The most challenging part of writing about a prominent person is encapsulating everything into a single article. Alvin Uy is a name that is practically woven into the DNA of the local automotive scene.
Yet despite his prominence and status, you will never sense an air of arrogance from him. Alvin carries his influence lightly—always quick to downplay it, always approachable, soft-spoken, and grounded.
We sat down with him over coffee and tried to talk less about cars and more about life and philosophies that keep him steady in an industry built on speed.
Character Built Behind The Wheels
When asked who taught him how to drive, he said that he didn’t learn to drive the way most of us do now. “Back then, there were no formal driving schools,” he recalled. “It’s usually your dad or driver in the garage. No automatics, so you have to learn manual.”
His first car was a manual, column-shift Datsun 200C. “Not easy to learn since you have to modulate,” he said with a laugh.
Even as a kid, the curiosity about cars was already there. “My mom would tell me that whenever we were in a restaurant, I’d use the plate as a steering wheel and the spoon and fork as my shift knob.”
His early memories of driving were also some of the scariest. “I was driving with my mom, and I lost my brakes going down Nagtahan Bridge,” he calmly recalled. “I told her, ‘Don’t panic, ah, but I think we lost our brakes.’ So we had to manage using engine brakes.”
That calmness carried over to how he drives through life today. “Any mistake you make on the road, losing your temper just for a second, can really alter things in a bad way,” he said. “So my personal practice is I pray. If someone cuts me off, instead of cursing, I’ll pray for him. It helps me calm down, too.”
The genuineness of the statement was felt; this wasn’t a rehearsed line. It was a habit, almost like muscle memory, shaped by years of going through life and, I’d say, the practice of faith. He admits there are still moments when frustration gets the better of him, but he’s learned to turn irritation into prayer.
Holding On To Things Loosely
“Cars are meant to be driven, not displayed,” Alvin Uy said. “Those paint bubbles and rock chips? That’s character.”
He then points to the car behind him, a Porsche 911. “This one came out around 1963, so roughly 70 years ago. And Porsche recently mentioned that 70% of their manufactured cars are still on the road,” honing in on his point that these cars are engineered to be driven and to last.
Then he adds, almost like a life statement:
“Hold on to things loosely. Don’t idolize them. Once they become an idol, they’ll control you. Enjoy them, but don’t let them run your life.”
It is his philosophy and ability to detach from material things that make him different from other car enthusiasts. “I would tease some friends, calling them ‘black holes,’” he joked. “Once a car goes inside their garage, it never comes out.”
True to his nature—and in a world that measures worth by the material things we own—this way of life almost feels rebellious. Some people might even raise eyebrows and pin this to the comfort of the environment he grew up in.
But Alvin’s whole point is not really anti-material; it’s about these things controlling you. Cars, watches, collections, even work—they start as passions but can quietly become prisons. For him, passion is not about holding on to things tighter but knowing when to let go.
The Media Shift and His Perspective
He’s been in the industry long enough to see the shift from paper to pixels, from column inches to video dimensions. Despite having that traditional media upbringing, he views it with respect and admiration, not resistance.
“If you’re a writer for a traditional publication, the storytelling is text-based—it’s a bit two-dimensional. But KOLs and influencers offer almost real-time storytelling,” he said. “Some of them are really car guys, buying and restoring cars older than them. They’re not on a payroll. They do this for the love of their craft.”
While it’s quite rare in the car industry to hear traditional journalists praise content creators, Alvin Uy doesn’t see the divide. “You can put both sides on the same table and still have a good time. The motoring beat feels like a high school reunion—you know competition is there as in every industry, but I believe the camaraderie transcends it.”
That quiet kind of introspection—the respect, the humility, the grace—is what kept him relevant through these changing mediums.
The Manila International Auto Show Story
Before MIAS came into the picture, there was only the Trans Sport Show serving the local car community with events. “We always felt that vacuum,” he said. So he pitched an idea to Joseph Ang of Worldbex: “Why don’t we do a motor show together? ”
That conversation sparked the beginning of the Manila International Auto Show in 2005. Fast forward to today, and it remains the largest annual automotive event in the Philippines.
“The backend is the hardest part,” Alvin admitted. “Everything has to gel together. You can’t miss a beat.”
When asked what he would tell his 2005 self about the success of the Manila International Auto Show, he joked.
“Well done, parang steak.”
Still smiling, he added, “We’re just happy it sustained. We hope to keep it beyond our generation. That’s one legacy we’d love to see through.”
Aside from big events, Alvin is also a big fan of car clubs, meet-ups, and converted parking lots. “We only do MIAS once a year,” he said, “but these small gatherings help keep the passion alive.”
Cars Are Meant To Be Driven
Alvin is very sentimental about the analog era. “We were just talking about this with James Deakin—the golden years of combustion were the 1990s to early 2000s. The cars were modern enough to be a daily, but analog enough to engage the driver.”
He’s not anti-EV but more worried about how future generations will see cars. “Hopefully they don’t see them as museum pieces. Enjoy the moment, but also see how things progress.”
Money, Family, and Time
Then came the moment when I had to ask him for advice on three things—money, family, and time.
“The unifying factor of money, family, and time is God Almighty,” he said without flinching. “You always ask God for advice. Spend time in prayer and attend Bible studies. Many of my groupmates are also car guys, so it’s always nice to have side conversations about cars after.”
On money: “Always ask God for advice when making big decisions about money; for anything you do for money, always ask God. I mean, he’s not going to answer you directly, but try to get a feel of it, read the scriptures, and be more aware of your actions.”
On family: “Harmony isn’t automatic. There will be challenges, so you pray for wisdom in handling relationships.”
On time: “Be a good steward. Spend time with family, spend time with God. The biggest regret people have isn’t missing work—it’s missing family milestones.”
This made me stop typing and start to realize how grounded and rooted Alvin is with his faith. There was nothing performative about it. Sitting in front of me is just a man who understands how it is to live a good life that is deeply rooted in the richness of his faith and his philosophies in life.
The Fun Questions
If he could only keep one car forever? “Air-cooled 911 or maybe a 964,” he said, “Unpractical, but pure.”
Asked who he would take on for a ride? “My wife will probably not ride with me in that car,” he laughed. “So I’m changing my answer to a Mercedes 126 S-Class. I remember taking my son to school in that car. And he would always fall asleep in the back seat—it’s like having a sofa on wheels.”
Watch and car combo? “A Rolex is a given—because it’s practically well-made, and also it’s a connection to motorsports. But the dream combo would be a Nautilus with a classic air-cooled 911.”
They said that wine becomes better with age. At this point in your life, what kind of wine are you? “White wine, probably. Not too complicated to drink. Very chill.”
And if your car could talk, what would it say? “You shouldn’t have sold me,” he laughed. “But going back to my philosophy of ‘holding things loosely’ means that I do not look back and regret it because I have reasons for why I made that decision.
But maybe I sometimes try to look back at the fun moments. But you also remember the repair bills. So that kind of kills the memories.”
Always Authentic, Always Kind, Always Alvin
If there’s one statement that would sum up Alvin Uy perfectly, it would be this:
“I never bash brands. I just highlight what works and what can be better. And don’t be a clickbaiter—once you chase likes, you lose authenticity.”
In the current state of the media industry, not just within the car community, where everything is filled with algorithm chasers and attention-grabbing titles, that kind of restraint is rare.
For me, Alvin Uy doesn’t chase noise—actually, he doesn’t chase anything. He’s just here building his legacy on the road, with his written words and with his faith.