Ocean Adventure , Subic Bay

It was in 2008,  when my daughter had a field trip in Ocean Adventure , Subic Bay Freeport  Zone (Subic Bay) formerly a US Naval base. Ocean Adventure is surrounded by unspoiled jungle which is also connected to the sandy beaches and definitely a "must visit" place for  everyone. 

Subic Bay is surrounded by the town of  Subic and Olongapo City in the province of  Zambales. It was in 1991 after the Philippines  rejected the terms for renewal of the lease of  Naval Base to the US and after Mt. Pinatubo eruptions , Military base was converted into a " tax and duty free zone" operated by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) headed  by former Sen. Richard Gordon  together with 8,000 volunteers that took over and preserve the facility.    

Due to tremendous road improvements,  Subic Bay is now just 2 to 3 hours away from Manila by public transport and  I can still remember,   when I'm still working in a Shipping company when we were planning to put up a local office for Export and Import transshipment from/to Manila/Subic  we can easily travel by 1 hour on a private vehicle.  

How to get here : public transportation by land

There are 2 bus lines that taking a route bound to Olongapo which charge a reasonable fares for a 2 to 3 hours trip

Saulog Transit -  Cavite City to Olongapo has trips leaving one hour apart between 2 am to 2 pm

Victory Liner - Manila to Olongapo/Subic has trips from 3 different terminals in Pasay, Caloocan and Cubao which leaves an hour apart from 4 am to 6 pm  , rates are around Php 200.00 to Php 240.00

Saulog Transit - newly acquired buses are available in  Cavite City bound to Olongapo and Baguio City

by ferry: ( as of now,  not really sure if its still available- 2012)

Leaving from Manila to Bataan,  you can take a ferry boat from Philippine Cultural Centre on Roxas Boulevard by Mt. Samat Express ferry which will take you  to the Port of Orion in the Province of Bataan

Inside Subic Bay 

The easiest way to travel around Olongapo and Subic Bay is through a metered taxi but most drivers do not usually use the meter because they will try to negotiate with you on much higher prices.  In this case,  better to look for another taxi or better yet take a jeepney especially when your destination is just short and there is no bus roaming, jeepney service is much more accessible .

Taxi service is available at the Park and Shop, located at the Main Gate into the Freeport Zone.

Ocean Adventure

Ocean Adventure is an open water marine park located in Subic Bay where you can see different activities like Dolphin and Whale Shows,  Sea Lion Shows, Ocean Discovery Aquarium together with their learning center on where they teach visitors about the mammals and fishes on their different environment and how they co-exist together and most importantly on how to conserve and protect them.

Admission prices and contact numbers

They are open between 9 am to 6 pm everyday
Adult - Php 550.00
Children - 12 years and below Php 440.00
Phone no. 047- 252 - 9000

  

Bataan - Dambana ng kagitingan

My daughter is in 2nd grade and we had a field trip in Ocean Adventure and Bataan particularly in Mt. Samat - Dambana ng Kagitingan.

Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor)  is in Mt. Samat ,  Pilar Bataan - a memorial shrine that built to honor and remember the 75,000 or gallantry of the Filipino and American soldiers who fought during the World War II and the white Memorial Cross  was commemorate on their 25th year anniversary and was built under the administration of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. 

The shrine was designed by Lorenzo del Castillo and landscaped by Dolly Quimbo-Perez

How to get there:  Actually we had a bus that brought us there but i check in the net about it so here it goes :

Take a Balanga-bound or Mariveles-bound bus. Alight bus in Balanga City or Pilar town.Travel time - around 2 - 3 hours

Make arrangements for transportation or ask the local (tricycle , jeep or taxi)  to Mt. Samat.

There's also a ferry in CCP that bound to Mariveles, Bataan ,  it will only take 1-2 hours travel time

 

Baguio City, Cordillera Region

Since we got married ,  we really make it sure to celebrate it  every year by getting out of town or sometimes just a small party with the family. We already spend our 2nd year anniversary here and our daughter saw the pictures so she really wants to go to Baguio. Since this was our 13th year Anniversary ,  so let's go and explore the Summer Capital of the Philippines once again.

Baguio City - is also called  City of Pines because of  many pine trees.  

It's better to explore Baguio by "do-it-yourself"  just ask Policeman,  Guards or the locals on where and how to  get there or places you want to go and that's how you'll appreciate the place more.

How to get there : 

From Cavite City (via coastal road )  -  Saulog Transit-  travel time - 5-6 hours

From Pasay City - Victory liner - Php 455- 500.00 (ordinary busses) , Php 600.00 - 750.00 (de luxe busses),  Dagupan Bus line

From Cubao - Victory liner - Php 455- 500.00 (ordinary busses) , Php 700.00 - 750.00 (de luxe busses) ,  Dagupan Bus 

Transportation in Baguio City

Jeepneys  -  there's so many jeepney in Baguio City that ply various routes within it and its immediate surroundings.

Taxi's - cabs are painted white and have proper markings on their sides and you can also hire them for the whole day City tour ( 8-9 hours tour) - Php 1,800.00 - 2,500.00 depending on your negotiation skills

Car rentals - are also available in Baguio but I'm not sure about the amount

Places that you can see and visit in Baguio City 

Session Road - the main thoroughfare of Baguio, where most of the city activity is centered and lots of restaurants, bars and hotels are here

Camp John Hay - is now a sort of country club complete with an 18-hole golf course, horseback riding, camping and many more.  

 

(pictures found in the net,  thanks to the owner) 

Mines View Park -It  is one of the most popular and most visited park in the city ,  enjoy the view of the beautiful mountain scenery, you can take a picture with the horse but you have to pay Php 50.00 for 2 shots 

Philippine Military Academy

Burnham Park - go for a walk or go rowing on the small lake with the bancas for Php 100.00 - 200.00 per hour. and get photographed with the St.Bernard dog but you have to pay Php 50.00 for 2 shots

Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral ( Baguio Cathedral) - The rose-colored Baguio Catholic Cathedral, located on top of a hill is in the heart of the city, a walking distance along session road, and it  is one of  the most visited landmarks of Baguio.

Botanical Garden - features native huts typical of the type of Igorot dwellings found in the Cordilleras.

 

(pictures found in the net,  thanks to the owner)

Public Market just along the lower end of session road

   

Souvenirs

You can buy lots of souvenirs here like woodcarvings , bags and shirts.  Also you can buy fresh strawberries,  fresh vegetables in the market.  Peanut Brittle ,  Ube or Halaya,  Strawberry Jams, "sundot kulangot" made of malagkit is also available just look around and you'll find the market worth buying.

First stop ,   Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral ( Baguio Cathedral) or wherever you go visit the church first. We are actually looking for the hundred steps going to the church and never expected that we already done it .

 

Then next stop ,  Mines view park

Botanical Garden 

 

Burnham Park

SM Baguio City

It's so nice to stay in SM Baguio because they are not using aircon's but heater.

There's so many pictures that I wasn't able to post ,  don't know why,  the pictures in PMA where we've experience the "not so good smell"  in the nipa hut right across the bldg of PMA ,  maybe some visitors just used the hut as their immediate "Comfort room"  and the other one is in the Camp John Hay, the long walk we've done hehehehe haaay kapagod doon.

If you are going to Baguio,  just take some mosquito repellant ,  lakas ng loob para magtanong at pera para kahit saan kaya mong pumunta,  just do the "cowboy" thing and you'll feel that its much worth to explore via jeepneys and tricycles. Go to the "Summer Capital of the Philippines"