The great outdoors has become the new frontier of Filipino families who have discovered that nature and isolation are the ingredients of fun, relaxation and relationships.
The happy result is car camping –a simple idea of going out for a drive to the countryside, and then expanding the picnic to an overnight camping experience with the car extending its function to sleeping quarters on the roof, in the cabin, or a tent.
When the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the country, Filipinos found themselves confined indoors, isolated from their loved ones, yearning for the freedom of wide-open spaces and experience nature.
As restrictions eased, it was no surprise that car camping emerged as a sought-after leisure pursuit for families across the Philippines. There are now many car camping sites around the country, many of them in Rizal and Laguna provinces.
Among the first who took to car camping and are now known as the esteemed experts in this leisure field are Lawrence Dy, Winston Chua, Peter Gaw and Ron delos Reyes who were among the speakers at a car camping forum conducted by ROX at their store in BGC, Taguig.
The wide acceptance of car camping is now obvious in the fully-occupied campsites many of which do not accept walk-in customers to avoid overcrowding. Today, in social media, you can find many car camping groups – overlanders, senior citizens, family campers, explorers – which have camping activities every weekend.
The gathering of the nature lovers has also established camping etiquette to keep order – and the serenity of nature – in the campsites.
Camping etiquette was the first topic discussed at the Car Camping 101 forum of ROX held May 2 at their BGC store.
Lawrence Dy, a member of the Mountaineering Federation of the Philippines Incorporated, Trails to Empower Kids (TREK), an overlander and administrator of car camping groups, discussed car camping etiquette starting with the unwritten rule – “Observe quiet time starting at 10 p.m.”
Dy said there is also a campsite rule of not accepting visitors to enter the area after 10 p.m. because the engine sound and the to-and-fro action of setting up camp will disturb the other campers.
Since people go camping to appreciate the outdoors, each camper should be mindful of his or her space. “There may be times when a campsite is a bit crowded, so campers should respect the spaces set by other campers around their area. So, as much as possible, don’t cross their awnings, or the spaces beside their tents or cooking areas. Don't enter their space just to reach your space. Respect their area.” Dy said.
Being polite, smiling and greeting each other is a must in the campsite, Dy said, noting that those acts are practiced by mountaineers who greet each other on the trails.
Idling a car engine, perhaps to enjoy the aircon, is a no-no at the campsite, he said, not only because this may annoy other campers but because it is not friendly to the environment and emits an offensive odor.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness in each camper’s area. Again, that is a responsible act for the environment and a courtesy to the other campers. Dy said campers should not forget to “clean after their fur babies.”
“Pick up trash before leaving camp, even if it’s not your own. A camper should bring his or her own trash bag,” Dy said.
Cooking at campsites
Another speaker, Peter Gaw, fondly called “Uncle Peter,” goes on car camping trips with his son, where they cook together.
“I cook at camp because that's one of the nice things about car camping. Pagpunta ka doon, siyempre mainit, se-set up ka ng mga awning, everything, tapos magugutom na tayo (When you go there, of course it's hot, you'll set up the awnings, everything, and then we'll start feeling hungry,” he said.
New campers, he said, should grab whatever cooking supplies they have at home.
“New campers in the beginning don't have any equipment yet. So you just get what's in the house. But of course, you need to buy a butane burner,” Gaw said.
Uncle Peter said he usually cooks extra food. “I make it a point to cook extra. Tapos, sine-share mo na lang sa katabi kong campers, kahit na hindi ko kilala ( Then, I just share it with the campers next to me, even if I don't know them),” he said.
“You make new friends and you don't have leftovers,” he said.
Family time
Another expert and well-known for his picture-perfect camp setup is Winston Chua, a businessman who regularly goes on car camping trips with his family.
Car camping, he said, is an opportunity for families to put their gadgets down, talk to each other, bond, and reconnect with mother nature.
“If you go to campsites without internet connection, you're forced to communicate with each other. You stay away from screens, from your gadgets, and you're able to spend quality time together,” he continued.
According to Chua, his most memorable car camping was when his whole family was with him to camp in Pantabangan. But that was not an easy feat to pull off because he had to bring a lot of beds, tents, and he had to ensure that they were all comfortable.
“But it was so much fun because of three solid days of being together without any distractions and just with a very nice, serene environment,” Chua said.
With support from the industry, Chua said a lot of equipment suited for families are now available in the market, making it more convenient for people to go camping.
“Some brands now offer bigger tents. That's good for a family of four or even five,” he said.
For families who are planning their first car camping adventure, Chua said they must ensure that their family members are safe and comfortable. “Make sure they're protected from the elements, from the weather,” he said.
“And prepare some activities so that when your kids are with you at camp, they have something to do when they're not using their phones or their gadgets.”
He said that newbie campers often tend to overpack, advising them instead to prioritize essential items.
Family car campers, Chua said, must adapt the LNT principle or the “Leave No Trace” principle which is important to lessen your footprint on the environment.
First Aid 101
It is always recommended that campers come ready with first aid kits. Emmanuel “Coach Manny” Batungbacal, a mountaineer, and a graduate of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Human Kinetics, discussed basic first aid and knot tying during the forum.
He introduced the participants fo the “finger method” which is a simple way to check capillary refill time.
By pressing on the fingernail or fingertip, he said a person can observe how quickly the blood returns to the area after pressure is released, a test often used as a quick assessment of blood circulation, he said.
Coach Manny noted if the color of their finger returns promptly, it suggests good circulation. If it takes longer, it may indicate poor circulation or other underlying health issues.
He also advised participants to put a napkin in their first aid kits, noting that it can be utilized to control bleeding should you get a cut while camping.
For a wound, it's best to clean it with soap and water, and put betadine. “Don't use alcohol, masakit. (Don't use alcohol, it hurts. It stings),” he said.
The ideal car camping setup was displayed at the forum by Overland Kings, whose marketing officer, Jaye Lim discussed "Building a personalized outdoor experience" with the right items based on preference, terrain, and the available rig.
As families venture into the great outdoors, enjoying nature and the company of loved ones is not just a leisure activity but a truly rewarding experience. Go out and try it this weekend!