Julius Maranga, Georekey Cantabaco, and Gabriel Hidalgo Jr. have never let up in their efforts to beef up their skills as motorcycle mechanics. Together with business owner John Ceniza, the three have constantly given their best to serve the customers of the Cebu-based Drake’s Motor Parts, even as the business grappled with being known to only a few in the market. For their efforts, the four-man team emerged as the latest winners of Castrol’s Partner for Life Program.
Partner for Life is Castrol’s annual advocacy program that educates mechanics on proper motorcycle handling and servicing. By qualifying in a series of tests and challenges in the proprietary training courses of the program, participants are set to compete for the title of Champion Mechanics in the Partner for Life Grand Finale. On top of spreading the competitive spirit amongst mechanics nationwide, Castrol Partner for Life promotes road safety and helps to ensure that motorcycles on the road are performing at their best.
In addition, by introducing mechanics to formal training in motorcycle repair and maintenance, the program not only helps to sharpen the skills and competencies of mechanics. It also helps to sustain businesses in this field, assuring continued livelihood for those employed in the sector.
Apart from the Philippines, similar programs are also run in Thailand, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, under different names. Winners from all these countries then participate in the Castrol Asia Pacific Mechanic Contest. Maranga, Cantabaco, Hidalgo and Ceniza began their Partner for Life journey in 2015, determined to improve their skills as motorcycle mechanics and to help the motorcycle business to succeed. The team was ‘third time lucky’; taking home the title of Philippine Champion Mechanics through the skills and teamwork they have developed over time.
The team acquired an extensive understanding of two-wheeler technology, motorcycle maintenance and customer handling through the various courses, tests, and challenges carefully designed by Castrol. Having invested enormous amounts of time and effort over the past three years, this journey has led the trio into being considered amongst the best mechanics in the country.
Since its introduction in 2013, Castrol’s Partner for life program has improved the lives of both winning and participating mechanics in Philippines, providing them with an opportunity to learn latest technologies and correct and updated ways of working on motorcycles. Partner for Life program begins with an intensive, six-month program that covers three key modules: Proper Motorcycle Tune Up, Scooter Lubrication, Customer Service and Motorcycle Trouble-Shooting.