🇵🇭 Location: 11 Afable Street East Bajac-Bajac Olongapo City 📌 Near Bagong Palengke / Ulo ng Apo Rotonda / SM Olongapo CENTRAL ⏰ Hours: 11am-9pm ☎ Contact: Landline: 602.4228 Mobile: 0915.7022.965 ✅ facebook.com/PutokBatokGang
Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines 2022 (Photographed by Kristian Harvey Lumba)
Lungsod na mapayapa
Lungsod na marangal
Sa Perlas ng Silangan
Bayani ang mamamayan
Malasakit sa bayan sa puso’y nagnunulay
Ipinagbubunyi Olongapo aming bayan
Kapwa tao at bolunterismo
Lungsod na makulay Maykapal laging gabay
Sama sama bawat oras tungo sa pag-unlad
Olongapo ang bayan ika’y aming katulad
Kapwa tao at bolunterismo
Lungsod na makulay Maykapal laging gabay
Sama sama bawat oras tungo sa pag-unlad
Olongapo ang bayan ika’y aming tanglaw
hopped around with my partner in crime somewhere in Olongapo Zambales. We're here just for his contract renewal with his company, where he works. I stayed at SM Olongapo to wait for him. I stayed there for atleast 5 hours, alone. I just ate Dunkin Donut and try their ube zagu.
I actually enjoy the whole day, kahit gabi na kami nakauwi. Finally napuntahan ko din. Thanks honey.
The Philippines could soon welcome back US troops to Subic Bay sea-facing port that Washington relinquished control of over 30 years ago
The proposed return of US forces to a vast former military base in the Philippines after a three-decade-long absence looks set to heighten superpower rivalry in the South China Sea, as it weighs on Manila-Beijing relations.
Subic Bay was once home to the United States’ largest naval base in Asia – almost the same size as the whole of Singapore – but disagreements over leasing costs in the post-Cold War era led to the withdrawal of American troops from the facility in 1992.
That could all be about to change, however, after reports emerged late last month that the site is likely being considered as a new location under the US-Philippines Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows the US to build and operate facilities on Philippine military bases and rotate in troops for prolonged stays.
First signed in 2014, the EDCA was laid aside after former President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016 as he looked to forge closer ties with China.
But the pact has now been revived under his successor Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, whose defence department put out a statement last month saying the Philippines was working with the US to speed up EDCA projects at existing sites, and “exploring new locations that will build a more credible mutual defence posture”.
Existing EDCA locations include Cesar Basa Air Base, about 55km (34 miles) inland from Subic Bay; Fort Ramon Magsaysay in central Luzon – the Philippines’ largest military base; and Lumbia Airport Base Station on the southern island of Mindanao.
Subic Bay is rumoured to be among the five additional EDCA sites that Philippine military chief Lieutenant General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro told local media last month the US had expressed an interest in, shortly before US Vice-President Kamala Harris’ visit to the country.
These additional sites could be confirmed as early as December or January, according to Collin Koh, a research fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, who said “Manila is likely to expedite” the approval process amid heightened “threat perceptions in the South China Sea” – such as a recent flare-up over rocket debris that the Philippine military said was “forcefully” seized by the Chinese coastguard.
Koh said Marcos may hold off on confirming the new EDCA locations until after his planned state visit to Beijing next month, however, to avoid leaving “a bad taste” in Chinese officials’ mouths – adding that the expanded agreement was sure to be discussed during the president’s visit.
The return of US troops to Subic Bay “would come across as rather disconcerting to Beijing”, Koh said, as it would “allow the Americans to strengthen surveillance over key waterways close by, especially the highly strategic Bashi Channel” – part of the Luzon Strait that separates the Philippines’ northernmost islands from Taiwan.
The proposed return of US forces to a vast former military base in the Philippines after a three-decade-long absence looks set to heighten superpower rivalry in the South China Sea, as it weighs on Manila-Beijing relations.
Subic Bay was once home to the United States’ largest naval base in Asia – almost the same size as the whole of Singapore – but disagreements over leasing costs in the post-Cold War era led to the withdrawal of American troops from the facility in 1992.
That could all be about to change, however, after reports emerged late last month that the site is likely being considered as a new location under the US-Philippines Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which allows the US to build and operate facilities on Philippine military bases and rotate in troops for prolonged stays.
First signed in 2014, the EDCA was laid aside after former President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016 as he looked to forge closer ties with China.
But the pact has now been revived under his successor Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, whose defence department put out a statement last month saying the Philippines was working with the US to speed up EDCA projects at existing sites, and “exploring new locations that will build a more credible mutual defence posture”.
Existing EDCA locations include Cesar Basa Air Base, about 55km (34 miles) inland from Subic Bay; Fort Ramon Magsaysay in central Luzon – the Philippines’ largest military base; and Lumbia Airport Base Station on the southern island of Mindanao.
Subic Bay is rumoured to be among the five additional EDCA sites that Philippine military chief Lieutenant General Bartolome Vicente Bacarro told local media last month the US had expressed an interest in, shortly before US Vice-President Kamala Harris’ visit to the country.
These additional sites could be confirmed as early as December or January, according to Collin Koh, a research fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, who said “Manila is likely to expedite” the approval process amid heightened “threat perceptions in the South China Sea” – such as a recent flare-up over rocket debris that the Philippine military said was “forcefully” seized by the Chinese coastguard.
Koh said Marcos may hold off on confirming the new EDCA locations until after his planned state visit to Beijing next month, however, to avoid leaving “a bad taste” in Chinese officials’ mouths – adding that the expanded agreement was sure to be discussed during the president’s visit.
The return of US troops to Subic Bay “would come across as rather disconcerting to Beijing”, Koh said, as it would “allow the Americans to strengthen surveillance over key waterways close by, especially the highly strategic Bashi Channel” – part of the Luzon Strait that separates the Philippines’ northernmost islands from Taiwan.
He said it would also enable the US to expand its military presence in the region and take part in more joint drills such as the annual Balikatan exercises, which have involved troops from Australia as well as other regional observer forces in the past.
Locking Manila into ‘the US system of alliances’
Both Australia and the US already have a Visiting Forces Agreement with the Philippines, which allows their soldiers to conduct operations on Philippine soil.
Fellow US ally Japan is now also reportedly eyeing such a pact, according to Aries Arugay, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, who said “this will be huge and a big deal as it will really lock the Philippines into the US system of alliances.”
Japan and the Philippines already have close defence ties, with Tokyo vowing in 2013 to help Manila defend its “remote islands” in the South China Sea, and sending a small contingent of unarmed troops and armoured vehicles to play a “humanitarian support role” in joint US-Philippines drills in 2018.
Meanwhile, Arugay said other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations would largely welcome an increased US presence in the Philippines as he said “their beef against the US” under former President Donald Trump had been that it was “more absent than present in the region”.
“Asean members have been longing for more US involvement in the region and this is why a lot of them have pivoted to China because they thought the US was unreliable and undependable,” he said.
Given Subic Bay’s size and favourable geography, a US return to the former naval base “makes sense”, Arugay said.
Gregory Poling, senior fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, agreed – though he also noted that any possible EDCA site at Subic Bay would not resemble the old US base “in scale or function”.
“It would be under complete Philippine control,” he said, adding that Manila would have to approve in advance any joint exercises and the rotation of US forces.
That being said, the expansion of the EDCA “highlights just how much China’s continued coercion has driven the Philippines to seek closer military cooperation with the US,” Poling said.
Loaded Pita wraps making it taste good and worth the price. You will never go wrong in trying their shawarma as well as their rice bowls. So nice about this food hub is they support local farmers, which is a big help in the community.
Hi Pa, I’m back in town. advance Happy Birthday in heaven. I miss you. Don’t worry, kinakaya ko pa. Btw favorite ng mga kaibigan ko yung Sinigang Recipe mo. Love you! Bonding nalang kayo nila Menmen jan ah pls. 🤎🥹 #missingyouall #mydad #hometown #olongapo (at Olongapo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CevgU8YvYAf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
🇵🇭 Location: 11 Afable Street East Bajac-Bajac Olongapo City 📌 Near Bagong Palengke / Ulo ng Apo Rotonda / SM Olongapo CENTRAL ⏰ Hours: 11am-9pm ☎ Contact: Landline: 602.4228 Mobile: 0915.7022.965 ✅ facebook.com/PutokBatokGang
Olongapo Color-coded Jeepneys of Olongapo City Zambales Philippines Relaxed Fit T-Shirt
(via Olongapo Color-coded Jeepneys of Olongapo City Zambales Philippines Relaxed Fit T-Shirt by JCollectibles)
Hang loose in this comfy tee with a wide scoop neck and generous short sleevesBoxy, oversized fitModel shown is 5'11" / 180 cm tall and wearing size SmallSolid colors are 100% cotton; heathered fabrics are 90% cotton, 10% polyester
Olongapo City is one of the famous places to visit when you are travelling to the Philippines. Tourist spots and attractions like restaurants, beach resorts, duty-free shops are easily accessible from the city. One thing to notice is their color coded jeepneys. These Jeepneys are color painted according to their specific routes in and around Olongapo City. This ensures that traffic is managed effectively within the city and also to help tourists and visitors in navigate to their destinations in a glance.
Ang Baloy Beach ay isang maliit, maganda, at may mahigpit na komunidad. Ang mga tao dito ay palakaibigan at tinutulungan ang isa't isa. Ang beach na ito ay hindi umabot sa mga pamantayan ng Boracay, ngunit napakaganda nito. Kahit na medyo makitid sa mga lugar at perpekto para sa mga ‘beach party’, barbecue at paglalakad sa tabing dagat.
Paano makakapunta sa Baloy Olongapo Beach?
Madali ang pagpunta sa Subic Bay, dahil mahusay itong naseserbisyuhan ng mga modernong ruta ng expressway mula Manila at Clark. Sumakay ng bus, o sumakay ng kotse - kung aalis ka ng maaga maaari ka pa ring makarating sa oras para sa pagsisid!
Nakasakay kami sa aming sasakyan kung kaya’t saglit lamang ang byahe namin kumpara kapag nakasakay sa dyip o sa bus. Mapapansin na may bulaklak sa aking kandungan, iyan ay mula sa aming lola, tita’t tito, at mga magulang na nagpapakitang ipinagmamalaki nila kami. Naisipan naming pumunta sa Baloy dahil lahat kaming magpipinsan ay nakatanggap ng karangalan mula sa paaralan, at naisipan namin na magdiwang dito dahil maganda at talagang sulit ang pananatili rito.
Isa ito sa pinaka paborito kong larawan namin ng aking pamilya. Bakas sa aming mga mukha ang saya na aming nadarama na makasama ang isa't isa sa isang importanteng okasyon sa aming buhay.
Makikita sa larawan na talagang masaya kami ng aking ina at ramdam ko ang pagka-proud niya hindi lamang sakin, kundi sa aming lahat.
Byahe papunta sa Baloy Olongapo Beach
Ang pinakamadaling paraan upang makarating sa mga lugar na ito mula sa Olongapo City ay sa pamamagitan ng 10 minutong biyahe sa taksi o traysikel. May mga resort sa tabi ng Barrio Barretto beach (sa pagitan ng National Highway at beach) o sa kahabaan ng Baloy Beach (kumaliwa sa coast road pagkatapos ng Barretto). Malalaman ng iyong taksi o traysikel driver ang iyong balak na resort at ang ruta ay direkta. Ang halaga ng babayaran ay 500php (taksi) o 150php (traysikel).
(Larawan mula sa Digital Photography Review)
Maaari kang sumakay ng lokal na dyip mula sa labas ng Olongapo sa istasyon ng bus. Ang mga dyip na may kulay asul ay tumatakbo sa karaniwang ruta na dumadaan sa Barretto resort at lampas sa tuktok ng Baloy Beach Road (maaari kang sumakay ng traysikel mula dito hanggang sa alinman sa mga Baloy resort, 20-40php). Ang dyip ay nagkakahalaga ng 15php, ngunit masikip kung mayroon kang bagahe.
Mayroong tatlong pangunahing paraan upang makalibot sa lugar ng Subic-Olongapo:
1) Dyip
Ang mga jeepney ay nasa lahat ng dako sa Pilipinas. Mayroong dalawang pangunahing, color-coded, na mga ruta sa paligid ng Subic Bay:
(Larawan mula sa Alamy)
Ang dilaw na pininturahan na mga dyip ay tumatakbo mula sa Bayan ng Olongapo hanggang Bayan ng Subic (sa kanluran). Sinusundan nila ang isang ruta sa kahabaan ng National Highway, dinadala sila sa Barretto at Baloy beach areas. Aalis sila sa gilid ng kalye sa tabi ng istasyon ng bus ng Olongapo (sa tabi ng tindahan ng 7/11) at magbababa kapag naroon na sa inyong destinasyon. Ang karaniwang gastos mula Olongapo hanggang Barretto/Baloy ay 12php.
Para makapunta sa Baloy/Barretto sa aplaya/boardwalk area ng SBMA, hilingin lang sa dilaw na dyip na bumaba sa Kalaklan gate/tulay. Tumawid sa tulay sa paglalakad. 4 minutong lakad lang ito papunta sa tabing dagat mula doon. Bilang kahalili, may pilahan ng taksi sa gilid ng SBMA ng tulay. 10 minutong lakad din ito mula sa gate hanggang sa bagong Harbour Point mall, iyon ay katabi ng gate ng sasakyan ng Olongapo (north SBMA).
(Larawan mula sa Mga Litrato ni Apo)
Ang asul naman na mga dyip ay tumatakbo sa Olongapo City hanggang sa mga pangunahing gate na may SBMA (katabi ng malaking SM Mall). Maaari mong abutin ang mga ito sa pangunahing kalsada sa harap ng istasyon ng bus (kung saan naroon ang rotonda). Ang karaniwang gastos mula sa labas ng istasyon ng bus hanggang sa SBMA gate/SM Mall ay 8php lamang.
Walang dyip service na pinapayagan sa loob ng SBMA/SBFZ.
(Larawan mula sa Pinterest)
2) Traysikel
Sagana ang mga traysikel sa anumang urban area sa Pilipinas. Maaari kang sumakay ng traysikel kahit saan sa Olongapo, Barretto o Baloy. Palaging may nakapila sa kanila na naghihintay ng mga pasahero - lalo na pagdating mo sa bus station sa Olongapo. Ang mga traysikel ay 'dapat' na naniningil ng humigit-kumulang 7php bawat km.
Walang traysikel service na pinapayagan sa loob ng SBMA / SBFZ Taxi
Sagana ang mga taksi sa paligid ng Olongapo sa istasyon ng bus at sa loob ng SBMA/SBFZ. Ang mga ito ay higit na mas mahal kaysa sa mga traysikel/dyip at kadalasan ay sobra ang bayad.
(Larawan mula sa Pinterest)
Pagdating namin sa Baloy ay eto ang bumungad sa amin. Ramdam ko ang simoy ng hangin at lamig ng karagatan sa gitna ng maaraw na panahon.
Eto ang larawan namin ng aking nakatatandang kapatid na kinuhanan ng aming tita. Isa ito sa pinaka paborito kong larawan namin sa Baloy.
Ngayon, magtungo naman tayo sa lugar kung saan maaaring manatili.
Saan ka maaaring manatili sa Baloy Beach?
(Larawan mula sa Priceline)
Nanatili kami sa Subic Waterfront View Hotel. Ang Subic Waterfront Resort and Hotel ay isang mahusay na pagpipilian para sa mga traveller na bumibisita sa Subic, na nag-aalok ng maraming kapaki-pakinabang na amenity na idinisenyo para pagandahin ang iyong pananatili.
Nag-aalok ang mga guest room ng mga amenity gaya ng air conditioning, refrigerator, at minibar, at pwedeng mag-online ang mga panauhin gamit ang libreng wifi na inaalok ng maliit na hotel.
Nagtatampok ang Subic Waterfront Resort and Hotel ng 24 oras na front desk, room service, at tagapangasiwa, para makatulong na gawing mas kasiya-siya ang iyong pananatili. Ipinagmamalaki din ng property ang pool at libreng almusal.
(Litrato mula kay Nessie)
Kung gusto mo ng ribs, ang Subic Waterfront Resort and Hotel ay maginhawang matatagpuan malapit sa Ben's Kitchen, na kilala sa paghahain ng lokal na paborito.
Sinasalamin ng Subic Bay at Baloy Beach ang natural na kagandahan ng lugar at kinabibilangan ng Inflatable Island at Tree Top Adventure. Mairerekomenda ko ding bisitahin niyo ang Tree Top Adventure Subic at Funtastic Park Subic Bay.
(Larawan mula sa Budget Biyahera)
(Larawan mula sa TripAdvisor)
Mga bagay na maaari mong gawin sa Subic Waterfront Resort and Hotel
3-star hotel sa tabi ng karagatan
Maaari mong asahan ang poolside bar, libreng pang-araw-araw na reception ng manager, at bar sa Subic Waterfront Resort And Hotel. Tratuhin ang iyong sarili sa isang masahe o iba pang mga serbisyo sa spa. Manatiling konektado sa libreng WiFi sa mga pampublikong lugar, at makakahanap ang mga bisita ng iba pang amenities tulad ng 24-hour business center at restaurant.
Kasama sa iba pang mga perks sa hotel na ito ang:
2 panlabas na pool at isang pool ng mga bata
Libreng pinahabang paradahan
Cooked-to-order na almusal, front desk safe, at imbakan ng bagahe
Mga tampok ng kwarto
Ipinagmamalaki ng lahat ng kwarto ng pagbisita sa Subic Waterfront Resort And Hotel ang mga kaginhawaan tulad ng mga laptop-friendly na workspace at air conditioning, pati na rin ang mga amenity tulad ng mga safe at sound-insulated na pader.
Kasama sa higit pang mga amenity ang:
Mga bidet at libreng toiletry
Mga 32-inch Smart TV na may mga cable channel
Mga mini refrigerator at pang-araw-araw na housekeeping
(Larawan mula sa Facebook ng Harley's Pub and Hotel)
Mayroon ding Harley's Pub Hotel na mas mura kaysa sa Subic Waterfront Resort at Hotel. Kung nais niyong makamura at makatipid ay maaaring mag book sa hotel na ito. Ito ay matatagpuan din sa bahagi ng Subic Bay ng Subic (Zambales), inilalagay ka ng property na ito malapit sa mga atraksyon at mga kawili-wiling dining option. Mayroon din itong iba’t ibang masasayang mga aktibidad na makakadagdag sa pag ganda ng pananatili mo rito.
Mga napagtanto ko sa paglalakbay na ito:
Ang lugar na ito ang hindi ko malilimutang paglalakbay sapagkat nag-iwan ito sa akin ng mga magagandang alaala na babaunin ko hanggang sa pagtanda. Ang ilang araw na pananatili namin dito ay nagdulot sa amin ng saya at hindi malilimutang karanasan. Ito ay mairerekomenda ko para sa mga pamilyang nais magkaroon ng kasiya-siyang paglalakbay. Hindi lamang ito tungkol sa saya na naranasan ko sa lugar na ito, kundi ang pagkakataong makasama ko ang mga kamag-anak namin lalong lalo na ang mga pinsan namin. Ang lugar na ito ay talagang maganda at masayang puntahan kung kaya’t ano pang hinihintay niyo? Tara na’t magtungo sa Baloy Beach!