When the going gets tough, the tough goes glamping

When the heart and mind are in perfect sync, the body shows it. Isuzu Philippines Corp is a great example of a corporate entity which has all its personnel—from top to bottom—working on the same page. Its president, Tetsuya Fujita, is a known lover of the outdoors. That’s a perfect match for the brand and work philosophies of IPC, whose vehicles and services hinge on their proven reputation for durability, reliability, and versatility for any tasks out in the field, regardless of road and weather conditions.

Everyone probably knows by now that the Isuzu brand of diesel-powered light commercial vehicles (pick-ups, SUVs, and vans) and commercial vehicles (small, medium, and heavy-duty trucks) are really just some of the hardiest you’ll ever find anywhere. But do you know what makes a tough one tougher, a strong one stronger?

It’s when you’re not flexing your muscles.

That sounds counterintuitive, right? But it’s actually based on sound sports science. When athletes train, they also prioritize their downtimes—the periods when they’re resting and recovering—in order to build more strength, more resistance, more muscle.

We can apply that practice to almost anything in life, especially at work. Too much work, too much thinking, won’t improve productivity. Like lungs, our bodies need to take in as much as it gives out.

So, what Isuzu Philippines did for a handful of us media practitioners for three days, from Aug. 21 to 23, can be considered a welcome breather from all the stresses in the city. Un-flex those muscles. Un-stress the minds. Unburden our troubles.

IPC, using the D-MAX pickups and the mu-X SUVs, took us up Mountain Province, nestled us in the picturesque town of Sagada, and set up a glamping site at a forest clearing.

Outdoor adventures aren’t anything new for IPC. In fact, Isuzu had been one of the pioneering brands that took its vehicle owners and members of the media on four-wheeled adventures. I remember joining a trip to Chico River in Kalinga Province for some heart-stopping whitewater rafting two decades ago. Since then, Isuzu’s pickups and SUVs have gone on many on- and off-road trips not just in Luzon, but all over the Philippines.

Over the years, however, a glamorous new touch in road trips became the trend, and IPC was there again to pioneer this change. This time, the Japanese company partnered with Joel Pedro of Overland Kings. The collaboration bore fruit on Oct. 14 and 15, 2023 at River Ranch in Tanay, Rizal Province for an overnight glamping experience with IPC’s top executives and members of the media.

Now, nearly 10 months later, IPC and Overland Kings were at it again, though on a visibly bigger scale, on much higher ground, and definitely way cooler, literally. This time, more than 20 of us in the print and online media got on board three D-MAX pick-ups and two MU-X SUVs that were outfitted with Overland Kings rigs. On a convoy on the expressway, we looked like a band of survivalists rushing out of the city to avoid the Apocalypse, with the camping rigs and fittings and the supplies stacked on the pick-up beds. Once we rolled into our forest campsite at the House of Sol in Danonoy, Sagada, and the rigs and tents were soon set up beside the vehicles, we looked more like the cast and crew of a Hollywood film shoot.

I didn’t realize until then that this was the kind of movie I wanted playing from reel to real life. Though it took us all of nearly 12 hours to get from our homes in Metro Manila to this campsite (via NLEX, SCTEX, TPLEX, Kennon Road, Baguio City, and Halsema Highway), the campsite setup, the forest backdrop, the chilly air (colder than the coldest air-con settings in Manila, I tell you), and great company made the long road trip all worth it.

Feast for the senses

The two nights and two days we spent at the camp were a feast for the senses. IPC and Overland Kings left no stone unturned prepping the site and the activities. Overland Kings alone employed a crew of 30 to pitch camp, prepare the meals, and provide entertainment (local artists performed folk music around the bonfire). I was particularly grateful for the painstakingly prepared vegan dishes consisting of locally sourced ingredients—fresh forest mushrooms, vegetables, and fruits in season.

The Sagada camp-out has been Overland Kings’ biggest project so far. Apart from the tents set up alongside the vehicles, a “clubhouse” or main tent, along with a second, smaller tent, was set up for group gatherings and meals.

What’s even more amazing was the speed in which the tents were set up. This could be credited to the extensive experience of Joel and his crew, plus the quality of the overlanding gear themselves. Camp gear is imported from Australia, United States and China. Joel calls the whole overlanding experience “glamping the Pinoy way,” a camp-out with full meals, buckets of drinks, enjoyed with lots of company with a lot of happy stories to tell.

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Joel explained that this was “where collaborations work,” as he went on to reveal that the team actually prepared four sites in Sagada. They were simultaneously setting up and packing up from one area to another. While the main campsite was set up at House of Sol, another site had to be prepared at Kiltepan Peak a few kilometers away for the morning of Day 2, when the group was scheduled to view the sunrise and the famous “sea of clouds.”

Best sleep in a long time

The camp’s effect on my body and well-being was immediate. The first night out, I had the best sleep in a long time. The tent setup was perfect. The sleeping cot was elevated, the cushions were not too soft. The blankets kept me warm. The tent material kept the heavy rains out.

For my vegan food, “Baguio Mountain Man” chef Chavi Romawac (former drummer for the band Session Road) and wife Millie were mindful enough to set aside dishes that were devoid of animal products. During my 2023 glamping experience with IPC and Overlanding Kings in Tanay, Rizal, it was Chef JP Anglo of Sarsa Kitchen+Bar who prepared the vegan dishes—fresh grilled vegetables, vegan pancit and creamy pumpkin squash. Chef JP, who collaborates with Overland Kings, initiated the aesthetic touches at the dining tables: The table runners, color coordination, lighting, the works. It continued here in Sagada. Adding to the local art vibes was the Damayan Tribal Arts Center near the dining area.

The big bonus: Cultural experience and dose of wellness

Our last night at camp certainly outdid the first one. We were treated to a stirring bonfire performance by the Ethno Musikos duo of Mauricio Patongao and Joseph John Ganibe. Before the night ended, Joel’s wife, Dr. Carolyn Tan-chi Pedro, MD, who specializes in functional and integrative medicine, generously shared her knowledge and expertise in holistic wellness. She also gave free acupuncture sessions among us who complained of various aches and pains.

Arriving back in Manila last Friday night, I was thinking how other car brands could possibly top this. But then, I had to stop myself from going on an all-out work mode too soon after this “recharging” in Sagada. Like the cool morning air from the Mountain Province that you’d long to breathe in, I’d really like to take this experience in as much as I can, for as long as I can.