In the motoring beat – that glamours coverage where one can drive the latest cars for the weekend, and test drive vehicles in exotic places around the world – one name marks a writer’s place.
The name is Timmy de Leon, a woman best known for her polite and soft-spoken demeanor who has been in the automotive industry for more than 20 years. Knowing Timmy as a friend, source, or host states one’s place in the official motoring family.
That may come as a heavy qualification for recognition but it is what it is – knowing Timmy de Leon marks you as official or alternate guest. Having worked in the industry for more than two decades in corporate communications and marketing, Timmy not only knows everyone, she knows how each one interacts with a vehicle and will write about it. “Ah, he’ll write what’s in the specs sheet,” or “He will dissect the car and make truthful statements,” or, “Ah, he’s here because his boss can’t make it.”
Listening to Timmy’s side remarks, always said in her signature politeness, soft tone and a wry chuckle – is like catching a new song. You have to listen carefully to get the melody. And if she sits with you for a while, you get information you asked for – about the engine, the prices of the models, each person in the event, even where old friends are now. She has a memory as deep as your inbox file.
Timmy’s mark in the motoring beat, as those who have been there the longest know is: She is the mother of the adventure test drive. When she started in the corporate communications division of Isuzu Philippines Corporation in 2002, the test drive was a structured activity like a press conference.
She changed the pace, transforming it into, first, as a way to visit new places. And then, as time to get to know the vehicle inside and out, the long hours presenting the comfort and convenience features, and the variety of terrain demonstrating the almost hidden features of the engine, brakes, suspension and everything else a customer does not see but will determine safety and reliability.
For 13 years, she organized test drive events with Isuzu as an adventure, not work. Rain or shine or typhoon, the motoring journalists drove the vehicles to almost unknown destinations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The adventure came with the drives that rolled from island to island – to Negros for the Masskara Festival; to Davao for the 2,000-kilometer fuel economy challenge; to the deepest parts of the Cordillera mountains; to the jump-off points of the highest mountains; to North Luzon; the Bicol Region; through a 1,000-kilometer regional loop – each one finding a charm that only a well-built vehicle – and a meticulous planner like Timmy – could discover.
Timmy has moved on from the Japanese manufacturer to handling brands from Europe with Volkswagen Philippines; from Korea with the Kia brand, and from China with the Maxus brand—all under the Ayala Group. She is now the marketing head of Astara Philippines handling Peugeot, GAC, JMC and JAC brands.
Timmy’s career in the automotive industry has spanned the evolution of the diesel engine from the fuel-injected to the common-rail engine; moving on to the gas-fed engines of the vehicles made in China. And she will still be there when the hybrids and electric vehicles come.
It was at the test drive event of the GAC M6 Pro last week where we met her again after many years, still soft-spoken but now with the steering tone of a leader. When she said it was time to move to the next leg, everyone obeyed without dilly-dally.
Timmy has already planted the seeds of her legacy through the various corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs she initiated. Among these are tree planting programs which extended to adopting mangrove forests and public parks. She has also worked on establishing the TESDA-Isuzu Auto Technician School in Tacloban in 2008, which is a project supported by Isuzu Motors Limited Japan. It has produced more than a thousand mechanics now with good-paying jobs, all of the scholars from the poorest provinces in the country.
She’s left her mark in road safety too. While she was with VW Philippines, Timmy introduced a safety driving program for children to introduce the young to be aware of safety as future road users. The program has been awarded many times as an outstanding CSR program.
In the recent test drive of the M6 Pro, Timmy was both the silent major player and the friendly host, trusting race car drivers Georges and Louie Ramirez to explain the stages of the course to the drivers.
She stood, sat, chatted while each driver took the brand new M6 Pro through the slalom course, the braking turns, the sudden lane changes on soap-soaked track, and the tight cones to simulate parking space. Tires squeaking and engine brakes coughing, her face did not show any emotion of anxiety over what-if’s. Many years ago, she looked like that too – without a hint of worry when we boarded a plane, or ferry or drove through mountain trails under heavy downpour.
Time has not taken over the cool Timmy from decades ago. She smiled when we reminded her of the past, and this time her smile touched her eyes to welcome a friend from way back.