Car club: Chevrolet Club of the Philippines

The bowtie is always considered part of formal couture, the sole accessory required to join a very exclusive club. But you shouldn't be wearing it--your car should.

Gathered in front of a car dealership on Quezon Avenue are so many cars sporting bowties. It could very well have been the next president's inaugural ball. Only it's not a ball. It's the gathering of car owners who pledge allegiance to the brand that sports the bowtie emblem--Chevrolet. And the venue is no less than the façade of the Chevrolet dealership, with 14 cars in attendance.

With the help of the Internet, Chevrolet Club Philippines started life in September 2005 as an e-group with a mission. Although initially set back by problems caused by a cofounder, the group now has over 400 online members--with over 130 of them owning Chevys--under the stewardship of the sole remaining founder, Rav Bracero. The club has members in places as far away as Saudi Arabia and Dubai, as well as regional chapters in Cebu and Davao.

With the help of several indefatigable club committee members--Stephene Condino, Ryan Crisostomo, Dee Florentino, Andre Librojo, Alvin Quachua, Herry Christian Ramos and Bryan Savellano--this car club achieved, just last year, the dream they had been chasing for two years: the recognition of and a formal tie-up with General Motors Automobiles Philippines (GMPh).

If Chevrolet Club Philippines sounds like a well-structured organization, that's probably because it is. It is SEC-registered and holds an eyeball (EB) at least twice a month, plus a general EB every other month. Its EBs are more like corporate departmental meetings. The formality of their cars' bowties influences their uncommonly professional EB etiquette.

Chevrolet Club marketing committee head Stephene explains one of the club's visions: "To provide community service, like relief and charity missions, all proposed and subsidized by GMPh. We also try to provide unbiased opinions to potential Chevy buyers and owners."

Chevrolet Club member and Chevrolet Quezon Avenue service manager Lito Landicho points out: "One benefit of being a bona fide member is you can get a discount on the service fees at the dealership." This perk alone sounds like a compelling reason to join the club.

When asked if Chevrolet Club Philippines has held fun runs or participated in car shows, Stephene replies: "Not yet, but we will. We conduct seminars for the members together with the casa on subjects like fuel consumption, warranty concerns and reprogramming of the ECU. In fact, we participated in the 2008 Manila Auto Salon."

The club's third anniversary coincided with GM's centennial festivities last September. So the club postponed its celebration for the succeeding week in order to accommodate the invitation of GMPh's Lani de Leon, who was instrumental in formalizing the tie-up between GMPh and CCP.

Armed with this powerful alliance, the Chevrolet Club Philippines isn't shy about inviting Chevrolet owners from all over the country. So far, only two Chevrolet Club members have the old, so-called Heavy Chevys, and that number would surely increase if the call to action were shouted loud enough. It would certainly create quite a stir to see these big-block icons from a bygone era cruising alongside their younger siblings. But as Stephene puts it: "The club is not just about pormahan. We are devoted to our members. We promote equality and camaraderie. Our main priority is to recruit members and be of assistance."

Want to meet these guys? Visit www.ChevyClubPh.com.