The prevailing conditions were not perfect when Ford launched the Territory to the local market in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. The world was reeling from the lockdowns brought about by COVID, economic activity was low and the general public just wasn’t in a buying and spending mood.
It was also Ford’s first China-sourced model which in itself was a brave and bold move to help deliver on a better-value vehicle without compromising the Ford reputation.
As it turned out, the gamble paid off as the Territory celebrates two successful years of sales in the Philippine market.
While 2020 saw a modest sales figure of just under 2,000 units, a feat considering the slow uptake and difficulty in logistics, 2021 saw a massive growth despite another lockdown, seeing almost 7,000 units fly out dealership doors (6,891 units to be exact). At the start of 2022, the Territory had already achieved the 10,000 unit model sales in its lifetime in the country, and is poised to break the 15,000 units sold ceiling within 2022.
So, since me and my wife were also celebrating 10 years of marital bliss, we felt we’ve been together long enough that we’ve become too familiar, too much into our comfort zones, settled into our own grooves. While of course we are happy, we miss the days when we’d both discover new things together for the first time, and savor that experience.
The Territory presented itself with an opportunity to explore new ground, see new sights and sounds, and do things a little differently.
So one lazy afternoon, we decided to drive up north for the day with a loose agenda and check-out things we normally overlook or ignore on our spontaneous sojourn. It was also a break from my usual drives to the south which had become so familiar. My wife and I just wanted to break free from the familiar, in the spirit of adventure and a break from tradition, much like how the Territory broke from its usual formula of models from the US and the Asean.
We headed out from our home at 2 pm via Skyway then NLEX, and I was surprised that the Territory’s 1.5 liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine provided ample thrust, coupled with serene progress from its CVT automatic transmission. Cruising between 60-70km/h on Skyway, and eventually 100km/h on the expressway delivered decent fuel efficiency at around 13.7-14.2 kilometers per liter. Of course, these are meant to be family cars, reliable daily-drivers so comfort was good with excellent NVH isolation, allowing me and the missus to look back at our 10+ years of being together. Good times indeed.
Our first stop was the old San Fernando Train Station which is a historic site and the tragic Capas-Tarlac Death March passed through here. It’s been converted into a museum showcasing scenes from the death march plus some old artifacts from the actual original train lines dating back to Colonial Spanish rule. Outside is a small grave of fallen Filipinos from the death march. Respects paid to fallen heroes, we made a donation to the museum (admission is free, they only ask for a donation), we headed out to real open country.
Our next stop was the Lahar Megadike. I remember the massive Mount Pinatubo eruption way back in June 15, 1991. I was 12 years old, coming home from school when the sky suddenly turned black, I honestly thought it was the end of the world. Ashfall was bad, we kept indoors most of the time and our home and cars were always covered in dust for weeks on end. A decade after, I started working in the property development and sales industry and the engineers I was working with all hailed from Pampanga. When I asked them why they all chose to become engineers, they all replied the same: the enormous undertaking of the so-called FVR Megadike inspired them all to become engineers as it was in such high demand, with an optimistic and booming economy and property market. We found an access road from the Megadike road that divides and diverts the flow of flood water and lahar that would previously engulf the towns of Pampanga. Previously, flood water from heavy rains would be divided into four rivers known as Abacan, Sacobia, Pasig-Potrero and Gumain Rivers. These were all covered up by lahar, forcing more lahar and more flood water to flow onto flat-lands and into the towns themselves, overwhelming and engulfing civilization. The Megadike was the solution that the then Ramos Administration undertook to mitigate this problem, and thus inspiring a new generation of engineers from the North.
Photos taken, we head for dinner and find a nice quaint outdoor cafe known as 1798 Lifestyle Studio and Cafe in Angeles City, Pampanga. As a couple, we’ve both adapted a much healthier lifestyle starting from our diet, switching to raw, plant-based whole-foods mostly for my health but also in an effort to be better in mind and body and the fresh greens did not disappoint, at a very reasonable price.
All throughout the drive, the Territory felt stable, calm and composed. My wife used the car a few times afterwards and she found it confidence-inspiring though the width took some getting used to. The multimedia system came with Apple CarPlay which helped us navigate with Waze through unfamiliar territory thanks to its huge 10-inch screen and six speakers. And it was a tad traffic heading home but we felt safe knowing it came with ABS-EBD brakes, traction and stability control plus six airbags as standard. I did find the lane departure warning rather annoying so I turned it off but the blind-spot monitoring was rather useful as I familiarized myself as we drove.
At P1.31 million, Ford’s Territory will continue to conquer new ground, gain more followers and take the brand to uncharted territory further (pardon the pun), in a stylish package, backed with the usual plethora of tech and overall value from the blue oval. Congratulations Ford Territory and Happy Anniversary!
