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Culture > Roam

BMW PH Loop (Part 2): Appreciating BMW cars and our country more

A recap of the seven-day journey around the upper half of Luzon

You can't call it a Philippine loop without finishing the upper half of the country. PHOTO BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

You may have caught our 13-day, 3,125km road (and sea) adventure conquering the South loop covering Visayas and Mindanao back in July. It was certainly a memorable journey. After a few weeks of rest, we were ready for the North loop.

As we did previously, we started this leg at RSA Motors in Greenhills, San Juan City. Day 1‘s itinerary was surely a familiar path for me, as the drive involved going to Baguio City via Subic in Zambales, eventually traversing through Pangasinan and La Union.

Our day ended at The Manor in Camp John Hay after covering a long 478km.

Two familiar sights for many Filipinos who go on road trips.
Traveling further up north also brings you back in time. PHOTOS BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

Day 2 was a more interesting route as the convoy geared up for a scenic drive through Atok, Benguet, where we had a pit stop at the second highest point in the Philippine highway system.

We continued on as we descended toward Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, with more breathtaking views at our Quirino stop. Around 235km later, we landed in rustic Vigan and concluded our day with okoy, empanada, and coffee.

Bet you didn't expect to see a 3-Series Touring kicking up dirt like a rally car. PHOTOS BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

I personally was excited for Day 3 since I would frequent the route to Pagudpud for photography projects.

We left after breakfast for Laoag City with a side trip to historical Paoay. After a sumptuous lunch in Laoag, we proceeded to the famous sand dunes of La Paz nearby for a taste of off-road fun with our respective vehicles—and, of course, some great snaps to document this stop.

Special thanks to the guys behind La Paz Sand Dunes for accommodating us.

No trip to Pagudpud is complete without visiting the stunning windmills. PHOTOS BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

After a bit of enjoyment, the convoy proceeded northward to Pagudpud, another popular surfing getaway near the end of Ilocos Norte. Before entering Pagudpud, the windmills of Bangui provided a welcome sight as green-energy generation is a highlight of this place.

We arrived at the serene Ikani Surf Resort before sunset, which gave us time to unwind on the beach and disconnect from our worldly obligations.

The route from Pagudpud to Aparri felt like something out of a movie. PHOTOS BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

As Day 4 dawned, we had Aparri in our sights.

After just leaving Pagudpud, we took photos along Patapat Bridge before crossing into Cagayan, where vast rice fields filled the view for kilometers. Later that afternoon, we came across the Magapit Suspension Bridge, the Golden Gate bridge of the province located in Lal-lo.

Upon our arrival in Aparri, our northernmost destination for the loop, we proceeded to the local PAGASA weather radar station and met the welcoming folks of this locale who volunteered to photograph our group.

It's not every day you get to shoot a helicopter and a car at the same time. PHOTOS BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

The drive southbound began on Day 5 as we left Appari for Isabela province. By noon, we found ourselves in the city of Tuguegarao and hit up a spot with delicious papaitan (goat stew).

After a breathtaking drive through a new multilane highway traversing Enrile, Cagayan, we arrived midafternoon in Cauayan City, Isabela. Apparently, our hotel was by the local airport, and a photoshoot with a helicopter concluded our day.

BMW's built-in navigation proved to be helpful for areas without any cellular reception. PHOTOS BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

After a very rainy night, we left Cauayan City the following morning (Day 6) with the sun on our shoulders bound for Baler, Aurora.

This segment was filled with mobile dead spots, winding roads, and astonishing views. BMW’s ConnectedDrive at least gave us a precise view of where we were, and allowed us to enjoy our vehicles’ superb handling through many twisting roads.

No wonder Baler is a tourist favorite for its gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean. PHOTOS BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

The reward for our drive came when the Pacific Ocean came into view and stopped at the beautiful Elysian Sands Resort for a grilled lunch and sinigang.

The coastal highway leading to Baler proper was nothing short of stunning, and I couldn’t help but pull out my camera for the most part as my partner took the wheel. We finally arrived at Costa Pacifica in Baler for much-needed rest and relaxation.

Did you know that ‘Apocalypse Now’ was filmed in Baler? PHOTO BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

The morning light of Day 7 peeked through my room curtain as I prepared for the homestretch trip back to Metro Manila. Having lived most of my life on the western coast of La Union, it was quite refreshing to see the sun rising from the ocean’s horizon—one of the charms of this surf town.

As usual, we took what time we had left to appreciate what Baler had to offer. Many don’t realize that this once-secluded municipality was the birthplace of surfing in the country in the 1970s, thanks to the filming of the iconic movie Apocalypse Now.

Do visit Highland Bali Villas if you want a different kind of zen experience. PHOTO BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

Back on the road again, we were bound for Nueva Ecija and drove by Pantabangan Lake, which had slowly recovered from drought. The biggest surprise for the day was our lunch stop at Highland Bali Villas.

This gorgeous getaway surrounded by lush nature immediately calmed our nerves. The zen atmosphere and the Indonesian-inspired architecture truly captivated the mind and the spirit. A must-visit when in Pantabangan.

All smiles till the end. PHOTO BY MANSKEE NASCIMENTO

As we continued our journey to Metro Manila that afternoon, we took a shortcut through an unpaved route leading to the new Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX), bypassing the congestion in Cabanatuan City. Back on a more familiar route which was SCTEX and NLEX, we were just an hour or so away from our finish line.

Clocking 1,770km for the North loop, we arrived at BMW Greenhills with a Philippine loop distance of 4,895km.

Seeing BMW Philippines president Spencer Yu at the finish line greeting everyone with a firm handshake and warm smile, I couldn’t help but realize the weight of our accomplishment.

A journey like this is not easy and deserves recognition. PHOTO BY BRANDO ROSALES

As a Philippine resident, you may have lived most of your life here thinking you know your own country. However, actually exploring the entire archipelago through its highway system makes one realize that there is much more to discover about the Philippines.

From natural wonders and cultural richness to a plethora of dishes, our country has been so blessed in spite of our shortcomings. While aiming to support local tourism and promote road safety, the BMW Philippine Loop in collaboration with Adventure Tours Philippines was such an eye-opening experience that will never be forgotten.

During our recognition event for completing the loop, it was clear that we needed to promote road travel tourism and road safety more. After all, there have been many improvements in making road travel in the country more efficient and safer.

Because of this road adventure, I’ve inspired my family to do the loop with me next year. I hope we’ve sparked your interest in doing it as well.

Thank you, BMW Philippines.



Manskee Nascimento

Manskee is a music-loving petrolhead who specializes in car care. He finds peace in long drives to and from his home in La Union.



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