Motoring Today Column

Dec 07, 2022

Saludo Sa Serbisyo

Thank you for your service.

That's a phrase we often hear that's become a cliche in some parts of the world.

It's also a phrase we seldom hear locally but maybe should.

Perhaps it's about time that we let those in the uniformed services - soldiers, policemen, firemen, navy, air force, coast guard, etc - feel appreciated for their work.

Perhaps respect for those in the uniformed services will in turn make them respect their uniforms more too.

The Ayala Group is to be commended for coming up with its Saludo sa Serbisyo program to honor the noble men and women in uniform in the armed forces-a

gesture of gratitude for their patriotism, heroism, and service.

These include the active and retired personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

VW Saludo

Volkswagen Philippines has joined the Saludo sa Serbisyo program to offer exclusive deals for its line of distinguished German -precision vehicles to those in the aforementioned uniformed services.

Until December 31, 2022, special discounts make some VW vehicles more affordable to those in the uniformed services.

The Santana MPI MT subcompact sedan for just P535,000; the Santana 180 MPI AT S for P720,000; theSantana 180 MPI AT SE, for P863,000; the Santana GTS 180 MPI AT SE for P980,000;

The Lavida 230 TSI DSG SE compact sedan for P903,000; theLamando 280 TSI DSG SE midsize sedan for P1,479,000; the Lamando 280 TSI DSG SEL for P1,613,000;

And the 2022 T-Cross 180 MPI AT SE with Active Info Display for P1,283,000.

Maxus Saludo

Also a member of the AC Motors, Maxus Philippines is offering special discounts that make its lineup of vehicles even more affordable for those qualified to avail themselves of the Saludo sa Serbisyo deals.

These include the Maxus G10 2020 1.9 AT Elite van for just P1,695,000;

The V80 2019 2.5 MT Comfort van, for P1,415,000; the V80 2019 2.5 MT Transport 18-seater for P1,243,000; the V80 2019 2.5 MT Transport 15-seater for P1,233,000; the V80 2022 2.5 MT Flex for P1,025,000;

The Maxus G50 2021 1.5 AT Premium Compact MPV for P1,273,000; the G50 2021 1.5 AT PRO for P1,061,000; the G50 2021 1.5 AT Elite for P1,141,000; the G50 2020 1.3 MT Comfort for P933,000;

And the Maxus D60 2021 1.5 AT Pro SUV for P1,121,000; the D60 2021 1.5 AT Elite for P1,243,000.

Hyundai Lights

Hyundai Motor Philippine has a special gift for families this holiday season that will make them take delight in the joy and wonder of Christmas.

In its first Christmas as Hyundai Motor Philippines, the South Korean car distributor is taking part in country's biggest on-ground holiday spectacle, the Mall of Asia (MOA) Night of Lights (NOL).

SM MOA, in partnership with The Walt Disney Company Philippines, Inc. (Disney), has created creating seven larger-than-life Disney-themed zones which will be powered by Hyundai.

Hyundai Motor Philippines president Dongwook Lee explains the reason for being part of the MOA Night of Lights: "This is our first Christmas as Hyundai Motor Philippines and we want to celebrate it with our Filipino customers by putting smiles on their faces and bringing them quality time, which is to us the most precious commodity. "

He adds: "We are excited to join this initiative of SM. The MOA Concert Grounds has been turned into the happiest place in the Philippines and we can't wait for everyone to come by there and have a magical evening with us and our cars."

Some purchases are involved and one needs to fully enjoy MOA Night of Lights with Hyundai and its range of vehicles.

Defender 130 Arrives

Those who like off-roading in great comfort with a large group of friends should be happy to know the Land Rover Defender 130 has now arrived on our shores.

But one doesn't have to be an off-roader to enjoy the eight-seater Defender.

All British Cars Inc ., sole importer and distributor of Land Rover in the Philippines, has rolled out the New Defender 130 which features a longer wheelbase and extended body that accommodates full-sized seating for eight and all the off-road capability and articulations of Land Rover all-terrain vehicles.

Made available locally is the Defender 130 with a D300 six-cylinder diesel engine for only Php12,190,00 with the bespoke accessory pack that includes fix side steps, deep-sided rubber mats and load space rubber mats.

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)