With launches left and right and an overload of shiny automobile displays, it's easy to get lost in the din of the Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) revelry over the weekend.

The DAILY TRIBUNE Blast started at the World Trade Center (WTC) front of the MIAS 2024. Greeting you there, in broad daylight, are displays from the likes of BAIC, Hyundai, Astara and Nissan, among others.

They are parked around the small area where showgoers test-drove their vehicles of choice, complete with steel ramp and cones.

Now that was the day temperatures reached 50 degrees in some places in the country. Easily, it felt like that on that spot around 1 p.m., but people didn't mind.

Clearly, the crowd's anticipation of the yearly event exceeded the threat of heat stroke. At least during Day 1.

Just before you get indoors, the vintage cars are on display lining up the entire WTC lobby teeming with sales people, aficionados, media and the likes.

It took us hours to navigate through the cavernous venue not only because human traffic was at standstill but you'd want to spend a few moments to appreciate each and every booth.

And when we say booth, it's a 100-square-meter space — decked by cars and decorated by specific themes.

Then later in the afternoon we decided to check out the other venue, the SMX Convention Center. This, by the way, marked the first time since MIAS' inception in 2005 that it was held at two sites.

So, we hopped on the shuttle buses, provided free for show-goers, to the next venue which was smaller compared to the other but was just as decked.