7th Road Trek conditions in Eastern Visayas ironic for market leader Toyota

WITH the larger-than-life statue of General MacArthur peering in the background, participants of the Toyota Road Trek gather for a group photo before heading to Ormoc City. Photos by Charles E. Buban

We flew into Tacloban City with bated breath. The eye of typhoon “Chedeng” was swirling just a few kilometers away and we were worried that strong winds and heavy rains might ruin the trip.

After all, this is Road Trek, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation’s much-awaited annual media event. Aside from the cash prizes that await the top three winners, their victory will serve as their bragging rights for a year. A kind of intangible metaphysical reward for their efforts.

The Road Trek event requires participants—grouped according to the motoring media outfit they belong to—to drive hundreds of kilometers to visit the coolest sites the province has to offer. In each stopover, teams must complete several tasks similar to like those done in “Amazing Race” to earn points.

ALL TOGETHER NOW. The fleet for the 7th Toyota Road Trek negotiates the winding roads to Ormoc. Photo by Charles E. Buban

For the seventh edition of the event, TMPC chose the province of Leyte.

And why not? The island is famous for having the country’s longest bridge and for being the place where Gen. Douglas MacArthur uttered his famous message “I have returned.”

First taste

Unfortunately, Leyte is also one of the few unlucky provinces that typhoons first visit when entering Philippine territory.

TOYOTA’S latest Vios as well as the Prius banner in this year’s edition of the Road Trek.

So we found ourselves in Tacloban City wondering if Chedeng would make a landfall and cut short the competition that was scheduled to bring the participants to San Juanico Bridge, the town of Palo where MacArthur’s landing memorial is situated and on to Ormoc City Pier (located on the other side of the island, 125 kilometers away) where we were scheduled to ride a fastcraft going to Cebu.

Fortunately, the event that we had been anticipating for weeks pushed through without a hitch as Chedeng changed direction and spared the whole country from another unfortunate disaster.

As the day went on, the 7th Road Trek got much more enjoyable. The first contest required teams to scour Rafael Farm (located at the town of Babatngon) for clues. The second one, done inside the Sto. Niño Shrine and Heritage Museum, required teams to listen to the museum guide (the information is crucial for the timed fill-in-the-blank quiz after the tour). On the third pit stop, held in the town of Palo, each team was given a digitally altered picture of the General Douglas MacArthur Park and must identify the 20 alterations done.

TMPC president Michinobu Sugata, TMPC first vice president for vehicle sales Raymond Rodriguez and Goto at the awarding dinner in Shangri-La Mactan.

TOYOTA’S marketing and PR team. From left, Dax Avenido, Missy de Rivera, Michelle Bayani and April Francisco.

The last task was performed as we waited for our boat ride inside Ormoc Pier. A representative of each team was given a Waray phrase that he or she should memorize and then recite afterward. The one who memorized the phrase and recited it with perfect accent and intonation earned points.

Gave its best

Our team, composed of Inquirer Motoring editor Jong Arcano, Auto Review hosts Ron delos Reyes and daughter Reyra, gave its best to land in the top three.

SAN JUANICO is a bridge not too far as the Road Trek entourage makes its way to the island of Samar.

However, the other teams also gunning for the same goal got luckier. In the end, we just enjoyed the ride of the Vios we were assigned to as well as the different sights and resorts we went to, most especially at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

“I’m glad that the weather cooperated as we had a safe and enjoyable time touring Tacloban City and nearby landmarks as well as the 125-kilometer drive toward Ormoc City. While crossing the waters between Leyte and Cebu may be a bit nerve wracking—the waves were unusually rough because of the typhoon—we will ensure that the next two days will be the most relaxing for all the participants. After all, this is what Road Trek is all about, renewing the bond of friendship and camaraderie,” said TMPC president Michinobou Sugata during the late dinner held at Shangri-La Mactan.

TMPC SVP Sherwin Chua-Lim, Lexus Manila President Danny Isla, Inquirer Motoring editor Jong Arcano and TMPC EVP Yuji Goto protect themselves from the drizzle with beach towels.

Sugata also stressed that this year’s Road Trek highlights the company’s recent campaign, the Toyota Sure Advantage. The program is composed of four key strengths that have consistently made Toyota the most preferred car manufacturer in the country: 1) Quality, Reliability and Durability that makes their way to the customers’ home; 2) gives its customers Great Value for Money; 3.) enables its customers Worry-Free ownership through personalized and high standards of customer programs; and 4) Pioneering Technologies, which is TMP’s way to continually strive for innovation and sustain quality products that makes life better for all.

SUGATA: Full operation for TMPC in a few weeks

Sugata also announced over dinner that Toyota’s vehicle production is getting back to normal following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

“Our commitment to our customers remains topmost in our priority. We will continue our efforts to deliver vehicles to customers at the earliest possible timing. We appreciate our customers’ and business partners’ kind understanding during this difficult time,” announced Sugata before the motoring journalists who regarded this faster-than-expected recovery as good news for the country’s already improving car market.

GOTO and Rodriguez flanked by Toyota Cebu’s (from left) Trek Ada Jordan, Kim Cuenco and Mitch Navallo.