Pinoys can have a lot of fun in his own country

“Yes, there’s more fun in the Philippines; but for added fun, see the beautiful country aboard Isuzu vehicles,” is exactly what our friends from Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) have been saying all these years and most recently during last week’s trip to Palawan for the motoring media.

It was IPC that started it all—bringing motoring journalists to exotic places and tourist destinations in the Philippines, which we may not have the time or the opportunity to visit in the course of our day-to-day life as journalists, normally ruled by deadlines, while giving us the hands-on experience of driving or riding in their different vehicles. Now this gives us the dual opportunity to write about their vehicles’ remarkable performance and the country’s beautiful sights—a perfect combination indeed.

The latest odyssey was a road trip last April 18 to 20 to one of the country’s premier destinations—the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in Palawan together with the launch and test drive of the 2012 Isuzu Crosswind Special Edition. 

“By taking the 2012 Isuzu Crosswind Special Edition on an exciting road trip across a truly special place like Palawan, we are able to show not only the best traits of the vehicle, which make it perfect for journeys, but also promote the wonderful tourist spots in the country,” said IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki. “That the Crosswind and Palawan’s natural beauty complement one another only makes the experience more fun” he added.

I had the opportunity to ride with the soft-spoken IPC president all throughout the 3-day event together with Philippine Star’s Angel Rivero and Ron delos Reyes, producer/host of the TV show Auto Review who was behind the wheel on the first day but begged off from driving due to a nagging cold and was replaced by Aris Ilagan of the Bulletin. It was one of those rare occasions when a sitting Japanese president of an automobile company joined an entire event from start to finish. It was also on the same event Yamazaki-san pushed the envelope even further by becoming the only Japanese president who took on a zip-line ride together with the other IPC executives and the members of the motoring media.    

During the presentation of the 2012 Crosswind Special Edition held at the posh Sheridan Resort & Spa we were apprised by IPC’s marketing head, Joseph Bautista of what’s new in this variant. “The 2012 Crosswind Special Edition model, which adds to the Crosswind variants, is more tough and youthful-looking with the installation of numerous black anodized trim. New to the model are a fixed, shark fin antenna that doesn’t need to be pulled out from its housing or pushed back in when the vehicle passes through low spaces; a one-piece black plastic rear wiper; and black anodized sharp design rear spoiler that’s aerodynamic and houses a concealed high-mount third brake lamp. Combined with the new black with silver accent two-tone sporty spare tire cover, the various new features promote the Sporty Black theme of the vehicle. Adding to these are black anodized finish sleek design roof rails that showed their usefulness in the Puerto Princesa road trip by securing luggage and other outdoor gear. Completing the stylish looks of the 2012 Crosswind Special Edition are two new six-spoke alloy wheel designs that give the vehicle a bolder presence,” he said.

In one of our discussions about the Crosswind during the trip, Art Balmadrid, the very amiable IPC SVP underscored its unmatched fuel efficiency. “The Crosswind’s legendary fuel efficiency also adds to the vehicle’s appeal. In these days of soaring fuel prices, the Crosswind boasts of costing as low as P2.2 per kilometer traveled, with a fuel efficiency rating of up to 21.54 kilometers per liter, as shown in the 2010 Isuzu Challenge result”.

 IPC president Yamazaki-san also reminded us that having the Crosswind can be a sound economic decision. “Without a doubt, the Isuzu Crosswind’s unmatched resale value, low maintenance cost and excellent fuel economy all make the model a truly wise investment,” he said.

“Around 60,000 Crosswinds sold since 2001 are proof of this. We at Isuzu will also ensure that the Crosswind continue to be appealing by constantly updating the model with new features to meet the needs of Filipinos when it comes to their multipurpose vehicles, may these be for family or business use. That way, they can be sure that they can drive with confidence.”

On the first day, the 2012 Crosswind Special Edition brought the media contingent from the Puerto Princesa Airport (which needs a good makeover pronto considering the huge increase of tourist arrivals both local and foreign) to the Ka Lui restaurant where I experienced having the freshest and most delicious blue marlin in my fish-eating life. After a quick gas up with Caltex with Techron D-the official fuel of the trip, we did Puerto Princesa and the best it has to offer in the next 3 days.

Our wanderlust brought us to the Crocodile Farm, where I had a “lips-to-lips” (recorded on photo and video) with a baby croc, the “prison without walls” Iwahig Penal Colony, where I bought necklace souvenirs from the inmates who made them, delicious merienda at the Baker’s Hill, lunch at the well-known and well-documented Dos Palmas Island Resort and Spa after an exciting boat ride tour of several islands that included Bat island, Snake island and Luli island (short for lulubog-lilitaw).            

Aside from the land and boat trips, there were also activities that were for the journalists’ choosing, like, a wild ride in an ATV (all-purpose vehicle), a Mangrove Cruise complete with snakes hanging and on the sides, zip-line ride and the much-welcome outdoor or indoor massage and spa.    

But what can be considered as the highlight of the trip is the boat ride to the what’s now known around the world as one of the 7 World’s Wonders of Nature—the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River. And what a pity! I missed it! Because of my known “claustrophobia,” some well-meaning friends warned me about going into the river-cave and the possible embarrassment and inconvenience that I could cause to other boat riders (about 10 to a boat) should I suddenly suffer a bout and insist on being brought back to the mouth of the cave. However after the trip, everybody was saying that I could have made it through and enjoyed the whole experience because there was no place they saw that could cause anybody any kind of claustrophobic feeling, except probably if one ventures to go deeper into the sub caves. Well, there’s always a next time.

It was indeed a refreshing summer experience for us driving and riding around Puerto Princesa aboard five brand-new 2012 Isuzu Crosswind Special Edition shipped over to Palawan and back to Manila by 2GO Freight—the “official event shipping line.” 2GO Lines probably did a splendid job bringing those Crosswind units unscratched and in mint condition for us to drive hard in various and punishing road surfaces and passing the road test with flying colors.

Happy Motoring!!!

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