CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Some 80 Land Rovers of different year models gathered on Saturday at Residencia Romero here to kick off the 60th anniversary celebration of the First Philippine Land Rover Safari in 1962.
From the Residencia, the LRs drove to the Sand Box Off-Road Course in Barangay Dolores, Mabalacat City for an overnight camp.
Among those in attendance at the event were Residencia Romero owner businessman and 4X4 enthusiast Rene Romero, Jaguar and Land Rover Philippines president Chris Ward, and LR Club of the Philippines president Robby Consunji.
The event is part of the efforts of the LRCP to help revive tourism in the country after the Covid-19 pandemic which stopped 4×4 trail activities in the past two years.
“We hope that through what we do and share in our club, other people and other group would come out for adventure travel,” Consunji enthused.
Added Romero: “In this time when the pandemic is simmering down, we hope that through this safari, people would come out and travel and thus help restart the economy that was affected by Covid.”
In 1962, the Land Rover distributor organized 10 Land Rover Series IIa vehicles to do a 14-day safari around Luzon with a crew of 33 adventurers.
Sixty years hence, LRCP plans to organize a variety of events throughout a five-month period, such as a revisit to the Solar Lolas Project Rural Electronic Workshop of the DIWATA Project “Tanging Tanglaw: Turning IP Grandmothers into Solar Engineers” located at Bamban, Tarlac.
As Romero noted: “LRCP is more than just having fancy cars. It is about helping the community too. We have helped in times of disasters to bring some goods and services.”
LRCP will also conduct drives, trails and camp at various remote destinations, such a Mount Pinatubo, Pampanga; Caliraya Lake, Laguna; Mount Tapulao, Zambales; Lake Mapanuepe, Zambales; and a marble quarry in Rizal.
Expeditions are also on tap from Manila to Dumaguete City; Dumaguete to Cebu City; Cebu City to Zamboanga City; Zamboanga City to Mati City (East to West in Mindanao); Davao City to Manila. As the need arises, LRCP will conduct disaster relief operations.
In February 2023, LRCP will cap the celebrations with a gala dinner for the sponsors, partners and LRCP members to share stories and view the images from the various drives of the Club.
The LRCP has been cited as the “Most Awesome Car Club” by Top Gear Philippines. Punto Lifestyle Team/Photos: Deng Pangilinan, Ric Gonzales, LRCP