Typhoons, waterfalls, and the journey that matters

You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather.” The words of Andre 3000, one half of hip-hop duo Outkast, resonate as a message of life’s randomness. Even when everything has been taken into account, when all possible outcomes have been “calculated,” the end result can still go the other way. Not everything turns out as planned. That’s just how it is.

The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, however, states that a certain beauty lies in imperfection. Life, as it plays out, is not perfect every step of the way. There will always be rainy days, both literally and figuratively. But every now and then those heavy downpours add excitement to an existence that is stuck in the cookie-cutter of sunshine and rainbows. Those same rainy days act as the perfect foil to everything good that happens in this life. Their purpose is to make this great journey of ours one that truly matters.

Typhoon “Ramon,” which entered the Philippine area of responsibility some months ago, for instance, is a fine study in unpredictability. Forecasts stated that it would reach our shores on a Saturday but it arrived two days earlier. Initial predictions also told us that, given its trajectory, “Ramon” would mostly affect northern Luzon. Instead, the Visayas region was hit hardest. While many people like taking shots at PAGASA’s inability to give accurate information, predicting the weather is a tricky business. Even the best meteorologists can’t tell you for sure that it won’t rain tomorrow.

Able boatmen navigate the small crafts towards the falls.

The day typhoon “Ramon” went from being a low-pressure area to full-on storm was the same day Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) hosted a ride-and-drive to Pagsanjan in Laguna for select media outfits. The idea of “shooting the rapids” under a clear sky with the sun out was quickly erased by the thought of choppy waters and dark cumulonimbus clouds hovering overhead.

Even at the breakfast briefing the sky looked uncooperative. Going through with the jaunt could have been a bit disturbing for some but I found the idea exciting. After all, the event was aimed at highlighting the capabilities of the new 2011 Isuzu Alterra Urban Cruiser as a lifestyle vehicle that embodies the spirit of expedition — whether on cemented city streets or unpaved trails yet to be discovered. Add a tropical depression to the mix and you would surely have put the vehicle through its paces. The essence of the trip was heightened because of the inclement weather. Bring on the rain!

Behind the wheel and driving along the SLEX, the sky opened up. A quick stop at Caltex to do some Mini Mart shopping was the perfect excuse to get mentally psyched for the drive in the torrential rain. Back on the road, the Alterra’s 4JJ1-TC diesel power plant provided adequate torque, keeping maximum traction on the slippery pavement. Its surefootedness on the road bolstered my confidence. I felt secure, and smooth driving lulled my passengers to sleep. The 146 horses in this Alterra’s common rail engine produced enough power to maintain a brisk pace with the rest of the convoy.

A quick stop at the new Rizal shrine in Calamba, Laguna, was a great place for an Alterra photo op.

Watching the other units in our fleet, I noticed that the rain seemed to highlight the Alterra’s exterior ruggedness. The vehicles looked as if they were in their element, even as the sheets of water blurred visibility and made the landscape similar to a painting by Monet. Inside the cabin, the creature comforts kept us upbeat and relaxed: a touch-screen multimedia stereo head unit with GPS navigation, LCD screens for rear passengers, a 10-speaker and subwoofer sound system, individual air conditioning vents, ample leg and headroom, plush seats, and all the cup holders you could ever need. Going over potholes camouflaged by water was also no problem for the Flex-Ride suspension system. You could have called the ride “buttery smooth.”

Upon reaching Pagsanjan, the typhoon showed no signs of letting up. This was hardly the weather to be doing a river cruise in, but we were all cowboys about it, so we quickly donned our life vests and did our best to waterproof our cameras. We were in the narrow, wobbly canoes and on the river in no time at all. Destiny really didn’t have a sunny day lined up for our trip. This was it, and this is how it was going to be. But watching the falls majestically crash down into the river and feeling the rising spray gently resting on my face was hypnotizing. This was quite the unorthodox Pagsanjan experience but I realized that I was having a great time. It was a unique journey; an experience that mattered.

“Last February, we launched the new tagline of the Alterra: ‘For The Journey that Matters,’” says Takashi Tomita, executive vice president of IPC. “It simply means that there are journeys in life that are truly significant and worth preparing for. These road trips demand only the best in comfort, space, luxury and mobile entertainment. The Alterra is one SUV that knows how to pamper its occupants and make every trip unforgettable.”

Stopping at Caltex gave me time to ready myself for the drive ahead.

After coffee, a change into dry clothes, and a sumptuous meal at Comida Exotica, we were back on the road. Behind the wheel of the reliable Alterra once again, I thought about what Mr. Tomita had said. Truly, good preparation is a fundamental step in every great journey. But it doesn’t mean that when plans go awry, everything has to fall through. It’s all a matter of perspective. So I thanked God for the rainy day.

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For more information about the Isuzu Alterra, visit www.isuzuphil.com/isuzu-alterra/ or visit any Isuzu dealership or showroom and take one out for a test drive.

 E-mail me at enricomiguelsubido@gmail.com.