The immediate soundtrack in our mind goes the classic American rock ’n’ roll hit, “Drove my Chevy to the levee until the levee was dry, and good ol’ boys were drinking whisky and rye, singing this could be the day that I die.…”

But Ryan Agoncillo won’t do anything like that, drive his car and drink whisky till he dies.

While driving his new Chevrolet Cruze, the TV host has never been more upbeat. Agoncillo is the new brand ambassador of Chevy cars, now being introduced in the Philippine market with new designs that fit the streets and lifestyles of the modern Filipino.

With its new slogan, “Love this Chevy,” Agoncillo perfectly fits the campaign.

Since he tied the knot and became a family man, Agoncillo epitomizes the hard-working young dad who still finds time with his loved ones. We see him almost every day on television, being a regular host of the longest-running noon-time variety show Eat Bulaga on GMA 7 from Monday to Saturday and on TV5’s trend-setting talent search, Talentadong Pinoy, every Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

He and his wife, actress Judy Ann Santos, are expecting their first baby.

“My wife is on her seven months of pregnancy. We’re expecting our baby to come out mid-October. We’re all very excited,” says Agoncillo, who personally drives to the mall or movie house on weekends. “Even though we have a driver, when it comes to my family, I am more at ease if I am the one on the wheels.”

The Agoncillos live in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Though there are two malls in Alabang, they watch movies in an upscale mall in Makati, for privacy and security reasons.

Based on experience, he says he’s more relaxed when driving a Chevy.

“I experienced driving a Chevy 10 years ago. It was a Suburban and I loved it,” he tells us. During vacation trips in the US to visit his relatives, he reveals that his US-based uncle owns a Trailblazer. He always borrowed it among his uncle’s other cars.

“My girlfriend—my wife now—she used to have a Trailblazer. So I’ve been driving Chevys even before they got me in the campaign. Kasi, you can’t beat the ride. The ride-feel is very luxurious. Siyempre, there are times I come from out-of town tapings, I need to use my own car. Nothing beats Chevrolet. Comfortable talaga.”

He learned to drive when he was 14. Since then, just the idea of driving has been relaxation for him. Agoncillo started in showbiz as a commercial model. He tried his hands in hosting and because of his good looks, wit and fluency of the English language, he became a favorite host to different shows, from music channels, morning news-and-public-affairs programs, youth-oriented talk shows to noon-time variety.

He has also tried acting for television and film. Opposite his very famous wife, considered among the top-grossing films in recent years are the three family-oriented movies he acted in for ABS-CBN’s film outfit, Star Cinema.

“I have a driver if there’s work. If there’s none, I am on my own. I like to drive even if we have so much traffic in here. It relaxes me, believe it or not,” he says.

In fact, his passion now is drifting. He used to dive in Anilao but drifting has overtaken his fascination for marine life. He is usually in Clark when there’s free time for this newfound hobby.

Responsible family guy

IT is not a secret anymore that his wife has an adopted kid, Yohann, and Agoncillo considers her his own also. When the new baby is out, Ryan has plans of getting a bigger car, a Chevy Suburban or a Captiva.

“Of course, when the family gets bigger, the car gets bigger also,” he says with his winning smile that has successfully launched lots of products and services for more than a decade.

Lyn Buena, marketing director of The Covenant Car Company Inc. (TCCI), the newly appointed exclusive importer and distributor of Chevrolet automobiles and parts in the Philippines, attests to Agoncillo’s credibility as endorser.

She says Agoncillo is the new ambassador for the Chevrolet brand in the Philippines “because we believe that he embodies our target market and the ‘New Face of Chevrolet’ as being trustworthy, strong, vibrant, progressive and with a sense of fun. Ryan takes on many roles in his life; as a reliable husband, a responsible father, a caring brother, a friend—someone you can talk and relate to. He personifies the new brand image of Chevrolet—someone who is credible, inspiring and is right there with you.”

Showbiz insiders would attest that Agoncillo never had scuffles with the law due to drunk driving or bar brawls that are so common among young entertainment male celebrities, neither was his name dragged into a scam or unwanted pregnancy issues.

The gentleman in him also remains unscathed. No one can provoke him to do something bad. A perfect example was when he and his wife announced their wedding plans. Actor Robin Padilla, a former leading man of Santos in an ABS-CBN telenovela, said something like, “I won’t be there in the wedding because Judy Ann might run away with me. Maaagaw ko pa s’ya kay Ryan.”

Any guy with a macho mentality would react negatively. When asked for their reactions, Agoncillo simply smiled about it and dismissed it as a joke. His future wife was fuming all over the papers but he remained calm. Padilla eventually apologized to the couple.

No wonder, many were envious of Santos more than the other way around. She found the perfect partner in real life, if there’s actually such a thing as perfect in marriage.

“In the next years, my plan is to work harder because there’s a new member in the family coming out,” says Agoncillo. Being a family man, he adds, is very fulfilling. He looks forward to weekends, like most expectant fathers nowadays.

“After a long week of work, I look forward to Sunday and spend time with my family. Sarap eh. It’s different if you know that all the money you’ve been working hard for goes to something meaningful and fulfilling. I’m done with the happy-go-lucky bachelor’s life. I’m now a grownup. Just starting to be one,” he says followed by a giggle.

This family man is indeed the ideal endorser.

Buena adds, “It gives us pleasure and pride to have Ryan onboard the team and part of the Chevrolet family. These are truly exciting times for Chevrolet and TCCI. These new developments along with the introduction of new Chevrolet cars pave the way to a more energized Chevrolet brand.”

In the TV commercial of Chevy, which is now being shown in major channels, there’s a part where Agoncillo looks at the camera and asks, “Ang ganda no? [Isn’t it beautiful?]” obviously referring to the Cruze.

We couldn’t help but ask him if Chevy were a woman, how would he describe her?

“Wow, if Chevy were a woman?” he says, pausing for a few seconds, combing his hair with his right hand before facing us and declares a verdict, “She’d have incredible traits because she’s very beautiful. At the same time, she’s comfortable to be with and very reliable, which is very rare in a woman and I think, very rare in a car as well.”

We couldn’t agree more.