Guanzon Group celebrates 8 decades of mobility
The Guanzon Group of Companies, the conglomerate of nationwide motorcycle dealerships, tech & gadgets stores, automotive dealerships, and real estate developments celebrated their 80th Anniversary on May 22, 2025 with the opening of their annual Guanzon Festival and the inauguration of their latest venture, The Waltz Convention Center, in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
After World War II, founder Guan Kay Lo established a business in 1945 by purchasing hogs in Pangasinan, exchanging them for canned goods and liquor at the American military base, and then trading the US goods in Manila. At the time, the kalesa, or horse-drawn buggy, was the standard means of transportation, and Lo started selling kalesa parts at Guanzon Hardware, his first shop in Dagupan. Soon, Guanzon Hardware also sold fishing nets, supplies, and accessories, as well as small appliances, sewing machines, and spare parts.
From calesa to motorcycles
By 1950, Guanzon Hardware started selling bicycles and spare parts. The demand for bicycles went on until the late 1950s, but the demand shifted to motorized bikes in 1960. Guanzon Hardware added motorcycles to its inventory and signed up with Mariwasa-Honda to become the pioneering Honda motorcycle dealership in Pangasinan. In 1968, the shop was razed by fire, and it took Guanzon Hardware two years to recover and stabilize operations.
In 1975, Guanzon Hardware added Suzuki motorcycles after a dealership agreement with Antonio Suzuki Corporation. In 1983, Guanzon Merchandising Corporation, which was engaged in selling the full motorcycle product line-up of Mariwasa-Honda, renewed its partnership with the formation of Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI). Since then, Guanzon has consistently been awarded as one of the most outstanding dealers of HPI.
From mobility to mobile gadgets
In 1990, LGK Guanzon, Inc. became the exclusive dealer of Honda motorcycles, gaining popularity as Guanzon Honda. In 1993, the company ventured into the automobile business with Honda Cars Pangasinan. In 1998, United Excelsior Marketing Inc. (UEMI), the first multi-brand motorcycle shop, was established. More motorcycle dealerships followed, including Motorcentrum Corporation, an exclusive Honda motorcycle dealership, in 2003; Suzuki 3S Shops, starting in 2004; and partnerships with Yamaha Motor Philippines (YMPH), Inc., starting in 2007, and Kawasaki Motors (Philippines). Corporation (KMPC) starting in 2008.
The company entered the mobile phone business in 1998 with the opening of its first Guanzon Mobitek store. For their 65th Anniversary in 2010, the G-Card, which epitomizes the Guanzon Loyalty Program, was launched with four Guanzon Festival events organized in four different locations to honor their more than one million customers of motorcycles, cars, mobile phones, and after-sales services.
Celebrating 8 decades
The Guanzon Group continued the expansion of its motorcycle, car, and tech dealerships throughout the 2010s. In December 2019, they inaugurated The Monarch Hotel in Calasiao, bringing world-class hospitality and service to Pangasinan. This was followed by the opening of The Porch by The Monarch in 2022. Their 80th Anniversary saw the 4-day Guanzon Festival 2025 held at the new The Waltz Convention Center.
Guanzon Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph G. Lo, Chief Operations Officer (COO) Guanson Lo and representatives from Samsung Philippines cut the ceremonial ribbon to mark the opening of The Waltz, while the top executives of the Big 4 motorcycle companies in the country – headed by Honda Philippines (HPI) President Takeshi Kobayashi; Kawasaki Motors Philippines Corporation (KMPC) President & Chairman of the Board Isao Sudo; Suzuki Philippines (SPH) President Koichiro Hirao and Yamaha Motor Philippines (YMPH) President Katsuya Iida – arrived in full force.
Aside from the great opportunities during the Guanzon Festival 2025 to purchase the latest motorcycle models, helmets, riding gear, parts, accessories, lubricants, and other related items, there were also big discounts on mobile phones and tech gadgets from popular brands carried by Guanzon Mobitek. Outside The Waltz, there were car displays and a short track in the parking Lot, where prospective buyers can test ride the latest motorcycle and scooter models. It was a great commemoration of the company’s achievements over the past 8 decades.The Guanzon Group of Companies, the conglomerate of nationwide motorcycle dealerships, tech & gadgets stores, automotive dealerships, and real estate developments celebrated their 80th Anniversary on May 22, 2025 with the opening of their annual Guanzon Festival and the inauguration of their latest venture, The Waltz Convention Center, in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
After World War II, founder Guan Kay Lo established a business in 1945 by purchasing hogs in Pangasinan, exchanging them for canned goods and liquor at the American military base, and then trading the US goods in Manila. At the time, the kalesa, or horse-drawn buggy, was the standard means of transportation, and Lo started selling kalesa parts at Guanzon Hardware, his first shop in Dagupan. Soon, Guanzon Hardware also sold fishing nets, supplies, and accessories, as well as small appliances, sewing machines, and spare parts.
From calesa to motorcycles
By 1950, Guanzon Hardware started selling bicycles and spare parts. The demand for bicycles went on until the late 1950s, but the demand shifted to motorized bikes in 1960. Guanzon Hardware added motorcycles to its inventory and signed up with Mariwasa-Honda to become the pioneering Honda motorcycle dealership in Pangasinan. In 1968, the shop was razed by fire, and it took Guanzon Hardware two years to recover and stabilize operations.
In 1975, Guanzon Hardware added Suzuki motorcycles after a dealership agreement with Antonio Suzuki Corporation. In 1983, Guanzon Merchandising Corporation, which was engaged in selling the full motorcycle product line-up of Mariwasa-Honda, renewed its partnership with the formation of Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI). Since then, Guanzon has consistently been awarded as one of the most outstanding dealers of HPI.
From mobility to mobile gadgets
In 1990, LGK Guanzon, Inc. became the exclusive dealer of Honda motorcycles, gaining popularity as Guanzon Honda. In 1993, the company ventured into the automobile business with Honda Cars Pangasinan. In 1998, United Excelsior Marketing Inc. (UEMI), the first multi-brand motorcycle shop, was established. More motorcycle dealerships followed, including Motorcentrum Corporation, an exclusive Honda motorcycle dealership, in 2003; Suzuki 3S Shops, starting in 2004; and partnerships with Yamaha Motor Philippines (YMPH), Inc., starting in 2007, and Kawasaki Motors (Philippines). Corporation (KMPC) starting in 2008.
The company entered the mobile phone business in 1998 with the opening of its first Guanzon Mobitek store. For their 65th Anniversary in 2010, the G-Card, which epitomizes the Guanzon Loyalty Program, was launched with four Guanzon Festival events organized in four different locations to honor their more than one million customers of motorcycles, cars, mobile phones, and after-sales services.
Celebrating 8 decades
The Guanzon Group continued the expansion of its motorcycle, car, and tech dealerships throughout the 2010s. In December 2019, they inaugurated The Monarch Hotel in Calasiao, bringing world-class hospitality and service to Pangasinan. This was followed by the opening of The Porch by The Monarch in 2022. Their 80th Anniversary saw the 4-day Guanzon Festival 2025 held at the new The Waltz Convention Center.
Guanzon Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph G. Lo, Chief Operations Officer (COO) Guanson Lo and representatives from Samsung Philippines cut the ceremonial ribbon to mark the opening of The Waltz, while the top executives of the Big 4 motorcycle companies in the country – headed by Honda Philippines (HPI) President Takeshi Kobayashi; Kawasaki Motors Philippines Corporation (KMPC) President & Chairman of the Board Isao Sudo; Suzuki Philippines (SPH) President Koichiro Hirao and Yamaha Motor Philippines (YMPH) President Katsuya Iida – arrived in full force.
Aside from the great opportunities during the Guanzon Festival 2025 to purchase the latest motorcycle models, helmets, riding gear, parts, accessories, lubricants, and other related items, there were also big discounts on mobile phones and tech gadgets from popular brands carried by Guanzon Mobitek. Outside The Waltz, there were car displays and a short track in the parking Lot, where prospective buyers can test ride the latest motorcycle and scooter models. It was a great commemoration of the company’s achievements over the past 8 decades.
