Getting to Subic

For those who are asking me for directions on getting to Subic (from Manila by land), i hope this simple guide would help you..

Driving from Manila will take about two and a half hours to get to the Subic Bay Freeport area, well, depending on traffic conditions.

• Take the Northern Expressway to City of San Fernando Pampanga exit.
• Turn right immediately after the San Fernando exit tollbooth.
• Stay on the national highway and go through the towns of Guagua and Lubao. Be on the lookout for a town intersection with a war monument of soldier statues (Layac, Dinalupihan, Bataan); turn right here.
• You will pass thru different barangays of Dinalupihan. This road will also take you through fields and up winding mountain roads; keep following this road and signs pointing towards Olongapo and Subic Bay Freeport Zone will let you know that you are going in the right direction.
• You will reach an intersection with large signs (Chowking, White Rock, Brent International School, among others) that indicate the roads to Olongapo and SBFZ; take the road on the left going towards Subic.
• There will be a toll booth to welcome you to Subic Bay (Tipo) Expressway.

Travellers may also opt to pass thru the newly opened Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). It's the better alternative because from North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Balintawak to Subic, travel time will only be one hour and 30 minutes.

• From NLEX, take the Mabalacat Spur Road (NLE Interchange) located between the Dau and Sta. Inez exits and proceed to the SCTEX Clark Logistics Toll Plaza.
• After crossing the bridge, follow the loop of the ramp towards Subic.
• Follow the appropriate road directional signages. (Motorists at SCTEX bound for Bataan may exit at the Dinalupihan Interchange via Roman Highway)

Click here for some SCTEX maps that might be helpful to you.

Enjoy your stay in Subic! Ü (*hope to see you* =) )

TRIVIA: SCTEX is now the country's longest tollroad at 94 kilometers.

MIKE & My Best Bud YENG's Announcement

I just got home from a sumptuous dinner with Marlon and Yeng. It was an invitation from Yeng that got me so excited for this day to come. It's undeniable that we're not hanging out as much as we used to do before, so the dinner is just a perfect timing to catch up with my bestest friends.

As usual, we filled the house with our never-ending stories and laughter. We were trying to reminisce the old days when we still have all of our time to stay late at night hanging out at our favorite bars in Olongapo. Yes, time flies so fast... we realized that we have already outgrown that part of our lives. (Well, atleast for me & Yeng).

And the best part of the evening was the ANNOUNCEMENT:

MY BEST BUD IS GETTING MARRIED!

Although it was not a surprise anymore 'coz she already mentioned it last month on her birthday, i still felt the excitement when Mike & Yeng "formally" told us their plans for their wedding on December.

I remember Yeng saying when she was heartbroken years ago: "Bud, i know me & my soulmate are just under the same moon"... Truly, they are just under the same moon. And I am really happy that they found one another. And they are destined to be together.

To Mike & Yeng, i found this poem for you...


♥ Destiny ♥

Somewhere there waiteth in this world of ours

For one lone soul another lonely soul

Each choosing each through all the weary hours

And meeting strangely at one sudden goal.

The blend they, like green leaves with golden flowers,

Into one beautiful and perfect whole;

And life's long night is ended, and the way

Lies open onward to eternal day.

~Edwin Arnold


♥

Reminiscing........

August 16, 2006

This was taken two years ago during Yeng's birthday celebration.
It was the first time she introduced to us her boyfriend-- Mike.

(on photo: me, marlon, yeng & mike)

Look at Marlon, he was so slim then. It was a few weeks before the Philippine Bar Exam.

I remember him saying that he is not "seriously" reviewing for the bar, and we still believe he can do it....


.... and HE DID! We're so proud of him.

.. two years later that day..
September 2, 2008

I am now posing with Fiscal Marlon Estabillo
(or Atty. Page as we fondly call him)

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!

A friendship tested by time.

Sharing with you our favorite song when we were still in high school (that's not so long ago huh!.. lol).

A Shoulder to Cry On by Tommy Page

Life is full of lots of up and downs

And the distance feels further when you're headed for the ground

And there is nothing more painful than to let your feelings takeyou down

It's so hard to know the way you feel inside

When there are many thoughts and feelings that you hide

But you might feel better if you let me walk with you by your side..

And when you need a shoulder to cry on

When you need a friend to rely on

When the whole world is gone you won't be alone, cause I'll be there

I'll be your shoulder to cry on

I'll be there, I'll be a friend to rely on

When the whole world is gone, you won't be alone cause I'll be there.

All of the times when everything is wrong

And you're feeling like there's no use going on

You can't give it up I hope you work it out and carry on

Side by side with you till the end

I'll always be the one to firmly hold your hand

No matter what is said or done our love will always continue on..

Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on

everyone needs a friend to rely on

When the whole world is gone you won't be alone, cause I'll be there

I'll be your shoulder to cry on

I'll be there, I'll be the one you rely on

when the whole world's gone you won't be alone, cause I'll be there!

And when the whole world is gone

You'll always have my shoulder to cry on....

KOREAN LANGUAGE & CULTURE TRAINING PROGRAM

Annyeonghaseyo!

With the recent influx of Korean tourists and investors in Subic Bay Freeport, SBMA management launched a Korean Language & Culture Training Program to enhance services rendered to these foreign guests. And i'm one of the lucky employees of SBMA who were given the privilege to attend the course for free!

The program that started on May 14, 2008 was held bi-weekly during Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Admiral's Guest House. Btw, the program focuses on the Korean language and their culture, as well. To tell you honestly, i've gone nuts memorizing their alphabet and writing them into words.

And today, August 28, 2008, marks the closing ceremony for the Korean Language and Culture Training. Everyone was happy (i guess). I'm happy that we "survived" the training and a bit sad 'coz i'm going to miss some classmates from other SBMA departments who are really nice.

I'm going to miss our facilitator too, of course. He is Denny-Kim Myung-Ho, a Korean national, and the Managing Director of Washington International Language Center in Makati City.

What can i say about him.. he is so nice and accommodating to our never-ending questions on his lectures. He always have that smile on his face!

He is a Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce, Economics & International Management at the University of Sto. Tomas Graduate School

Here are some photos taken from the closing ceremony and our class party:

Posing with my seatmates from Public Health & Safety Department

with our classmates from Law Enforcement Department

with Sir Denny-Kim and classmates

our class picture




♥ ♥ ♥

We had a small party after the ceremony and Sir Deny-Kim was generous enough to bring on some soju (korean rice wine) for all of us.


and some kimchi.... as expected. =)

Annyeonghitumuseyeo!

(good night)

♥

czel

Subic Bay's San Roque Festival 2008

San Roque Festival is a yearly activity we have in the freeport. It is considered as the (freeport) community's festivity in honor of San Roque-- the Patron Saint.

The theme for this year's celebration is Latin American. (Last year was something ethnic). I wonder why it has to have a "theme" such as this when in fact it is a church activity for the Patron Saint. Anyway, it does make the annual celebration alive, exciting and much awaited for.

Our department participated in the parade/ street dancing and even competed with other departments in the group dance contest.... and it was a mess! please don't ask me why.

What is important is that we really enjoyed this year's fiesta and it was REAL fun.

They say that our group was the loudest, the most alive, the happiest and the most colorful (talk about being "festive") among the groups who participated.....

I hope that the committee have set a criteria to atleast acknowledge the effort to make the parade a happy sight (talk about being "festive" again!).

Oh no... i'm not sourgraping. =X

We won the 2nd prize for BEST COSTUME, btw. ;)