The love for Volkswagen is still strong among Filipinos. The first-ever Type 1—better known as the Beetle—was and still is one of the most iconic vehicles in the world and more so in the Philippines, and anyone who has fallen in love with the insect-shaped people carrier has been bitten by the love bug. However, as the Beetle is currently out of production, the term could be said for the brand’s other models, such as the T-Cross for this teacher from Cagayan de Oro.

Stara Mae Tiongco is the owner of this T-Cross in Syringa Violet. Her appreciation for the model starts with the roominess and the ample trunk space of 329L (1,319L with the rear seats folded). The 9.2-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay brightens up her commute, when she can listen to her playlists with its surround-sound speakers.

As she basks in the bright and warm sunlight through the panoramic sunroof, her drives aren’t complete without the reassurance of safety features in the T-Cross, such as the electronic stability program, hill-hold control, and rear parking distance control.

In gloomy, stormy weather, worries about being stuck in floods fade away with 185mm of ground clearance, enough to traverse the worst road conditions imaginable.

The fun doesn’t stop for Stara Mae with Volkswagen Philippines’ worry-free three-year (or 100,000km) warranty and once-a-year periodic maintenance service. The free 24/7 emergency roadside assistance assures a stress-less process whenever her T-Cross faces predicaments she couldn’t face alone.

With many units of the T-Cross on the road, Stara Mae makes hers her own to enjoy every day and for the many years to come.