Newsletter_March-April '10 Save PDF - Philippines Bases ...

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Summer FeatureHoly Week arrivals rise at Subic BayWorld-class facilities,easy access and uniqueexperience bring morevisitors to SubicSUBIC BAY FREEPORT – “Fully-booked and fi lled to therafters.” This was how tourism facility operators describedthe Subic Bay Freeport as they noted the huge volume ofvisitors that arrived here during the recent Holy Week.Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (SBFCCI)president Danny Piano said that all of the hotels andhousing facilities in the free port had registered a 100percent occupancy rate during the Holy Week.“All the hotels and housing facilities in the free port werealready occupied as early as Wednesday. And thosewho couldn’t fi nd a room here stayed in Olongapo Cityor Subic town,” noted Piano, who himself was not able tobook some rooms for his guests who arrived from Manilaon Holy Thursday.Piano said that although there is almost no new attractionin the Subic Bay area, the popularity of the place as atourism destination in the region is already a byword.“You can compare Subic to Hong Kong, which introducesnothing new to tourists. Like the popularity of Hong Kongas a shoppers’ haven, the Subic experience has alreadyspread by word of mouth among travelers,” Pianoexplained.He added that most of the visitors from Metro Manila andCentral Luzon were looking for a destination that provideseasy access, world-class but affordable accommodations,shopping facilities, and a clean and secure environment.“All these they could fi nd in Subic,” Piano noted.According to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)deputy administrator for business Raul Marcelo, theconvenience provided by the Subic-Clark-TarlacExpressway (SCTEX) continues to drive tourism in the SubicBay area.Citing statistics releases by the Bases Conversion andDevelopment Authority (BCDA), Marcelo said that atotal of 34,128 vehicles entered the Subic Bay Freeportfrom March 28 to April 4, bringing in an estimated136,552 visitiors based on a conservative estimate of fourpassengers per vehicle.“While some of these vehicles just passed through theFreeport on their way to Olongapo City, Subic town orother places in Zambales, a lot have returned here for theduty-free shops, night life and entertainment, theme parks,and even their favorite food,” Marcelo noted.Marcelo added that this year’s visitors were either regularvisitors, or may have heard about Subic’s popular Lententradition.The Holy Week activities included a re-enactmetn of theentry of Jesus to Jerusalem, which Catholics refer tocontinuation on page 12Visitors swarmed to the Subic Bay Freeportduring the Holy Week, attracted by world-classaccommodations and facilities, aswell as traditionalLenten activities.
Summer FeatureSummer Hot SpotsExplored via SCTEXThe heat is defi nitely on. It ishas been reported that forthe current year, our countryhad experienced the hottesttemperature with 36.8 degreesCelsius dated last April 20.This explains why more andmore people are taking their trips tobeaches, parks, and other summerhot spots to fi nd a place to relax,to enjoy and to stay away from thescorching heat of the sun.In line with this, a law called RA9492 and Proclamation 1841, alsoknown as the holiday economicsprogram is designed to promote localtourism all throughout the year byland travel.“As most domestic travelerscome from Metro Manila, the fullcompletion of the SCTEX augured wellfor the transformation of the Northernand Central Luzon into favorite touristdestinations,” said Ronaldo “Ronnie”Tiotuico, regional director for CentralLuzon of the Department of Tourism(DOT).Mr. Tiotuico noted as well anincrease in travelers to the regiontotaling 530,802 in 2008 from 427,364in 2007. He said those fi guresrepresented both domestic andforeign travelers. Filipino tourists in theregion totaled 395,189 foreigners.Central and Northern Luzonhas a lot to offer, and with thedevelopments of the expressways,travel time of about 6-8 hours by landcan be reduced to 4-5 hours instead.Land travel has never been thiseasy with the development of theSCTEX, a fl agship project and thebiggest infrastructure undertaking ofthe Bases Conversion DevelopmentAuthority (BCDA).The SCTEX, has 11 interchangesand considered as the longestexpressway. Thus, SCTEX destinationsfrom Luzon get closer to peoplefrom the Metro. From the Subic-Tipo Interchange to the TarlacInterchange there are already a lotof destinations to go to. The SCTEXcan be considered the portal tosummer escapades.Consider Subic, the eco-tourismhot spot of the Philippines where thefamous Subic Bay Ocean Adventurecan be found. The place showcaseswhales, dolphins and other seamammals’ tricks on water. Surely thekids will have a lot of fun there.For the adventurous, Subic alsohas the Tree Top Adventure Park.The Park provides visitors a newperspective of the forest from thecanopy of the trees, thus giving thema bird’s eye view of the forest. Thetour will comprise of fl ying up to 100feet high through series of motorizedcable rides.For animal lovers, the ZoobicSafari,also in Subic, the only tigersafari in the country, is a good choice.Beach lovers will love bothPotipot Island in Candelaria andCapones Island in San Antonio,both in Zambales. These islandsare picturesque and perfect forfamily andbarkada.Both areknown fortheir whitesands andclear waterbeaches.Moreover,history buffswill becaptivatedby therusticcharms of the CaponesLighthouse, also located in CaponesIsland.One has rightly said that weshould not be foreigners in ourcountry. Take time to explore ourheritage and rediscover our roots thissummer.SCTEX will guarantee your stressfreejourney.9
Page 4 and 5: BCDA awards JUSMAG Propertyby Roy V
Page 6: In the NewsSCTEX Traffic VolumeHits
Page 11 and 12: the rest of Bonifacio and Villamor
Page 13 and 14: Cover storyBCDA ARAW NG PAGKILALA.
Page 16: BONIFACIO HIGH STREETThe fi rst of

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