Motoring Today Column: Driven To Serve

Apr 20, 2022

Driven To Serve

Companies big and small now all have Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. CSR programs have become a major part of many corporations, serving to add more than just luster to the brand but becoming a major pillar of institutions.

CSR programs come in many forms, serving various communities, espousing various advocacies, with varying amounts of success.

The Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists, or SPMJ, of which we are a founding member, has made it an advocacy to recognize and celebrate outstanding and successful CSR programs of automotive and motorcycle companies.

The CSR programs are judged in several categories: education and training, community development, road safety, environment, and in a nod to the present times, Covid response.

Awards are also categorized asPlatinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze, with Platinum being the highest.

The SPMJ Driven to Serve Awards is now on its fifth year with another bumper crop of outstanding and successful CSR programs to recognize and celebrate.

In this latest crop of Driven to Serve awardees, one stood out- the Heart and Smile Program of Isuzu which attained the Platinum award in the education and training category, the only one awarded the highest recognition this year.

Since 2008, the Heart and Smile Program supported the Isuzu-TESDA Automotive Mechanic Training Center , which has graduated more than 300 young scholars, all of them now gainfully employed at Isuzu and other automotive companies, with a few starting their own shops.

The SPMJ announced the winners of the 5th Driven to Serve Awards in a simple recognition ceremony held via Zoom with the awardees.

Another awardee in the education and training category isToyota Motor Philippines Foundation receiving theGold award for its basic education support for thePulong Santa Cruz Elementary School in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Toyota also received the Gold award for its Mobility Support to COVID-19 Healthcare Frontliners program .

We'd also like to congratulate other DTS Awardees in the other categories.

Ford Philippines got three Gold awards, one for itsBuilding Healthy Communities, another for itsDriving Skills For Life, a third for its COVID-19 Relief Philippines programs.

Suzuki Philippines got Silver awards forProject SHARE (Suzuki Helps, Aids and Rebuilds); theSuzuki Safety Scouts program, theSuzuki Safety Riding Webinar project, and its Libreng Sakay Program for Healthcare Workers.

It also got the Bronze award for its "Suzuki Lends Raider J Crossover to Medical Frontliners" project .

Honda Cars Philippines got a Gold award for itsBantay Baterya and Bantay Langis project. It also receivedSilver awards for itsTeen Smart- Road Safety for Teens program and its Assistance to Medical Frontliners during the Pandemic.

Honda Philippines, Inc . got the Gold award for Honda Foundation's donation of 104 motorcycles to the Philippine Red Cross and construction supplies to typhoon-affected houses in Catanduanes .

We'd also like to recognize the sterling work of SPMJ members, including our president, Pinky Colmenares, as well as members of the DTS steering committee Jenny Pineda, Maribelle Alba, and Arnel Doria for the successful conclusion of the fifth edition of the Driven to Serve Awards.

All New HR-V Arrives

Honda Cars Philippines has just launched the All-New HR-V.

Honda says it is "ready to create a new phenomenon again" with the latest generation of the subcompact crossover after selling more than 7,000 units of the old generation HR-V since its debuted locally back in 2015.

The All-New HR-V combines functionality, safety and advanced features, sophisticated design and superior driving experience that Honda promises will "Amp Up Your Life."

Two engine options are available. A 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine producing 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque powers the HR-V S CVT. The V-Turbo CVT gets a turbocharged 1.5-liter VTEC engine that maxes out at 177PS and 240 Nm of torque.

Both are mated to a continuously variable transmission.

The new HR-V also come standard with Honda SENSING, a suite of active safety and driver assist features that include Collision Mitigation Braking System; Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow; Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation System with Lane Departure Warning, Auto High-Beam, Lead Car Departure Notification System.

Zero Interest RX

If you're in the market for a Lexus RX, don't let the month end without visiting the Lexus Philippines showroom at the BGC.

Our friends there are offering the Lexus RX 350 and the RX 350 F Sport with a Zero Interest plan while throwing in a Free Two-Year Periodic Maintenance package.

Both are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 direct-injection engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Lexus says the RX remains the most popular and best-selling model in the local lineup. It adds that the RX should fit right into buyers with an active lifestyle who seek "a sophisticated blend of the comfort of a luxury car and the driving pleasure and added convenience of a high-riding SUV."

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)