IBINABALIK ng Yllana Racing, in partnership with Okada Manila, ang isa sa most anticipated racing events sa bansa ang ‘Okada Manila Motorsport Carnivale 2025’, na magsisimula na ngayong Linggo, May 4 sa Parañaque City.
Set against the iconic backdrop ng Philippines’ premier integrated resort at ang racing action sa Boardwalk and Gardens, ang seaside area sa labas ng Okada Manila.
Magsisimula ang aksyon ng ’Super Sprint’ ng 6 a.m. at tatagal hanggang 6 p.m. at susundan ng ‘Grand Car Meet: Legends of the ‘90s’ ng 7 p.m.
Magpapatuloy ang event sa May 31, na kung saan matutunghayan naman ang ‘Jom’s Cup’, ang 1/8-mile drag racing challenge. Aasahan ang intense na labanan sa Super Car, Muscle Car, at Vintage Car.
“We have prepared a couple of exciting motorsport events fir everyone. And I am proud to announce that we are going to put the Philippines back in the world map of motorsports, together with our sponsors.
“Our main sponsors, of course Okada Manila, we have found a home of motorsport on the biggest integrated casino in the country. Together also with the Parañaque LGU, and all our sponsors.
“I remember announcing wayback 2023 that we are going to wake up a sleeping giant. Now the giant is awake. Gising na gising siya, gutom na gutom at uhaw na uhaw.
“And we are preparing for it. The first event will be on May 4, followed by a series of events on May and June. And we are here as proud producers coming from the industry of automotive, motorsport, and entertainment.
“Gusto natin ibalik yung mga karera in the heart of Metro Manila. So I welcome everyone to Motorsport Carnivale 2.0!” mahabang pahayag ni Jomari Yllana, president ng Yllana Racing at long-time motorsport advocate.
Hindi nga stranger si Jom sa naturang sport, dahil nanalo at placer siya sa several local races. Matatandaan na siya rin ang first Filipino podium finisher sa 2014 Yeongam International Circuit na ginanap sa South Korea.
Patuloy siyang kumakarera bilang principal driver ng pro team Yllana Racing.
Samantala, inamin ni Jomari na pangarap niya na magkaroon ng reunion project kasama ang mga kaibigan na sina Mark Anthony Fernandez at Eric Fructuoso.
Noong ni-launch ang Motorsport Carnivale noong 2023 na ginanap din sa Okada Manila, nakatakda sanang mag-reunion ang Gwapings pero hindi natuloy.
Kaya naman sa mediacon ng ‘Motorsport Carnivale 2025’ na ginanap sa Glass Ballroom ng Okada Manila, natanong si Jomari tungkol sa posibleng reunion project nilang tatlo.
“Excited naman, kasi excited talaga,” say ni Jom.
I wish some producer, there would, you know… could be, could be, more organized in, like, setting up something for us.
“As a small event, I’ll ask Tito Nestor (Cuartero) to invite Eric and Mark para magka-reunion kami. Tutal, nandito na si Abby Viduya!”
Dagdag pa ng aktor/producer, “Mag-ano tayo, reunion tayo. Di ba, di ba? It would be nice. I would love to see us together in a photo.”
Ang ‘Motorsport Carnivale’ ay inspired by the glory days of Philippine motorsports, kasama rito ang Philippine Grand Prix na ginanap sa Manila from 1973 to 1976, a series known for its prestige and grandeur.
Pinangungunahan din ang mas pinabonggang event ni Rikki Dy-Liacco, na respected champion racer at Head of Motorsports at the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP). Siya rin ang official representative ng bansa sa Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
Dinala ni Dy-Liacco ang international racing standards and experience, nagsilbi siyang race steward sa elite global events, kasama rito ang 24 Hours of Le Mans, GT World Challenge Asia, Formula 4 Middle East, at ang Macau Grand Prix.
(ROHN ROMULO)
