Philippine Overland Expedition: So drive the brave

According to an article entitled “So Fight the Brave,” which appeared in the Sunday Times Magazine on March 3, 1946, writer TD Agcaoili narrates that when General Guillermo Nakar was detained at Fort Santiago, he regularly used the thumbs-up gesture to signal that “everything was okay, keep your chin up, and keep on fighting” thus uplifting the spirit of the inmates.

General Nakar, Quezon is home not only to some of the most challenging terrains in the country, but its unpredictable weather can render the jungle trail unpassable in a blink of an eye.  An adventure through the jungles of General Nakar definitely isn’t one for the weak-hearted but for the resilient and brave, off-roaders and adventurers who will never give up until they cross the finish line.

Now on its 2nd year, the Philippine Overland Expedition (PHL-OX) 2024 is guaranteed to take extreme 4×4 racing and Overlanding to the next level, with the introduction of more challenging obstacles, the inclusion of international-spec 4×4 rigs, and the opportunity for non-competitors to experience General Nakar like never before. PHL-OX 2024 is truly an adventure for the brave.

Happening from February 19 to 25, 2024 in General Nakar, Quezon, and Dingalan, Aurora, the Petron Philippine Overland Expedition will not only include technical multi-stage segments designed to challenge each competitors’ driving and survival skills but will also include an expedition that will give camper participants the chance to traverse the very same jungle trail that the competition convoy will take to Dingalan, Aurora.

Participants may opt to join the Team Competition as a group comprised of three (3) rigs with six (6) competitors. But unlike in the maiden edition where competitor teams were required to use production vehicles with slight modifications, competitors can now include prototype and modified rigs provided a team has a minimum of 1 production vehicle and a maximum of one prototype vehicle.

Prototype rigs are heavily modified race rigs built to compete in highly technical 4×4 competitions. There are no restrictions in terms of the engine type and body structure for these types of vehicles, provided they adhere with the safety guidelines of the competition. Windshields, firewalls, and functioning electrical systems are musts. Modified rigs on the other hand are production units that have been customized in terms of body size and engine type while retaining the production look of the vehicle.

With regards to the Prototype and Modified category vehicles, special emphasis will be given to driver safety in addition to vehicle set up and capabilities, with rig specifications used in international 4×4 competitions to be followed.

For the Team Competition, similar to 2022, participating vehicles must have full recovery and river crossing capacity; hence winch and snorkels are required. Each team must also be self-reliant, bringing with them provisions such as food, water, power sources, as well as critical vehicle spare parts and supplies.

For PHL-OX 2024, the event will officially flag off from the General Nakar Municipal Hall in Quezon province, with each competitor team tasked to complete multiple timed stages (TS), en route to the final challenge in Dingalan, Aurora.

Timed stages are man-made and natural tracks designed to test each competitor’s off-road driving, navigation, and recovery skills.

The team with the fastest time to complete each TS will receive maximum points. Penalty points will be deducted should a competitor fail to adhere to certain safety guidelines such as not wearing of seatbelt while the vehicle is in motion, and not using gloves when winching.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Similar to PHL-OX 2022, there will be a prize pot of P1,000,000 with the champion team taking home P500,000. The 2nd and 3rd placers will receive P200,000 and P100,000 respectively. Special Awards will also be given to select Competitor Teams and individual competitors for performance-related achievements during the competition.

PH OVERLAND EXPO

For camper participants of the PH OVERLAND EXPO, which takes place from Feb. 21 – Feb. 25, they have the option to elevate their PHLOX experience by joining as a full-time camper / spectator, tagging along the competition convoy from Campsite 1 in Masanga Point all the way to Campsite 2 in Dingalan, Aurora.

Full-time campers may opt to take NLEX to Dingalan, or via Machine Gun Hill trail to Umiray, General Nakar, the same route that will be taken by competitor teams. Those who wish to join the competition convoy will be required to submit their vehicle for inspection on Feb. 20th.

Campers also have the option to join the event as camper / spectator in either the Masanga Point or Dingalan campsite only.

PHL-OX 2024 is co-organized by MOTOTESTO OVERLAND EQUIPMENT PHILIPPINES and ALL TRACTION PERFORMANCE, and is made possible with the support of PETRON CORPORATION, MOTOLITE, ARB 4×4 PHILIPPINES, BUSHRANGER, and SECOND AIR.

HOW TO REGISTER

Be part of this epic adventure! Visit www.mototesto.com to register.

Schedule of events

Competition

DATE: February 20 to 25, 2024
FLAG OFF: General Nakar Municipal Hall, Quezon
CAMPSITES: Masanga Point, General Nakar and Dingalan, Aurora

Overland Jamboree
DATE: February 21 to 25, 2024
CAMPSITES: Masanga Point, General Nakar and Dingalan, Aurora

 

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Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 review: A chic and personal Bluetooth speaker

06/07/2021

If there’s one thing I love about Harman Kardon, it would have to be its designs. The company has long been merging tech and aesthetics to produce beautifully designed products with premium sound.

The Esquire Mini 2 is no exception. While not radically different from its predecessor, it boasts of useful upgrades and features to help easily integrate itself into almost any lifestyle. Apart from being your usual Bluetooth speaker, the Esquire Mini 2 also functions as a speakerphone and a power bank. With these added features, does the Harmon Kardon Esquire Mini 2 do well as an all-around device?

Design

There’s no denying that the Esquire Mini 2 is quite a looker. It flashes a pretty polished metal grill design upfront and a faux leather finish on the back.  There’s also a nifty kickstand to prop up the speaker which makes it look oh-so-elegant.

We have the device in a classic silver color but there’s also a black version for a more subtle look. If you fancy a bit more color in your life, it also comes in blue, copper, and pink.

All of the device’s buttons can be found on the top and include the power, Bluetooth, and call buttons. Just opposite it is the volume rocker. Buttons are tactile, easy to press and feel just as durable as the rest of this device. There’s also a 3.5mm jack for accessories and on the side are 5 small LED lights that indicate battery level.

The size of the Esquire Mini 2 is one of my favorite things about it. It’s as big as today’s smartphones and about an inch thick. Weighing just a quarter kilogram, it’s extremely portable and easy to stash in just about any bag and maybe even some pockets. Additionally, a plain faux leather case is included for protection.

Performance

Let’s just get this out of the way, the Harmon Kardon Esquire Mini 2 is not going to be your party speaker. It’s going to be the speaker you have set up on your desk or home office, or the speaker you use when you’re binge-watching on your laptop or phone.  In a word, personal.

Thinking of it this way made me appreciate the device even more. And since it also does more than the usual speaker, the Esquire Mini 2 was able to integrate itself nicely into my work environment as well.

But before we get into that, let’s talk about sound quality. For a speaker its size, it’s produces a relatively balanced sound given it’s at a moderate volume. It does lack bass but not so much that it’s unenjoyable. Call quality is clear but unlike music, vocals had heavier lows.

When you max out the volume, sound quality takes a rather noticeable dip. The bass struggles the most and gets drowned out by the mids. The sound blows out the speakers and produces less than desirable output. You can easily remedy this, though, by not maxing out the volume of the speaker and increasing the volume of the connected device instead.

Now back to how I used it on a daily basis. I propped the speaker on my desk, just next to my computer, and would mostly play music while I was working. The sound quality and volume were just right to pleasantly fill up my work area.

What’s great is when I’d receive a call, I could use the Esquire Mini 2’s conferencing system that basically turns it into a speakerphone. At a press of a button, I can go hands-free and continue what I’m doing since I didn’t need to literally pick up the phone. And if I ever wanted to go wired, there’s a 3.5mm jack ready and waiting.

This feature is also really useful during my meetings and video calls since I could hear everything much clearer. The dual microphones also seemed to pick up my voice pretty well provided I wasn’t too far from it. Noise cancellation isn’t too great, though, so it’s still best to be in a pretty quiet room if you don’t want other sounds to be heard.

Overall, I’m pretty pleased with the sound quality of the Esquire Mini 2 as a personal speaker. I imagine it will work even better in a more enclosed environment like a small home office or working space but it’s proven to be a reliable speaker in most situations so far.

Battery

As mentioned earlier, the Esquire Mini 2 is also a power bank. I wouldn’t recommend solely relying on this, though, since capacity is only at 2200mAh. With today’s smartphones, that won’t be enough for a full charge. It’s best to think of this as a primary feature but as a neat add-on to the device.

If you’re not sharing battery power, you can get about 8-10 hours of use on a single charge. It took about 4 hours to charge the device to full. Personally, that’s enough for me since it lasts long enough to match my working hours.

Creature Feature

In our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find special features in a device that make it stand out — something that gives it an edge over its competitors. Its Creature Feature. And for the Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2, it would have to be its ultra-chic and portable design.

In true Harman Kardon fashion, the Esquire Mini 2 not only prides itself in quality sound output but also a stand-out and elegant design. Combining that with its premium build and materials, you’re getting a multi-function portable speaker that can easily find a home on your desk.

Final Thoughts

The Harman Kardon Esquire Mini 2 is something I could easily see myself pick out in a store. It’s beautifully designed, produces quality sound for its size, and can function as a speakerphone and as a backup power source.

Priced at US$ 130 (PhP 8,499 in the Philippines), the Harmon Kardon Esquire Mini 2 is a great fit for those who value aesthetics just as much as performance. It’s available for purchase on the company’s official online store, Lazada PH, or Amazon US.

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