Looking like ‘chameleon bucks’
A chameleon is an animal that can adapt its outward appearance and color to the surface it walks on, making it a master of disguise, and ensuring its survival.
This month, I was exposed to the many ways that the owners of the Next-Generation Tamaraw were able to transform their rides—from being a transporter of calamansi to being a camper van. These owners epitomize Toyota’s promise of inclusive mobility with this utility vehicle, and adding their own personal touch to it, making the Tamaraw attuned to the actual and wide-ranging needs of the Filipino.
I have to make special mention first of the Tamaraw passenger van unit that was donated by Toyota Motor Philippines to the Bantay Tamaraw team in Occidental Mindoro. This Tamaraw unit, along with protection and survival kits, were turned over to the DENR’s Tamaraw Conservation Program last April 9. Details of this story I will share next week.
Right now, let’s highlight what the Tamaraw is actually capable of doing, and being.
Calamansi transporter
Henry Vitto Gallion owns and maintains a three-hectare calamansi plantation in Barangay Aurora 4 in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Last Jan. 31, Henry bought his Tamaraw passenger utility van from the Toyota Calapan dealership.
Henry now uses that Tamaraw as both a calamansi transporter during the week, and his family van during weekends.
Henry describes his Tamaraw as a true workhorse, as it’s the sole transporter for the plantation’s harvest from the 700 calamansi trees. He says harvest time usually happens twice a year, when up to 10 pickers go tree by tree, and gather the citrus in 30-kilo fishnet sacks.
“We bring the sacks to Calamba in Laguna, Batangas province, Manila, and a few markets here in Mindoro. Much of our harvest is shipped via RoRo (roll-on roll-off ferry). The volume of harvest varies. If the weather’s too hot or if it’s too rainy, the harvest will not be that abundant. We also have a narrow window of opportunity for shipping the calamansi. If the RoRo trips are canceled due to stormy weather, we lose that opportunity to ship fresh calamansi,” Henry describes.
“I chose to buy the Tamaraw because I saw its potential. I love how it looks, the interior is spacious, perfect for loading our calamansi harvest. So far, we have loaded up to 40 bags of calamansi fruit harvest at one time, that’s more than a ton. Before, we used to load the calamansi on a tricycle, which could only carry up to 10 bags at a time,” said Henry.
He added: “We also have it rented to relatives for their outings.”
Toyota Calapan confirmed that the Tamaraw utility vehicle has become the choice of farmers, small business owners and local government units in the island province.
“The Tamaraw is part of the family. Majority of its owners also own farms. Buyers who travel from Mindoro to Manila want a big-capacity vehicle that can accommodate their entire family and friends. We also now have buyers from NGOs, LGUs, and foundations, precisely because they’ve discovered the multi-use of the vehicle,” said Kristine Mhel Delos Reyes, general manager of Toyota Calapan.
Lemuel Lopez, Toyota Calapan vehicle sales manager added: “Most of our clients are also small business owners: Hardware, sari-sari store owners. Their main reason for purchase is both for use in their business and for the family. The Tamaraw can seat more than 15 passengers.”
King of Overland Kings
At the just-concluded Manila International Auto Show, Joel Conrad Pedro of the Overland Kings proudly displayed his top-of-the-line Tamaraw dropside rigged as a canopy camper.
He explained: “The Tamaraw is a very versatile platform because of the price and the toys. We still respected the utility side, and added the camper side. This is not a committed setup. If your Tamaraw is needed as a cargo vehicle during the week, you can just remove the Manley canopy camper. If you’re going outdoors during the weekend, you can attach it again. That’s the beauty of the setup,” he said.
“70 percent of the customizers I know have this truck as a personal unit,” he quipped. “It’s a good entry point for you to get into the action. It looks good on the Toyota with a Hilux engine. What’s not to like?”
Customization is key
Auto customization whiz Atoy Llave is one of the most sought-after vehicle customizers in the country. After making a name for himself in the business, he diversified into specializing transports for special needs persons. His ideas and creations can be seen in his YouTube channel Atoy Customs.
Fresh from his successful displays at the MIAS, Atoy showed me four of his customized Toyota Tamaraw utility vehicles.
He bought all of his units from the Toyota Shaw dealership, and set about transforming each into a do-it-all food truck, a camper van or mobile home, a Cargo Box (making the Tamaraw long-wheelbase variant into a true MPV), and a mobile LED advertising platform.
“Your imagination is your limits,” Atoy says of his customized Tamaraws.
