Last November, NissanPH invited us to Boracay, but there was a catch, we had to go by land. No worries, because we get to drive Nissan’s latest offerings.
Neil: We were excited, as there was no better reason to get out of Manila. We were fully vaccinated but our hosts still made sure all participants tested negative RT/PCR before we hit the road.
This is the third trip in the series of NissanPH and Department of Tourism Safe Trips, which has already gone to Baguio and Ilocos. The Safe Trips campaign promotes safe and responsible travel to support the revival of the tourism industry as tourist areas ease restrictions.
The vehicle we drove from Manila to Caticlan was the Nissan Navara VL 4×4, it boasts of coil sprung rear suspension and this definitely helped make the ride smoother since we didn’t have much in terms of luggage or cargo to keep the rear from bucking.
On the evening of November 9, I hit the road with our EIC, Ira Panganiban. We made the quick 80km trip from Quezon City via Skyway Stage 3 to Petron Km75 along the STAR Tollway, the designated meeting place with the NissanPH crew and other media participants. Then a quick 34km to get to the Port of Batangas where we would catch a ferry that would take us to Calapan, Mindoro in roughly 2 hours.
Ira: The drive was vastly different from all of the other road trips we ever made for car companies. The only other drive we made in the pitch of the night was when we were doing the Petron Extra Mile Challenge where we crossed Luzon on a single tank of gas. While it was strange, it was also exhilarating because we get to experience the Nissan models on almost empty country roads.
Neil: We arrived at Calapan Port around 2am, a train of Nissan Navaras, Terras and Almeras led by LEAF EV’s headed to a quick but hearty sit down breakfast at Vencio’s Garden Restaurant. Then it was another 134Km to Bulalacao Roro Port.
We got there around 8am but the port was closed until 10am so we had a second breakfast at the “By The Sea Hotel” and we were shown the Nissan LEAF’s capability to power appliances like a refrigerated water dispenser and a coffee maker while another LEAF was easily charging out of a 220V wall socket with a special adaptor.
At 10am, we crossed the road to Bulalacao Port and boarded our final ferry ride which was estimated take about 4 hours to Caticlan and head to Shangri-La Boracay where we were billeted. Before we disembarked, we had to have our Boracay Health Declaration QR codes scanned and our government issued ID’s documented, once that was done and after lots of road travel, we finally had a chance to rest.
Ira: Unsurprisingly, the Nissan Navara VL 4X4 was a smooth ride and drive. But that’s because I own one that is a generation prior to this latest iteration of the Nissan pick-up. The suspension felt car-like, none of the jarring bumps pick-ups are famous for. In fact, when I was not driving, I easily caught some shut-eye much like I would in a mid-sized sedan like a Camry or Accord. It handles very well even at high speeds and challenging road conditions.
Neil: Day two, we took the option to drive around Aklan to see some local tourist spots, so we crossed from Boracay back to Caticlan. Our first destination was a public white sand beach called Hinugtan Beach in Buruanga which was less than 15km away from the Caticlan Port. This time we drove the All New Terra VL 4×4 and being a mid-sized SUV, this was definitely more comfortable than the Navara we drove in from Manila. The Terra was the top of the line variant, it’s two toned interior luxuriously appointed, more so than it’s competitors and for long trips, the BOSE sound system was a big plus in making the trip enjoyable with great sounding music along with wireless Apple CarPlay, and Nissan’s legendary cold air conditioning.
Ira: The Nissan Terra for its part, is a well built, well-thought of SUV. The external size is just right with the extra room inside spacious enough to be called luxury. Even the materials and fabrics inside the cabin is high end complimenting the technology of entertainment and comfort at the second and third rows. And the third row is not an afterthought. I finally see an SUV that took the third row as an actual seating space and not a marketing stunt.
Neil: Unfortunately the road to the beach we visited was under construction and there was quite a bit of walking to do to get to the beach, but once you were there, it was a sight. There weren’t many people, just a handful of locals renting beach huts. Once the road is completed, and social media catches on, this would soon be overrun by Manileños.
The rest of the day was spent on the road making our way through scenic coastal roads to Tangalan, for those of you familiar with the drive to Kalibo airport from Caticlan, this takes you on that route, and the views are awesome. We took some photos and videos here, and finally made our way back to Caticlan.
On day three, we crossed to the neighboring hotel Movenpick, where NissanPH showcased the LEAF to the Mayor of Malay. Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director, Atsushi Najima presented the Malay Mayor, Frolibar Bautista with a symbolic cup of coffee brewed by the power generated by the LEAF. The AV equipment and coffee maker were powered by the LEAF to show its practicality.
With the gradual phase out of internal combustion vehicles in Boracay, EVs are the vehicles of choice and guest speakers were on hand to present to the LGU how EV’s like the LEAF and charging infrastructure would take Boracay into the future. Present were Ms. Genalyn Llorando, Country Manager of Delta Electronics, Edmund Araga, EVAP President and Nissan dealer principals, Michael Goho, Jeff Rolida and Tey Sornet.
Ira: Our drive took us over 200 kilometers of actual road trip, with some tens of nautical miles, and the Nissan Leaf that was in the convoy was a feat to behold. Nissan said one full charge of the Nissan Leaf battery system will take it over 300 kilometers before needing to juice up.
Many electric car manufacturers make this claim too. But what they don’t say in the fine print is that those numbers depend on how one uses power in the car. Air conditioning, stereos, lights (and we travelled at night more that two thirds of the way) all drain power from the battery of an EV. But the Leaf showed it could take this kind of punishment and still come out socially responsible while doing it.
Socially responsible you ask? The Leaf, using a gadget called Power Mover, performed the function of an electricity hub when we took driving stops, giving power to coffee makers, juice chillers and even food warmers, in the middle of a road trip. And it still reached Caticlan and Boracay doing all this. Oh, and it can put that power back into the grid too!
Neil: That afternoon, Nissan Philippines and the Department of Tourism renewed their partnership for another year. At the signing was Nissan Philippines’ General Manager for Communications Dax Avenido, Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima, (via ZOOM) Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Howard Lance Uyking, and Department of Tourism Region 6 Director Cristine Mansinares.
Ira: Driving across the nation right after a pandemic shutdown is a real stress reliever. Driving three brand new cars and an electric vehicle from Nissan in the same event is a total treat. Having the Department of Tourism take care of the different requirements crossing local borders made it a more efficient travel that we expected. Of course, as I would like to remind the Department of Tourism, I have never signed, and carried, so much documents in my life just to travel, not even when applying for visas in difficult countries. I think the DOT could have made the transitions smoother and safer for everyone, without all the fuss. I was expecting Secretary Berna Puyat to be have joined us, like their event briefing said, but I guess it was too much travel for her.
Neil: Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility were the perfect co-pilot on a drive like this. Alerts were welcome from the Rear Blind Sport Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Rear View Mirror, Lane Departure Warning and Intelligent Froward Collision Warning with Intelligent Emergency Braking. The Intelligent Around View monitor was handy driving on and off the ferry, and it made parking in the tight spaces on the ferry easy. Zero Gravity Seats fought off fatigue on the long stints. In this new normal, local vacation and travel is possible, just make sure you research on the protocols and paperwork needed at the destination and always take the necessary precautions and make sure you pick right vehicle.
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