I was first introduced to the great outdoors living from one tent to the next, hiking from one mountain to another as a member of the UST Mountaineering Club during my college days. To this day, I can still clearly remember the sight of the cloudless sky at night inhabited by glittering stars, and hearing nothing but the buzz of insects around us. I became hooked to that kind of life that it comprised all of my wonderful college memories more than my academic endeavors itself.
Poler Express: Falling in Love with Camping Again
Fading Outdoor Memories
Fast forward to my recent outdoor camping experience: late afternoon and, at the onset of sunset, temperatures ranging between five to nine degrees while a heavy downpour makes the already glacial environment even frostier. Hands freezing, I pitched the tent barely enough for me and my then-girlfriend to crawl inside. The whole night we stayed up wondering if we would get hypothermia. Almost freezing, we struggled to slumber the whole night and ditched our plan of cooking sinigang. That was at Mount Pulag almost a year ago.
The next day we awoke to a dew-rinsed morning greeted by a fantastic sight from the mountain peak.
Slowly, we made the final approach to the peak and were gifted by a mesmerizing spectacle. We both agreed to go hiking more often. Since then, however, I’ve seen my plans for another outdoor incursion get botched in favor of the normal manner of traveling—backpacking and staying indoors at hostels. I can see my outdoor life fading away in my rear-view mirror, the same way my tent gathers dust in my storage room back home.
Bringing Back the Camp Vibes
I was reminded of my love for camping in the great outdoors when I saw rows of Poler Outdoor Stuff tents pitched neatly at the beach head of Anvaya Cove in Bataan. I reckoned that with my advancing age and diminishing leg strength, I would not necessarily need to hike challenging mountains to enjoy the great outdoors once again. With the Philippines surrounded by beautiful beaches, the idea of camping out on a shoreline acted as the perfect way to kickstart my love for nature-based adventures again.
That timely reminder didn't escape my fellow participants either. Travel writers, photographers, chefs, and other professionals who attended the two-day, second Poler Camp Vibes were also reminded of the importance of escaping our monotonous existence in big cities. For some of them, who even brought their entire families, being closer to nature gave them a blueprint on how to introduce our bountiful natural resources to their kids.
And this is exactly what the Poler Outdoor Brand wanted to convey: “To reignite the spark for adventure and exploration. To show a strong passion toward galvanizing an adventurous life.” The brand also intends to bridge the gap between action sports and traditional outdoor activities through their modern, adventure-centric aesthetic.
Poler Outdoor brand executive JC Alipo-on explained, “Poler Outdoor Stuff dedicates its existence to providing a line of versatile gear and apparel that is equally fun and functional, and apt for everyday use in the city as well as your next trip into the wild. The brand even introduced its #CampVibes motto, which imbibes one’s awesome adventures with distinctly positive outdoor vibes—from rock climbing, skateboarding, surfing, and motorcycling, to picnics, road trips, camping on the beach, and so much more!”
An Awesome Masterchef Dinner
As the curtailing light of the beautiful Bataan sunset swept the skyline, the participants eagerly awaited the night’s dinner prepared by MasterChef Asia contestant Lica Bautista Ibarra. She prepared a delicious feast consisting of elote (Mexican grilled corn), grilled churrasco beef kebabs, grilled taco chicken kebabs, and smoke-pulled pork tortillas with capsicum, cilantro, onions, chimichurri, crema, and lime. A dining area set up in the center afforded everyone the chance to enjoy the food while sparking warm conversations.
After our sumptuous dinner came the first set of #CampVibes games, participated in mostly by the younger attendees, followed by an open mic music jam and film showing. The rest of us simply chilled around, sitting on the cool, soft sands of Anvaya Cove Beach while taking turns making s'mores by a classic bonfire—with an ice-cold beer in hand.
Poler Awesome Games Challenge
The next morning, after a Zumba session which I was forced to partake in, the participants engaged each other in a friendly competition as they raced through a mini adventure course during the Poler Awesome Games Challenge. Some of the competing teams were parent-children tandems. Dads and moms delighted at the opportunity to show their kids all the fun stuff they can enjoy in the great outdoors, as opposed to limiting their leisure time to playing on electronic gadgets.
The mini race was won by professional surfer Luke Landrigan and his son Kai. The father-and-son duo set off ablaze on the paddling part of the race to grab the first clue a hundred meters out to sea, never relinquishing their lead after that.
During the awarding ceremony, JC Alipo-on further highlighted the brand’s mission, adding: “Poler Outdoor Stuff believes that any trip can be a life-changing adventure for as long as one enjoys the journey and picks up rich experiences along the way, and they are more than happy to accompany one’s inner adventurer the Camp Vibes way!”
During the two-day event, I also got to check out Poler Outdoor Stuff’s various products, such as tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, shirts, and other adventure items at their showcase booth. I got myself an easy-open backpack for my future trips, but more importantly, I finally got my outdoor camping mojo back.
After returning home, I took out and cleaned my dusty tent and proceeded to make concrete plans for an upcoming camping trip this summer. I may not be able to keep my old promise of going on more hiking trips with my ex-girlfriend, but I see absolutely no reason I shouldn’t let my inner adventurer out the Camp Vibes way.
10 years later (August 2026), my Poler backpack is still usable.
* This article appeared in the May 22, 2016 issue of Manila Bulletin's Lifestyle pages *
