Cruising cross-country

Seven Islands in seven days. It was a good number, and had a showbiz ring to

it. Since driving almost 2,000 kilometers was our kind of fun, we went on what

we called Manila Bulletin’s Cruising Cross Country.

My friends are aware of my plan to do this adventure – either alone or with friends –

someday. That “someday” came last April. Anjo Perez and Aris Ilagan, both driving

fans, took my idea seriously and joined me.

The cross country drive was also a perfect idea to mark Cruising magazine’s first

anniversary issue. What more can support the magazine’s concept of pushing motor

travel around the islands than the staff going out and driving through the unfamiliar

roads of Luzon and the Visayas islands?

Anjo and Aris were the perfect company. They did not only like a drive, they were

obsessed about holding the wheel, even passing off toilet stops and food breaks. We

had to come up with rules like “if the driver’s phone rings, he or she gives up the

wheel.” Later, we came up with time schedules – Aris after breakfast (because he

slept with the key); me, after lunch (Aris took a nap); and Anjo in the evening (he

didn’t need to take photos).

Half of the success of Cruising Cross Country was not the team but the big help from

friends. These friends come from the right places; Toyota Motors Phils. Company,

Caltex Philippines, and Smart Communications.

Vince Socco, SVP for marketing of Toyota, did not hesitate to say yes when I asked

him over breakfast if he’ll allow a Revo to be driven cross country. Ariel de Jesus of

TMPC corporate communications, patiently went through all the meticulous

preparations for the trip, surviving my daily litany of fax messages.

Marian Catedral, an old friend, who just recently joined Caltex as corporate

communications manager, immediately responded to my eleventh hour appeal for

support. Hurriedly, she “dressed up” the team, packing a Caltex bag of merchandise:

Vortex jackets, tee-shirts, caps and even tokens for townsfolk who will assist us.

(Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Marian!)

And how can we have survived without communicating with the home office through

the lines kept open by Smart cellphones? Jo Clemente, senior officer of Smart

Communications public affairs, was another kind soul who readily said “yes, we shall

support your project,” the first time I met her over lunch arranged by Angge Goloy of

Buensalido and Associates.

I know now that a trip like this will succeed especially if you call on friends to help

you out. Cruising is ready to be your friend when you decide on taking this journey.

Call me. It will be my pleasure to help you map it out.

Day One: A journey begins

We set our trip meter at Zero as we drove into the South Luzon Expressway

from the Alabang exit at 6:54 a.m.. The Toyotal Revo SR looked very

handsome. Toyota Motors Philippines had installed the stickers proclaiming its

journey: ''Manila Bulletin Cruising Cross Country with Toyota Revo powered by

Caltex Vortex on-line with Smart Communications.''

Our trip meter marked km. 70 when we passed the welcome arch of Quezon province.

Villa Escudero, is immediately after this arch. A van and jeepney were at the roadside;

apparently figuring in a minor traffic accident. A traffic sign in front of the accident

area said: “Turn Left with Caution.”

There will be more traces of road accidents along the way, each one more serious as

the Maharlika Highway becomes more deserted.

Traffic slows down from Tiaong town to Candelaria, to Sariaya, but will flow fast again

when you reach Atimonan. The coastal highway will refresh you and will provide some

beautiful photo opportunities.

When you reach Calauag town, there is hardly any vehicle along the road, except

some loaded trucks that slowly negotiate the winding road. At Km. 202, we stopped

for a good home-cooked lunch at the KBP (Kambingan, Bakahan at Palaisdaan)

Restaurant at the right side of the road. This is in Barangay Sta. Maria, Calauag.

Calauag is the last town of Quezon province before you cross the boundary to the

Bicol region which you will enter through Sta. Elena in Camarines Norte.

A Caltex Station stands at the junction of the Calauag town marker and the highway.

At Km. 232, we turned right to Quirino highway which would save us 92 kilometers of

travel from the old highway which passes through Daet, Camarines Norte. At Km. 265,

we are driving through the marker of Camarines Sur.

After the first-class road of the Quirino Highway, the bad roads in Sipocot town will

change your perspective of what you thought would be a long, comfortable drive.

Deep road cuts suddenly appear in the middle of the road, so you have to drive slowly

to avoid blowing a tire. Other parts of the highway were under repair. Traffic marshals

direct the traffic flow through one lane roads.

Our plan was to avoid driving at night because we were all unfamiliar with the roads.

But we changed that when we reached Naga City by 4 p.m.. We drove on to Legaspi

City so we could see Mayon Volcano by daybreak.

An hour from Naga, the skies turned dark and heavy rain poured, slowing us. We

reached Legaspi at eight, after some anxious corners. In the dark and under the rain,

there were no city lights to guide us after we exited the Maharlika Highway.

We did not know where to stay, so we called our group crew in the Bulletin office. A

native of Bicol Region, our business editor, Lorie Cabañes, suggested the El Presidente

Hotel in downtown Legaspi City.

It was now raining so hard, the street in front of the hotel was flooded. We had to

position the Revo in a way that we could step-out on the sidewalk without getting

our feet wet. A minor item we put in the Revo at the last minute — an umbrella from

my car in Manila — served us well that evening. That, plus the hooded jackets of

Caltex Vortex, made our entry into the hotel some sort of an event. We looked

straight out of a rallye stage, the Toyota Revo dressed up with event and sponsor

stickers completing the picture.

El Presidente Hotel is comfortable and efficient . Room rates are reasonable, about a

R1,000 for a double standard room, with hot-and-cold water in the bathroom. The

staff are polite and efficient. Since they could not produce a hair dryer or a small desk

fan for my hair, the room boy brought a stand fan that could air the whole floor!