This was the first answer I got when I asked him how it felt launching the latest BMW M5 in his territory.

Abad Santos is the location in Manila where Ramon S. Ang began his love affair with cars. It was the location of his car shop.

SMC President Ramon S. Ang introducing the BMW M5 at the San Miguel headquarters in Pasig. (photo by Ira V. Panganiban)

Ang, or RSA as he is known to everyone, needs no introduction. But just in case you did not know, he is currently the President/CEO of the country’s biggest food and beverage company, San Miguel Corporation or SMC.

Of course, now, under Ang, SMC has diversified into a multi-industry company including tollways and auto distributorship, to name only two.

At the launch of the new BMW M5, Ang had the country’s creme’ de la creme’ of Philippine car lovers in tow. In fact, most everyone who owned a car worth over 10 million attended the event. They even brought their own supercars with them.

RSA with one of his oldest friend Carlos Gono. (photo by Ira V. Panganiban)

The event was so packed with high level personalities, we actually got a request from BMW to send them the photos we intend to use in our stories so they can ask permission from the  people in our pictures if it’s okay to publish.

And this was a Sunday morning. A rainy Sunday morning at that. On ordinary Sundays you would not be able to get these rich boys out of their beds much more drive their precious cars in the rain.

But for a treat with RSA, these gents took the time off to get up at 5 in the morning and drive to Pasig to witness Ang introduce his newest endevour.

Members of the Supercar Club of the Philippines pose with RSA beside the new BMW M5. (photo by Ira V. Panganiban)

His speech did not contain any stats or specs of the M5. Instead he reminisced about the old days when he was just starting out. “This is a long way from Abad Santos, pare,” Ang told us when we asked how it felt introducing the M5.

He called out friends, starting with another of our friends, Carlos Gono, himself an avid supercar nut. There’s a rumor that an ongoing “horsepower war” is raging between Gono and Ang. What is that war? Well, Gono and Ang would try and outdo each other in the purchase of the car that had the highest horsepower.

Even the president of rival CATS Motors, distributor of Mercedes Benz, Rene Nunez was at the event and even lent RSA one of the older M5’s on display.

Five generations of BMW M5 on display at the driveway of the San Miguel Corporation headquarters. (photo by Ira V. Panganiban)

RSA prides himself in saying that he will get himself one of the M5 they launched. He says this car is so good, with a rated 600 horsepower and an All Wheel Drive to control it, that it can probably beat the Ferraris and Lamborghini’s parked at the SMC compound, those owned by his guests.

But then, who could deny this from RSA, the guy who owns some of the fastest and most unique cars this side of the West Philippine Sea. At least now, RSA says he can race in proper circuits driving his fancy cars, unlike in the old days when he used Ortigas and White Plains Avenue.

We kinda forgot to introduce the BMW M5. 600 horsepower and All Wheel Drive, it is probably the fastest BMW to date. (photo by Ira V. Panganiban)