WATCH: The Bonifacios take on our road trip challenge

MANILA, Philippines – When we announced the Ford Everest Road Trip Challenge, we asked families to submit their dream road trip itinerary for a local destination. 

The winner was the Bonifacio family: Daddy Noel, Mommy Irene, 9-year old Avril, and 7 year-old Marco. They were given the chance to bring their road trip to life with P10,000 and the use of a brand new Ford Everest.

The trip happened on June 19 – Father’s Day.

Eager travel junkies

 

When the Bonifacios found out that they were chosen to go on the road trip challenge “it was very noisy in our house. Everybody was shouting,” said Noel. 

The Bonifacios chose to take the Ford Everest through Batangas and Tagaytay. The family loves exploring the outdoors. 

“[Travel] is just our passion,” Noel said. “The children can go camping, they can go hiking, they chase waterfalls, and they go spelunking. We just go everywhere.”

As the sun rose at 5 am on Sunday, the Rappler crew met the Bonifacio family at their Pasig home for an early departure. A slight drizzle and a foggy overcast loomed, but the family’s spirits and hopes were high for a day of adventure.  

Happy father’s day! Excited to start our @FordPhilippines road trip challenge! | via @noelbonifacio #GoFurther pic.twitter.com/OgQjK9qLy6

— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) June 18, 2016

Making the climb

Luckily, the skies were clear by the time the family reached Taal Yacht Club. A short boat ride away was Taal Volcano. In true outdoorsy fashion, the family chose to make the 4 km trek to the crater on foot. 

Though the kids complained at first, their parents kept them motivated. Avril’s cries of “Mommy, help!” faded as she forged on through the steep dirt. Young Marco’s dragging steps turned into a sprint when his dad challenged him to a race to the top. Throughout the trek, Noel did his “fatherly duty” of keeping the whole family amused with witty jokes.

On our way to see the Taal Volcano itself! #GoFurther pic.twitter.com/xjRVZUMSe9

— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) June 19, 2016

Irene recalled: “The kids were complaining a bit on their way up, because although at the onset [the trail] was smooth, on the way up there were some uphill climbs so it was quite difficult for them. Marco slipped on a rock and even wounded himself. But when they reached the top and saw the crater, they were really ecstatic reaching it because not all kids are able to get up there.”

After some sightseeing and a few selfies, the family trekked back down, rode across the water, and hopped back into the Ford Everest to their next stop.

Food, culture, and heritage

 

Late lunch was served at Don Juan Boodle House. The restaurant specializes in the traditional boodle fight spread, where various Filipino delicacies and generous heapings of rice are served on banana leaves.

After a hearty lunch, the Bonifacios headed to the Taal Basilica, the largest church in Asia.

“The edifice was very beautiful, as well as the ceilings, and then the altar,” Irene said. “Of course, after seeing what’s inside the church, the whole family decided to pray.”

Next, the family visited Galleria Taal, an ancestral house that has been converted into a museum for limited edition vintage cameras. The stop was particularly interesting for Noel, who is a photography enthusiast.

“I am interested in cameras. I actually have a mini collection at our house, but that’s not comparable to the very huge collection we saw today,” Noel said. 

The kids and Irene also shared Noel’s passion in their own way.

“What the kids enjoyed most was the 1910 3D camera. It was really fun. I even tried it also,” Irene said.

After all the food and sightseeing, the Bonifacios were back on the road.

A scenic finish

Right before the sun started to set, the family arrived at Burot Beach in Batangas. Unfortunately, Burot Beach itself was closed to the public. Luckily, a seaside location directly beside it was open. The breathtaking scenery of this unnamed beach was the perfect setting for some family bonding.

Sunset by the beach! #GoFurther pic.twitter.com/euJRlAishe

— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) June 19, 2016

“The beach had sea grass but all in all, it was really nice,” Irene said. “And then the kids were also able to spot starfishes of different colors.”

While the kids enjoyed the sea, Noel and Irene shared a romantic moment. 

“[Noel and I] enjoyed a romantic walk, sort of reminiscing the time when we were not yet married. So it was really fun and memorable for us,” Irene shared.

By nightfall, the gang headed to Tagaytay for their final stop. They enjoyed dinner, coffee, a cool breeze, and some artwork at Java Jazz Coffee.

A true bonding experience

 

For Noel, the road trip challenge was the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day. “We bonded together… and had fun while doing it,” he said.

He also enjoyed the opportunity to take his family around in the new Ford Everest. Of the SUV, he said: “I think it’s very powerful. The handling was very good, especially when going downhill,” he shared. “There are so many controls; even the children were having fun with it. They were opening the sunroof [while I was driving].”

For Irene, she hopes that the road trip will leave a lasting impact on the whole family.

“When the kids are older and we’re looking back at this experience,we want them to remember that this is a contest that we won, but in the process we were able to bond and learn together as a family,” she said. – Rappler.com