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A Cruise to Change Your Mind by Ricky LopezWhen Tita Susan asked me if I would like to goBoracay for the magazine, I was like, “Hellooo!!!Of course! Double of course!!!” I got really excited.So I asked, “Tita, what day are we flying in?”“We’re not.” Tita Susan replied. “We’re going byboat.”My excitement level dropped a couple of notches.Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have anything againstlong haul inter-island travel... unless I’m the one taking it.Images of crazy crowded pier scenes came to mind, withpeople jostling one another to board the ship, trying to getat the best bunks, and being squeezed between a varietyof family members, numerous sako-bags of clothes andpasalubong cans of biskwit.Probably reading the flash of apprehension on myface, Tita Susan added, “We’re taking a cruise to Boracay!”Well, I’ve travelled on more dismal modes oftransportation before and I’ve survived them. The key ismanaging expectations.Unlike other trips with Tita Susan where we meet upat her Bel-Air residence, this time, we were to convergeat the Jam Liner bus terminal in Cubao, at a waiting areaspecifically designated for <strong>2GO</strong> <strong>Travel</strong>.Yes, <strong>2GO</strong>, as in the courier service, which has nowbranched into a variety of interests, with <strong>2GO</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> beingthe super-brand that resulted from the merger of NegrosNavigation, Super Ferry, SuperCat, and Cebu ferries.Accompanying us was no less than <strong>2GO</strong> <strong>Travel</strong>’s EVPand Chief Commercial Officer. Such a stiff sounding title,really, when the man holding the position is as laid backas Stephen Tagud. With him were his staff Bessie Hendrixand Ervin Andaya who gave us our travel papers whichAll Aboard!Across the page, left to right: Tita Susan with the <strong>Travel</strong> Timeteam and <strong>2GO</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> EVP, Stephen Tagud; the hotel-like lobby ofCF3; the check-in counter; the vessel leaving the Batangas port.were comprised of coupons for <strong>2GO</strong>’s special feature call<strong>Travel</strong> Link. <strong>2GO</strong>’s <strong>Travel</strong> Link provides, with a singlepurchase, seamless travel from Manila to Boracay.“Actually, you can start all the way from Baguio,”Stephen revealed. People up north can buy the <strong>Travel</strong> Linkticket and board the Genesis Liner bus which drops themoff directly at the Jam Liner Cubao terminal. Here, theycan then take any of Jam’s hourly trips to the Batangasport to board the <strong>2GO</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> ship which sails directly toCaticlan twice a day. From the Caticlan port, they are thenimmediately ferried to the beaches of Boracay. Seamless.No more multiple rolling on, rolling off piers, too.The bus left the terminal at 3 p.m. and was at theBatangas pier by a bit past 5 p.m. Upon disembarking, wewere met by a guy wearing a shirt in 2Go’s trademark pinkhue.“Actually, it’s magenta,” Stephen clarified.Apparently, the company paid good money to get theperfect branding right. That included the name, logo,and color scheme. Indeed, the color stands out even ina crowd. And if ever you lose sight of the welcome guy,you can easily find your own way by following the seriesof magenta signages that lead from the bus parking all theway to the <strong>2GO</strong> Boarding Terminal where we joined thequeue of people taking the same cruise.Some people didn’t take the bus but rather opted tobring their own cars to Batangas and left their vehicles atthe designated parking area for the cruise passengers. “Forbarkadas, we can also arrange for group pick-up and drop-70 travel time april - june 2012
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