WHEN Toyota released its Corolla Altis in the Philippines, it immediately captured a huge market. Sporting features that were modified from the 1992 Corolla version, the car’s popularity went up a notch higher, and soon, an organization dedicated to the Corolla Altis was born—the Altis Club ZZ.

Present club president Conrad Young said that he and friends Mark Vergel de Dios and JB Gosiaco started a group on the web in November 6, 2004, where they invited other Altis enthusiasts. The first page dedicated to the car was under a Yahoo! Groups section named “Altisclub.”

“We are committed to providing members and enthusiast of this club the fundamentals of the Toyota Corolla Altis. We will strive to help members in appreciating their cars through informative and meaningful activities that can help build a lasting relationship with each and every one of them,” Young said.

He recalled that in 2004, the Corolla Altis was a fairly new model and there were few people who modified it. “It was in Car Domain, a site that lets people share pictures of their rides, that the pioneers met each other as they often asked about the modifications they saw in each other’s rides,” Young noted.

He added that although Altis Club ZZ is exclusive to Altis owners, some members who no longer have the car choose to remain as a registered member. “Ours is not just a car club but a life-long camaraderie as friendship transcends all limitations. And, at the end of the day, one can always count on the fact that a member of the club will be of service to a co-member or forumer, another Altis driver, or to people who own other car brands as the club is also equally enthusiastic to serve the community,” Young explained.

He noted that Altis Club ZZ eventually became the Altis Club of the Philippines, although it retains its www.altisclubzz.com address, and is now composed of 14 batches with provincial membership across the Philippines. Young also said it now counts 125 members and has over 4,300 forumers—and the club is growing.

“The club is currently expanding its horizon by encouraging and organizing provincial chapters, with specific and designated contact persons. Presently, there are Altis Club Baguio, Cavite, Pampanga, Batangas, Visayas and Mindanao,” Young said.