The President's Cup Regatta lights the "Summer Is Here" flare

It took a while, but Summer is finally here. Its hot and windy outside. Not your usual day at Subic Bay.Scores of beautifully painted sails greeted my casual dive along Waterfront road last Tuesday afternoon. So I decided to investigate.Hmm... yatchs. Lots of them. Ladies (and gents), as well. I took a risk and asked a female Boardwalk Inn staff, "what's up with those ships?" Without looking at me, she shot back, "President's Cup, and Summer!" That's seals it. I needed the "Summer is here" confirmation, since there were unusual rain showers during the last two weeks.To those who are planning a trip to Subic, fear not. The lady said summer is up, and I am sure she can predict the weather here better that your television weather reporters. Just...

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Posted in: Events,Places,Subic Bay,Summer

Subic Bay and Clark are now twins, with Metro Manila as an older sibling

AFTER almost a decade, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) now links the former competitors, Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Clark Special Economic Zone.The vision of linking Subic and Clark via an expressway came about after then Clark's Chief Executive Officer Rufo Colayco and former SBMA chair Felicito Payumo took a, well, let's call it helicopter date. Within the week, the plan was presented to former President Joseph Estrada by the Dynamic Duo, and approved. It was late 1999, some 13 months before Erap was forced out of office.Politicians do get things done --- at least sometimes.Here are some photos of the highway (reputedly the longest expressway in the country). I decided to keep the panoramic and more scenic photos along the SCTEx...

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Posted in: Clark,Places,Subic Bay

DAYO: First full-length feature animation film produced entirely in the Philippines

(Teaser Trailer Only) While preparing for a symposium that I will be attending, I came across this teaser trailer of DAYO.I haven't seen the film, though. It is really great to see Filipinos finally taking a risk and creating content in for our national pride.Enjoy the trailer. Better still, buy the video and support the Filipino animato...

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Pier One: Great ambiance. Great food... if you can wait for it.

One of the busiest place in Subic is Pier One Bar and Grill.People usually troop in droves starting Friday until Sunday. So, I went with the crowd last March 14. Scores of St. Joseph's School alumni who are celebrating their 60th Founding year were there to talk about yesteryears.My group shied away from the open area, and opted to while away time at the restaurant's airconditioned room. There were at least s200 people at the grill, but not one joined us, despite the incredibly humid night.The band, composed of three lovely ladies, belted our pop hits. One of them, sadly I forgot her name, is reputedly the best female vocalist in Olongapo City. Here is a video of one of their bands.The blaring Retro music was stirring the crowd into a frenzy---...

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Posted in: Pier One,Places,Restaurants,Subic Bay

One Night Only: Cecil Licad @ Casa San Miguel

Photo from www.bongsoller.com/cecil_licad/cecilintro.cfmGuess where my 10-day ticket hunt for the Cecil Licad show (March 15, 2008) at Casa San Miguel (CSM), San Antonio, Zambales led me? Casa San Miguel. (http://www.waypoints.ph/detail_gen.html?wpt=casasm)Unfortunately, there is no webpage about the show, nor a website about Casa San Miguel where you can buy tickets. Good thing a friend of mine, Jen Velarmino, knew a certain Lucy of CSM, and I was able to reserve five seats. The simple way was to contact Coke Bolipata, but a lost cellphone number complicated the matter.As a DZFE-FM fanatic, I listened to classical music while studying at the FEU freedom park. One December day in 1989, a DZFE jock said that a Pinoy lady was making waves playing...

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Posted in: Events,One Night Only,Subic Bay

The Lighthouse at the end of the road

Photo: Johann Ong, Colors of Subic Lighthouse MarinaMy moolah wasn't enough to get me a room at this hotel. Room rates start at around P6,000 or about US$148 per night, which they claim is "adequately for 2 adults and/ or 2 adults and 2 kids." Their words, not mine. So, I decided to check out the surroundings, after all, its free. Their pool, with a jacuzzi, is a bit small. Remember the magic number: US$148/room/night. But, lest we forget, the Lighthouse can't match the adjacent body of water --- Subic Bay.No sense in writing about something without burning my moolah, so I asked my friend, Ansbert Joaquin of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, to have lunch at the Sands Restaurant. It was chicken for him, beef for me. It was pretty good. And was...

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Posted in: Bay,Hotels,Places

Crown-of-Thorn starfishes attack Subic Bay

Thousands of poisonous crown-of-thorn starfishes are marching into Subic Bay. Hmm... can they approximate the damage being done by our politicians? I doubt.Needless to say, these creatures, while hurting the marine econsystem, are also a threat to human beings. Dive shops found a reason to rally together and stop their petty quarrels. They are now busy rounding up these creatures, and are calling on other amateur divers to lend a helping hand. According to Ameth dela Llana-Koval of the Subic Bay's Ecology Center pollution is one of the reason for this phenomenon. While many scientists agree, there is still no consensus as to the real cause.I understand that there are marine biologists studying the phenomenon. If you know them, give them a...

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Posted in: Bay,Events

Lopez named SBMA's Employee of the Year; Cheers!

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) honored its best employee of 2007 last Friday, February 29, 2008.Norberto Lopez is a fireman, and is also a member of the SBMA emergency services team that responds to calamities in and out of the Freeport. If you see him, give him a pat on the back. He deserves it.There were four other finalists that fateful night, but only the winner seserves the honor in this articles, and that's Mr. Lopez.Engran...

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Posted in: Events,SBMA