Travel and Tourism: Subic Bay, Philippines

New Year - 2012

2012-01-10T16:53:00.001+08:00

We traditionally celebrate New Year's Eve in Subic. We usually rent a house at Forest Hills, Subic for a couple of days. One of the reasons for the annual migration is to avoid the wild firecrackers and "stray bullet" festivities in Manila.

This 2012, the New Year fireworks display wasn't as grand as those of the previous years. The spectacle lasted a tad short of the usual 30-plus-minute duration - about 25 minutes, in fact.

This was probably out of respect for the recent Mindanao flood tragedy that happened the previous month. Most businesses and organizations decided to forgo the usual festivities and opt to donate the funds to the flood victims instead.

Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway

2008-08-15T12:19:00.007+08:00

You can now reach Subic via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, or SCTEx. It is a 94-kilometer four lane expressway north of Manila, Philippines. It can cut land travel time from Manila to Subic by as much as 30 minutes.

Construction of the expressway started on 2005 and was subsequently opened to the public on April 28th, 2008. It is the country's longest toll expressway to date.

My Subic Blog Inactivity

2008-08-15T12:13:00.003+08:00

It's been a long time since this blog has been inactive. We will try to update this regularly beginning today. Please accept my apologies.

Picture of the Day: USS New York Wreck Dive Site at Subic Bay

2007-11-09T22:07:00.001+08:00

A green rendering of the wreckage of the U.S.S. New York at the bottom of Subic Bay. Courtesy of http://www.oz.net/~markhow/pre-dred/newyork.htm

Picture of the Day: Subic Bay Shipyard

2007-11-05T20:14:00.001+08:00

Picture of the Day: Subic Bay Marina

2007-11-02T09:41:00.001+08:00

Here's an aerial view of the Subic Bay marina and yacht club. You can see some of the berthed yachts and pleasure boats. And for those interested in karting, the Subic Bay go-kart course can also be seen on the lower right corner of the picture.

Subic Trivia - 001

2007-11-01T17:51:00.001+08:00

Did you know that the Subic Bay Freeport Zone was once an American military naval base?

It was formerly known as the Subic Bay U.S. Naval Base, a major ship-repair, supply, and rest and recreation facility of the United States Navy.

It was once the largest U.S. Navy installation in the Pacific and the second largest overseas military installation of the United States Armed Forces second only to Clark Air Base, which is also located in the Philippines.

Picture of the Day: Gantry Cranes at Subic Bay

2007-10-29T22:42:00.001+08:00

Courtesy of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone Website

Picture of the Day: Cubi Point, Subic Bay

2007-10-26T01:12:00.001+08:00

Subic Bay Attractions: The Zoobic Safari

2007-10-23T18:44:00.003+08:00

Zoobic Safari is one of the most popular Subic Bay attractions. You will find it inside Subic Bay Freeport's 50-hectare Forest Adventure Park. You can expect an astonishing sight of diverse exotic animals roaming and frolicking in their natural habitat encompassing an area of 25 hectares.

Zoobic Safari is a great venue for educational trips, family outings and gatherings and company functions. It features a wide range of habitats present in the forest due to the terrain, presence of streams and fringing grasslands. These represent the major habitats for varied exotic animals featured in the Zoobic Safari Forest Adventure Park.

Some of the attractions inside Zoobic Safari include: the Zoobic Park, the Savannah, the Serpentarium, the Honey Bee Farm, the Rodent World, Croco Loco, Hip Hop Bay-a-wak, Egg-Ziting Story, the Menagerie (Animal Museum), Adventure Rides, the Close Encounter, and the Tiger Safari. You can check out all the attractions in detail here.

Subic Hotel Watch: Subic Legenda Suites

2007-10-22T17:54:00.001+08:00

One of the great places to spend the night in Subic is at the Legenda Suites, located at the Upper Cubi area of SBMA.

Legenda Suites gives you the space, the privacy and the pleasure you need. Each of the spacious 102 one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites come with almost every amenity you can find at home: a living room, dining area, private kitchen, cable and movie system. Tastefully furnished and designed, the cozy family units put you in the high life of exciting Subic Bay. And best of all, you can feel that serene nature scene right at your doorstep.

Legenda Suites is located a few blocks away from some of Subic's most sought-after attractions: the famous Bat Kingdom and museum, butterfly garden, insectarium, bird park, JEST Camp for eco-survival training, camping and jungle treks. There's also an adventure park, shooting range and paintball activity center for thrill-seekers. A short drive can take you to an open safari park called Zoobic Safari or see the dolphins and sea lions of the Ocean Adventure marina.

What more can you ask for in a vacation?

You can check out their website here.

Picture of the Day: Subic Bay Port

2007-10-22T01:16:00.001+08:00

Subic Hotel Watch: Legenda Hotel

2007-10-21T18:09:00.002+08:00

Among Subic's popular offerings are the three S's: Sun, Sea and Sand. And another popular offering is the supreme living available at Subic's only five-star rated hotel, the majestic and picturesque Legenda Hotel.

Legenda Hotel has 254 rooms which are well-appointed and tastefully furnished with modern conveniences.

Legenda Hotel is just a few steps away from the historic Subic Bay, a refreshing sight to behold from one of Legenda's luscious suites. Its plush amenities and facilities, and brand of impeccable service promise to make each stay delightful and memorable.

You can check out Legenda Hotel's official website here.

Subic Hotel Watch: Subic International Hotel

2007-10-20T18:24:00.002+08:00

Subic International Hotel Corporation is one of the largest hotels in Subic.

It is located at the heart of the Subic Freeport Zone. You and your family can experience world-class amenities with the comfort of luxurious living as provided for by the hotel's efficient and dedicated staff.

Subic International Hotel has a total of 284 well-appointed and tastefully furnished Deluxe rooms and suites.

The hotel is located a block or two away from some of Subic's popular tourist attractions such as Times Square, Subic Boardwalk and a barrage of duty-free shops. It is also located near the SBMA main gate if one wishes to stroll around Olongapo City and experience its well-known nightlife.

You can check out the Subic International Hotel website here.

Picture of the Day: Lighthouse at Subic Bay

2007-10-19T01:20:00.001+08:00

Subic Bay Attractions: The El Kabayo Equestrian Center

2007-09-26T00:21:00.001+08:00

If you're a horse lover and would like to go on a horseback riding adventure, then the El Kabayo Equestrian Center is the place to visit in Subic Bay.

Located in Subic's Binictican area, El Kabayo offers a wide range of horse-related activities. Almost all of the horses are imported. The breeds include thoroughbreds, saddlebreds, quarter horses and even a few standardbreds. You can even get to ride former race horses. These are a great contrast to other riding centers, like in Baguio, that offer smaller native Philippine breeds.

You can go for the traditional jungle trail rides to Kabayo falls and back, and if you're an inexperienced rider, you can choose to have experienced guides to walk along side the horse. You can also take lessons at the center if you want to improve your riding ability. If you're an experienced rider, you can also simply rent a horse and go through the paces in the riding area, or if you're adventurous enough, you can choose additional trails which runs through the lush forest and jungles of the Subic Bay Freeport that offer a picturesque peek at the crystal waters of the bay.

If you're not much into riding horses, a visit here is still well worth the trip even if only to admire the magnificent horses.

Subic Housing Facilities

2007-09-24T00:27:00.001+08:00

There are about 1,876 housing units located in serene and well-maintained areas inside SBMA. Most of these housing units are spread across three popular housing areas such as the Kalayaan, Binictican and Upper Cubi housing communities.

Jogging and hiking areas, playgrounds, swimming pools, tennis courts and convenience stores are found in these areas.

Over a thousand housing units are still available for short or long term lease arrangements. One may choose from 2, 3 or 4 bedroom fully air-conditioned units, with capacity for cable television and telephone services (NDD, IDD and facsimile).

Subic Bay News: Koreans to Invest $684M More in Subic

2007-08-02T13:29:00.002+08:00

Here's a bit of good news. According to the SBMA, South Korean mega company, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC), is set to infuse an additional $684 million on top of its original commitment of $1 billion into its shipping project at the Subic free port. This now gives a total of approximately $1.7 billion.

The SBMA quoted HHIC director and general manager Shim Jeong Sip as saying that the new investment would finance the expansion of Hanjin’s shipyard in Subic.

This news bodes well for Filipinos since it will bring in more jobs and better economic trade opportunities.

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Reference:
Inquirer.Net: Korean to invest $684M more in Subic

Subic Bay Attractions: Water Adventure at Networx Jetsports

2007-03-03T23:56:00.001+08:00

If you're into water sports, then Networx Jetsports is one of the water sports attractions inside Subic Bay.

Networx Jetsports came into the Subic Bay scene in 2002 as a business offshoot of Networx Auto Detailing Corporation, an automobile detailing company in Manila.

Some of the services offered by Networx Jetsports are jet ski rentals, banana boat and parasailing rides, Subic Bay cruises, ski repair, and jet ski launch and recovery.

Apart from offering water sports equipment rentals, Networx Jetsports also sells different brands of jet skis, jet boats and other watercraft accessories. They are an authorized dealer of imported watercraft accessories such as Jet Pilot, Riva, Yamaha, Hot Products, Lynn Vick Products, Jettrim Montclair Yamaha, Midcities, Honda, Kawasaki and Zieman/Shorelander trailers.

For more details on the Networx Jetsports amenities and how to get there, you can visit their official website via this link.

Subic Bay Attractions: Subic Bay Ocean Adventure

2007-03-03T18:01:00.001+08:00

Do you know that Subic Bay's Ocean Adventure is Southeast Asia's only open-water marine park? You can see marine animals live and play in a natural setting of clear sea water and coral reefs fronting a lovely white sand beach. It's definitely one of the places to see while in Subic Bay.

The park is open to the public daily, from 9AM to 6PM.

Admission Prices usually range from PhP 450.00 (roughly US$ 9.00) for adults, PhP 370.00 (US$ 7.50) for senior citizens and children 12 years old and below. Special group rates are also available.

For more details on the park's amenities and how to get there, you can visit their official website via this link.

Subic Bay News: Opposition Mounts vs Subic Coal Plant

2007-02-19T12:17:00.001+08:00

Opposition is growing to the construction of a 300-megawatt coal power plant on the pristine beaches of Subic Bay. This introduces one of the most polluting types of energy production available into Subic's spectacular natural ecosystem.

Subic Bay is home to more than 70 species of fish, including important varieties of reef fish. The world’s rare and endangered Olive Ridley turtle and Hawksbill dwell still survive in Subic Bay. The area is also blanketed by a 9,000-hectare virgin triple canopy rainforest that provides the area with some of the highest air quality in the region.

The power plant, being built by Taiwan Cogen, a subsidiary of Taiwan Power Corp., primarily to serve the needs of Korean shipbuilder Hanjin, will bring the controversial form of power generation to one of the country’s most diverse environments. Coal power is a form of energy that pollutes comprehensively, from the time the coal is extracted, to its transportation across the sea or land, to the pollutants it pumps into the atmosphere.

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Source:
Manila Bulletin: Opposition mounts vs Subic coal plant

Subic Hotel Watch: Courtyard Inn

2007-02-02T08:56:00.004+08:00

Are you looking for hotel accommodations while visiting Subic Bay Freeport? If you are, then you can check out the Courtyard Inn.

The Courtyard Inn is one of the newest business and leisure inns in Subic. This Subic beach resort sits right across Gerry's Grill and Networx Jetsports (watersports activities: jet skis, yachting, etc.), two of the top attractions inside the Subic Bay Freeport. Courtyard Inn is ideal for team building, business planning, conferences, conventions, company outings or simply relaxing with family and friends.

You can make booking reservations through Courtyard Inn's Official Hotel Website, which offers Instant Confirmation and its Best Rates online.

Subic Bay Images: Map of Subic Bay Freeport Zone

2007-01-26T01:24:00.001+08:00

Sitemap

2007-01-20T08:12:00.000+08:00

Hi! I'm your travel guide for today. Here's a list of things to help you find your way around Subic.

HOME

PLACES TO VISIT
... Subic Ocean Adventure
... Networx Jetsports
... El Kabayo Equestrian Center / Riding Stables
... Zoobic Safari

HOTELS
... Subic Courtyard Inn
... Subic International Hotel
... Subic Legenda Hotel
... Subic Legenda Suites

SUBIC PICTURE GALLERY

SUBIC NEWS

SUBIC TRIVIA

Links

2007-01-16T08:29:00.001+08:00