Arnell Ignacio’s ‘bignelli cars’ bridal car business
MANILA, Philippines – Celebrity/host Arnell Ignacio’s passion for cars brought him to bridal car business where he is offering no less that his prized possessions.
In an interview with Arnell, he said his “bignelli cars” started a year ago when he interviewed for his radio program Ms. Sharon Fabian, the organizer of Wedding Expo held at SMX Convention Center last March 12 and 13.
“I interviewed her and I was fond of cars, She asked what I would do with my cars because they’re a lot. She told me to try a bridal car service. I did not event think that the business would earn,” said Ignacio in Filipino.
Ignacio added that he decided to participate in the expo.
“This is our third already. The first time he participated, it was for free. We were given a free spot. I was surprised by the response of the people. There is really such a thing as a bridal industry and then we participated again, more prepared, meron na kaming [we had] flyers, meron na kaming [we had a] contract, magandang experience din [it was also a good experience], nakakatuwa [amusing],” he noted.
Ignacio said he has been participating in the bridal expo ever since.
He said that the cars were already available long before he joined the bridal car rental business.
“I’m fond of restoring cars. Like the 1965 Lincoln Continenta, after I restored it, I wondered what I would do with it. It’s nice to see a couple in a wedding express their delight after they see the vehicle,” Ignacio said.
He also narrated how he acquired his prized cars.
“The 1965 Lincoln Continental was posted on Buy and Sell, at the corner. I stared at the picture and recognized the car as a Lincoln because it’s very recognizable, it’s shape. So I went to see it and saw it in a corner,” he said.
Ignacio said that he found out that the original owner of the 1965 Lincoln Continental was the late actor Fernando Poe, Jr.
“It’s because it’s rare, with 89 units all over the world, including this 1965 model. They have a yahoo group and there are only 109 members all over the world. It’s amusing because it’s not about money, it’s about having a car that nobody has. No matter how much money you have if you can’t buy a thing with it, it’s nothing,” he said.
Aside from the 1965 Lincoln Continental, Ignacio said he also has a 1993 Lincol Continental which he also restored.
“I saw this one in the car store of a friend who just got back from Dubai. It was ugly, I thought that it would be best to make it into an idol. I also thought that it would look good as a bridal car so I restored it. I searched the Internet, e-bay, for everything that it needed. I changed the useless spare parts one by one. It was really difficult and it required a lot of patience. The useless parts were change one by one. Some of the parts are even shipped. It was really difficult and required patience, like the light that I bought fom the US. Unit I was able to piece the prts together,” Ignacio said.
He added that all the parts used in restoring his cars were all original.
“When they saw it [during the bridal expo at SMX], people said it looked like it was fresh from the factory] even if it was a 1993 model and 18 years old. Like a young man actually,” he added.
Aside from the two Lincoln Continental, Arnell said he was offering his 2000 Porsche Carrera which he bought for P6 million.
“I am a lover of Porsche and the rest [of the cars] mula sa konting naipon ko [from my little savings],” he said.
He has also his 1985 Mercedes Benz 280E.
“Yung Hummer, sa kabarkada ko yun pero pakuha na rin ako [The hummer belongs to my friend but I also asked him to get me one],” Arnell added.
Ignacio said he offered reasonable prices for his prized cars.
“Like the two cars, P18,000 for the first three hours, that’s a small amount considering that the minimum cost for a wedding is half a million. The catering earns P1.5 million a day so P3 million for two days. You will really spend. The wedding event has become an industry,” he said.
Ignacio said his 1965 Lincoln Continental can be rented for P12,000 for the first three hours and additional P2,000 for every succeeding hours; the 1993 Lincoln Continental, P10,000 for the first three hours and P1,800 every succeeding hours; 1985 Mercedez Benz, P3,500 for the first three hours and P800 every succeeding hours; the 2000 Porsche Carrera is priced at P25,000 for the first three hours.
“Yung package kasama ang flowers at driver na chauffeur na ang itsura. Kapag nag-aaout of town nagpapadagdag ako para sa gas kasi sobrang lakas sa gas [The package includes flowers and a driver. If it’s out of town, I ask the customer to add for gas because the car consumes gasoline fast],” he said.
Ignacion said during the expo, a couple inquired if the car could be rented for Subic and asked for additional fees for the gasoline.
There was a time, he said when the Lincoln Continental was being rented for an Iloilo wedding but he turned it down politely.
“Ang hirap naman kung iRORO mo baka magasgasan pa, wag na lang, pano mo magagarantiya na di magagasgasan yan [It would have been difficult to ride the car in a roro, especially since there’s no guarantee that the vehicle won’t be scratched],” he noted.
Ignacio said there was a time where he allowed his Lincoln to be used for free where the couple only paid for the gasoline.
“For those who have no money, I only ask that they put gas. I even drove one all the way to UP Church. The guy kept on returning to the Lincoln and sit down but he didn’t have any money. Of course they would repeatedly take pictures but you can really see that they have no money. He did not say anything but he kept on going back. Later, he decided on the Mercedes Benz because it only cost P3,500,” he said.
Ignacio said it was even him who convinced the guy to use the Lincoln Continental.
“I told him it’s a pity that you’re getting married and then you’re car is ugly. Just use the Lincoln and load gasoline and we closed the deal at P3,800,” he said.
Ignacio said that instead of paying P3,800, the guy only paid P1,000 for the gasoline because of his driver.
“Yung driver ko nakialam, P1,000 lang daw, nagcharity ka na nga nakialam pa driver ko para pa kong nag ninong. Eh ang lakas sa gas non [My driver interfered, saying we should just give it to him for P1,000. I already offered charity and my driver had to come into the picture. I was like a godfather. The car uses up a lot of gas,” Ignacio said.
Arnell added that he also offered for free the 1965 Lincoln Continental to the wedding of celebrity couple Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid.
“Nandun lang yung kotse, ako yung sumakay, mas maganda tuloy kotse ko [The car was there only. I rode it. That;s why my car looked good],” he said.
Most of the weddings venues, according to Ignacio are held in Tagaytay.
Ignacio has various classic stories to tell.
“In Ayala-Alabang, a bride rode the Lincoln by mistake. Of course, the driver didn’t know the bride so he was about to drive with the wrong passenger. It’s because sometimes in a hotel, there are two weddings. When the bride got to the church, she saw that there was a different groom. We returned the bride to the hotel. Of course, she was late. She said that the even had a nice service vehicle,” said Ignacio.
Another funny story, according to Arnell when two bridal cars were rented and the in-laws wanted to have the Porsche as service and the bride used the Lincoln alone.
“The in-laws really wanted to ride the Porsche so we put them there. When they went down, their hair was a mess and even their clothes. This was because they were so insistent.”
Ignacio also cited as a classic experience when the supposed official makeup artist was also the wedding singer.
“The ceremony took sometime to start. The car kept on running. We were wondering why the car didn’t t want to move when the groom was already present. The reason, the wedding singer hasn’t arrived. And then a cab came, it was the gay make-up artist who transformed his dress into a gown,” he said.
Arnell said he enjoyed watching at the back during the wedding ceremonies.
“Wala kang obligasyon, nanonood ka lang sa likod kaysa naman ikaw na namang ang maghohost [You have no obligation. You just watch behind. It’s better than hosting the wedding],” he said.
Sometimes, Ignacio said, there were offers for him to be the official host during the weddings.
“Minamahalan ko talaga para wag na para andun ka lang sa likod [I really charge high so that I will remain at the back],” he said.
He added that he also enjoyed attending the wedding of Regine and Ogie.
“Actually yung kasal ni Regine at Ogie medyo magulo pero masaya, mahirap nga lang puntahan ang lugar (Tagaytay) [the wedding of Regine and Ogie was a bit chaotic but it was fun and the place was quite far],” Ignacio said.
Ignacio said he was supposed to provide the bridal car for John Estrada and Priscilla Merielles but did not materialize after they requested for a top down Mercedez Benz.
“Kahit magkano ioffer ko sa mga kaibigan ko ayaw [No matter how much I offer to pay my friends, they refuse]. Hindi nila ipapahiram kung di nila kilala [They won’t lend their cars unless they know the persons],” he said.
Ignacio added that he was willing to offer his services as a driver for a cause.
“Like may ikakasal daw for their 50 years anniversary sabi ko kay nanay ako na ang magdadrive [Like there’s a couple who will celebrate their 5oth year and I told my mother that I can drive for them],” he said.
Ignacio’s15-year-old daughter Sofia is also helping his dad with his bridal car business.
“If he needs some materials like for his flyers, I do it for him when I have free time in school,” Sofia said who was with Arnell during the wedding expo at SMX.
Arnell “bignelli cars” can be reached at 726-1947 or cell number 0919-288-8870.
Aside from his “bignelli cars” Arnel also has his Creative Hair Systems at 2nd level Lifestyle Center at Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan where he offers toupee, volumizer, full wig, hair extension and hair streams.
He is also a regular host of DZIQ Radyo Inquirer 990 where he has his “No More Lonely Nights” from 10pm up to 1am.
