29May2005 (UTC +8)

I heard Top Gear Philippines were doing a review of the new Toyota Hilux in the boondocks of Tanay, Rizal. Destination is called Jungle Base, and I knew I just had to go and hang out there, and see the new Hilux in action. So off I went with Dondon and his brother Titong. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, we got lost along the way and had to do several river crossings, drive over some deep axle-twisting ruts, and do some sidehills stunts. Dondon, my assigned photographer, preferred to have fun and ride out some of the tougher stuff, so the pics you see were the boring ones. It was rainy season, but luckily it hasn't been pouring that day or the day before --but the rain clouds were so dark that it was threatening to go as one big drop! We finally hooked up with the Top Gear crowd and the Hilux and the new Fortuner 4x4 SUV (based on Hilux platform). When we got bored watching them take endless photos, I met our famous adventurer Dale Abenojar ("Batak" in 4x4ph.com). We loaded up his little scooter inside our green FZJ-80 and wandered off into the hills. He pointed out some trails he was very familiar with, and also some places were he later admitted we were the first 4x4 vehicle that ever travelled that place. I think we would have been a bit more daring if we actually had some wire rope in my Toyota factory winch --lockers or no lockers and GoodYear MTRs, we could have easily gotten in trouble. About 40km in 4Lo later, we ended up in the northern part of the University of the Philippines. It was a very fun day!