2016 was a banner year for me, both at a personal and at a professional level. It was full of travels, and I was thankful to have been able to go to so many new places I had never been before.
2016 saw me fly to Europe three times, visiting five different countries. I was also able to finally see Africa, the Dark Continent as they say. And on a personal trip, I was thankful to see Australia and New Zealand, both beautiful places brimming with life and promise.
Of these places, I was fortunate enough to drive in Portugal, France, Italy and Switzerland, plus of course Bali, Indonesia, truly the island of the gods!
My colleague, Aida Sevilla-Mendoza, wrote about it previously, and you’ll read mine soon enough.
Then, there were the amazing cars I got to drive in 2016: off the top of my head, the impressive Porsche 718 Boxster, the amazing 2017-spec Nissan R35 GTR, the glorious Aston Martin Vantage V12, the simply perfect Ferrari F488, the brilliant MINI Cooper S Cabrio, and Peugeot’s latest SUV offerings (which you’ll also read about in the very near future).
And aside from going fast in some low-slung sled, I went off-road in 2016 quite a number of times, which surprised myself, because I always jokingly tell my friends that I hate getting my shoes dirty. Sand, rock, mud, grass, I had it all!
2016 also saw me try a variety of different types of food.
How the French just can’t live without cheese and foie gras, raw shellfish and hard bread.
How the Balinese love babi guling, and how Moroccans love their dates, nuts and other exotic spices mixed into their meats.
And how paella negra in Barcelona is truly the best (though friends from Seville say otherwise), and how cold cuts really get me constipated in the morning.
2016 meant spectacular views and vistas. The vast expanse that is the Sahara Desert, the knee-trembling fjord of Milford Sound in New Zealand, the truly heavenly interior of the Sagrada Familia Basilica, and the awe-inspiring mountain range of the Alps traversing France, Switzerland and Italy.
2016 also saw me indulge in a good amount of car culture. I attended a few car shows, displayed my cars, and attended events of other car clubs just to see the growth of the scene, the increased quality of aftermarket car builds, and the passion for all things cars and motoring-related.
2016 was truly a great year for local car guys.
2016 also saw me at some of the lowest, most difficult and challenging points in my life. A good mix of family, personal and business decisions meant a lot of sacrifices, lots of heartaches and lost opportunities.
The same can be said about the change sweeping through our country given the current socio-political landscape. But as they say, whatever doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger.
Crucially, 2016 saw the auto industry grow further. While official reports from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (Campi) have yet to be finalized as of this writing, the initial feedback is very positive.
It does look like we will sell roughly 380,000 cars in 2016.
We have far more choices for cars, interest rates for financing are still at very low levels (relative to a decade ago), and it is easier to gain information and test drive cars now than before.
The Duterte administration has also been very swift rushing many key infrastructure projects to alleviate the traffic conditions that are greatly affecting our country’s capital.
My friend, Public Works and Highways Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Atty. Karen Jimeno, is always discussing with me DPWH’s plans for infra projects whenever we see each other, and while I cannot yet divulge any information on DPWH’s future projects, I can say that under the very capable hands of Sec. Mark Villar and the rest of his team, there are many projects that will truly help improve the everyday lives of motorists and nonmotorists alike in the Philippines, and not just in Metro Manila.
There are challenges to the auto industry, of course, such as the proposed tax increase on cars to help shore up the potential P50 billion or so of lost government income from the closure of the many mining firms with questionable practices as well as a variety of online gaming companies; the effect of the administration’s all-out drug war and the ensuing collateral damage; and the President’s admittedly questionable/amusing statements against the various foreign powers that tend to affect foreign direct investments to the country.
But as they say, things will get worse before they get better.
A most intriguing and profound quote I saw in my recent trip to Australia said there is no certainty, only opportunity.
2016 was tough and challenging, but I would like to think that because of the Filipino people’s resilience, hard work and determination, mixed with some good luck, it was rewarding as well.
Adversity teaches us to be fighters, and we need to keep fighting the good fight. How was your 2016?
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