Sports, safari and sailing in Subic, and shopping too
What politics could not achieve, Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption did, and that was to open Subic Bay to the public. By opening Subic Bay and the hundreds of hectares of what used to be a naval base, pristine forests, blue waters and a lush ecosystem could then be enjoyed by adventure-seeking individuals.
Things to do in Subic when one isn’t attending the AdCon may be mind-boggling. For sports alone, the Subic Bay Freeport is fast-becoming the go to place for local and regional sports events. In 2008, the Subic Bay Freeport was the venue of the Philippine Olympic Festival and the White Rock Marathon, the latter attracting foreign participants.
Athletes train, naturally, and Subic Bay, vast and sans pollution, is the ideal place. Biking, triathlon and marathon winning athletes train in Subic. The Bike Boutique, the Triathlon Association of the Philippines and President’s Cup Regatta/China Sea Race, the Beach Football Association, are but a few who call Subic Bay their training ground.
Athletes of a different green, the SBFZ also offers the majestic Subic Bay Golf and Country Club. Regattas are a norm in Subic of late, but for non-sailors, swimming, scuba diving, wind surfing and jet skiing should be enough for even the most passionate of water sports.
If sports just isn’t your cup of tea, perhaps shopping is. SBFZ has rows of duty free shops and specialty outlets to whet the appetite and satisfy the spending spree. With more to spend, Subic’s boardwalk lines up watering holes and dine-ins of every type cuisine, whether indoor, by the bay, patio or open air.
From spending to gambling, Subic’s Casino Filipino beckons.
From general activities to must-see tourist spots, Subic has something for everyone. Top of the list is Ocean Adventure at Ilanin Bay, next door to Camayan Beach Resort. Ocean Adventure is the only open-water marine park in Southeast Asia. Reverently eco-friendly, Ocean Adventure employs the marine animals in Dolphin Friends and Sea Lion Marine Patrol shows to inform and educate visitors on the 3Rs: reuse, reduce, recycle.
Ocean Adventure recently introduced the Walk on the Wild Side animal show. Housed in a specially-built Eco-Theater, the show starts with an introduction to the lifestyle of the Aeta, Subic’s indigenous citizens. The visitors are treated to a jungle show that introduces birds, bats, mammals and reptiles of native to Subic and its terrain.
Another Subic Bay staple attraction is Zoobic Safari, the only Tiger Safari in the country. Located in the heart of Ilanin Forest, the animals are in their milieu, allowing firsthand interaction with the visitors. Zoobic Safari is where one can get up close and personal with tigers, crocodiles, ostrich, bearcat, and other mammals.
For location, contacts and other details, visit www.sbma.com/Tourism/.
