Pinoy excellence

We have just concluded hosting the FIA Region II Asia-Pacific Congress in Boracay, and we have received many congratulations on both the quality of the event and the substance of its discussions. We were honored by the presence of the president of the FIA, His Excellency Mohammed Ben Sulayem; the president of the FIA Senate Carmelo Sanz de Barros; the deputy president for Automobile Mobility and Tourism Tim Shearman; and many other senior officers of the FIA.

While I am delighted by the praise, four things stood out to me more than the applause.

First, the discovery of Boracay. Many participants were surprised that such a wonderful corner of the world exists, and that it had been unknown to most of them. For a country that has long believed its beaches are among the finest anywhere, it was gratifying to watch seasoned travelers see it for themselves. I suspect many will be back, this time with their families.

Second, the legendary hospitality of the Filipino was on full display. Both the local and the national government stepped in to support us. We had about 111 participants, and a Philippine National Police security detail of 190 looking after them. The Coast Guard kept constant watch over those who ventured into the sea, and a group of Marines augmented the police on the hotel premises. With more protectors than guests, “over-engineered” is the word for it. But that is how we welcome visitors: we would rather do too much than too little.

Third, the smiles. Our guests received more than a million of them from everyone they met on the island. No budget can buy that warmth and no program can script it. It is simply who we are.

Fourth, the standard of the material shared during the congress itself. The sessions focused on the key issues that clubs should pay attention to in 2027. A congress should do more than gather people in one room; it should spur the transfer of ideas from one successful club to another. As president of FIA Region II, I cannot stress this enough: every club must be financially viable. That means creating sources of income beyond membership fees, so that we can fund our road safety and motorsport development programs ourselves. Road safety saves lives, and motorsport development builds the next generation of talent; neither can be sustained by good intentions alone. The Philippines has been leading the way on these twin objectives during my tenure as Region II president, and I hope our experience encourages other clubs to do the same.

I am delighted, above all, by the recognition the AAP team has earned in this global arena. They worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and the result speaks for itself. To our partners in the local and national government, and to the people of Boracay, thank you for making our guests feel at home. Boracay reminded us of something we have always known: if we truly set our minds to it, we can be the best at anything we set out to do.