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NPI and Wheels TV take the Nissan Navara on the latest Drive to Discover run in Davao

MONDAY | AUGUST 24 ,2016

DAVAO, Philippines—Nissan Philippines Inc. (NPI) takes its media guests on another adventure drive under its “Visit the Philippines, Drive to Discover with Nissan” leg to Davao in Mindanao.  The program is created in conjunction with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT).  “Visit the Philippines, Drive to Discover with Nissan” aims to boost local tourism through the promotion of road travel to tourism destinations recommended by the TPB.  

 

“Through the Drive to Discover program, we want to show that there is more to Davao than just the city,” said Ramesh Narasimhan, NPI President and Managing Director “We at Nissan want to show that there are still other hidden attractions that can be found in the province. With the help of the Nissan Navara, exploring those nooks and crannies have just become easier, and more comfortable.”

The driving tour involved long distance travel over a variety of terrain, which served to highlight the capabilities of the award-winning Nissan Navara.  Combining the best of both worlds, the Nissan Navara boasts of the strength and stability of an SUV, and the agility and comfort of a car, thanks to its class-leading multi-link suspension system as well as its suite of new generation Vehicle Dynamics Control system that improves the driving performance as well as safety level with the aid of technological assists such as Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Hill Descent Control (HDC), and Traction Control System (TCS).

Media guests flagged-off after a filling breakfast from the Yuyu Cafe in Tagum, Davao Del Norte, taking a leisurely drive to the Sleeping Dinosaur Island in Mati, Davao Oriental.  A natural attraction for tourists, the Sleeping Dinosaur Island is shaped liked a snoozing plesiosaur, what with its features recalling the long neck, paddle-shaped limbs, and short tail of the creature.  Its lush greenery as well as sandy beach provided a dramatic backdrop for several photo ops for the guests and the Nissan Navara alike. 

The drive also afforded the company with a feel of the Nissan Navara’s capabilities, and it did not disappoint as it brought the guests to the next stop, the Menzi Beach Park and Campsite in Dahican, Davao Oriental. Here, the party took a lunch break by the beach side, where they enjoyed the view of the clear, open water and refreshing breeze.

Another highlight of the day was the tour in the Subangan Museum, also in Mati, Davao Oriental.  An interactive museum that features relics, photos, videos, and textiles, Subangan is home to the 53-foot bones of a 20 ton sperm whale called “Davaor”.  The ride to the museum was made comfortable for both drivers and passengers, thanks to the Zero Gravity seats in the front row, which were designed to reduce muscle fatigue, and the Dual Zone climate control system that allows passengers to customize their level of cooling. Adding to the trip’s ease was the convenient auto-dimming rearview mirror, which was designed to help reduce glare from behind, as well as give the outside temperature display and digital compass info at a glance.

The group wound up the day by stopping at the beach resort of Lane’s Kalapyahan in Dahican.  Here, the media guests took advantage of the free time for more photo shoots with the Nissan Navara, before breaking for dinner.

The next day, the group took off bright and early for another long drive through Davao’s countryside, this time for the Banana Beach resort in Tagum as the destination.  The varying road conditions tested the Nissan Navara’s multi-link suspension system, which easily handled the load and the stresses of the road.  Arriving at the resort, the guests were treated to a sumptuous lunch, after which they had the option of taking a river cruise or a forest tour of the place. 

The return trip to Davao City and some down time afforded the guests more chances to get to know the Nissan Navara and its capabilities better.  Be it on the countryside lane or on city roads, the Nissan Navara easily navigated the demands of both worlds, thanks to its bold exterior design, sleek aerodynamic shapes and distinctive LED lighting.  Such was the striking visual impression it made, the Nissan Navara made more than one head turn for a double-take while on the road for a filling dinner at the Boiling Crab and Shrimp, a restaurant popular for its crustacean offerings. 

The last day of the Davao trip saw the entire group visit other landmarks of the city.  Some of the highlights of the day saw the group visiting the Philippine Eagle Center, where the guests interacted with the with the eagles and had pictures taken with the magnificent birds.  After the center tour, the Nissan team took a quick trip to the nearby Balik Bukid Restaurant for a lunch of organic, farm-fresh food, before heading to the Central Communications and Emergency Response Center (Central 911).  A centerpiece of the city’s services, it offers police services, emergency medical services, urban search and rescue operations, fire auxiliary services, and K-9 units.  From here, the team then drove to the airport for the flight back to Manila.

The Nissan Navara and other Nissan vehicles are available in all Nissan dealerships for test-driving, while the “Visit the Philippines, Drive to Discover with Nissan” is an ongoing project that will run until October 2016.