400+ Toyota Corollas join third edition of AE92 Day
Largest gathering of Toyota Corolla AE92 owners attracts over 400 cars
What started as a simple enthusiast group meeting to appreciate and share ideas about the AE92 Toyota Corolla has become one of the larger model-specific annual car meets in the country. AE92 Day Philippines was conceptualized by passionate enthusiasts Pao Vibal, Carlo Vibal, Darell Relucio, Topeng Delgado, Pathrick Bautista, Mckie Santos, and Jet Lagahit.
The group recently held their 3rd AE92 Day at the Ortigas Technopoint Parking Building in Pasig City. Due to September 2 falling on a Monday this year, the group decided to hold the 3rd AE92 Day on September 1st. It has so far been the most successful event of theirs as it attracted over 400 cars from all over Luzon, with one participant coming from as far as Palawan.
AE92 Day Philippines was first held on September 2, 2017 at the 30th Street East B Parking in Bonifacio Global City. It was a meet, mini car show, and parts sale and swap get together that attracted about 250 cars. Due to the positive outcome, the group was excited and planned another one in 2018.
“Our vision for AE92 Day was an inclusive meet for anything and everything AE92. As long as you have an AE92 or equivalent derivative of the model in other shapes and sizes, you are welcome. We didn’t want anybody to be alienated or influenced by their individual group affiliations. We want them to join us because they love the model,” said Pao Vibal, co-founder of AE92 Day.
Fellow enthusiasts Marlon Reyes, Gav Quintos, Jumbow Torres, and Bri Bornales have since joined in to help organize the annual event.
Vibal also shares that owners need not pay an entrance fee to join their meet. They only need to pay for their individual parking fees. “This is not really a money-making activity for us, but sponsors are very much welcome to help us make the activity an even bigger and more interactive one,” he says.
“We closed registration this year at 4:30 in the afternoon and logged 407 cars, but there were tens more that came. Some even ran out of parking slots in the building and had to park their cars elsewhere,” added Vibal.
Not even a light shower late in the afternoon was enough to dampen anyone's mood - the event ran from 2 in the afternoon until about 8 in the evening. Cars that attended varied from bone-stock preserved, restored, to full-on resto modded as enthusiasts appreciated each other's cars.
The mood was light, fun, and festive; we're pretty sure there will be more AE92 Days in years to come.
