TAT Filipinas Golf Club, San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines

NOTHING AND nothing could keep all those who aspired to matter in the country’s highly competitive motoring industry from converging at Tat Pilipinas in San Pedro, Laguna, last Tuesday, November 16, for the First Philippine Automotive Golf Cup. Differences, even idiosyncrasies, were set aside on this auspicious day.

“I didn’t know that golf could bring all of you together,” addressed Philippine Daily Inquirer chairman Marixi Prieto during the awarding ceremonies to the 115 tournament participants, including 19 chief executive officers representing the power blocks of the industry’s vehicle manufacturers, assemblers, luxury car importers, dealers, suppliers and contractors.

Even mega busy tycoons like Alfred Ty, Felix Ang and Pepito Alvarez, found time to drop in to fill their lungs with fresh country air as well as share some light talk with competitors, friends and associates in the business.

Though he didn’t make it to the game proper, Robert Coyuito Jr. lent support, arriving in style with his chopper.

It does help that everyone in the Philippine motoring industry is just standing in wait for the clock to strike the end of year chime before passing out congratulatory pats for chalking surprisingly banner year results despite economic uncertainties and a tougher competitive environment.

This year’s auto industry sales is poised to break the existing record with most, if not all, of the major players reporting sharp increases.

Despite the charmed statistics, 2010 had not been a walk in the park as far as the global industry leaders are concerned. Worldwide, GM had to face the fall-out of its financial bail-out in the US and its consequent restructuring. The formidable Toyota empire too had its share of uncomfortable moments, starting with the shrinking demand for vehicles across developed countries, and later compounded by safety recalls on accelerator and brake problems.

Even the local industry found reason for discord. The lifting of trade restrictions under AFTA were superimposed by new treaties aimed at mitigating perceived shifts in competitiveness, but which supposedly only built additional trade barriers and further uneven playing fields. Shifting interests as a result had led to shifting allegiances.

But enough of the serious stuff. PAGC, at least for the day, gave the industry players an opportunity to forget the daily work grind. In the team play for example, Team Toyota, with its artillery of nine corporate executives, gallantly bowed to Team Ford’s foursome made up of Edmund Yee, Anthony Cheng, Andrei Borromeo and Ryan Lorenzo.

In the individual play, Hyundai’s Leo San Juan carded the overall lowest net, besting by only a fraction of a point Ford’s Edmund Yee who happily accepted honors as Class A champion. The best in Class B was Toyota’s Rommel Gutierrez, while BMW’s Bong Santos grabbed Class C honors.

And to the envy of all, Nissan’s Ronald Olit accomplished that elusive ace on the short, 160-yard third hole with the unlikliest of clubs- a driver.

For an occasional golfer who had to be dragged in to play at the last minute, a flapping golf shoe could not compete with the widest of smiles that came with winning two-not one-golf carts donated by motorsports czar Johnny Tan through his Kart Plaza Manufacturing firm and Club Car.

Pilipinas Shell co-presented the tournament. Lucerne, Sledgers through the Primer Group, Batangas Racing Circuit were the major sponsors while Bosch, Philippine Airlines, Print Town, Red Rock Travel, Winter Pine, Sea Air, Club 357 Boracay and GEC were minor sponsors. The other sponsors were Johnnie Walker, Concept One, Goodyear, Automobile Association of the Philippines, Boracay Sands, Coca Cola, Club 357, Penk Ching of Pastry Bin, Sun Valley Suites, Primal Enterprises, Fuentes Manila, Master Sports, Riz Golf Trophies, Xenon Bulbs, Mothers Detailing, Tuason Racing School and Antonio’s.

MANILA, Philippines—They were able to shake the car industry out of the doldrums, an extraordinary feat considering that car sales have remained uninspired for the past several years.

By launching more appealing car models—with better performing engines and more inspired designs—coupled with a more aggressive marketing strategy, the country’s car companies have succeeded in wooing back buyers.

Lots of them, in fact.

For the first time in more than a decade, this year’s domestic car sales are poised to exceed the 1996 sales figure of 162,000 units—a pre-Asian crisis high.

To acknowledge this feat, the Philippine Daily Inquirer Motoring section and Inquirer Golf Monthly magazine together with major backer Pilipinas Shell have decided that it’s time to salute the irrepressible car executives and the other industry partners and treat them to a game of golf that they will not easily forget.

The First Philippine Automotive Golf Cup, which will be held at the TAT Filipinas Golf Club in San Pedro, Laguna, on November 16 will certainly be an excellent reason for them to take time out from their busy schedule.

After all, almost everyone in the local automotive business will be there—the big bosses behind the Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Foton, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, MINI Cooper, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, UMC, Toyota, and Volvo brands in the Philippines—and it would be exciting to know who among them will turn out to be the most skilled—or the luckiest—in the game of golf.

“I believe every executive needs interludes of quiet and rest as he or she thinks through what has been going on in his or her office. Golf events such as this offer us a chance to clear away some of the stresses at work,” said Isuzu Motor Philippines SVP Arthur Balmadrid who will be playing along with the automaker’s Japanese executives.

Balmadrid added the First Philippine Automotive Golf Cup is a perfect event to link up with their colleagues in the automotive industry most of whom enjoy their weekends by heading to their favorite golf courses.

“While we try to outdo each other in the hope of posting the best car sales figure, we are fellow partners all working to make the Philippine car industry return to profitability,” he said.

Balmadrid is also excited about the game’s venue describing TAT Filipinas Golf Club “as one of the finest and most challenging golf courses in the country.”

Designed by world renowned Japanese architect Inoue Seiichi, the championship 18-hole, par 72 course puts sustainability at its heart considering that it conserves water way much better than the rest as well as uses nitrogen fertilizer way below the prescribed limits.

Such sustainability efforts bodes well for the players of the November 16 event considering these automotive executive also puts sustainability at the heart of their respective company’s operations as well as car products.

What the Inquirer Motoring and Inquirer Golf Monthly prepared should prove exciting for the participants.

The First Philippine Automotive Golf Cup will be awarded to the team (made up of car executives) which will score the lowest in a four-to-play, three-to-count format.

The event will also feature a separate individual competition among all the invited guests.

Of course not only the car executives will be able to enjoy the game as their invited teammates (dealers and suppliers) will also be able to play in the Open category.

The First Philippine Automotive Golf Cup, which is presented by Pilipinas Shell and supported by Lucerne, The Primer Group/Travel Club and Johnny Tan as major sponsors and Bosch, Philippine Airlines and Red Rock Travel as minor sponsors will give the winning teams travel packages, golf carts and many more.

Hole-in-one prizes include a Yamaha cart and a Club Car.

Among the sponsors are Print Town Group of Companies, Hinge Inquirer Publications, Home Depot, The Bellevue Manila, Winterpine, Club 357, Boracay Sands, Johnnie Walker, Concept One, Master Sports Corp., and the Autohub Group.