Close encounters at Subic

When people talk about Subic, the first thing that comes to mind is duty-free shopping and rightly so, as Subic Bay Freeport is host to several duty-free shops and malls giving visitors and tourists bargain prices for imported goods.

However, more than a shopaholic’s paradise, Subic Bay is also home to dozens of leisure parks which feature a variety of activities: from lounging under the sweet South China Sea sun to diving with whales at Ocean Adventure; from taking photos of lazy monkeys by the road side to feeding tigers and crocodiles at Zoobic Safari; from concerts at the Boardwalk to extreme survival activities at the Zambales mountain ranges. Whatever adventure you have in mind, Subic has the right itinerary for you.

During our recent trip to Subic we had a taste of the tamer side of the place with visits at Ocean Adventure and at Zoobic Safari.  But before we got initiated into the eco-friendly paradise of Subic we visited the Asia Pacific Energy Corporation (APEC) Clean Coal-Fired Power Plant in Mabalakat, Pampanga where we got to see first hand the company’s effort to reduce pollutant emissions and by-products. The APEC plant is similar to the power plant being built in Toledo, Cebu to address power shortage in the region.

 As a trip for the environment, we were re-introduced into the vital world of our distant cousins for us to fully appreciate the necessity of taking care of our critical ecosystem and to realize that our relationship with these creatures are not as distant as we believe them to be.

Ocean Adventure was our next stop. A marine theme park at the Camayan Wharf in the West Ilanin Forests, the park lies in a 12,000 square meter property with an 8,000 square meter waterside. It provides entertainment while educating visitors about the diversity and the importance of taking care of our marine ecology.

For the more adventurous, Ocean Adventure has exciting packages that includes a first hand interaction with the park’s cutest residents: the dolphins or generally, cetaceans, since they have various kinds of these warm-bloodied beings in their care. You can either watch them in the safety of your seat while admiring the beauty of these sea creatures or you can dive and play with them, plus a hug captured on film.

We watched the Dolphin Friends Show at the El Capitan Theater which amused us so much that we had to have our pictures taken with them. That was the closest we got to these playful cetaceans. Surprisingly, their skin felt so smooth and so comforting to the touch; no wonder close encounters with these gentle giants have become a form of therapy for some.

Simba and Thalia, two of the nine resident South American Sea Lions of the park, did a tremendous show in the Sea Lion Marine Patrol Show at the Nautilus Theater. They not only entertained the guests with their witty antics but also enjoined guests to do their share in caring for the seas like throwing garbage in the right place and not on the open seas.

A whole day at the Ocean Adventure would give you an enriching experience in the world of our sea cousins. The park also has an animal care clinic and a nutrition center where visitors would get to see how the facility takes care of the creatures entrusted to them. There is also the discovery aquarium showcasing sea creatures in their various habitats, as well as a learning center where children get to have an in-depth learning experience on marine mammals and marine conservation.

Our last journey took us to the Zoobic Safari which was just a few minutes away from Ocean Adventure.

This time, we had close encounters with various land creatures, ranging from the friendly camels and the different breeds of swine to the ferocious tigers that playfully jumped on top of the jeep we were riding as the handler tried to feed them with fowl carcasses. Although safe in our little caged jeep, we could not help but be terrified at the strength of these magnificent creatures.

Our trip ended with the realization of the serious need for us to do our share in caring for our home.

More than the lure of modern day conveniences, the magic of Subic comes from its ability to combine development and industry with the rich bio-diversity of West Coast Luzon, an example which we should follow should we wish to become less of a threat to our planet.