The first time we went through an oil “crisis,” as it was called then (as now), I remember the then First Lady, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, was sent on a mission to charm the leaders of China and Libya so the government of President Ferdinand E. Marcos could obtain fuel to power the Philippine economy.

It was sometime in 1973-1974, if memory serves, and it was big news. Imagine, the wife of the President of a small country being appointed on a diplomatic assignment to secure fuel for a Third World country in Southeast Asia from Mao Zedong and Muammar Gaddafi! Needless to say, the result was a fait accompli.

According to published reports, the two strongmen were so completely charmed by the gracious wife of our President that they allowed her to save the day for her countrymen. In short, she brought home the black gold.

Today you’d need an electric car to avoid gassing up with petrol. Can you afford to buy a new car or a second car at this time? If you cannot, it’s still your duty to think up ways of saving fuel – the kind you buy in a gasoline station.

You hear people suggesting a car pool, but how convenient is a car pool for you and your neighbor? I’d like to hear more doable tips from practical people. Years ago, for example, the secretary of the Department of Energy suggested that government employees would do well to come to work in cool, short-sleeved cotton and keep the aircon in their offices at a steady 26 degrees. His advice was simple, short, and sweet, and it worked.

For you and your beloved car, a few reminders. Throw out the garbage eternally resting on the backseat or in the trunk. Keep the car in A-1 condition – engine, tires, windows, wipers, battery, oil and water, aircon. Avoid sudden braking, avoid driving too fast. A good rule to follow: If you’re at 60 kph, there should be space for six cars ahead of you.

I know, I know, who am I to teach? Well, I’ll have you know that the last time I took a driving test – in Tagalog — to renew my license, my score was high enough to surprise even myself.