SBFZ-Guide Book

Authors introduction
Conveniently located just a few hours drive North West, of Manila. However,
despite being so close, it is largely undiscovered, due, in my opinion, mostly to lack of
promotion and a lack of cooperation amongst local resorts, despite having a reasonably
active resort owners association, which in recent years appears to have become more
interested in social issues, such as Barangay clean ups, rather than attracting potential
tourists, both local and foreign through promotion and advertising along with assisting the
Provincial and Local Government units in forming a long term plan to promote their area.
I make this comment as one of its founders and previously active member of that
association. In fact, I worked on doing this same project prior to my retirement, but could
not convince the executive management that a "digital, on-line" copy was the answer
rather than a printed book, though one such book was produced with the cooperation of
the Olongapo Office of the DTI, but never put into commercial publication.
As I have now been retired for a number of years, in which I have been active as
a volunteer in Drowning Prevention and water safety. However, with the COVID-19
pandemic forcing me to be restricted from my other activities which include Lifeguard
training and the promotion of lifesaving sports, along with a junior life­saver program for
boys and girls from 5 years of age, I decided to see what I could put together to fulfill the
needs of telling people how much Zambales has to offer.
About myself, I am originally from Australia and first visited the Philippines in
1969. I moved to Zambales in the mid 1980's and was involved with tourism prior to my
retirement in 2013. I was, during that time, also involved in promoting tourism, as the Vice
President (North) of the Provincial Tourism Council and President of the Botolan Tourism
Council, so I believe I have a fair knowledge of just how much Zambales has to offer to
both local and foreign tourists. For foreign tourists, one of the best factors is that English is
basically spoken everywhere, something that for some reason the DOT never advertise.
As in my opinion, the 2 greatest assets of Philippine tourism are, one the people and
second that it is, by population, the third largest English speaking country in the world.
A number of people, some resort owners and Provincial and Local Government
units have assisted with input to make this as informative as possible, I thank them, as
their input has been indispensable in making this guide as accurate and informative as I
hope you will find it.
Roger J. Bound.
Author.
Guide Book to Zambales
Online version commenced April 2020
Any profits from advertising will go to Zambales Lifesaving Inc. to support
their free to the public Drowning Awareness and Prevention Programs
and the Lifeguard training Scholarship program for unemployed youths.