Longer way to Tagaytay

A road trip has a calming effect and takes the stress away. That is what Isuzu Philippines Corporation wanted to demonstrate with its recent series of test drives for the Alterra SUV. Calling it the “Great Drive, Great Life,” Isuzu President Keiji Takeda said: “With these out-of-town trips, we want to show Filipinos living in the city that they need not go very far to take a break from their busy schedule and maintain a stress-free life. Also, we want to show that the role that a vehicle plays in helping achieve this goal is very crucial. Anyone can go out of town, but if they don’t bring a comfortable, entertaining and spacious ride, the concept of escaping the city will be difficult to achieve. A poor vehicle performance will only feel just as stressful as the urban environment they’re trying to get away from.”

The Great Drive mapped out two routes from Manila to Batangas, Taal and Tagaytay. What made it extraordinary was the route which chose the back roads that showed off another view of Taal Lake and the towns around it. We chose the second route for this feature because I was in the group that drove that way. If you are feeling a little adventurous or want to escape some mood-problems, you can take your vehicle and drive this way. The whole trip covers about 200 kilometers.

Take the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and take the Batangas exit; follow the road to the STAR Toll Expressway (11 kms). This will take you about 20 minutes with minor traffic. You will pass the original Rose and Grace Restaurant, famous for its bulalo and other local delicacies.

Drive to the end of the STAR up to the Batangas Port – a truly relaxing straight drive without traffic (41 kilometers). From there, the drive to Tagaytay will cover about 90 kilometers.

Follow the road to Bauan which will lead you to interesting towns around Taal Lake.

You’ll drive through some dirt roads in the town of Agoncillo where the local Philippine Tourism Authority is located.

There’s a good view of Taal Lake and the back of Taal Volcano in the lake in nearby San Nicolas town. The whole drive to Laurel and then Talisay will pass by small towns, one of them named “Subic”, another, “Tubig”.

In Laurel town, follow the signs to Tagaytay. It’s a very steep winding route which leads to the junction just before Picnic Grove.

The group then drove up to Tagaytay Highlands to enjoy the cold windy climate – a big lunch and the spa. That’s why Isuzu called it the “Great Drive, Great Life.”