Motoring Today Column

Apr 13, 2022

New Sojitz Prexy

We'd like to welcome the new man at the head ofSojitz G Auto Philippines, the distributor of Geely cars in the country.

Yugo Kiyofuji now steers SGAP as president and CEO.

Kiyofuji succeeds Yosuke Nishi who blazed a trail for the Geely brand in the country.

After entering the local market in 2019, Nishi led Geely past the 10,000 sales mark by March of 2022, with a lineup of just three models, among the fastest to reach the milestone in just two years and eight months.

Kiyofuji vows to do as well, saying his goal is to take Geely to the next level and become one of the top passenger vehicle brands in the country by 2025.

At the same time, we also like to welcome Kazuki Sugino, who has been appointed as chief administrative officer tasked to strengthen the quality of SGAP operations.

MIAS is Back

The auto industry is said to be a good mirror of how the economy is going. If the auto industry is doing well, so is the whole economy.

So the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) finally returning after a two-year absence forced by the global Covid-19 pandemic can be said to augur well for the industry and the country's economy.

Over four days the MIAS drew thousands of car enthusiasts - many coming as families - to enjoy the latest and best offerings of the local auto industry from auto manufacturers and distributors to the downstream sectors like the makers and sells of parts and accessories.

This can reflect what everybody is hoping for: the economy finally opening and normalcy returning, albeit the so-called new normal.

Both for the industry and the car enthusiasts, the MIAS returning with its 17th edition is a happy event and a reunion of sorts.

A reunion that brings together in one venue, automakers, parts and tire suppliers, accessories distributors showcasing their latest and best models and products.

Angkas Rides Polls

Elections are meant to give people a chance to choose who they think would best represent their interests.

Angkas , a pioneer of the motorcycle taxi industry, gave its members and motorcycle owners the chance to determine who among the senatorial candidates would look after their welfare.

Candidates for senators were invited to the Angkas Safety Fiesta held in Cainta which was attended by around 3,000 motorcycle owners, including many Angkas rider-partners.

According to Angkas CEO George Royce, more than 90 percent of motorcycle owners are low-income breadwinners many of whom use their two-wheeled rides as a means of livelihood as well affordable and convenient personal transport.

Motorcycles owner say they suffer from lack of bike-friendly infrastructure, livelihood benefits, and the proper system to protect them from being regarded and treated as second-class citizens on the road.

At the Safety Fiesta, the senator-wannabes were asked about plans they have that would benefit bikers.

Senatorial candidate Chel Diokno said that government should be focusing more on how to move people in the metropolis in the shortest possible time and that motorcycles are really suited to that role.

]But he said government must also improve the mass transport system.

Seeking reelection, Senator Risa Hontiveros cited the need to constantly dialog with the motorcycle entrepreneur sector to learn their needs and address these in the form of appropriate legislation.

Teddy Baguilat of the Liberal Party cited the role of motorcycle riders in helping keep the economy afloat during the Covid-19 lockdowns, providing public transport as well making on-line shopping deliveries, including food and medicine as well as other necessities. He also vowed to look into the problem of lack of spare motorcycle parts.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries:

(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

(website) www.motoringtoday.ph

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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)