Subic Bay is a natural beauty managed by the SBMA which stands for Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. It is a vast expanse housing factories and warehouses with a sprinkling of restaurants and resorts. Subic Bay resort is being touted as the next vacation area to the famous Baguio City. A row of elegant villas catering to the rich partly provides the lodging for vacationers.
Subic used to be a U.S. Naval Base, a landmark in the province of Zambales. It was known to be the recruiting office of the U.S. navy in this part of the world. Mushrooming outside the base were bars and restaurants that provided needed entertainment to the lonely military men. Olongapo City, adjacent to Subic got popular for its red districts. Not a few singers who started in cheap Olongapo bars made it as singers of national stature. It was common to see a mestizo child roaming the streets of Subic and Olongapo. A mestizo is an offspring of a Filipino and a foreigner, mostly white and black Americans.
When the RP-US bases treaty had ended before the second millennium, Subic was ceded back to the Philippine government. The structures were preserved, the military barracks were converted into cheap housing and the system of governance was maintained. Discipline, especially on the road, is still enforced and tight security is the order of the day. I, for one, felt like being in a different country whenever I’m inside the Subic area because the place is very clean and the roads are well-paved, not to mention the courteous military personnel.
Investors are still pouring in and business is on the rise. The moderately-sized airport serves as the main artery for air-freighted goods and the pier handles the rest of the cargoes. Numerous duty-free shops dot the area where one can buy imported goods at bargain prices. It is the presence of duty-free shops that mainly attracts local tourists (including me). People from Manila even buy furnitures and appliances in Subic.
For the nature lovers, there’s the bat kingdom where you see big trees decorated by sleeping bats with some as big as “vampires.” There’s a natural jungle with strolling wild boar and deer. Occupants of the villas are always amazed to be wakened by the rapping monkeys in the early morning. And for more adventure, there’s a safari of survival where you are taught the ways and means of the jungle. Learn how to create fire using fresh bamboo. Taste the rice cooked in a bamboo pole. Drink the water filtered by natural methods. The safari would surely be an experience worth remembering. And for the independent-minded, a stroll in the woods is adventure enough especially if you have with you a camera.
Subic is also a mecca for scuba divers and skiiers because marine life abounds in the clear waters of the South China sea. Underwater camera is a must if you want to capture the moments with the colorful fishes and friendly baby sharks. The white-sand beaches are always teeming with people during summertime so others prefer the swimming pools in the area. Renting a speed boat is no problem as long as your budget permits. A dip in the clean seawater will definitely refresh your skin and rejuvenate your lungs.
As I said, Subic is a vast expanse such that you need a vehicle to go from place to place. The rugged terrain will provide you with the refreshing sight especially the mountain tunnel. The greeneries and the mountain views can compete with the postcard designs. Not a few people do their picknicking by the roadside. A car cruise by the seaside gets you a lot of clean air and a good view of the sunbathers and skiiers. The wide and well-paved roads can give relaxation to the tired driver.
Oops, I almost forgot. If you care for the local fruits, go out of the Subic gate and into Subic town for a shopping spree of mangoes, watermelons, star apple, turnips and any other fruit in season which sold in the roadside sheds.
Enjoy!