After years of being away, it took a pandemic for Marco to come back to Mindanao and rediscover his home.

“Stay at home.” This was the message of government and healthcare officials at the pandemic’s onset. But for a traveler like Marco Lobregat, home was an ocean away from where he was. When COVID-19 prompted lockdowns and travel bans, Marco knew he must find his way to return to the Philippines. While this appeared like a race for refuge and survival (which it was), it also became an unlikely opportunity for him to reconnect with his roots after years of globetrotting.

After visiting different countries like Japan, Switzerland, Finland, and Brazil while working with Japan Times and leading Synergy Media Specialists, Marco is on the road to see the Philippines through new lenses. Settling first in Manila and Batangas, the co-founder of Ministry of Mushroom went on to visit Mindanao, a place he hadn't been since he was 15.

“My intention last year when I was moving was to take the time to rediscover Mindanao as well, not the typical travel where you just see the places but connecting with the people as well, with family, friends, and people who are living where we live,” he tells Manila Bulletin.

While homecoming may seem like a retrospect journey for many, it is still an adventure on its own. For that, Marco came prepared with his travel essentials as he unfolded things that are familiar and nostalgic in Zamboanga and Lanao del Sur. Among these essentials is his constant travel companion, the Frederique Constant Highlife Automatic COSC.

What Marco describes as “affordable luxury,” the brand’s Highlife Automatic COSC has everything a traveler needs—consistency, versatility, and the ability to go with whatever look and destination you have in mind. Frederique Constant first launched the Highlife collection over 20 years ago, but this new chapter for the brand merges modernity with its unchanged mission of making quality, reliable timepieces accessible to as many people as possible.

One key feature of the Highlife Automatic COSC range is its interchangeable straps, allowing wearers to switch between a steel bracelet, a leather, crococalf suede, or rubber strap on a whim. It also has a sapphire crystal case with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, which adds a touch of luxe to the design and brings a sense of responsible and sustainable watchmaking. It has been designed for everyday use and comes in two-tone, steel/blue dial and black leather/white dial versions. An element that any traveler would love is the model’s globe decoration, a signature design for the Highlife collection.

“I like the elegance in its simplicity,” Marco, a self-confessed purist in style, muses. “It is not so flashy. You can change the straps. That is nice. But I really like the silver strap. I don’t really like removing it because I’m moving around all the time. I can keep it on the whole time. I can shower with it, I can swim with it.” And that he did. Marco uncovered agricultural treasures of Mindanao, witnessed its beautiful horizon, explored its submerged worlds, and mingled with locals, worry-free about losing or damaging his travel companion.

“It can also be formal,” he says. “It is nice, I get compliments from it. Some people like watches for the stature and the class that it brings, but it is how you wear it well and how you’re doing it.”

The brand’s pride also lies in the timepiece being certified by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC), an independent Swiss organization that only issues its chronometer certificates to these pieces after the watches have undergone numerous tests over several days. It is very rare for a timepiece to have COSC’s seal of approval. Not only does it add prestige to the collection, but it also guarantees perfect isochronism over a given time and at given positions, enabling its timepieces to tell time correctly, consistently, and precisely, within the strict limits enforced by an ISO standard.

“It is a watch that is expertly manufactured. It is a younger brand as well. It is reachable but it is also something people want to attain,” Marco shares. “What Filipinos will discover is that a lot of their pieces are something that would look nice and versatile. It has a cult following. The ones that know it know. It is not mainstream so I like it.”

As Marco continues to set his roots, he also wishes people to see more of the Philippines. To not just go on and tick off as many spots as they can on their travel bucket list. But to build lasting memories with places and their people and to find a great travel companion that can go with their adventure wherever it may be.

“I have realized that there are a lot of good things we can do in the Philippines,” he says. “I’m using my time to look at things a little bit more long term, to establish my roots. There is so much to see and understand. Our culture is so deep. We are looking out all the time. It is great. But don’t forget to look in.”

Get to know more about the Frederique Constant Highlife collection here.