Toyota owners gather for a weekend of heritage

Toyota Motor Philippines gathered local Toyota car clubs, collectors and aftermarket shops for the three-day Toyota Legacy Experience at Eton City Square, a weekend that put the focus on the owners who have kept the brand’s older and newer models active on the road and in their communities.

The event brought together enthusiasts from model-specific groups such as Hilux Club Philippines, Land Cruiser Club of the Philippines and FJ Cruiser Owners Philippines, as well as the broader Grupo Toyota community. Their vehicles ranged from modified pickups and SUVs to restored and customized cars, reflecting the different ways owners have made Toyota part of their lives.

Hilux Club Philippines started in 2011 as a small group of owners and has since grown into one of the country’s active Toyota communities. Off-road trips and camping remain central to the club, but its members also organize outreach activities and travel with their families.

JC Diaz, a core member of the club, said the Hilux initially drew him in, while the friendships made him stay.

“Hilux Club Philippines is more than just a group of Hilux owners,” Diaz said. “We enjoy off-roading, camping, helping communities, and spending time together as friends and families.”

Club head Twyford Ong said the group’s activities extend from trail drives to helping communities. He said it is rewarding to see members form friendships, include their families and use their vehicles for a useful purpose.

The Land Cruiser Club of the Philippines also showed how a vehicle can become part of a family story. Club head Gerald Lim grew up around Land Cruisers, beginning with the 40 Series driven by his father. The family later owned models including the LC 70 FRP, BJ44 and 80 Series.

Lim said the Land Cruiser has come to represent reliability and resilience in his family. Through the club, it has also become a tool for charitable work and for reaching communities during calamities.

“I hope the next generation carries this legacy forward by understanding that a Land Cruiser is built for a purpose,” Lim said. “It is to explore the world, protect the family, and extend a helping hand to communities in need.”

For FJ Cruiser Owners Philippines, the club serves as a place where members exchange technical advice, maintenance tips, modification ideas and travel experiences. Francis Edward Ayala said its value comes from the relationships among owners as much as the vehicles themselves.

Grupo Toyota, meanwhile, connects owners across the brand’s lineup. Member Robert Tan said the group’s bond has developed through years of gatherings, outreach work and collaboration with other clubs.

Toyota also included aftermarket shops at the event, recognizing their role in maintaining, restoring and personalizing vehicles. Together with the clubs and collectors, they help keep older Toyotas running while giving newer models their own character.

The Toyota Legacy Experience showed that the brand’s history in the Philippines is not limited to the cars it has sold. It also lives in the people who drive them, repair them, take them on trails and pass them on to the next generation.