Jan 24, 2018


They don't just manufacture, import or sell cars

Being one of the country’s pioneering motoring journalists I have the fortunate experience of seeing the development of Philippine motoring in the past three decades—from motorsports to its industry.

Aside from being able to conduct the country’s “first time” TV coverage of international motorsports events like Formula One and the Macao Grand Prix, I also had the enviable opportunity of knowing and interviewing some of the world’s and the country’s motorsports exponents, the closest of which is having as co-host and very dear friend the then “living legend of Philippine racing” the late Jose “Pocholo” Ramirez.

As for the now rapidly developing automotive industry I have seen how car companies have evolved in their efforts to update the motoring media about their latest products so the public may be better informed about what’s available in the market. Starting with allowing the weekend out of town use of their prized brand new models leveling up to organized international test-drives extending from Asian countries to those in Europe including the US.

In the middle of all these marketing efforts, some of which are logistically nightmarish are initiatives from some industry players, in their own little or big way to help the country’s populace. Now more specifically labeled as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, these undertakings help enhance the lives of Filipinos through community development, promoting road safety, education and vocational training, disaster relief, caring for the environment and many more, with most if not all of these efforts “under the radar”, so to speak or without any of the usual drum roll or fanfare.

Realizing that these laudable ventures have long been unrecognized, theSociety of Philippine Motoring Journalists ( SPMJ), a non-profit foundation composed of broadcasters, editors and writers (print, broadcast and online) covering the motoring beat has decided to step up to the plate via the annual SPMJ ‘Driven to Serve Awards’.

Aside from giving these commendable projects and their proponents their long-delayed and much-deserved recognition, the ‘Driven to Serve Awards’ are also aimed to encourage the industry players that are already deep into CSR to do better and continue with their efforts and for the entire sector to follow suit.

Now on its 2nd year of staging, the prestigious awards program shall give recognition to outstanding CSR projects covering, a) Environment Protection and Preservation b) Community Development c) Education and Training d) Road Safety.

To recall here are the SPMJ‘Driven to Serve’ awardees for 2017.

ROAD SAFETY

Platinum - FORD PHILIPPINES

Gold - VOLKSWAGEN PHILIPPINES

Gold - HONDA CARS PHILIPPINES

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Platinum - TOYOTA MOTOR PHILIPPINES

Gold - ISUZU PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

Silver - PGA CARS, INC.

ENVIRONMENT

Gold - TOYOTA MOTOR PHILIPPINES

Silver - ISUZU PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

Silver - MITSUBUSHI MOTORS PHILIPPINES CORP.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Platinum - TOYOTA MOTOR PHILIPPINES

Silver - NISSAN PHILIPPINES, INC.

Silver - FORD PHILIPPINES

Like last year the NLEX Corporation, headed by its ever-supportive President, Mr. Rod Franco has again pledged its participation and backing. SPMJ has sought the support of other corporate entities outside of the auto industry to ensure the perpetuation of these inspiring and prestigious awards and is still waiting for their confirmation.

Here’s the list of this year’s candidate awardees and the categories of the CSR projects they belong to.

2018 Driven to Serve Awards List of Entries:

A. ENVIRONMENT

  1. Honda Cars Philippines — Tree Planting with Haribon Foundation
  2. Isuzu Philippines Corp — Tree Planting at Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve
  3. Toyota Motor Philippines — Adopt A Forest program

B. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

  1. Toyota Motor Philippines — Medical and Dental Outreach Program
  2. Lexus Manila — Donations to Children’s Hour campaign
  3. Hyundai Philippines — Rainwater Harvesting System
  4. Mitsubishi Motors Phils. — Promoting Reading Literacy program
  5. Nissan Philippines, Inc. — Disaster Risk Reduction training for barangay
  6. Ford Philippines — Operation Better World program

C. ROAD SAFETY

  1. Honda Cars Philippines — One Honda Road Safety Program
  2. Volkswagen Philippines — Child Safety Initiative Campaign
  3. Ford Philippines — Driving Skills For Life

D. EDUCATION & TRAINING

  1. Isuzu Philippines Corp. — Isuzu-Jacobo Gonzalez memorial school

knowledge sharing partnership

  1. Mazda Philippines — Mazda and AAP partnership for Motorsports

development program

  1. Honda Cars Philippines — 1M Blue Eco-Safe Driving Campaign
  2. Toyota Motor Philippines — Pasiglahin ang estudyanteng Pinoy Feeding

Program

The posh Palms Country Club in Alabang shall again be the venue of the judging scheduled on February 8 where each CSR project shall be described via a 10-minute audio-visual presentation. A Q&A session with the judges and moderated by a sitting SPMJ officer will immediately follow the AVP.

An intimate gathering of awardees, when they shall be fittingly given their highly merited recognition is scheduled in March at the Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza, which is the official venue sponsor.

The country’s auto industry has been showing that it’s not here just to manufacture, import and sell cars. It’s only proper that we recognize its sincere efforts to help in nation building.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments and inquiries (email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ray Butch Gamboa graduated from the College of Arts and Letters of the University of Sto. Tomas. It was a course that should have been preparatory to a law degree, but the call of broadcasting aborted his plans.

At the age of 16, while still a student, Butch tried his hand at disc jockeying, landing a job at Mareco Broadcasting Network’s AM stations DZBM and DZLM. From there, Butch moved on with his illustrious career as a popular disc jockey, riding the airwaves of Bob Stewart’s middle-of-the-road music at DZXX, and ending his disc jockeying career at ABS-CBN’s DZYL and DZQL.

From there, he stayed on with ABS-CBN, covering live the proceedings at the Manila Stock Exchange and eventually entered into the world of television sales as an account manager for the premier channel of ABS-CBN Channel 2.

In the early 70’s, at the outbreak of Martial Law, Butch was one of the thousands of professionals who woke up jobless when then President Marcos declared the new status of the nation. With the closure of ABS-CBN, Butch ventured into different fields outside of broadcast. He tried his hand and with ease and success at export (Costume jewelry), real estate (brokerage), and restaurants (fast food).

In 1987, after the revolution, with the broadcast industry back to its free state, and with its irresistible call ringing in his ears, Butch made his inevitable comeback and pioneered in a local motoring show, producing Motoring Today on Channel 4 and co-hosting with local motor sports’ living legend Pocholo Ramirez.

After 4 years, he ventured into another pioneering format by producing and hosting Business & Leisure, which was originally aired on ABS-CBN’s Channel 2. The format eventually espoused similar ones in other different channels. But the clones in due course faded away leaving the original staying on airing on Channel 4 and eventually on Shop TV on Sky Cable’s Channel 13.

The following year, the pioneering spirit in Butch spurred him to produce another TV show, Race Weekend, also on Channel 4, covering circuit racing at the Subic International Raceway after the motor sport’s hiatus of 17 years. But when similar shows with duplicated formats sprouted, he decided to give way and ended the program after a year, although still enjoying unparalleled viewership.

In 1998, when the local automotive industry was in a slump, Butch contributed his share to help the ailing industry by producing another popular motoring-related show, this time exclusive to the automobile and its industry—Auto Focus, which became a vehicle for local automotive assemblers and importers to showcase their products and dwell on the industry’s latest technological developments.

In 2003, Butch teamed up with his brother, Rey Gamboa who was a former Shell executive and presently one Philippine Star’s business columnist to co-produce and co-host the TV show Breaking Barriers on Channel 13. It is a talk show that features guests who are in the news and in the middle of controversies. The program ventures to draw deeper insights into current issues to learn how they impact to our daily lives.

Today, Motoring Today on its 28th year of service to the general motoring public still enjoys its unprecedented loyal vierwership nationwide while Auto Focus, after 16 years has firmly established its niche viewership among automobile enthusiasts and on the other hand Business & Leisure is on its 24th year dishing out current business issues and lifestyle features.

Today, aside from writing weekly columns for the Philippine Star (Motoring Today on Wednesdays and Business & Leisure on Saturdays) and executive producer / host of weekly TV shows (Motoring Today, airs Sundays on Solar Sports Channel 70, Business & Leisure, airs Tuesdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13 and Auto Focus airs Thursdays on Shop TV, Sky Cable Channel 13, Ray Butch Gamboa is currently the Chairman and CEO of Sunshine Television Production and Marketing Services Corp., President of Gamcor Management and Development Corp., Chairman of Asia-Pacific Realty Corporation, President and Chairman of Socio-Communication Foundation for Asia and Founding Chairman of the Society of Phil. Motoring Journalists (SPMJ)