Gencars continues to bask in Popemobile glory

As it celebrates its 38th anniversary, Gencars, Inc. continues to relish the taste of glory that it had when it provided Pope Francis with the Popemobile that ferried His Holiness in various places during his visit to the Philippines in January 2015.

The same sense of enthusiasm and vigor that it had through its service to the Pope continues to fill the men and women of Gencars, inspiring them to work even harder in providing only the best Isuzu vehicles and automotive service to Filipinos.

While Gencars boasts of a long list of awards as a leading provider of top- quality vehicles in the country, its fabrication and donation of the Popemobile for Pope Francis was a great opportunity to show the whole country and the entire world its brilliance and expertise in automotives.

The company donated the Isuzu D-Max unit that was customized with the help of Almazora Motors to meet strict Vatican standards, and at the same time add a Pinoy touch to its overall design.

“We considered it a great privilege and a blessing to be asked to build the Popemobile. We were able to serve His Holiness, and while doing so we also managed to prove our commitment to excellence and innovation,” president and CEO D. Edgard A. Cabangon said. He added that the Isuzu Popemobile is also proof that Filipinos are definitely capable of building world-class vehicles.

Pope Francis himself described the Popemobile as a “beautiful car,” impressed by the Filipino-made Isuzu Popemobile. He requested another similar vehicle to be brought to the Vatican so he can use it in going around and meeting the people.

The Cabangon family, led by Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, were only too happy to accede to the papal request.

After making the necessary arrangements, another D- Max unit from Isuzu Gencars was customized with the help of the Almazora Group. This second Isuzu Popemobile was airlifted to Rome, Italy on June 30. It was officially turned over to His Holiness by members of the Cabangon family, headed by D. Edgard, during a special audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on October 14, 2015.

D. Edgard Cabangon was joined to the Vatican by his mother, Bienvenida A. Cabangon; his brothers J. Wilfredo and D. Arnold; sister Dominga Cecilia, and Benjamin V. Ramos, president of BusinessMirror – Isuzu Gencars’s sister company in the ALC Group – in the historic turnover. It was designed by Almazora with the security and comfort of Pope Francis in mind.

The two-cab vehicle was converted into a single cab to make room for the pope’s chair and additional seats for his companions. A shield made of plexiglass was placed in front to protect the pope from the elements. Sturdy railings were attached to the sides of the vehicle for the pope and his security personnel to hold on to while in transit.

The pope’s emblem emblazoned with a banig design adds a Filipino touch to the car. The chair is made from Italian leather with red carpet imported from Italy.