Time to test your mettle with TW Steel

What time is it? Once again, TW Steel has an answer.

MANILA, Philippines — Watch brand TW Steel understands the importance of a good challenge. This is something they demonstrated by bringing us on a three-day adventure to Corregidor, an island known for bravery and valor in the face of war, to launch the snazzy new Son of Time Special Edition and New Maverick collections.

Speaking of time, it’s something we constantly have too little of (paging Thanos and the Avengers!). But we also tend to take it for granted. Crunching through our daily work and commuting can get monotonous. That’s why TW Steel realizes how important it is to hit pause once in a while and do something unexpected. 

Which takes us to Corregidor. Dubbed The Rock due to its history as a heavily fortified military defense (it served as the gateway to Manila, after all, during WWII), Corregidor is sacred soil for the bold and brave; nowadays, it also attracts those seeking thrills — and even some chills. Fun fact: I’m a certified scaredy-cat and once told my mom I’d never ever agree to an overnight stay in Corregidor. (I’d heard, you know… stories.)

Bamboo pole-balancing challenge

So there we were, Day one, diving straight into the action on a tour around the island, a timepiece from TW Steel’s Canteen collection secured snugly on our wrists. The tour guide-led transport brought us around the island’s four sections, mostly ruins of structures like military barracks, along with former shopping centers and even a cinema. 

And if standing in spots marked by war and destruction wasn’t hair-raising enough, our first test of courage came at the famed Malinta Tunnel, a bombproof storage facility that was converted into a 1,000-bed hospital during World War II.

Malinta Tunnel tour

The guide led us through the tunnel’s interiors, flashlights shining into the darkest corners while we passed by old relics and a whole lot of rubble. Though it was broad daylight on the outside, the pitch black of the inside was enough to keep me sufficiently spooked. No kidding: when we were told to shut off our flashlights and keep quiet, I was very sure that I’d cave and run out of there without looking back. I didn’t, though. We all made it out in one piece.

Of course, the Malinta Tunnel experience was only the start. (We went back later that night to take photos in the dark. That made it doubly spooky, I think. I was internally screaming the entire time.) The succeeding activities arranged by TW Steel were adrenaline-pumping affairs — things like kayak challenges and tunnel races — that a little ‘ol couch potato like me had expected to fail at.

Dacanay family of TW Steel Asia Ltd. (from left) Dino Dacanay, Manuel Dacanay regional marketing director for TW Steel Asia, Dawn Dacanay and Alan Dacanay, owner and COO TW Steel Asia Ltd.

But, in keeping with the TW Steel mantra that you can #haveitall, I actually ended up doing well. Despite having no prior solo kayaking experience, I managed to best three other people in my round of the kayak time trials. In what lifetime does that stuff ever happen to me? Maybe I was inspired by the bravery of soldiers trapped on The Rock.

For the succeeding days, we completed other timed tasks, including crawling through a narrow Japanese tunnel, carrying bamboo planks to balance a plastic ball, and biking along the barracks. There were breathtaking sunsets and sunrise meet-ups, something us Manilans are not always keen on. In fact, getting Manila folk to go out and partake in both physical and mental activities at the height of summer is a challenge in itself, but we all had a blast regardless.

TW Steel Asia reps with members of the media

Continuous development and innovation is what makes TW Steel what it is today: a brand that has something to match different moods. The New Mavericks collection includes seven timepieces that are spin-offs of the Son of Time collection, except now even more sophisticated. The Son of Time Special Editions, on the other hand, take inspiration from motorcycles like the Chronos Joyride and the Aeon custom bike. Flashy smart watches can go sit in a corner, because having a solid TW Steel on your wrist is an experience, even for performing simple but essential tasks like checking the time.

As for me, going out of my comfort zone turned out to be a good idea. I made it off The Rock in one piece, glad to have tried something I wouldn’t normally do. Maybe it’s events like these that give you something to look back on to prove you can make it through real challenges. As for me? I’ve got all the time in the world to figure the rest out.

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Head to TW Steel boutiques in Alabang Town Center, Century Mall, Shangri-La Plaza, SM Makati, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa and SM Seaside Cebu to see the new Son of Time and Maverick collections. For more information, visit twsteel.com.