Surviving Potipot - Dodge Journey

“There are no permanent structures in Potipot, so those planning to stay overnight in the island are well-advised to pitch tents.” The travel website couldn’t have spelled it out any better. Potipot Island doesn’t have the 5-star accommodations that Boracay or other popular beach resorts in the Philippines boast of. Which means enjoying this unmolested piece of land will necessitate roughing it out with nature a bit. But get past the minor inconvenience of having to do without electricity or air-conditioning, and you will get rewarded with one of the nicest beaches you’ll ever see in these 7,107 islands. Of course, being in Potipot is one thing. Getting there is quite another. Potipot Island is a kilometer away from the nearest mainland of Uacon, found in Candelaria, Zambales. Candelaria is a town around 240 kilometers away from Manila. From there, travellers wishing to get to the scenic getaway take a 5-minute boat ride. Around 5 hours of travel time one vehicle to take us there. Fortunately, Cats Motors was kind enough to lend us a very capable not to mention comfortable carriage. Meet the Dodge Journey. The Dodge Journey espouses what we’ve all come to love with American SUVs/ crossover vehicles. It’s plenty roomy, with space for 7 passengers with U.S. sized bodies. It’s plenty comfortable, with a ride perfect for cruising along highways and traversing off paved country roads. It’s plenty powerful, with the Journey motivated by a 2.7 liter V6. Of course, it wouldn’t be American without the myriad of creature comforts. Powered seats, climate control for both front and rear, stereo with MP3 playability and auxiliary port not to mention a 30G hard drive for file storing, a reverse back-up camera, and a myriad of cup holders for your super-sized Diet Cokes. Our trek begins from the town of San Fernando, Pampanga where we decided to spend the night in a friend’s Mahogany farm. Departing San Fernando before the crack of dawn, we take an access road all the way to SCTEX as this is the quickest way to Zambales via Subic Bay. Leaving early has its perks, and this was missing out on the hazards of small town traffic. We hit the 60 plus kilometer stretch of the expressway towards Subic at around 6 am with the sun just melting the morning glory from my eyes. The Journey was a happy cruiser even past the legal speed limit of 100 kph, which I easily surpassed with the 185 horses under the hood. 6 forward gears were highly appreciable as I could keep the revs down during the long stretch. The Dodge, when driven judiciously, will yield a respectable 10.2 km/L on combined highway and city stints. Stopping for a cup of Joe, we then made our way to the Kalaklan gate where we exit northwest deeper into the Subic town proper area. A series of winding roads followed displaying the Journey’s pliant handling. The vehicle wasn’t necessarily car like, nor was it mastadon-esque when thrown to the curves. All-wheel drive means that even in foul weather, the driver can rest easy knowing traction is assured on all four corners. Music is an essential element on a road trip such as this, and the Journey’s Infinity speaker system kept us singing along as we passed through the towns of Castillejos and San Marcelino. Approaching a T-junction near San Narciso, we then navigated right (heading north) towards the town of San Narciso. We then continued driving past towns of Cabangan and Botolan, all the way up to Iba. Farmlands that are decorated with mountain ranges and tree lined roads are what you will see most of the time, and given the light traffic was really a joy to drive in. From Iba, we move forward to the final town stop- Candelaria. In this last leg of the drive I decided to relinquish the steering wheel for a rest before we arrive at the beach. This gives me more time to admire the Journey’s backseat, which is not a bad place to catch some Zs. Some people are not inclined to easily doze off especially in a moving vehicle, but I am exactly the opposite. The constant motion lulls me to sleep, and with the Journey’s competent safety equipment (standard with 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Program, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), I am able to snore within minutes. Once in Candelaria, we simply drive off to the barangay of Uacon. Visitors are then free to choose the resort of their picking. Here, they will park their cars, unload their gear, and rent a bangka to take them to Potipot island. We went with Puerto del Mar, a small resort with huts for rent. Before vacating your cars and hopping aboard the boat though, it’s highly advisable to visit the nearby stores to purchase all the necessities first. Making a trip back to the mainland later on will be a big hassle. For our group, these “necessities” were pretty much booze and ice (hey, we were on the beach). But this is because we came prepared with pre-cooked food (adobo is highly recommended as it doesn’t spoil easily), and most of our meals were to be grilled there anyway. As we departed Uacon, where the sand was noticeably brownish, the island ahead already beckoned. The view of Potipot grew bigger and bigger, and as we docked the beauty was immediately evident. The previously dark and dull sand transformed into a white and vibrant shore. Ah, paradise! This was definitely more like it. Since our trip was during the peak season of May, there were a lot of tourists in the island. The first order of the day was to select a portion of the beach where we could set camp. Note: move fast since people can get pretty territorial with their space. Another useful suggestion would be to pitch tents as soon as you arrive. Take advantage of the available sunlight while you still can since as mentioned, there is no electricity in the island. Moreover, it’s no fun erecting the tent once you’re already loaded with the aforementioned alcohol. Also, pick a spot with wooden tables nearby, as this will make meal times easier to manage. Alternative light sources like rechargeable lamps and flashlights should also be brought, since its pitch black once the sun is down. Oh, and extra batteries do come very handy. There are small bathrooms on the island, but with questionable hygiene. What’s important though is that there is running water. Aside from that, crack open a cold brewsky, suck in the fresh air, and enjoy nature at its best. Some people say this was what Boracay looked and felt like decades back before commercialism raped it off its virginal beauty. Watching the sunset with some laid-back tunes playing in the background is simply awesome; making me forgot the long trip it needed to actually get here. Being aboard the Dodge Journey though, I wasn’t dreading the drive back. Originally posted in C! Magazine July 2009 Edition Author: Angelo Puyat