Subic revisited: A whale of an adventure

And it came to pass that exactly one month later, we were back in Subic for another 24-hour break, with our group twice bigger than the first one. On weekends (especially), Subic International Hotel is packed full with bakasyonistas from Manila and other places so I wondered how the ever-amiable and ever-gracious Bella Tan (also Universal Records boss) was able to book us in five rooms.

As usual, Michael Wilson, the Englishman manager of Subic International Hotel, welcomed us with open arms and a wide smile (back so soon!?!), beside him the artista-looking Ana Beato who has been on the job (as sales supervisor) for barely a month. We arrived at 30 minutes past 12 Sunday (May 26), hardly weary from the three-hour trip from Manila on a rented Benz van, and Michael promptly requested Ana to accompany our group to the nearby Golden Dragon Restaurant for a lauriat lunch (priced very reasonably, with set menus adjusted to the number of diners).

Unlike last week of April when we were there at the peak of summer solstice, a downpour kind of kicked off our second Subic sojourn but it didn’t stop the eager-beavers in our group to hie off to the Miracle Beach (near the boundary of Bataan and Zambales) and spend the whole afternoon there.

On our first visit, we politely declined Bella’s invitation for us to try SIH’s videoke room, located at the hotel’s other wing with the health club just across the street from the main building. But this time around, with the continuous drizzle spoiling our earlier plan for a long, leisurely walk around Subic, we trooped to the videoke room and had a grand time stretching our vocal chords with standard favorites and new hits. (Room charge is only P2,000, consumable, with no time limit.)

The bookworm in our group opted to while the night away in his room curled up in the soft bed with the latest best-seller, Ian McEwan’s Atonement. Quite an idea: You can actually spend an enjoyable weekend even within the SIH compound made up of three hotel buildings (which used to be barracks where US marines stayed during Subic’s naval-base days), equipped with all the amenities and facilities. Besides, the duty-free shop and other shopping areas are within walking idstance.

Our Sunday morning was highlighted by a visit to the Ocean Adventure (located a few turns away from the Miracle Beach), arranged by Cynthia Rondael-Robles, OA’s director for marketing, who very kindly introduced us to John E. Corcoran, the American president and COO of OA who provided us with all the necessary information before we embarked on the "adventure."

Okay, so there’s that huge aquarium at the Sentosa Island in Singapore and at the Ocean Park in Hong Kong, but what makes Subic’s Ocean Adventure unique is that the whales and dolphins move about in their natural habitat (not man-made as in similar such parks abroad) fenced off on one side of the shore at the tip of which, according to Corcoran, are found almost 30 shipwrecks, some dating back to the Spanish Era, 30 feet deep. (For a few bucks, you can dive and "tour" the shipwrecks, accompanied by a diving expert.)

Opened only in October last year, the Ocean Adventure (admission price is P400 per person) is a "must-see" the next time you go to Subic. The marine park, located at Camayan Wharf of the West Ilanin Forest Area, is envisioned to foster conservation by providing a first-class tourist, leisure and recreation attraction through the exhibition of marine life. It’s built on a 12,000-square meter landside with an 8,000-square meter waterside. It offers the following services and facilities:

• El Capitan Theater – A 700-seating capacity stadium that offers a fantastic view of the awe-inspiring pseudorca whale presentations.

• Nautilus Theater – A 350-seater stadium where guests get to meet adorable and amusing sea lions.

• Encounter Cove – Where guests are given the rare opportunity to join the whales in the water and feed, pet, pat, play, dance and swim with them.

• Discovery Aquarium – A 280-square meter building that contains an arrangement of fresh water and seawater (marine) habitats relevant to the Philippine ecosystem.

• Learning Center – A classroom and library with a seating capacity of up to 50 persons, that offers educational materials and information on marine mammals and marine conservation.

• Animal Care Clinic – A behind-the-scene look at how the animals are cared for. It offers visitors a chance to view the actual lab work evaluating individual health parameters of the mammals.

• Animal Nutrition Center – A behind-the-scene look at the kitchen support extended to the animals. Visitors can see how animal food and dietary programs are prepared.

• Ocean Treasures – A 180-square meter gift shop located by the Entry/Exit gate.

• Ilanin Bay Café – A 240-square meter restaurant with an indoor seating capacity of 75 and outdoor facilities with a capacity of 200.

• Sea Lion Center – A fascinating behind-the-scene look at how our sea lions are trained.

You can stay for three hours so you can catch the whale show and the dolphin show, or the whole day if you have the luxury of time and wait for the sunset and watch the Subic Bay slowly come alive in bright lights, a scene that reminded me of Lake Como in Italy which is one of the favorite vacation choices of the rich and famous. (Giorgio Armani owns a villa there, used as a venue for the launching of Ricky Martin’s Livin’ La Vida Loca album in 1999, a musical event which The STAR was lucky enough to be invited to cover.)

Better still, take the late-afternoon cruise around Subic Bay (fare is P150 per head) in a ferry with clean seats covered with white cloth. If you’re not seasick-prone, stay on the deck and get a sweeping view of Subic Bay from all angles.

Since it’s June, newly-weds can perhaps avail of Subic International Hotel’s "honeymoon adventure" for only P2,500, inclusive of overnight accommodation for two (of course!), buffet breakfast, a complimentary bottle of wine, entrance (for two) to the beach and entrance (for two) to the Jest Camp. SIH has a tie-up with Victory Liner which makes trips back and forth twice a day (with a terminal at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City).

(Note: For information about Subic International Hotel’s special offers, call Odette E. Aguilar at 243-2222 to 33 or 0917-8442509. For inquiries about Ocean Adventure, call Cynthia Rondael-Robles at 047-252-9000 local 105 or 0918-9015083.)