‘We’re both headstrong’
How much of yourself do you see in your daughter Mary?
Jose “Doyong” B. Tan Jr., dealer franchise owner for the JBT Group of Companies, answered: “We do have similarities, especially in being headstrong. Even though we’re from different generations with different experiences, it’s our individual experiences that helped us shape our determination for success.”
Indeed, it has taken more than just one strong-willed leader to carry a company like the JBT Group of Companies, which owns several Toyota dealerships, to multiple wins in the recent 2025 Toyota Dealer Awards and Toyota Outstanding Performers in Sales and Service Awards.
Doyong’s daughter Mary Evangeline Tan is the president of Toyota Subic Inc. and executive vice president of Toyota San Fernando Pampanga Inc. and Toyota Tarlac City. All three of her dealerships bagged honors in the President’s Award of Excellence: Toyota Tarlac City is the champion in the small business division; Toyota San Fernando Pampanga is first runner up in the large business division; Toyota Subic Inc. is the first runner up in the small business division.
Doyong is somewhat of a legend in local auto circles, having started in the 1980s with a petroleum business before applying for a Toyota dealership in 1988. Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) approved his application in 1996, but then the Asian financial crisis struck at around the same time. Taking a big risk, he pushed forward with the construction of his first Toyota dealership in 1997.
Doyong says his “experience as an entrepreneur prepared me for challenges like this. Giving up was not in my vocabulary. I knew the nature of the automotive business. I had been made aware by other dealers of its ‘ups and downs,’ which made it challenging and rewarding at the same time. It was only a matter of time before my products became widely accepted by the market. During tough times, it’s best to learn from the challenge and use it to improve your business.”
Doyong adds that healthy competition certainly does exist among the local Toyota dealerships, and that helps make the brand grow. He says that competitive spirit is also evident in his daughters who are involved in the auto business, including Mary, of course.
His dealerships’ multiple wins are cherries on top of a recent milestone. “We just celebrated Toyota San Fernando Pampanga’s 20th anniversary in December 2024, and as for myself, I’m proud of the fact that I’ve been a Toyota dealer for 28 years, and still driven to serve customers better,” said Doyong.
He discloses that he’s still the president of six of the Group’s dealerships, while Mary became president of Toyota Subic in July 2024.
He further disclosed that the Group has been preparing for the development of a service center in Malolos, Bulacan under Toyota Plaridel Bulacan, which would be a joint venture with TMP.
