Formerly known as the Philippine Motoring Association (PMA), the organization is almost as old as the motoring industry in the country which marked its 100th year last year.

AAP’s celebration will mark the milestones of motoring in the country with an auto show, motorsports events, motoring awards, motorsports book, seminars and workshops on road safety, and various special events spread throughout the year, said Bong Saculles, AAP executive director.

The auto show, to highlight the developments in the motoring industry, will present vehicles from their early models to what they are today. "It will be like a historical window to motoring," Marisa Nallana of Philippine Exhibitions & Themeparks Corporation (PETCO), the auto show organizer, said.

Several special events will be held during the auto show which has been scheduled on May 11-14 at the PICC, CCP Complex, Manila. Mr. Saculles said the AAP has prepared "motoring awards" to recognize people who have made significant contributions to motoring. These awards will add to the regular citations which the organization has been giving to motorsports personalities for many years.

To start the motorsports season which is in summer, the AAP will conduct the Dodo Ayuyao Memorial Sampaguita Rally at the last weekend of April. The Sampaguita Rally is a recognized "fun drive" among motoring enthusiasts as it pits professionals and amateurs in a driving challenge involving planning, skill, patience and a little luck.

Two motorsports weekends have also been scheduled to mark the big celebration. These will be held on the weekends of May 6 and 7 and May 13 and 14, Mr. Saculles said.

The motorsports weekends will see the excitement of karting, slalom, rallye cross, 4x4 and vintage car races, he said. All of the races have been scheduled to be conducted at the CCP complex, near the PICC where the auto show will be held.

Mr. Saculles said the AAP is preparing a big celebration this year also to highlight its advocacy on road safety. "The AAP has always been in the middle of efforts of the private sector to push for road safety. We lobby for road safety regulations, and organize forums for education campaigns," he explained.

At present, AAP is working with Toyota Motor Philippines and the University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS) on a series of road safety conferences. The AAP conferences have been initiated and developed by Johnny Angeles, club vice-president and former executive director. The seminars are participated by government and private sector agencies.

According to Mr. Saculles, the organization has been for a long time now, advocating the development of alternative fuels like alcogas and LPG. It has initiated efforts to promote the use of alcogas in motorsports activities. In fact, in the 70s, AAP conducted a cross country rally with alcogas as the fuel of all vehicles.

To promote LPG for regular cars, the AAP now has converted its driving school cars to LPG fuel. "AAP has volunteered its resources to study the efficiency of LPG for cars and we are also conducting information campaigns among motorists on this subject," he said.

AAP, which counts a membership base of 70,000 motorists, is recognized as the National Auto Club of the Philippines by the Federation Internationale de Automobile (FIA) and the Associacion Internationale de Tourisme (AIT). As such, it is the only organization that regulates motoring events, such as motorsports. AAP is also the designated motoring body that issues the International Driving Permit which is a requirement when driving abroad longer than a member-country’s agreement with the national motoring association.

AAP is headed by Gus Lagman as president. The committee for the 75th anniversary celebration is headed by Ronald Reidenback as chairman, and Aida Sevilla, as vice-chairman.