It’s not the destination, it’s the Destinator
The seven-hour journey from Tacloban to Palapag, Samar might be tough. But the Mitsubishi Destinator proved to be a tougher yet comfortable esteemed conduit. Here are five reasons why it was so.
Writer, Ralph Waldo, was famous for his quote: “It is not the destination, but the journey”. It was so since the phrase, not only resembled the obvious physical destination, but the more profound understanding of life, growth and enjoying the actual process of the challenges one undergoes as he pursues his goals and aspirations.
For this piece, let us take more on the path of the former, the simpler narrative of traveling from point A to B.
It all started when my sister, Rona, was tasked as “Hermana Mayor” of our far-flung small town, Palapag in Northern Samar for this year. Being assigned to the position is no easy feat. It’s the 441st founding anniversary of the small town which was first used as a port for the Spanish Galleon trade back in the day. Year in, year out, the people of the town have been celebrating it. It has been tradition, culture, history, in short, it has been sacred, not just to those of the living, but to our ancestors. And so, despite our busy schedules here in Manila, as a family, we all decided to personally attend the most important part of the celebrations.
We usually drive from Manila all the way to Samar; and it would roughly take two days to get there safely. For this trip, since we were pressed for time, we decided to take a shorter route and just fly to Tacloban and drive from there. One of the vehicles lent to us was the Mitsubishi Destinator.
For this writer, the trip was rather special since it was almost two decades since he last visited the place. Good thing the journey going there was onboard one trusty vehicle.
Traveling in style
The seven-hour trip became such a cinch, especially when you’re travelling with such a looker. The Destinator exudes a commanding presence on the road with its signature Dynamic Shield front fascia, stylish LED headlamps, daytime running lights, sleek body character lines all the way to the rear, improving aerodynamics capabilities. It is then capped by 18-inch machine-cut two-tone alloy wheels.
These exterior features go well with its best-in-class 214-mm high ground clearance.
Inside, it’s equally gorgeous. It features high-quality materials, along with comfortable ergonomic materials.
Turbo power
Overtaking a convoy of ten-wheeler trucks in tight zigzags was easy for the Destinator as it has reliable power and superb torque.
Under its a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine pushes 163 horsepower and 250 N- of torque.
Since the roads were riddled with debris and uneven surfaces from frequent landslides and delayed government-led projects, one could imagine the hell one could go through. Good thing, the vehicle has multiple selectable modes to help handle the tough terrain.
Space and riding comfort
Despite the rough roads going to our destination, we still felt comfortable. Thanks to its supple suspension, the unibody setup absorbs road bumps and speed humps easily without shaking the cabin. Wind and road noise likewise stay low, making the long drive relaxing.
There were five of us, along with our big luggages yet we were cozy on our seats.
It also features generous head and legrooms, complemented with two trays on the second row for light meals along the way. Each row even has its own aircon vents.
Other creature comforts
The driver gets to enjoy a large digital instrument cluster and a massive touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has extra USB ports and movable second-row seats. Not to mention panoramic sunroof, and an eight-speaker Yamaha sound system.
Safety and tech
Notable are Nanoe™X air purification system, 64-color ambient lighting and the Mitsubishi Connect, the brand’s first vehicle equipped with Connected Car Services (CCS) in the country, giving drivers enhanced safety and convenience, along with peace of mind.
This goes well along with Mitsubishi Motors Safety Sensing (MMSS) with Multi-Around Monitor (MAM).
Finally, after several hours out there on arduous terrain, we arrived safe and sound in Palapag. We were able to comfortably accomplish what we set out there to do and celebrate a storied tradition with the rest of the townsfolk.
As for my dear sister, she still has a long way to go before her term ends, but I see her calmness, maturity and most especially her growth as she takes on the task with grace and poise.
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