Picture this:Â
It’s a sunny Southern California weekend. Towering, evenly spaced out palm trees line suburban neighborhoods’ sidewalks and trace the outlines of coiling highways leading to the city.
By the time city buildings have thinned out, the beach has already begun — boardwalk, sun, sand, waves, pastel surf boards, seagulls, sea breeze, hotdog, pretzel, popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy stalls and cheap thrills included.
(Yellow Beetle alongside a yellow Kombi spotted by chance)
The sight of suede pants, sky-high ‘fros, GoGo boots, fringed vests left unbuttoned, tye dye, exposed midriffs, and the overall vibe of youthful abandon and flower power permeating the air suggests that the scene is mostly likely from a time gone by when all was good and all was well.
It’s already a quarter to six yet the sun is still up, which means it must be sometime in July or August, when the magic of never-ending, thick, musky summer afternoons eclipses even the fullest of moons trying their darnest to shine.
Now it’s time for the ride home, time to leave things to be discovered for next time.
What car are you going to be riding home in?
A Volkswagen Beetle, of course.
(Beetles parked outside the Museo Orlina, Tagaytay)
In a first for the German car company, Volkswagen Philippines organized a “Lifestyle Journey with the Beetle†to reestablish the car model’s reputation of being “nostalgia on wheels.â€
From its whimsical, hundred percent unique silhouette to its signature playful colors, the Beetle is a timeless icon of untroubled, carefree and sunny times. It really isn’t just a car that takes you places and braves your commute with you; it’s a scrapbook waiting to be filled up with memories and mementos, only in automobile form.
It may not take you from Manila to SoCal, but “a drive in the Beetle means taking whatever it is that makes you happiest wherever you go,†says Volkswagen Philippines marketing manager Franz Decloedt.
(Participant Ada Laud by her yellow Beetle for the day)
Led by Franz and PR & Events head Timmy De Leon, the lifestyle journey began at the Volkswagen showroom at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.
First stop, a mini photography workshop with fashion and advertising photohrapher Shaira Luna. The lovely lady claimed to be a huge Volkswagen fan, oftentimes randomly asking strangers to pose next to Kombis and Beetles spotted in her travels all over the world (then asking them to take pictures of her with them afterwards, naturally). The glint in her eye as she reminisced about those times was unmissable.
A drive South to Tagaytay City brought the group to the Ramon Orlina Museum where the national artist and master of glass sculpting himself gave a tour of the treasure trove and unabashedly talked about his early days as an artist and other things great men like him giddily keep secret when the cameras start rolling. (Over lunch catered by V by Ilustrado, much was revealed about good times shared with friend and fellow national artist BenCab and Mr. Orlina’s previous lady loves).
(Ramon Orlina’s BenCab Beetle)
(Ramon Orlina still drives this marvel of a car around Tagaytay)
(From a national artist to a fellow master of the arts)
The creative genius keeps a hefty collection of Beetle models of all sizes, the king of the heap being an actual Beetle designed by BenCab (that he still drives in hilly Tagaytay City, despite it being a manual). Like Shaira, Mr. Orlina gets the familiar dreamy look when he associates the car with immensely fond memories.
To cap off the day, the lifestyle journey led us to the Cornerstone Pottery Farm in Silang, Cavite where master potter EJ Espiritu patiently taught the group pottery 101. Pottery is harder than it looks. EJ shares that “doing this is relaxing. Normally I sit here when I am troubled by something. I stay here a while and work, and it really does destress.†In keeping with the carefree spirit of the Beetle, EJ’s choice of art and the Beetle are a match made in quirky heaven.
Volkswagen Philippines invites everybody to keep what makes them happy closest to them. After all, that’s what matters most at the end of the day.
The very first Beetles may have been made in 1938, but Volkswagen assures its aficionados that they’ve kept their newest Beetle models up to date with modern styling and improved automotive technology while retaining everything they’ve grown to love about it. The newest Beetle models are the new Beetle 1.4 TSI DSG and Beetle 1.2 TSI MT.
For more information on the Beetle, and other Volkswagen models, visit www.volkswagen.com.ph or drop by one of the dealerships and satellite offices located at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, Quezon Avenue in Quezon City, Sheridan Street in Mandaluyong City, Molito Lifestyle Building in Alabang, Muntinlupa City and the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City.
(Master potter EJ Espiritu doing what he’s best at)
(Close up of basic pottery techniques used in simple bowl making)
(An inside look of a pottery oven)
    
(BenCab artwork on a Beetle)
  
(The sculpture garden in Museo Orlina’s outdoor area)
(Green glass pieces Ramon Orlina is known all over the world for)
(A part of Ramon Orlina’s extensive Beetle model collection)
(The interiors of the store the yellow Kombi belongs t0)
 
(The lunch with Mr. Orlina himself where tells and reveals all about his colorful youth)
(The media lifestyle journey group)
