December in the Philippines is a month of contrasts –filled to the brim with holiday festivity yet plagued by the chaos of disorder. And it starts as early as October when malls start blasting the forever-staple Christmas in our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan.
In Metro Manila, where we as modern creatures dwell, traffic also celebrates by reaching its most congested state — with long stretches of cars inching along streets aglow with brake lights, befitting the Christmas spirit. The heavy traffic at any time of the day confirmed that every corner of the city seems alive with office parties, family reunions, and holiday gatherings.
Like many, I was swept up in this whirlwind; mornings were dedicated to work while my evenings were claimed by back-to-back social commitments.
The year-end became a blur of deadlines and parties, leaving little time to breathe. Despite the joy these gatherings bring, I found myself overwhelmed. An introvert masquerading as a semi-extrovert, I started craving for silence and space — an opportunity to unplug and recharge.
It wasn’t just me, either. Kevin was also feeling the stress of the holidays and the deadlines that came with the year ending. A quick camping trip seemed due.
Leaving the city (and stress) behind
Our destination was The Apiary, a peaceful retreat nestled in the mountains just two hours away from the city. However, with the city’s holiday traffic, our journey stretched longer than anticipated.
For our chariot, we had the ever-reliable Ford Ranger Wildtrak. A commanding vehicle with all the modern comforts that make even the most grueling traffic manageable. I find pickups daunting to drive, in all honesty, but I have always appreciated them as a passenger, especially on long trips with unexpected road conditions. Kevin, on the other hand, is a fan and even wants one as a personal vehicle. The Wildtrak is among his favorites.
Unlike many years ago, a vehicle’s main goal was to get you from point A to point B comfortably and there was little demand for anything else.
But these days, entertainment and convenience also contribute to a better road trip experience. Fortunately, we’re in good hands with the Wildtrak having all the modern necessities and needs you’d want — Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, excellent speaker system, multiple charging ports, large enough cup holders, and of course, comfortable seats.
Kevin, as the driver, also felt the ease and comfort this vehicle brings. From its assistive safety tech to the lightweight drive, he enjoyed being behind the wheel just as much as I enjoyed having him there (I rarely get to be a passenger princess these days).
Kevin also made good use of the wireless charging pad, ensuring his phone stayed topped up as he drove us to the mountains.
When traffic finally subsided, the roads transitioned from congested urban streets to rugged, uneven terrain, the Wildtrak needed no preparation. Its versatility impressed us yet again, reaffirming why it’s such a reliable choice for trips like these.
After navigating the twists and turns of the mountain roads of Rizal, we arrived at The Apiary (later than planned). After a warm greeting from the staff and a quick rundown of what you can do around the area, we were led to our home for the night — a spacious dome tent under a sky full of stars.
While we usually camp in the more traditional sense, The Apiary gave us some relief from the stress of the city without us needing to prepare all the usual camping necessities — tents, cooking equipment, etc.
Each dome tent allows up to four but since it was just the two of us, it was extra comfortable and roomy. Each dome tent also had an adjacent private bathroom for those of you who may be wondering what the shower situation was.
There’s a lot to do at The Apiary but being a bit tired from the drive, we chose to take out our dinner from the on-site restaurant and enjoy it outside our tent instead and take in the view and fresh air.
Having its own farm (vegetable, chicken, fish, and bees!), the Apiary served delicious farm-to-table Filipino dishes. We set up our food on the little wooded table outside our tent, treated ourselves to some cool beers, and started settling into the stillness of the mountain night.
The exhaustion of the week melted away as we finally allowed ourselves to rest.
Beneath the crisp, cold mountain air, we soaked up this quietness that’s rare to city dwellers like us. (Though, admittedly, the faint sound of our neighbor’s Selena Gomez playlist reminded us we weren’t entirely alone)
A quiet morning and a smooth return
Determined to make the most of our time (and being an early riser in general), Kevin rose early to catch the sunrise. I, on the other hand, savored a slower morning — something I rarely experienced in the last few months.
I did wake up just in time to enjoy the warm hues of the early morning light. The cool mountain air was invigorating, offering a stark contrast to the stifling city atmosphere we’d left behind.
Like I said earlier, The Apiary offers a bunch of activities to keep you busy. From archery to fishing to vegetable picking, and even bee tours, if you’re after an activity-filled weekend then this might just be a good place for you.
But we opted for a quieter experience — a leisurely walk around the grounds, some quiet contemplation with a hot cup of coffee. This was enough to center us, allowing us to savor the simplicity of the moment.
Time in the mountains seems to flow differently, unhurried and deliberate. Yet, as all good things must, our short escape came to an end, and it was time to begin our journey back.
We decided to have lunch at The Apiary’s restaurant and while we enjoyed having our dinner at the tent, it was a different experience dining at the actual restaurant.
A chalkboard at the entrance lets you know what vegetables were picked that day and what was fresh. We opted to have some fresh greens, traditionally grilled fish (from their fish farm), and a few more dishes. The food was presented gorgeously, which made it more enticing. All of which were delicious and best paired with a classic bottle of San Miguel Pale Pilsen.
After enjoying a hearty lunch and one last walk around the property for one last soak of the fresh mountain air. We then loaded our things onto the Wildtrak and began the drive home.
Fortunately, traffic on Sundays is lighter, and the return trip felt far less taxing. The Ranger Wildtrak, once again, proved its reliability, offering a smooth and comfortable drive.
We’ve said this on more than one occasion — it’s not the grandeur of the destination that makes a trip memorable, rather, it’s the emotions, memories, and feelings that were elicited from it. On this trip, our goal was to rid ourselves of stress, even temporarily, and that was more than well achieved.
The Ford Ranger Wildtrak, being as versatile and easy to drive as it is, was a perfect companion for us on this trip. What seemed so simple, a brief escape from the city’s chaos, became a refreshing journey and a chance to reconnect, recharge, and return with a renewed sense of calm.
