WHETHER we like it or not, the Lexus Show last Sunday at the Lexus Manila showroom was a spectacular SRO (standing-room only) performance. Every nook and cranny was filled, as even the entire Lexus staff—from janitorial to security to administrative—had been graciously allowed free viewing of what had been hyped as the world’s biggest sporting event of the year.
Truly, the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight had lived up to its billing: It drew world celebrities, from Hollywood (Robert de Niro, Mark Wahlberg, Clint Eastwood, Jamie Foxx) to business tycoons (Donald Trump) to sporting giants (Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Andre Agassi, Michael Jordan, Steffi Graf, Russell Westbrook, Magic Johnson) to music icons (Beyoncé, Jay Z, Justin Bieber).
Did they arrive onboard flashy cars, if not the grandest of limos? You bet. On home grounds, the scene at the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel, site of the fight, was virtually reprised. Spectators came in droves to prime Lexus land, rendering the decision to renovate the Lexus showroom very timely, indeed. Give credit to Alfred Ty, the Lexus chairman, for his tactical move to complete the refurbishing in record time.
Thus, the best and the brightest from motoring media dutifully answered the invite of Lexus President Danny “Sir John” Isla to again view for free the duel dubbed the “Fight of the Century.” Sir John has been staging this unique get-together among mainly motoring journalists beginning with the Pacquiao-Cotto fight in 2009 (Pacquiao won via 12th-round TKO). The “absent friends” missed a lot, especially the camaraderie that rented the air as even a number of of Lexus’s loyal clientele had freely mixed with the Fourth Estate flock, sharing laughter and joy while partaking no less of the usual special food fare from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., thanks to the exquisite cuisine of Bing Pimentel’s Ilustrado from Intramuros, Manila.
Everybody arrived wearing a smile. When the fight was over, though, only a few had the same smile on their faces. Reason? Pacquiao, virtually everyone’s bet to win, lost.
One with the sweetest smile was Toshihiko “Toshi-san” Hiranuma, Sir John’s deputy. Reason? With Mayweather’s points victory, Toshi-san won some moolah in the fun bets. He actually split the loot with Valentin “VD” Dakuykoy. They had ice-cold San Mig light afterward to celebrate their momentous triumph.
“I don’t drink beer, but in the spirit of what we have achieved, I will drink beer with you,” Toshi-san said to VD. “This is a rare moment worth celebrating. Kampai!”
Grudgingly, because in VD’s heart he wanted Pacquiao to win (he also placed bets on PacMan to win by knockout), VD raised his glass, too.
What a day in the life of Pacquiao, whose fleet of automobiles includes a Ferrari, a BMW and a Benz, who ended up the sorry loser—sorrier even because he stunned the world by saying he fought Mayweather with an injured shoulder he suffered three weeks before the fight. So, we might have watched a scam of a fight—with our very own Pacquiao an unwitting accomplice? Gosh! We’d rather that we keep the fond memories than dwell on this nonsense?
Toshi-san, more beer, please?
Volks PHL highlights child safety
I commend Volks Philippines for highlighting road child safety in its stint in the recent Manila International Auto Show (MIAS).
It is with this framework that Volkswagen Philippines launched its CSI (child-safety initiative) during the MIAS. The CSI is twofold. One, it teaches parents and kids about road dangers and how to prevent them. Two, it educates the use of child-seats together with the factory-standard safety systems like airbags, active collision systems and the Isofix child-seat fixations.
In his speech at the MIAS, Volks Philippines President JP Orbeta said: “Our CSI campaign, a central focus of the entire Ayala Group of Companies, is anchored on the uplift of children’s welfare. One significant project though is also the support for the gifted children via the Centex [Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education]. Ayala Foundation is supporting bright and deserving student of Centex, believing that these students might one day become our nation’s leaders.”
On May 12 Volks Philippines will distribute musical instruments like violins to musically inclined pupils from Tondo, Manila, in ceremonies set at the car company’s offices at Bonifacio Global City. In my preteens, I had also wanted to play the violin but lack of money saw me settling for the ukulele.
New Isuzu president
Introduced recently in an elaborate program at Solaire’s massive Grand Ballrom was Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) new president, Hajime Koso. He will have big shoes to fill as outgoing president Isuzu Nobuo Izumina has set astonishing records while at the helm of IPC, which includes a record high of 14,134 units sold in 2014.
Izumina is now director of Isuzu Body Corp., an affiliate of Isuzu Motors Ltd. in Tokyo.
Koso, 57, has been with IML for 35 years, handling mostly sales and overseas operations. He has been assigned in Isuzu’s North and South Americas from 1999 to 2008.
In his acceptance speech, Koso said: “In the past two years, the country’s record for automotive sales has seen a significant growth which is probably due to the overall growth of the economy. My previous assignment in Indonesia made me aware of the Asean market, the Philippines will be a challenging task but I think it will be worthwhile.” Here’s wishing you all the best, Koso-san.
That’s it. Time to change cars? Why not give BMW’s Trade-Up Weekend from May 14 to 17 a try? They allow BMWs not older than five years to be traded for brand-new. Any model. Wow! And by the way, congrats to Glen Dasig, the former BMW hotshot, who has been promoted president of Peugeot Philippines. Cheers! When do we clink glasses, Glen?