace by then President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. St. John Paul II, meanwhile, had two pastoral trips to the Philippines. On Feb. 18-23, 1981, the former pope visited the cities of Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Legaspi, Makati, and Davao, and on Jan. 12-16, 1995, attended the World Youth Day in Manila, breaking the Guinness World Record for the largest papal crowd. For his second visit, he rode on a KIA utility vehicle. For his part, Pope Francis I visited the country on Jan. 15-19, 2015, and travelled the streets of Tacloban City, the vortex of the 2012 ‘Yolanda’ super-typhoon, on a customized Kia. During his Philippine visit, the pontiff used several popemobiles. He rode on a 2014 Jeepney upon arrival at Villamor Airbase from Rome, a 2015 Isuzu D-Max for his Luneta Mass, and a Volkswagen Touran for his Palace visit, where he was welcomed by President Benigno S. Aquino III. The last news about the pope’s ‘jeepmobile’ was the willingness of the maker, the ECTK Integrated Security Group, to give the vehicle as a gift to the pontiff, an idea first broached by Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. Pope Francis I’s Philippine popemobiles (2015) The iconic Bronco In his Davao City visit on Feb. 20, 1981, St. John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła) used a stripped Ford Bronco, a multi-purpose vehicle and one of the prized units in the Floirendo car stable, in moving around the crowd that converged at the old Davao International Airport. The
(Left to right) Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Francis I, all Philippine visitors
event coincided with the beatification of Blessed Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint. Wikipedia describes the Ford Bronco, 1978 model, which was redesigned the previous year, as “based on a shortened full sized F-100 pickup, with which it shared many chassis, drivetrain, and body components. The entire front clip is indistinguishable from Ford’s full-sized trucks for these years. It had a removable top and forward folding rear bench seat, similar to the competing Blazer. For 1978, Broncos were equipped with round headlights, with the exception of the Ranger XLT trim model.” Still in A-1 condition, the
F Pinoy, 11
The Ford Bronco, the official car of the papal visit in Davao City last Feb. 20, 1981, with Pope John Paul II, now a saint, atop it (left), accompanied by the late Davao Archbishop Antonio Ll. Mabutas. Inside, a papal escort is shown on the left with 40-year-old Filipino-Lebanese Anthony B. Sasin, then the general manager of Davao Motor Sales (DAMOSA), as official chauffeur. Far right is Sasin today. Top rightmost is the Marian logo of the pope, which was printed on the side of the vehicle.
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016
EDGEDAVAO
MOTORING
Special Supplement
S11
Pope John Paul II, now a saint, holds the Mass before a massive crowd at the old Davao International Airport. Shown on the right is the altar is iconic altar which fuses the Cross, the symbol of Christianity, and the legendary sarimanok, which represents the Muslims and tribes of Mindanao.
The Nissan Navara takes on Davao roads in latest ‘Visit the Philippines, Drive to Discover’
2014 Jeepney (www.ph.news.yahoo.com)
Isuzu D-Max pick-up (www.gmanetwork.com)
Volkswagen Touran (www.ph.new.yahoo.com)
Pinoy... FROM 10 iconic popemobile, given its historical value, has been preserved by the AOF Group of Companies, which owns it; its plate number is LBE 625. During the papal visit it was driven by Anthony B. Sasin, then general manager of Davao Motor Sales (DAMOSA), the exclusive distributor of Ford cars in Davao region. On Jan. 15-18, 2015, an exhibit commemorating the third-decade anniversary of the visit of the pontiff and featuring the papal car was presented at the Damosa Market Basket in Lanang, Davao City. Official chaffeur In an ABS-CBN interview, Sasin recalled his encounter with the pope: “[The Pope] was coming down [from the plane], everybody was crying with joy. I thought he was a simple VIP guy coming, a priest, until he started coming down and, you know, talking to the people and blessing them. And, when he was approaching the vehicle where I was seated down behind the wheel, I was frozen, stunned; I did not know what to do.” Obviously, as official chauffeur, Sasin was not told
about the magnitude of the guest for security reasons. That unforgettable encounter with a pope has become more than just a personal inspiration; it was Anthony’s first encounter with a ‘living saint.’ This visit, in a way, reminds Davaoeños of the ominous homily the great Polish pope delivered on that day, which goes: “The vibrant sound of our voices rending the air of this growing city of Davao, in this rapidly developing island of Mindanao, as we sing the praises of God through and in our Lord Jesus, recalls to us our Lord’s voice addressed to the first Apostles saying: ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and so, I am with you always to the close of the age’. If the visit foretold Davao City’s rise as a future progressive city (and the center of motoring in Mindanao), then the prediction has now been slowly fulfilled.
N
issan Philippines Inc. (NPI) took its media guests on another adventure drive under its “Visit the Philippines, Drive to Discover with Nissan” leg to Davao in Mindanao. The program is created in conjunction with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT). “Visit the Philippines, Drive to Discover with Nissan” aims to boost local tourism through the promotion of road travel to tourism destinations recommended by the TPB. “Through the Drive to Discover program, we wanted to show that there is more to Davao than just the city,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, NPI President and Managing Director “We at Nissan wanted to show that there are still other hidden attractions that can be found in the province. With the help of the Nissan Navara, exploring those nooks and crannies have just become easier, and more comfortable.” The driving tour involved long distance travel over a variety of terrain, which served to highlight the capabilities of the award-winning Nissan Navara. Combining the best of both worlds, the Nissan Navara boasts of the strength and stability of an SUV, and the agility and comfort of a car, thanks to its class-leading multi-link suspension system as well as its suite of new generation Vehicle Dynamics Control system that improves the driving performance as well as safety level with the aid of technological assists such as Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent
Control (HDC), and Traction Control System (TCS). Media guests flagged-off after breakfast from the Yuyu Cafe in Tagum, Davao Del Norte, taking a leisurely drive to the Sleeping Dinosaur Island in Mati, Davao Oriental. A natural attraction for tourists, the Sleeping Dinosaur Island’s lush greenery and sandy beach served as a dramatic backdrop for several photo ops for the guests and the Nissan Navara alike. The drive also afforded the company with a feel of the Nissan Navara’s capabilities, and it did not disappoint as it brought the guests to the next stop, the Menzi Beach Park and Campsite in Dahican, Davao Oriental. Another highlight of the day was the tour in the interactive Subangan Museum, also in Mati, Davao Oriental. Subangan is home to various attractions, chief of which is the 53foot bones of a 20 ton sperm whale called “Davaor”. The ride to the museum was made comfortable for both drivers and passengers, thanks to the Zero Gravity seats in the front row, which were designed to reduce muscle fatigue, and the Dual Zone climate control sys-
tem that allows passengers to customize their level of cooling. Adding to the trip’s ease was the convenient auto-dimming rearview mirror, which was designed to help reduce glare from behind, as well as give the outside temperature display and digital compass info at a glance.
Such was the striking visual impression it made, the Nissan Navara made more than one head turn. The last day of the Davao trip saw the entire group visit other landmarks of the city, highlight of which was the Philippine Eagle Center, where the guests interacted with
The group wound up the day by stopping at the beach resort of Lane’s Kalapyahan in Dahican for dinner. The next day, the group took off bright and early for another long drive through Davao’s countryside, this time for the Banana Beach resort in Tagum. The varying road conditions tested the Nissan Navara’s multi-link suspension system, which easily handled the load and the stresses of the road. Whether on the countryside lane or on city roads, the Nissan Navara easily navigated the demands of both worlds, thanks to its bold exterior design, sleek aerodynamic shapes and distinctive LED lighting.
the with the eagles and had pictures taken with the magnificent birds. Afterwards, the Nissan team took a quick trip to the nearby Balik Bukid Restaurant for a lunch, before heading to the Central Communications and Emergency Response Center (Central 911), considered a centerpiece of the city’s police services, emergency medical services, urban search and rescue operations, fire auxiliary services, and K-9 units. From here, the team then drove to the airport for the flight back to Manila. The Nissan Navara and other Nissan vehicles are available in all Nissan dealerships for test-driving, while the “Visit the Philippines, Drive to Discover with Nissan” is an ongoing project that will run until October 2016.
S12 MOTORING
Special Supplement
EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 9 ISSUE 197 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 2016