It was a “WTF!” night for team Inquirer Motoring last May 23. In this case, that meant “What the…Four!” Outside the Blue Leaf Pavilion in Taguig City, the rains were heavy. Inside, at the 21st Henry Ford Awards ceremonies, it was raining trophies, and Team Inquirer Motoring soaked a lot of it in. Inquirer Motoring bagged four awards.
Tessa R. Salazar’s article “From ‘Iron Lady’ to Tough Rose” was deemed Best Automotive Launch Story. Mikko David’s “Another Bitter Pill to Swallow” was judged Best Automotive Road Safety Feature. Jong Arcano was declared Best Automotive Print Editor. Inquirer Motoring was named Best Automotive Section for Broadsheet.
This would be the fifth time Inquirer has bagged HFA’s best motoring section trophy—testament to the consistency and continuous dedication of its content creators and artists to contribute to the overall impact, depth, relevance, breadth and quality of content, design and layouts.
Salazar’s win ups her total HFA trophies to 9, spanning the period from when she won her first award in 2001 to the present, including the first grand slam in HFA history in 2003 when she won in three categories.
David won his first HFA trophy in 2011 for the best published photograph for Top Gear Philippines. The HFA is the only motoring journalism competition held annually in the Philippines.
PDI Motoring Editor Jong Arcano receives the Best Automotive Print Editor trophy from Ford PH communications manager Herbert Haber
PDI Motoring writer Tessa Salazar accepts her ninth HFA trophy from Ford PH marketing and sales director Ryan Lorenzo
The board of judges is composed of heads from various industries and the academe. Over 230 entries by members of the print, online, and broadcast automotive media vied for the 16 awards. Inquirer Motoring was nominated finalists for eight of these. All entries and nominations underwent what the organizers described as “a rigorous two-phase judging process”, while the people category finalists were interviewed by the judges.
Inquirer Motoring was finalist in the following categories: Automotive Technology Feature of the Year (Salazar’s “Mind Over Motor”); Automotive Green Feature of the Year (David’s “To EV or not to EV, That is the Question”); Automotive Industry Feature of the Year (Salazar’s “Electrifying Engineer Behind Hummer EV is Pinay”); Automotive Road Safety Feature of the Year (Salazar’s “Gears Between Ears: Does Your Mind Need a Tune-up so You can Drive Better?”), and; Automotive Writer of the Year (Salazar).
Other winners of the 21st Henry Ford Awards were: Industry Category: Best Automotive Vehicle Review (Article) – “2021 Nissan Terra 2.5 VL 4×2 AT” – Leandre Garcia, Top Gear Philippines; Best Automotive Vehicle Review (Video) – “BMW X7 xDrive30d Pure Excellence Review” – Caco Tirona, AutoDeal; Best Automotive Photograph – “Where Roads End, Chart Your Own Course with Your Trusty Compass” – Monch Henares, Monchster Chronicles; Best Automotive Green Feature – “Are We Ready for Electrified Cars?” – Ronald de los Reyes, Daily Tribune; Best Automotive Technology Feature – “We Took the New and Improved LTO Comprehensive Driving Exam” – Vince Pornelos, AutoIndustriya; Best Automotive Industry Feature – “How One Used Car Dealer Stayed Alive During the Pandemic” – Andrei Laurel, Top Gear Philippines; Ford Category: Best Ford Automotive Feature – “2021 Ford Territory Ecoboost Titanium+: Everything but the kitchen sink” – Roy Robles, Zigwheels Philippines; Best Ford Automotive Video Feature – “2021 Ford Ranger FX4 Max: Ready to get dirty!”– Martin Aguilar, Philkotse; People Category: Best Automotive Online Editor – Dinzo Tabamo, Top Gear Philippines; Best Automotive Writer – Niky Tamayo, Top Gear Philippines; Best Automotive Video Host – Caco Tirona, AutoDeal; Team Category: Best Automotive Website – Top Gear Philippines.
Back to F2F
This year’s HFA marked the return to a physical ceremony to honor the work of automotive journalists and its impact on the local motoring industry.
“The HFA has truly become an institution in the Philippine automotive industry. Since its first one, the Henry Ford Awards has grown to exemplify what journalism excellence is all about,” said Mike Breen, Ford Philippines managing director.
Breen said that each year, the HFA board of judges searches for content that stands out in form, substance and ultimately impacts the Filipinos.
EJ Francisco, communications director for Ford Philippines and Asia Pacific Distributor Markets, said: “The HFA continues to recognize the important role of motoring journalists in driving the automotive industry forward. Every year, we find ways to innovate and make the HFA a relevant award-giving body that celebrates the hard work, passion, and dedication of the members of the Philippine automotive media.” With a report by Tessa R. Salazar
IN MAIN PHOTO: Breen with the victorious PDI Motoring Section team, from left, Arcano, Aida Sevilla-Mendoza, Salazar, Ardie Lopez, Botchi Santos, Jeanette Tuason and Alvin Uy. Not in photo are Charles Buban, Mikko David, Richie Sabado, Jason Ang, Bernard Supetran, Carl Cunanan, William Herrera and Mylene Francisco.
