By Kenneth del Rosario
Driving alone is awesome, with only your thoughts (and favorite music) as company. But driving side-by-side with friends, collectively feeling the might and power of your respective cars is an exhilarating endeavour.
This is one of the things that entice car enthusiasts to join car clubs, along with being able to connect with fellow individuals who drive the same car model and get their thoughts and advice on certain topics, which could range from maintenance tips, accessories, all the way to their respective service experiences.
The Ford Territory Club Philippines (FTCP) is one of the more active car clubs formed by a group of Ford Territory owners and enthusiasts two years ago, the same year when the Ford Territory SUV was launched in the Philippines. To celebrate their founding anniversary, select members of FTCP recently held the Subic Weekend Drive, a road trip that gathered over 40 members who brought their Ford Territory for an exciting drive to Subic on a fine Saturday.
The Subic Weekend Drive is the FTCP’s third road trip event, the first one in Marilaque and the next in Pasig. The Subic Weekend Drive was by far the most attended one.
“We were pleased with the turnout of the weekend drive. Many had previously joined our get-togethers, and there are ones who had only joined us for the first time. Either way, it’s always a pleasure to see fellow Territory owners, who we mostly interact with online. Fostering camaraderie is always the main objective with these kinds of events,” said Brian Santos, an IT expert, who helped organize the Subic Weekend Drive.
The trip started early Saturday morning, with participants meeting up in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). To show appreciation and support to the club, Ford Philippines managing director Michael Breen met with the club members as they prepared to start the drive.
“The Territory represents a great opportunity for us to bring the right product at the right price, and something that’s really equipped for the market,” Breen said.
The club members who assembled at BGC then made their way to a gasoline station along the North Luzon Expressway to meet with the rest of the group. Once complete, the cars traveled together in a convoy en route to Camayan Beach Resort in Subic Bay.
Needless to say, the Territory vehicles lined up one after the other was a sight to behold on the road. It’s in instances like these where you see each member’s personality—some cars showing off stickers of the university they went to; others displaying logos of their political affiliations; while one featured an artistic wrap for her vehicle.
“I love how wide, comfy, and spacious the Ford Territory is, especially because we almost always travel with our cat, Faith,” said Ian Along, one of the club members who joined the drive, while having lunch at Camayan Beach Resort. “Once, we were even able to fit two bikes at the back.”
The same goes for Gian Villanueva, another club member who joined the weekend drive. As the owner of a coffee shop in Subic, The Holy Grounds, Villanueva appreciates the huge trunk space, which he sometimes uses to transport supplies for his business.
“We also have a young daughter who needs to be put in an infant seat at the back. We’ve been driving the Territory for a while now, and we’ve never had any problem with it. The huge panoramic moonroof is also a nice touch,” Villanueva said.
After lunch, prizes were raffled off to club members. Many photo ops later, the group was ready to head back to Manila.
To some, it might just be a simple drive with fellow individuals who happen to love the same cars. But to the members of the Ford Territory Club Philippines, there’s nothing quite like finding a community they belong to.
Ford Territory Celebrates Second Launch Anniversary in PH
Two years since its launch in the Philippines in August 2020, the Ford Territory remains one of Ford Philippines’ top-selling vehicles and one of the best-selling SUVs in the market.
The Ford Territory delivered strong sales in the first half of 2022 with 3,691 units sold, an increase of 11 percent from previous year, cornering a 52 percent market share in the small SUV segment.
It also posted in June its best-ever retail month performance since its launch with 1,574 units sold, which is almost thrice the volume sold in the same month last year.
The Ford Territory is available in all Ford dealerships nationwide with free 3-year scheduled service plan (SSP) for a worry-free ownership experience. To know more about the Ford Territory, visit https://www.ford.com.ph/suvs/territory/ or any Ford dealership nearest you.
