Driving my way to a perfect summer escape
In my book, three things make long drives (anything more than two hours!) bearable: the destination, company, and car.
I had the chance last month to break free from my hectic routine to head south for some downtime—for a three-day masterclass about building your own bed and breakfast at Sonya’s Garden in Alfonso, Cavite, and for a family reunion in one of the beach resorts in Lobo, Batangas.
Easy drive
First stop was in Sonya’s Garden, where those aspiring to build their own resorts or bed-and-breakfast (B&B) facilities gathered for three days to learn trade secrets from none other than the pioneer of Philippine B&B herself, Sonya Garcia.
It was an easy enough drive as I’m quite familiar with the area. I’ve been going regularly to Sonya’s Garden since the mid-2000s so driving there was like being on autopilot.
I took with me the five-seater Jetour Dashing Symphony, a compact SUV powered by a 1.5L turbocharged engine. Despite its size, this SUV felt surprisingly light to drive, making it easy for me to maneuver through the roads leading to the uplands.
And oh, how I love how it looked! It’s sleek, and stylish, and comes in a unique “Aurora Green” shade, making it stand out from the sea of vehicles plying our congested roads.
I didn’t mind the traffic though. The Jetour is spacious—it offered ample leg room so I was able to stretch during traffic and long drives. If you want to stick out your head to get some wind in your face and feel like you’re on top of the world, there’s a panoramic sunroof for that. Also, the seats are comfy; controls were intuitive and pretty much straightforward; and the infotainment system features an easy-to-navigate 12.8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity.
Music to my ears
That connectivity means you can easily have your Spotify playlist on loop the entire time! If you’re like me who likes belting out tunes while behind the wheel, this is the car for you.
The Jetour is fitted with a component speaker system which includes two woofers and two tweeters, a 10-inch 4-Ohm subwoofer, and a four-channel car amplifier. This powerful system delivers audio that is clear, crisp, and rich—enough to make you crank up the volume and sing your heart out.
I almost didn’t want to get out of the car when I finally arrived at Sonya’s Garden.
But then again, it’s Sonya’s Garden. I will never get tired of this beautiful oasis in the south.
For over two decades now, Sonya’s Garden has been offering a quaint yet elegant getaway, set amid a rich natural setting of colorful blooms and verdant gardens. It’s a marvel of a destination that lets you enjoy the cool clime of Tagaytay, the serenity of the great outdoors, and the healthy eats by its restaurant. It’s a beautiful break from the city.
The three-day masterclass in itself is an immersion, with its lectures and hands-on trainings while allowing attendees to experience the best that Sonya’s Garden offers—from its impeccable hospitality, healthy plot-to-plate fare, and boodle fight by the river, to its relaxing massages, treks, and vegetable picking, among many others.
Challenging drive
The next stop was an overnight stay with the Remo clan at Serenidad Beach Resort in Lobo, Batangas. And I was not prepared for the drive.
From the eastern corridor of Metro Manila, it took me about four and a half hours to reach my destination—with all those winding rugged paths, steep inclines, and sharp bends that seemingly went on for hours.
This is where the Jetour Dashing Symphony showed its impressive capabilities. It delivered a smooth, responsive driving experience, enabling me to “conquer” all these challenging terrains and tough road conditions. In a way, it provided me a sense of confidence and control.
But the breathtaking views of the sea were worth every twist and turn. That beautiful blue expanse stretched out before us, the salty breeze, and the calm that comes in such a peaceful setting carried the promise of true relaxation.
What’s good is that Serenidad Beach Resort is an intimate seaside getaway as it has only eight villas, a function room, a swimming pool in the middle, and a beautiful beachfront.
As that week came to an end, I went back to the city feeling a little more energized and rejuvenated, bringing with me great memories and enough dose of nature to last a couple of months—thanks to these beautiful destinations, my loved ones, and of course, my trusty road companion, the Jetour Dashing Symphony.
