Sometime in 1999, back when different publications were gearing up for the new millennium, then president and publisher, the late Ambassador Alejandro del Rosario, formed a team that would handle special or topical pages of the Manila Standard. His avowed goal was to make these pages revenue-generating or at least “self-liquidating.”
Soon enough, the rubber met the road and eventually, MS Motoring zoomed out from the drawing board into the streets, a nascent and pleasing two-page complement to the Business Section. In the race for motoring glory and revenues, the MS management deemed it wise to beef up the staff, then spearheaded by Ramon L. Tomeldan as the first Motoring editor, with the addition of feature writers. Among these “newbies” or greenhorns was Dino Raymundo Directo, a certified “gearhead” and “foodie”, whose insatiable desire to drive was matched only by his craving for epicurean delights.
Together, they were an almost perfect pair, producing results that justified their reason for being. Later on, MS Motoring was declared by Ford Motor Co. as first runner-up in the Best Motoring Newspaper category.
As the years went by, publications saw the mushrooming of motoring pages in almost all dailies, magazines, and even online websites. Add to this the Johnny-come-latelies — motoring vloggers who have flooded the internet in surprising abundance.
A few years before the onset of vlogging, MS put up its own online Motoring channel which morphed into “Wheels and More”, giving emphasis to cars, motorcycles, accessories – pretty much anything mobility.
As things continued to evolve, so did MS Motoring. Manila Standard handed its “motoring keys” to Milo Rivera, a champion race car driver and a staple in Philippine motorsports, to steer the automotive section towards more winning ways. With a revamped helm came a revamped identity, thus the creation of Manila Standard On the Road.
Rivera kicked things off with the introduction of MS On the Road through a weekly talk show wherein insightful yet easy conversations were conducted to provide vital knowledge on what’s new and/or interesting in the motoring and motorsports industry. Along with his series of co-hosts that included MS sportswriter Randy Caluag, the show also provided a quick roundup of trending news ranging from oil price hikes, brand-new car models, and mobility updates – to name a few.
The MS On the Road tree grew and bore fruit with the addition of MS Sunday Drive: a vlog-esque feature highlighting Rivera’s drives onboard various automobiles worth having or driving today. Incorporating a personal touch to things, Rivera shifted away from the hard sell car reviews as he wanted a more natural way to showcase the capability, durability, versatility, and beauty of each automobile he was in – by taking them into road trips or functional drives, and personally accounting his experiences.
Through his vast motorsports credentials, Milo has subsequently evolved and positioned himself as a formidable figure in the motoring industry as well.
Adding to the changes in the motoring section, MS On the Road also set its focus to give substantial information through tips, lists, and snackable videos to help commuters and motorists keep safe and secure wherever they may be.
With more than two decades of quality reportage, MS Motoring is keen on keeping up with advancements in car technology as the industry turns its head on the exemplary innovation of electrification, among others.
MS On The Road commits to continue its culture of brilliant reporting and featuring, which was solidly kick-started by-then Motoring Editor Ramon Tomeldan. Now with current editor Milo Rivera piloting in the front seat, contemporary practices are strategically applied, all whilst certain traditions are whole-heartedly kept.
Indeed, MS Motoring – now MS On The Road – has gone a long way.
