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Memories are made of MGs

Memories are made of MGs

Tessa R. Salazar

Twist of fate allows Junji Santiago Esporlas to keep a hard-earned MG5 Alpha he and wife named Baby Twig

In December 2019, 38-year-old professional driver Junji Santiago Esporlas brought his very first owned car, a brand-new 2020 MG5 Alpha, to his home in Bataan, and immediately his wife Abegail lovingly called it “Baby Twig”.

“We intended Baby Twig to be a source of additional income for us,” Junji said.

Fate, however, had other plans, blindsiding the couple with a pandemic.

“In March 2020, COVID-19 struck the country. We found it extremely difficult to pay for Baby Twig’s monthly amortizations as we found ourselves lacking a sufficient source of income then,” Junji recounted.

Junji and Abegail Esporlas

“To keep Baby Twig, my wife and I had to pay with our life savings. But it wasn’t enough. Had it not been for our decision in June 2020 for me to drive to Manila and take in paying passengers, we would have lost the car. That turned out to be the saving grace for us to meet our monthly payments. Private vehicles for hire were in huge demand in Manila at the time, because the pandemic shut down most public transportation,” he said.

It was that “viral baptism” that truly bonded the Esporlas couple with Baby Twig, and now serves an unbreakable foundation for their next adventures.

“We’ve had so many memories already with our Baby Twig–now over 40,000 km old and has practically become part of the family. We’ve attended events and meet-ups with co-MG5 owners that led us to meet new friends, which led our Baby Twig to meet new friends, too,” Junji beams.

Before “adopting” Baby Twig, Junji was also considering a Hyundai Accent 1.6L diesel.

The MG5, however, was Junji’s hands-down winner. “It’s a bang-for-your-buck kind of car. The look is comparable to luxury brands such as BMW, Mercedes Benz SLR, and other European-branded cars,” Junji observes.

“I went ‘Wow!’ at the MG5 interior, and that cemented my decision,” he added.

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Junji says that Baby Twig’s “GMRC” matches its British pedigree. “What has also amazed me is the car’s ride comfort, not only for me as the driver but also based on passengers’ feedback. They usually tell me they felt like they were in a hotel.”

Junji himself feels like he’s in one whenever he visits his MG dealership along Congressional road, as he describes the staff as “very accommodating.”

And just like family, Junji makes a shout-out to the aftersales people. “Kudos to Mr. Richard Corpuz, Ma’am Grace Ortiz and Sir Joshua for the exemplary customer service that they have always accorded to me.”

Junji observes that Baby Twig can be even better. “For the MG5 variant, I feel that the infotainment system can be improved for us to maximize the functionalities of the system, to add to the already superb driving experience,” he said.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. With the continuous collaboration among MG owners, dealerships, and TCCCI, these beloved MG cars—like Baby Twig—will go on to infuse more meaningful and fun motoring experiences, whatever the season and reason.