I’m a long-time auto enthusiast and I have the video game Gran Turismo and the Dodge Viper to thank for that. I have a soft spot for all cars, trucks, and SUVs but I am most fond of anything coming out of Korea and Japan. Over the last seven years as an auto journalist, I’ve been in countless vehicles but it’s always the well-executed, attainable machine that manages to get me excited.
I got my start at MotorTrend where I was an Associate Online Editor from 2014 to 2020. That was where I made myself known as “the Korean car guy.” Everyone else loved their European brands and American icons. Some were die-hard JDM fans, myself included. No one else delved as deep as I did when it came to Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, and it showed.
Fast forward to December 2020, I started contributing to Alex on Autos and Wrecked Media Group’s EV Pulse, the latter of which specialized in electrified vehicles. These are crucial points because they helped me grow professionally. I’m now a specialist in electrified vehicles and I got more on-camera time as a presenter. This helped expand my horizons and positioned me better because of the new knowledge and skill set.
Outside of the car world, you’ll find me dabbling in food. This is my cultural link to the world, specifically my Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish heritage. My culinary dabbling began in college and eventually helped me become more hands-on with my health via cooking nearly every meal, learning new recipes and putting my twist on them, sharing food customs with friends and family, and introducing people to new cuisines.
My other interests include martial arts. I’ve been involved in it since I was 13 when my mom forced me into classes after I was bullied. What I initially didn’t like is now one of my passions; after the first week, I was hooked and have been training on and off since then.
As for my education, I have a BA and MA in History from California State University, Los Angeles. I did as many research classes as I could so I could write about different topics on the Cold War, pop culture, cars, Soviet gulags and dissidents, and LGBTQ+ People. I’ve won money for my research project on LGBTQ+ communities in post-Soviet Russia, which was a labor of love and one of my most prized accomplishments, especially as an LGBTQ individual.
If you’d like to see my recent professional work, feel free to peruse my work in the links below. My Instagram Is also on here if you’d like to get a hold of me quickly.
MotorTrend (2014 to 2020)
Alex on Autos (2020 to 2021)
EV Pulse (2020 to 2022)
Flat Sixes (2020 to 2022)