USS Fort Worth restocks, refuels in Subic

The USS Fort Worth, the United States' Littoral Combat ship (LCS 3), stopped at Subic Bay last Monday, May 4 to resupply and refuel, the US Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.

It was the first stop in the Philippines for USS Fort Worth, on its maiden 16-month rotational deployment to support the Indo-Asia-Pacific Rebalance, the embassy said.

“While this is a brief visit for Fort Worth, the ship will return to the Philippines later this summer to participate in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2015 with the Republic of Philippines Navy,” said Cmdr. Matthew Kawas, Fort Worth Crew 103 commanding officer.

After the refueling, USS Fort Worth will continue its routine operations in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

USS Fort Worth is the second LCS to deploy to 7th Fleet as part of an initiative to deploy up to four LCS in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region by 2018, the embassy said.

It said the third and fourth LCS deployments are planned in 2016.

"Fast, agile and mission-focused, littoral combat ships are designed to operate in near-shore environments and employ modular mission packages that can be configured for surface warfare, mine countermeasures or anti-submarine warfare," the embassy said.

It added the Fort Worth will use surface warfare (SUW) mission package for its entire deployment, augmenting a 57mm gun and rolling airframe missile launcher with two 30mm guns, two 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boats, and two six-member maritime security boarding teams.

USS Fort Worth will also have an embarked aviation detachment from Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 35, the Navy's first composite expeditionary helicopter squadron, which consists of one MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and one MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system.

The Fire Scout complements the MH-60R by extending the HSM-35's range and endurance, enhancing maritime domain awareness.

CARAT exercises

Meanwhile, the embassy said USS Fort Worth will conduct routine patrols in the 7th Fleet area of operations before it returns to Singapore for the International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) 2015.

During the summer and fall, USS Fort Worth will take part in most of the 2015 CARAT exercise series.

CARAT is an annual series of bilateral exercises involving the US Navy, Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste. (Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News)

PHOTO:
USS Navy's Littoral Combat Ship USS Fort Worth. (Agence France-Presse)

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/482314/news/nation/uss-fort-worth-restocks-refuels-in-subic

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Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 pageant launched in Subic Freeport

Twenty beautiful and fabulous mothers and married women from all over the country who took their chance to be part of one of the country’s biggest pageants, the Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015, were presented to the media on Wednesday at the Camayan Beach Resort and Hotel in Subic Bay Freeport.

National pageant director Morena Carla Cabrera-Quimpo said that this year's pageant candidates who selected from numerous hopefuls, embody the real strength of a Filipina mother.

“They represent a Filipina mother who is not confined by stereotypical notions, but rather a strong and bold individual who can fulfill her responsibilities as a mother and wife without compromising her own dreams,” Quimpo said.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto lauded the organizers for choosing Subic Bay as venue of one of the prestigious beauty pageants in the country.

“Subic is home to many beautiful things—we have the people, environment, the flora and fauna, and history—all these make Subic the preferred tourist destination among the best in Central Luzon,” Garcia said.

The official further noted that because of Subic’s natural attractions, it has become the home of various events, including the Century Tuna 5i50 and Iron Man international triathlons, as well as regular industry spectacles like the Advertising Summit.

Founded in 1996, the Mrs. Philippines-Globe pageant is touted as one of the biggest international beauty contests for married women, mothers and single mothers, recognizing them as movers of society, and a symbol of inspiration and beauty through their achievements, life stories and charitable causes.

“Not only that, the pageant celebrates beauty, goodwill, and tourism awareness through pageantry and competition; but more importantly, it promotes and supports the admirable strength of mothers by giving them a chance to step up, to reinvent and unleash their greater versions, and to communicate the deeper strength of every woman,” Quimpo noted.

This year, Mrs. Philippines-Globe’s set of lovely candidates include: Victoria Harnisch, Joana Krisanta La Madrid, Maria Aishelle Hwang, Sherry Lou Villaseñor, Yolanda Llamas, Joann Rosales, Jhunie Grace Lagman, Carina Guevara, Almira Zapanta, Maria Engracia Maniago, Jonalyn Agustin, Ruby Liboon, Jennifer Umali, Marilou Weir, Estrella Bobruk, Roscel Tala, Joe Ann Smith, Alodia Solis, Mary Ann Ternora and Grace Albonia.

The winner of Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 will receive up to P200,000 worth of prizes. She will also represent the Philippines in the prestigious Mrs. Globe 2016 World Finals at Shenzhen, China in November 2015.

Aside from the title of Mrs. Philippines-Globe itself, the candidates will also vie for the coveted Woman of Substance title alongside other special awards such as Achievement of the Year, Charity or Advocacy of the Year, Best Talent of the Year, Career Woman of the Year, Most Beautiful Face, Darling of the Press, Entrepreneur of the Year, Mrs. Body Beautiful, Most Elegant Woman/Designer of the Year, Personality of the Year, Husband of the Year, Calchews Supermodel Mom and Solane Mother of the Year.

The Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 coronation night will take place on June 20, 2015 at the Subic Bay Convention Center. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Candidates vying for Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2015 were presented during the pageant's press launch (photo from Mrs. Philippines-Globe Facebook page)

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Subic Freeport workers run, sing and dance to celebrate Labor Day

Members of the Subic Bay Freeport work force joined workers and employees worldwide in celebrating Labor Day (May 1) with fun, music, and dance in the annual Freeport Games and Sports Festival held at the Harbor Point Activity Center here.

The celebration kicked off with a 3-kilometer fun run joined in by more than 750 runners from 33 Freeport-listed companies.

This was followed by a singing contest, a dance competition, and the Search for Ms. Freeport Games and Sports 2015.

Daisy Princesa of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Labor Department said the event drew participants from various departments of the SBMA, as well as from business locators in Subic.

“We are happy that despite the fact that it’s a holiday and they could be enjoying a long weekend vacation with friends and families, they opted to participate in this once a year Labor Day celebration,” Princesa said.

Maricel Maturbo of Koryo Phils. was among those who participated in the fun run. She crossed the finish line with her two-year old daughter Olivia Mae on a stroller.

“It was so exciting joining your co-workers in celebrating Labor Day this way. At least, we promote friendship and we feel that our company and the SBMA are acknowledging our contributions to our country,” Maturbo added.

Officials of the SBMA Labor Department, which organized the celebration, said that some 3,000 job hunters were also expected to flock to a job fair that would offer jobseekers with more than a thousand job opportunities at various companies inside the Freeport area.

The jobs fair is a regular part of the annual Labor Day celebration in this free port, and attracts applicants from the neighboring provinces of Zambales, Bataan, and Pampanga, as well as Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia earlier said that the Freeport’s workforce now number 97,000, with the 1,324 local and foreign companies in the Freeport that invested a combined amount of US$9.1 billion.

“Subic is now one of the major contributors to country’s improving economy and this is because of the professionalism and skills and expertise of the local manpower that are very important in business operations,” Garcia also said. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
LABOR DAY FUN RUN: Workers from various business locators in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone join a fun run in celebration of Labor Day. Aside from this activity, the SBMA Labor Department also organized song and dance contests, muse competition for the workers, and a jobs fair at the Ayala Harbor Point Mall. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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ICTSI-SBMA cargo processing cut to 4 hours

Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), together with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), have moved their offices under one roof to speed up cargo processing, an SBITC official said.

SBITC General Manager Roberto Locsin said port users could expect fast and smooth processing of their cargo as the three offices have adopted a one-stop-shop (OSS) system.

“Through the OSS, what we want to achieve is a seamless flow of transactions to the benefit of our customers,” Locsin said.

The OSS eliminates the need for port users to go to different locations within the Freeport zone for various transactions.

Average processing time has been reduced to four hours provided that pertinent document requirements are complete. Previously, port users spend up to one day to complete processing of their documents.

“Just imagine the convenience: out of the 16 steps before you get your container out of the terminal, 14 of them can be processed in the OSS facility,” Locsin said.

The OSS is part of SBITC’s initiative to lure potential customers to Subic. With its competitive rates compared with other ports in Luzon, Subic also offers flexibility, reliability and convenience.

With the BOC and SBMA under one roof, coordination has become relatively easier resulting in faster resolution of issues.

Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras led the launching of the OSS together with SBMA chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia and SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin.

Located inside the New Container Terminal 1, the OSS is next to the administration offices of SBITC and several satellite offices of shipping lines.

“After taking a good first step towards improving things here in Subic, the next step is to get the word out and get more customers to come to us,” Locsin said. (Rosalie C. Periabras, Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/ictsi-sbma-cargo-processing-cut-to-4-hours/180028/

PHOTO:
Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendras (left) and SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia officially open the One-Stop-Shop with SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin, SBMA Deputy Administrator Mar Sanqui and other port officials at the New Container Terminal-1 in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Zambales tops 2014 ICC volunteer turnout

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Zambales has been commended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Philippines as the province with the most number of volunteers who participated in the 2014 coastal cleanup project.

In an awarding ceremony held during the 45th Earth Day celebration last April 22, Commodore Gerry Reyes, director for marine environmental protection of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), said that Zambales turned out a total of 55,151 volunteers who joined the September 27 coastal cleanup last year.

This number was almost double the 30,000-participant target set by officials of the2014 International Coastal Cleanup-Zambales (ICC-Zambales), after the 27,000 turnout set in 2013.

The coastal cleanup project was held in more than 100 sites spread out across Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City, and along the length of the Zambales coast.

In the April 22 ceremony, Reyes, assisted by RAdm Valentin Prieto Jr. and Commodore Salvador Tiangco Jr., both of the PCGA, presented the citation to 2014 International Coastal Cleanup-Zambales (ICCZ) officials led by Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II, Lighthouse Marina Resort Legacy Foundation director Zedrik Avecilla, and Ayala Harbor Point Mall general manager Derrick Manuel.

Reyes noted that the ICC-Zambales came out with a heavy turnout despite the postponement of the project from September 20 to September 27 due to Typhoon Mario, which caused heavy flooding in large areas in Metro Manila, as well as parts of Zambales on September 19.

In the 2013 cleanup, ICC-Zambales came up with 27,000, the second biggest number of volunteers in the whole country. The Philippines itself, with a total of 182,408 volunteers, also had the second biggest number of participants among all the countries that joined the ICC in 2013.

The Zambales group began joining the ICC in 2007 when 30 volunteer-employees from The Lighthouse Marina Resort in the free port participated in the global event.

Since then, the number of participants in ICC-Zambales has astronomically grown to 800 volunteers in 2009, 2,000 participants in 2010, 4,000 in 2011, 14,000 in 2012, and 27,000 in 2013.

The ICC, an environmental event that is now celebrated every 3rd Saturday of September by volunteers from 92 countries and locations around the world, is being hailed as an effective project to raise awareness in environmental protection and to mobilize citizen action to effect changes toward this purpose.

Through the data collected from the annual cleanup, innovations have been made to develop materials, manufacturing processes and products that will interrupt the cycle of pollution. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
2014 International Coastal Cleanup-Zambales (ICCZ) officials led by Zambales Vice Gov. Ramon Lacbain II Zedrik Avecilla and Derrick Manuel, along with SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, receive recognition from Commodore Gerry Reyes and other PCGA officials for coming up with the biggest number of volunteers for the 2014 cleanup project. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic Port sustains 3-year growth momentum

Following the well-attended 2nd Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibition last week, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman and administrator Roberto Garcia announced yesterday that the Port of Subic has kept up its growth momentum that began in 2012, on to the first quarter of the current year.

“For the past three years, the Port of Subic has continued to register positively in terms of revenues, gross registered tonnage (GRT), number of ship calls, and non-containerized and containerized cargos,” Garcia reported.

In 2011, annual port revenues were recorded at P371 million, which by 2014 had ballooned to P908 million, or a total growth of 126 per cent. Additionally, ship calls increased from 1,803 in 2011 to 2,591 in 2014, indicating a growth of 15 per cent.

Garcia added that the port’s GRT was only 14 million in 2011, but expanded to 40 million last year, growing by 186 per cent during the three-year period.

“Our port also enjoyed similar growth in terms of containerized cargo, which grew from 27,671 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), in 2011 to 77,177 TEUs by 2014, reflecting a 60 per cent growth. Non-containerized cargo volume also experienced a three-year build-up of 136 per cent, from 2.6 million metric tons in 2011 to 6.1 million metric tons in 2014,” he noted.

Garcia said that SBMA is anticipating further growth, given the positive outlook for the country’s economy. This optimism seems to be bearing out, as the Subic Port’s year-on-year performance for the first quarter of 2015 shows the same uptrend it has enjoyed in the past three years.

“Our port revenue has increased by 20 per cent, GRT by 12 per cent, non-containerized cargo by 15 per cent, containerized cargo by 28 per cent, and ship calls by 18 per cent,” he detailed.

According to Garcia, the entry of more domestic and foreign vessels that call regularly on the Subic has vastly improved the port’s connectivity to the world.

“We now have NYK Line, SITC, Maersk Line, APL, and Wan Hai vessels plying to and from major Asian ports like Kaohsiung, Tanjung, Singapore, Busan, Xiamen, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh, Shanghai, and Surabaya, among others; as well as to and from Japanese ports such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Chiba, and Kobe,” Garcia said.

Garcia also noted that the Subic Port successfully managed to accommodate the sudden surge in container shipments at the height of the Manila congestion last year, proving its capacity and readiness to handle volume shipments.

“This year we aspire to hit a target volume of 120,000 TEUs, or 20 per cent of the 600,000-TEU combined annual capacity of the port’s New Container Terminals 1 and 2, in line with our vision to make this Freeport the premier logistics hub north of Metro Manila,” Garcia revealed. (KMF/CorComm-SBMA)

Photo: The New Container Terminal 1 (NCT1) at the Port of Subic at night

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More shippers now prefer Subic port

More shipping companies and port users in Central and Northern Luzon are now preferring to use the Port of Subic as transshipment hub because of easy access and lower cost.

The shippers lauded the advantages of the Subic port during the 2nd Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibit, which was held here on Friday with no less than 500 delegates from shipping firms, trucking and forwarding consortia, customs brokers, import/export-related corporations, and other port users from Metro Manila, Central and Northern Luzon, as well as Southern Luzon.
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The conference, with the theme “Subic Bay: Your Gateway to Central and Northern Luzon,” was organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in cooperation with Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC).

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who was keynote speaker in the event, said that “Most people are moving north and the number is up tremendously.”

Almendras, who is also head of the Cabinet Cluster on Port Decongestion, noted the successful transformation of Subic from a mere seaport with well-maintained facilities into an international seaport hub and the role it played at the height of the port congestion crisis and truck ban in Manila.

“The important part of the success in moving resources is the port. And when we turned to Subic in those times of crisis, there is no way turning back,” he said.

He said that delays in processing goods in Manila during the crisis had made companies turn to Subic in order to ship their replenishment stocks in less than two weeks.

Meanwhile, Vincent Gottman, operations manager of Hansa Creation, said that since they started using the Port of Subic for shipping in raw materials and transporting finished products to a factory in Manila, they never encountered a single problem.

“Since using Subic, our deliveries always arrived on time,” said Gottman whose company based in the Clark Special Economic Zone supplies toys to many zoos and wild parks worldwide.

He added that the government should tell stakeholders in the shipping industry about the changes that the Port of Subic underwent to provide better services, and to convince more companies to use Subic for their export and import operations.

For his part, Gary Algodon, the procurement manager of San Miguel Brewery, told delegates that as of 2014 San Miguel Brewery’s port operations had moved its transshipment to Subic because of the ease in moving goods in and out of the container yard.

“There was no problem that we encountered in transporting our shipments. Instead, we have a bonus from Subic and that is cost-saving,” Algodon said.

He noted that using Subic is more economical because of its easy access to Northern Luzon, adding that the company is now moving 80% of its product supply in Luzon, with only 20% contracted to Manila.

“Hopefully, this year, we can make that 100%,” he added.

For Anthony Eugenio, operations manager of Atlas Brokerage and Express Padala, Inc., using the port of Subic for receiving “Balikbayan” boxes from the United States has the same cost as in Manila—“Except that in Subic there is no problem about traffic and the threat of port congestion that might put the company’s service to test.”

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PECI) in Region III president Cris Venzon, who spoke in behalf of his group, announced that PECI is supporting the initiatives of SBMA in improving the Port of Subic.

“We want to ship out (our products) through Subic,” Venzon said, adding that doing so will save them time and the cost of transportations compared to using Manila ports.

He explained that from anywhere in Central Luzon, Subic is accessible through major road networks, which are now undergoing widening and improvement to address the imminent increase of trucks and forwarders plying to Subic from various origins in the region.

For his part, SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said that the continuous improvement of the Port of Subic has already resulted in the entry of four more shipping lines.

Garcia said that the Japan-based Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) Line, one of the largest shipping companies in the world, made its first direct route to the Port of Subic from Kaohsiung, Taipei in November last year with its MV Jakarta Towers.

China-based SITC Container Lines (Phils.), Inc. has also opened a direct route from Xiamen, China to Subic.

Maersk Line, listed among the largest container shipping companies in the world, brought to this premier free port the first good news for 2015, as MV Stadt Dresden marked its maiden voyage—a direct route from Singapore to Subic.

“Subic, today, is the most preferred and most competitive gateway to Central Luzon and Northern Luzon with its newly opened One-Stop-Shop Center at the New Container Terminal 1 that can connect shippers to the SBMA-Bureau of Customs and SBITC for faster transactions,” Garcia also told the conference delegates.(RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendras (left) and SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia prepare to cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the One-Stop-Shop at the New Container Terminal-1 to fast-track port transactions inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendras (left) and SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia officially open the One-Stop-Shop with SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin, SBMA Deputy Administrator Mar Sanqui and other port officials at the New Container Terminal-1 in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Subic ready to serve as major port

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—A Cabinet member said this free port is ready to serve as an alternative facility for international shipping companies to help decongest the Port of Manila.

“Subic Bay has so much potential because of its existing port, infrastructure, roads and electricity,” said Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who heads the Cabinet cluster on port congestion.

He said the free port was ready to become a transshipment hub for foreign cargo.

“Subic will become more accessible with the exciting new developments in Central and northern Luzon,” Almendras told the Second Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibit here on Friday.

He said the North Luzon Expressway, the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway hastened travel time for trucks carrying cargo to and from this free port.

“Congestion is a reality in mega cities all over the world. The solution is to decongest the cities and this will open an opportunity for Subic,” Almendras said.

He said the government had to add port capacity elsewhere outside Metro Manila.

In a position paper presented during the conference, business groups in Central Luzon endorsed a co-loading bill, which would open interisland shipping to foreign vessels.

“The passage of the bill into law will broaden the market of the Subic free port outside Luzon,” they said.

The position paper was signed by the presidents of various chambers of commerce, exporters and investors in Pampanga and this port. (Allan Macatuno, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/687749/subic-ready-to-serve-as-major-port#ixzz3YT9udLql

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Canadian former ice hockey player is fastest man at Asian Triathlon Cup in Subic

A former ice hockey player from Canada was the fastest man in the 2015 ASTC Asian Triathlon Cup held at the Subic Freeport on Sunday.

Racing in the Philippines for the first time, Tyler Mislawchuk crossed the finish line in one hour 47 minutes and 56 seconds to rule the men’s standard elite race, 20 seconds ahead of Daniel Coleman of Australia who was just ahead of another Canadian, Alexis Lepage.

The 20-year-old Manitoba native swam through a school of jellyfish in the warm waters off Malawaan then built a huge gap in the bike stage - enough to hold off his closest pursuers with a blazing finish in the last two kilometers.

“The run part was the most difficult. I struggled through the first half with stomach pains – I might have taken too much liquids during the bike—but I was able to get my breathing down and digest a bit and was able to get back in the second half,” said Milawchuk, whose runner’s build of 1.7 meters and 125 lbs prompted him to shift from competitive hockey to triathlon four years ago.

Japan’s Chika Sato retained her women’s elite title with a time of 2:26:30 despite being stung by a jellyfish on her left leg in the swim course. Taking the silver medal was Hideko Kikuchi while Australia’s Laura Dennis earned the bronze.

The 29-year old-Sato came second out of the water and managed to maintain her positioning in the bike part before making a move in the run portion by using her knowledge of Subic’s streets and corners.

Japan's Chika Sato crosses the finish line to win the ASTC Asian Cup 2015 gold medal in the Women's Elite.

Japan's Chika Sato crosses the finish line to win the ASTC Asian Cup 2015 gold medal in the Women's Elite.

A total of 66 international elite athletes took part in the annual race on a standard race course covering a 1.5km swim-40km bike-10km run that also serves a qualifying event. The ITU-sanctioned event also had sprint and mini-sprint distances.

Olongapo’s John Leerams Chicano and recently arrived Fil-Am Kim Kilgroe led the Filipino effort in the absence of several members of the national team who are currently training overseas for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games.

SPIN.ph is a media partner of the event sponsored by New Balance, Standard Insurance, Gatorade, Century Tuna, Harbor Point, Ayala Malls, Asian Centre for Insulation, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Tourism Department, Subic Traveler’s Hotel, East West Building Technology, Inc., Resort’s World Manila, Camayan Resort, Ocean Adventure, The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Seafood Island, Magaul Bird Park at Jestcamp, OGIO, PTT, StatMed, Omega Pro, 2Go Express, RaceDay, Kikay Runner, SBR.ph, Multisport, PinoyFitness.com, Travelife Magazine and XPS TV. (Rhoel V Fernandez, Spin.Ph)

PHOTOS:

[1] Canada's Tyler Mislawchuk was the fastest man in Subic during the 2015 ASTC Asian Triathlon Cup. (Dante Peralta)


[2] Japan's Chika Sato crosses the finish line to win the ASTC Asian Cup 2015 gold medal in the Women's Elite.


Read more at http://www.spin.ph/multi-sport-events/news/2015-astc-asian-triathlon-cup-subic-tyler-mislawchuk-chika-sato-john-chicano-kim-kilgroe#OPEdsf47drtRHDsV.99

Follow the writer on Twitter: @rhoelfernandez

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SBMA extends lease of Lyceum Subic

[1] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia (left) shakes hands with Alfonso Borda, President and CEO of Lyceum of Subic Bay, after signing a memorandum of agreement for the 25-year extension of the lease for the Lyceum campus in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Also in photo is SBMA Deputy Administrator for Administration Fernando De Villa, who served as one of the witnesses.

[2] SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia (2nd from left) signs a memorandum of agreement with Alfonso Borda, President and CEO of Lyceum of Subic Bay, for the 25-year extension of the lease for the Lyceum campus in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. Serving as witnesses to the agreement are SBMA Director Benjamin Antonio (left) and SBMA Deputy Administrator for Administration Fernando De Villa.

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Young Pinoy triathletes shine in Subic

Brent Velalo led a 1-2-3 finish in the male 13 to 15 years old even as their female counterparts took two more medals on the day of the young triathletes who gave host Philippines a good start in the 2015 ASTC Asian Triathlon Cup yesterday at the Malawaan Park inside Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Hong Kong triathletes also made their presence felt by sweeping the male and female Junior Elite titles in this event organized by Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) in cooperation with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and sanctioned by the Asian Triathlon Confederation (ASTC) and International Triathlon Union (ITU).

Valelo, 14, negotiated the 400m swim, 12km swim and 3km mini-sprint distance in 46 minutes flat as he defeated compatriots Fredric Albert “Yuan” Chiongbian (46:12) and Bambam Manglicmot (47:10) for the gold medal.

A total of 20 triathletes saw action in the male division that included two Malaysians, and Valelo’s victory over Chiongbian ended strings of defeats he suffered to the Cebuano triathlete.

Chiongbian first two wins came in the 2013 Subic Bay-Asian Triathlon Championship and in last year’s Batang Pinoy Finals.

“I’m happy because I was really determined to get back at him. I did very well from start to finish although I really need to put more effort in the swim,” said Valelo who won despite finishing sixth in the swim leg.

He made his move in the bike race as he and Chiongbian formed the lead pack heading into the run leg. Velalo however had more gas left in his tank as he slowly pulled away in the final kilometer for a solo finish.

Batang Pinoy champion Nicole Eijansantos (50:09) and Sam McInnes (51:39) settled for the silver and bronze medals in the girls division that was ruled by Bailee Brianna Brown from Hong Kong (48:52).

Yu Hang Kok, meanwhile, won his first gold medal after three trips in the country as he joined Camden Ritcher who successfully retained her title in the Junior Elite in this event.

The race set at the sprint distance (750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run) and Yu timed at 56:54 to edged compatriots Michael Lam (56:55) and
Oscar Coggins (57:49).

Richter clocked at 1:05:38 to win over teammate Cheuk Yi Hung (1:06:55) and Yu Yan Huang from Chinese Taipei (1:07:27).

Edward Jared Macalalad and YOG representative Vicky Deldio emerged the best placed local triathletes in this category with a fifth and fourth place . (The Daily Tribune)

http://www.tribune.net.ph/sports/young-pinoy-triathletes-shine-in-subic

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All is set for the 2nd Subic Maritime Conference

The 2nd Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibit will open here tomorrow (Friday), April 24, with about 500 delegates expected at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here.

With the theme “Subic Bay: Your Gateway to Central and Northern Luzon,” the conference is organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in cooperation with the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) to promote Subic as a major port in the region.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the maritime conference will provide delegates comprehensive updates on the Freeport's “exciting prospects as a booming logistics hub and investments destination in Asia.”

He said that Subic Freeport, with its strategic location complemented by enhanced port facilities and infrastructure, “is now well-positioned to become the logistics hub north of Metro Manila.”

He pointed out that the Port of Subic handled more than the 77,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) last year, which meant a 105% increase from the 37,400 TEUs processed in 2013.

“This year we aspire to hit a target volume of 120,000 TEUs, or 20% of the 600,000-TEU combined annual capacity of the port’s New Container Terminals 1 and 2,” Garcia added.

The one-day conference is expected to draw participants from shipping lines, logistics and supply chain firms, importers and exporters, manufacturers, as well as national and local government units and agencies, and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras will be the keynote speaker in the conference.

Other speakers and panelists include Chairman Garcia, SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin, SBITC vice chairman Francisco Delgado IV, USAID Compete Chief of Party Dr. Enrico Basilio, and Bases Conversion Development Authority president and CEO Att. Arnel Casanova.

Organizers said that Almendras and other speakers will provide insights on business opportunities arising in Northern Luzon with all the investments and planning that the government is putting into the area.

Among topics lined up are the latest processing improvements at the port, the Subic One-Stop Shop which will consolidate into one location all offices related to shipping through Subic port, and updates on new terminal equipment installed.

There will also be status reports on proposed development projects such as the construction of the New Container Terminals (NCT) 3 and 4, the Tipo Road expansion, and the planned Subic-Clark Corridor and Clark Green City.

Garcia said that the conference is an expression of SBMA’s optimism over the prospects of Subic as a maritime logistics hub.

He added that the SBMA is making administrative changes to fast-track import and export processing and simplify accreditation to encourage customs brokers, freight forwarders, and truckers to service the port. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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In celebration of Earth Day: SBMA urges locators, residents to cut carbon footprint

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) is urging business locators and residents in this free port to reduce their carbon footprint and undertake commitments to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.

SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said the agency, through its Ecology Center, will electronically send out to all SBMA offices and locators a Carbon Footprint Calculator from the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) website for them to be able to assess their own environmental footprint.

A carbon footprint is the measure of carbon dioxide which is one of the many greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by a business, society or individual.

A process called carbon accounting measures the amount of carbon dioxide equivalents emitted by an entity and is used, among other things, by nation states, corporations, and individuals to create the carbon credit commodity traded in carbon markets.

Garcia said this project is part of the agency’s program in observance of the Earth Day celebration today, April 22.

This year's Earth Day global theme is “It’s Our Turn to Lead,” which is aimed at seeking commitments from global leaders, businesses, and citizens to pledge “Acts of Green” and to make commitments for meaningful change.

In the spirit of this global call, Garcia said the SBMA is enjoining individuals and companies in Subic “to undertake commitments for a meaningful change by computing and cutting down their carbon or environmental footprints.”

“Earth Day or not, we must all do our share in protecting our environment. So we also urge everybody to make Earth Day an everyday event in our lives,” Garcia added.

Meanwhile, the SBMA Tourism Department said that tourism-related locators in the free port have banded together to organize week-long activities in observance of Earth Day.

Subic Bay's Earth Week 2015 began April 18 with the Summer Xtreme Beach Party at the Moonbay beach, to be followed by a beach clean-up at The Lighthouse Marina Resort beachfront on April 22; yoga and healthy cooking demonstration on April 23; horseback riding, kayaking, and paddle boarding on the 24th; and a beach party at the Moonbay Marina beach on the 25th.

Earth Week 2015 is presented by The Lighthouse Marina Resort Legacy Foundation and the Subic Bay Hotels, Attractions and Tourism Stakeholders Visitors Board in cooperation with IYFR Subic Bay Fleet, Rotary Club of Subic Bay, and Rotary Club of Subic Pearl.

The project is supported by SBMA, Olongapo City, Province of Zambales, Subic Bay Chamber of Commerce, Department Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Earth Day Network, Leave No Trace, and Zero Carbon Resorts. (RBB/MPD-SBMA)

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Slide fest in Subic Bay

LONGEST SLIDE. Visitors enjoy the 1,000-foot slide ride at the Slide Festival which opened on Saturday, April 18, at the Subic Bay Freeport.  Organizers of the event attempted to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records by billing the facility as the longest slide ride. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Almendras to keynote 2nd Maritime Conference in Subic Bay

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras leads a group of government officials and industry movers who will give talks about the rise of Subic Bay as the country’s foremost logistics hub in Northern Luzon.

Almendras will be the keynote speaker at the 2^nd Subic Bay Maritime Conference & Exhibit, to be held on April 24, 2015 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Themed “Subic Bay: Your Gateway to Central and Northern Luzon,” the conference is being organized by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in cooperation with Subic Bay International Terminal Corp.

Almendras and the other speakers, including SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, will provide insights on business opportunities arising in Northern Luzon with all the investments and planning that the government is putting into the area.

They will also share updates on infrastructure development projects for the emerging Subic-Clark Corridor, a growth area that is expected to improve the economy of Luzon region and create more jobs for local residents.

Meanwhile, Northern Luzon shippers intend to present to Secretary Almendras during the event a position paper calling for the further development of Subic Bay Freeport to decongest Manila and “serve its true purpose as a catalyst of economic growth” for the regions north of Metro Manila.

Almendras is also the chairman of the Cabinet Cluster on Port Decongestion, which successfully worked in cooperation with government agencies and private stakeholders to implement measures easing road traffic and port congestion in the City of Manila.

One of these measures is to designate Subic and Batangas as extensions of the Port of Manila in order to encourage ships to divert their shipments to these outer ports.

The position paper points out that the Subic Bay Freeport ably demonstrated its capability to handle volume cargo shipments during the Manila port congestion. It further urges the administration to use the momentum to promote Subic as an alternative container terminal to Manila for shippers located in Central and Northern Luzon.

The Subic Bay Maritime Conference & Exhibit is expected to attract some 300 Freeport zone locators, logistics and supply chain executives, import and export managers, manufacturers, shipping line executives, key national and local government officials, and other stakeholders.

For more information, please call event manager PortCalls at (02) 569 2562, 232 8393, 232 5029 or (0917) 5555 273. You may also email info@portcalls.com.

http://www.portcalls.com/almendras-keynote-speaker-at-2nd-subic-bay-maritime-conference/#

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Subic shipyard to build world’s largest vessels

HANJIN HEAVY Industries and Construction Philippines Inc., operator of the biggest shipyard in the country, secured a contract from a European company to build three of what would be the world’s largest container vessels.

According to the Korean shipbuilder, its shipyard in Subic, Zambales, will be building three 20,600 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) container ships for CMA CGM, the biggest shipping company in France, and the third largest in the world.

“Signing a contract to build 20,000 TEU-level ultra large container ships with CMA CGM … confirms the world-class shipbuilding technology and capability of HHIC (Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Holdings),” the company said in a statement.

The company hopes to start delivering the container ships from the Subic shipyard by the second half of 2017.

According to HHIC, the Hanjin Subic shipyard is capable of building two 20,000-TEU container ships at the same time.

In response to the clients’ requests however, HHIC will reinforced the hull structure, such as fatigue design life, to build 26,000-TEU container ships.

The company has likewise focused on the improvement of environment-friendly performances, including the installation of the latest high-efficiency engine, propeller design and development of an energy-saving system.

According to Hanjin, the order from CMA CGM will be an ultra-large container vessel measuring 400 meters in length, 59 meters in breadth and 33 meters in depth. It will be capable of carrying 20,600 20-foot containers.

The deck alone is as large as four football fields. If the loaded containers were to be lined up end-to-end, these would span about 126 kilometers, Hanjin said. (Amy R. Remo, Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/190462/subic-shipyard-to-build-worlds-largest-vessels#ixzz3XozmvKIR
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Olongapo gets P60M heavy equipment to boost anti-flood program

OLONGAPO CITY - Six brand new heavy equipment worth P60M arrived here last week to help boost the city’s desilting program after it was heavily hit by floods in 2013 that caused a leptospirosis outbreak and damaged properties worth millions.

Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino said the heavy equipment include an amphibious excavator, two dump trucks each with 15-ton capacity, a wheel loader, a skid steer loader, and a backhoe loader.

Funding for the procurement of these equipment was sourced through the local development council and was agreed upon by all members including barangay representatives, NGOs and POs, and was passed by the city council.

Paulino explained that when he took over the city as Mayor, he found out that the city had no heavy equipment in its inventory.

“We had no heavy equipment, that is why when the flooding subsided we had problems in clearing all the mud the was left by the flood. It was fortunate that private individuals lent us equipment, and help also came from the DWPH and 1st district Congressman Jeffrey Khonghun.” Paulino said.

The 2013 flood caused a leptospirosis out break in the city, recording almost 600 cases and taking the lives of 11 people, some of them from the Province of Bataan and Zambales.

The main river channel of Barangay Kalaklan up to Barangay Sta. Rita and Old Cabalan remained untouched for years. The main drainage system in the city was also left clogged, a combination leading to the massive flooding in the city in 2013.

The only equipment left in the city was a dredging machine which cannot handle the task of going into small river channels because of its limited capability and recently was deemed unserviceable.

“Aside from it (dredging machine) being allegedly over priced which cost the city P89M and not suitable for our terrain, it was already a wreck when we tried to repair it, it worked for a month and it totally failed.” Paulino said.

“Now the city has 6 brand new heavy equipment worth only P60M versatile enough to desilt our rivers and water ways but at the same time can do other things compared to the old dredging machine that is unfit for us here and cost more than these new machine we purchased,” Paulino added.

To date, the local government, with the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways, has been desilting the mouth of Kalaklan River which is the main water channel connecting the city to the ocean. According to Mayor Paulino the mouth of the river has been heavily silted.

Private individuals have been helping the city in its effort to unclog its water ways and drainage system.

“With this brand new equipment, we can desilt our water ways whole year round and not have to contract out anything, plus we can use them for other purposes.” Paulino said.

PHOTOS:
Heavy equipment procured by the Olongapo City government to boost its desilting program.

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Subic yachting group gifts Ayta tribe with tourism boats

The International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR) through its grants program has donated two sailboats to the indigenous Ayta tribe in this free port in order for them to earn additional income from tourism.

IYFR International Rear Commodore Jun Avecilla said the group awarded funds to the Subic Bay Fleet for them to acquire two “paraws,” which are double outrigger sailboats native to the Visayas region that are popularly seen in Boracay.

Ayta leader Conrado Frenilla, chieftain of the Ambala Ayta tribe in the Subic Bay Freeport, received the boats last Saturday at the culmination of the Commodores’ Cup Regatta at The Lighthouse Marina Resort here.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia, along with members of the IYFR Subic Bay fleet, Rotary Clubs of Subic Bay and Subic Pearl, and the ISAF International Jury of Commodores’ Cup Regatta, witnessed the event.

Garcia said the boats, with Ayta tribesmen as operators, “will give Subic Bay another iconic attraction, as well as provide visitors with a different sailing experience.”

“We thank the IFYR and the Rotary Clubs for giving this opportunity to our Ayta brethren, as well as for this project that would redound to the good of Subic Bay tourism,” Garcia said.

Avecilla said the Subic Bay Fleet brought the sailboats to Subic Bay to help the Zambales Aytas in augmenting their livelihood, “and in line with the service objectives of the Fellowship.”

“The Aetas are not known seafarers, but they have in early times been reported to have lived in coastal areas until they were driven away to the mountains because of circumstances,” Avecilla noted.

“It will be the pleasure of our sailing group, the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing (SAGS), to teach them how to sail or operate and man the boats themselves,” he added.

Avecilla also pointed out that staging of Commodore’s Cup 2015 marked the expansion of the Philippine Sailing Association’s sailing program in Subic Bay, which is spearheaded by PSA Chairman Judes Echauz, with himself as vice president.

“The IYFR also advocates the preservation of coastal areas and the environment and to maintain its cleanliness,” Avecilla also said.

As of now, Subic Bay hosts two out of 12 races from the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship, which determines the Asian Yachting Skipper and Yacht of the Year.

Those who received their awards here at The Lighthouse Marina Resort for this year’s races were: Standard Insurance Centennial III owned by Ernesto Echauz and skippered by Ridgely Balladares, which dominated Racing Class 1, followed by Frank Pong’s Jelik, and Martin Tanco’s Centennial II.

Meanwhile, Avecilla’s Selma Star topped Racing Class 2, followed by Ricky Sandoval’s Selma; and Eric Jurado’s Alexa, emerged as champion in the Cruising Class, followed by Harry Taylor’s Irresistible, and Ome Carbonell’s Bugo Bugo. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Pastolan Ayta leaders led by Ambala tribal chieftain Conrado Frenilla (2nd from right) with Jun Avecilla of the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing (SAGS) during the ceremonial turnover of “paraws” donated by the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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‘USS Green Bay’ docks in Subic

The ‘USS Green Bay,’ one of the most modern US naval ships to date, docks at the Alava Pier of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone yesterday. The USS Green Bay is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock that can deliver a fully equipped battalion of 800 Marines. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/uss-green-bay-docks-in-subic/

Children play along the breakwater of Waterfront Road as the USS Green Bay (LPD 20), an amphibious transport dock ship is moored at the Alava pier in Subic Bay Freeport Tuesday (April 14) to unload military equipment to be used in the annual military exercise dubbed “Balikatan 2015” slated to commence next week in several locations in the Philippines. (Jun Dumaguing)

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Centennial III rules Commodores’ Cup

Standard Insurance Centennial III, steered by businessman/skipper Judes Echauz, annexed another international title as it swept the recent Commodores’ Cup Regatta 2015 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The 52-foot boat earlier bagged the overall title in the combined Subic to Boracay Race and Boracay Cup Regatta 2015 last month in Malay, Aklan, snapping a series of runner-up finishes.

Centennial III, helmed by Philippine top 470 class sailor Allan Balladares and managed by Standard Insurance computer engineer Steve Tan, claimed the overall title in the Open racing class, edging last year’s champion Hong Kong’s Jelik, skippered by Frank Pong, in the event organized by the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing (SAGS) Club and held in cooperation with The Lighthouse Marina Resort and Philippine Sailing Association (PSA).

Centennial II of Martin Tanco, the 2013 champion and made up for members of the national team vying in this year’s SEA Games in Singapore, placed third.

The Commodores’ Cup Regatta was one of the 12 top regattas of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix championship that determines the Asian Yachting Skipper and Yacht of the Year (all of which are of international standard, comparable with the most popular sailing circuits in the world).

Subic Bay, meanwhile, will host two out of 12 races from the Asian Yachting Grand Prix. (The Philippine Star)

PHOTO:
Members of the Standard Insurance Centennial III celebrate their victory in the Commodores’ Cup Regatta at Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/04/15/1444037/centennial-iii-rules-commodores-cup

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Developing young sailors in Subic

Sixteen young sailors, ages nine to 15, participated in the dinghies competition (optimist class) during the just concluded eighth Commodores’ Cup Regatta organized by the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing (SAGS) Club, in cooperation with The Lighthouse Marina Resort and Philippine Sailing Association (PSA) in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The young sailors, mostly from Cavite and Parañaque City, were trained in Manila for three months under PSA sailing coach Medy Fidel.

This summer, the training program will be expanded in Subic Bay wherein prospective sailors will come from Olongapo City and nearby towns of Zambales.

Hong Kong’s Frank Pong, Asia’s top sailor and Asian Yachting Grand Prix Skipper of the Year, is one of the leading supporters of sailing in the Philippines. Pong’s crews are mostly Filipinos coming from Cebu, Bacolod and Manila. They have been sailing and competing for more than 20 years.

His donation of new sail for the training boats of the SAGS Sailing School in partnership with the PSA has helped jumpstart the sailing program in Subic. (BusinessMirror)

PHOTO:
Sixteen youngsters learn to sail under the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing Club's program

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Ocean Adventure team rescues stranded dolphin

SUBIC, ZAMBALES – A Dolphin Rescue Team from Ocean Adventure, a theme park at the Subic Bay Freeport, rescued a male rough-toothed dolphin on Thursday with the assistance of local members of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network (PMMSN).

Dr. Leo Suarez, staff veterinarian at Ocean Adventure, said that the rough-toothed dolphin that was first spotted by residents swimming close to the shoreline at about 7 a.m. had ‘’already lost his buoyancy, and is very weak.”

At the time, first responders of PMMSN waded into the water and held the stranded dolphin afloat for over two hours before the rescue team arrived.

A crowd that had gathered were asked to keep their distance and minimize noise as it would only add to the distress of the animal.

Upon arrival, Suarez, along with Ocean Adventure marine mammal experts and volunteers, examined the dolphin and collected a blood sample for analysis. The dolphin was then carefully placed in a stretcher and carried to the boat where he was transported to the Dolphin Rescue and Rehabilitation Center at Ocean Adventure.

Dick Mendigorin, a local member of PMMSN, said he first saw the dolphin at about 7 a.m. and then ‘’guided him to where we can keep his [blowhole] above the water so he can breathe.”

Mendigorin was helped by two other locals, a fisherman and an Army personnel, in keeping the dolphin afloat. They took the dolphin near a boat, where they improvised shelter for the animal, and took turns caring for him until the Ocean Adventure team arrived.

Suarez praised the efforts of Mendigorin and the others who cared for the dolphin. He told Headline Gitnang Luzon that “based on what we saw, their response was good – and their training definitely helped.”

Suarez added that based on his initial diagnosis of the animal’s condition, it is likely the dolphin is suffering from ‘’acoustic trauma. The dolphin will be provided 24/7 care by staff and trained volunteers to keep him safely afloat and to closely monitor his condition. Once we get the blood results we will give him the proper medications, fluids to hydrate him, and begin to offer him fish this afternoon.”

He noted that six dolphins have been brought to Ocean Adventure in the last year due to injuries caused by dynamite fishing. Two died, including a Frasers Dolphin named Julius from Pangasinan. The other three survived but suffered permanent hearing loss. Fondly referred to as the Dynamite Girls, they are living in the open water lagoons at the Park.

Another rough-toothed dolphin, April from Ilocos Sur, is currently being rehabilitated under the care of veterinarians at the Rescue Center.

Gail Laule, Chief Operating Officer of Ocean Adventure, said that ‘’as this rescue has shown, the work of the PMMSN is crucial for saving the lives of these stranded animals. We have to train local members of the PMMSN because they are the first responders. With their help we can now begin the process of hopefully nursing the dolphin back to health. “

Laule said that, in recent years, the PMMSN network ‘’has grown considerably, with over 3,000 trained first responders nationwide, and is now virtually unparalleled in the world. It is truly something that Filipinos should be proud of. And we are honored to be one of its founders and prime movers. “

Laule added that anyone interested in becoming a trained volunteer and member of the PMMSN “should contact Ocean Adventure through our FB page, or call 047-252-9000.” (Mhike R. Cigaral, Headline Gitnang Luzon)

http://www.headlinegl.com/ocean-adventure-team-rescues-stranded-dolphin/

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Half-a-thousand birds show opens in Subic Freeport’s Jest Camp

Bird lovers and hobbyists have another reason to visit this Freeport with the opening here of the Magaul Bird Park, Jest Camp's newest tourism attraction, which offers the world’s first half-a-thousand birds show.

“Wings of the World,” produced by an all-Filipino team, unveils the majestic charm of birds found in forests around the world—from Africa to South America, to China and the Philippines.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Regulatory Group OIC Ruel John Kabigting, who was guest of honor during the park opening, lauded the newest addition to Central Luzon’s best tourist destination, saying this will attract more tourists, especially bird lovers.

“Magaul Bird Park is not only a park to go to in Subic, but a place to enjoy and learn the importance of caring for our environment, especially our forests,” Kabigting said.

He added that Wings of the World is an ambitious project. “This is the first in the world and no other theme park has ever done this before,” Kabigting noted.

For her part, Katrina Lacap, general manager of Magaul Bird Park, affirmed that the Wings of the World show presents an ensemble of “our bird buddies” with the underlying theme of environmental protection.

“For the first time ever in the world, Wings of the World’s grand finale will bring half a thousand birds on stage from all directions of the Alula Amphitheater here at the park,” Lacap told the opening day visitors.

Lacap said the show will feature hundreds of pigeons that circle the audience on their seats, hundreds of guinea fowls that descend towards the stage, as well as majestic hornbills and macaws that fly over them.

She added that the show will make the audience look up in awe as the giant wings of white-bellied sea eagle cast a shadow over them. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] Park personnel show visitors various bird species at the Magaul Bird Park in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone during the recent launching of the “Flight of a Thousand Birds” show. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[2] SBMA Regulatory Group OIC Ruel John Kabigting joins the owners of the Magaul Bird Park led by Lito Lacap (far right)​ in Subic Bay Freeport in introducing the “Flight of a Thousand Birds” show during the recent park opening. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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Zoobic Safari opens zipline ride through tiger den

Zoobic Safari, a theme park in the Subic Bay Freeport that is famous for its menagerie of tigers and other wild animals, has opened a zipline ride that takes you over a den of tigers.

Aptly named as Kamikazoo, the heart-stopping 130-meter ride puts tourists inside a metal capsule hanging on a zipline that slowly makes its way above a den of tigers.

The extraordinary ride, apparently the first of its kind in the world, opened here on Saturday as the latest attraction in the popular park.

According to park owner Engr. Robert Yupangco, the metal capsule has a capacity of eight persons and will have dressed chickens dangling on the side of the cage to attract the tigers. From a height of 10 meters, the capsule will drop down to about one foot from the ground.

“Watch as the tigers try to eat the chicken from the sides of the cage. This will test the courage of those taking the ride,” Yupangco pointed out.

Aside from the zipline, Zoobic Safari has other attractions that will keep tourists occupied and entertained during their stay here, like the famous Tiger Safari where visitors ride a truck with metal grilles around an enclosure filled with tigers.

Other attractions include a serpentarium, petting zoo, and “Croco Loco” which features a pit full of crocodiles.

The safari also has the only black camel in the country, and pigmy donkeys that can only be found here.

Yupangco said despite the wild attractions, the company assures that safety of their visitors is their utmost concern. He said that there are emergency response teams standing by in every ride, and first aid outposts are found around the facility.

With the influx of tourists coming to Subic Bay Freeport this summer, it's no wonder that Zoobic Safari has found a great number of audience to educate and instil in them the concept of wildlife conservation. (JRR/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:

[1] Zoomanity Group COO Delia de Jesus is joined by newscaster Mario Dumawal (right) in the ceremonial cutting of ribbon to formally launch the “Kamikazoo” zipline capsule ride, the latest attraction at the Zoobic Safari theme park in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

[3] Visitors hover above a tiger enclosure while taking the “Kamikazoo” zipline capsule ride, the latest attraction at the Zoobic Safari theme park in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, which opened last Saturday. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

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2015 Subic Bay Auto Show set for April 11

The 6th Subic Bay Auto Show is all set for April 11 at the Harbor Point Ayala Mall in Subic Bay Freeport.

Customized rides, highly-modified cars and hot models will be present once again at the Manila Parking section of Harbor Point Ayala Mall as the 2015 Subic Auto Show is set to take place on April 11, 2015, 3:00 PM.

Hosted this year by Passion Creatives, the 6th Subic Bay Auto Show will not only host the usual display of wicked rides and gorgeous eye-candy, the event will also be holding the Tire Change Challenge where speed, precision and teamwork will be key factors in the winning the competition.

Other competitions that will take place during the event include Kicker Audio's Sound Off Challenge and Ms. Subic Bay Auto Show where 10 aspiring car show models will face off for the title.

Beyond that, top-notch tattoo artists are also invited for the 2015 Subic Bay Auto Show wherein they'll compete in the event's Stop The Hate 4 Tattoo Competition.

Furthermore, categories that can be won in this year's Subic Bay Auto Show include Best Sport Truck, Best in Engine Display, Best Bodykits, Best Old School Car, Best Car Club, Best Shop, Loudest Car and the coveted award of them all, Best in Show.

Each ticket costs PhP 70 while the Registration Fee for Street and Pro vehicles is rated at PhP 1500. (www.autoindustriya.com)

Read more: http://www.autoindustriya.com/auto-industry-news/2015-subic-bay-auto-show-set-for-april-11.html#ixzz3W3GNBoxf
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Subic Bay is all set for summer vacation - SBMA

The Subic Bay Freeport is now ready for the expected influx of summer visitors, especially during the Holy Week when thousands gather here for various religious activities, as well as for relaxation.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia said the agency has installed directional signs in strategic locations to guide motorists to the different tourist attractions here.

“The whole place is ready and visitor-friendly,” Garcia said. “Motorist assistance booths are in place, and police and medical teams are around to respond to any emergency. There are even some mechanics and towing service along the way,” he added.

Garcia also said that business establishments in Subic that cater to tourists have been prepping up for the summer vacation.

“This is especially true among the five theme parks operating in the free port. Most of them have added new attractions to make your visit more memorable,” he added.

Meanwhile, religious devotees will also find the Lenten activities in Subic more engaging, as the Subic community has prepared a Pabasa, Cenaculo, processions, and Salubong at the San Roque Chapel here.

On Maundy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Washing of the Feet is scheduled at 5:00 in the afternoon at the San Roque Chapel, to be followed by the Visita Iglesia at 6:00 p.m. and the re-enactment of the Last Supper at 6:30 p.m. at the Chapel grounds.

On April 3, Good Friday, a Grand Procession will start at 6:00 p.m., also at the San Roque Chapel, and will go around Subic’s Central Business District. This will be followed by the Healing Prayer and Musical Concert “The Passion of Jesus” featuring Karylle, Julie Anne San Jose, and Lauren Young at the Boardwalk Area, and capped by Party DJ Mixing at 9:00 p.m. by no less than the deejays of SBMA's radio station, 89.5 FM, MySubic Bay Radio.

On April 4, Black Saturday, a local band and some DJs will light up a party also at the Boardwalk Area starting at 4:00 p.m., with back-to-back performance by balladeer Nyoy Volante at 10:30 p.m.

Likewise the mass-blessing of the Paschal candle, fire and water will be held at the San Roque Chapel at 7:00 p.m. the same day.

On April 5, Easter Sunday, activities will start at 4:00 in the morning with the Lenten rites Salubong: Risen Christ, which will start at the intersection of Manila and Dewey Avenues, and Maria Dolorosa, which will begin at the Spanish Gate along Dewey Avenue. Then the First Mass at the San Roque Chapel will start at 5:00 a.m., followed by a community breakfast and an Easter egg hunt at the Chapel grounds.

Chairman Garcia added that local entrepreneurs will put up booths at the Central Business District to sell food, drinks, and souvenir items to visitors. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
BISI(KLE)TA IGLESIA. A cyclist pedals his way out of the San Roque Chapel grounds in Subic Bay Freeport after a church visitation as his own version of Visita Iglesia on Holy Monday. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

2015 HOLY WEEK ACTIVITIES IN SUBIC BAY FREEPORT:

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Floating bookstore Logos Hope to return to PHL in May

The MV Logos Hope, the world-traveling floating bookstore, will return to the Philippines for a three-month stay from May to July.

The ship will be berthed at three locations during its stay in the country.

According to its website, the ship will be in Cebu from May 4 to May 29 (though according to its Facebook account the ship's Cebu stay will start on May 5); at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone from June 1 to July 7 (though its Facebook account gives its Subic dates as June 9 to July 7); and San Fernando (province not specified) from July 8 to July 23.

The Logos Hope is operated by the German charity group GBA Ships, whose initialism stands for Gute Bücher für Alle ("Good Books for All"). According to the group, the Logos Hope has visited more than 150 countries and seen a total of 44 million book lovers check out its store of more than 5,000 titles for sale "at a fraction" of the books' retail price.

The Logos Hope was last in the Philippines in 2013. (BM, GMA News)

PHOTO:
Logos Hope leaving the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore on March 5, 2015. (Photo from Logos Hope's Facebook page)

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/461746/lifestyle/literature/floating-bookstore-logos-hope-to-return-to-phl-in-may

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8th Commodores’ Cup Regatta up in Subic

The Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailing (SAGS) Club will hold the eighth Commodores’ Cup Regatta on April 7-9 with a strong field expected to vie for top honors in Subic Bay.

Hong Kong’s IRC Racing defending champion Jelik of Frank Pong and IRC Cruiser B winner Selma skippered by Ricky Sandoval will head the cast in the event held in cooperation with The Lighthouse Marina Resort and Philippine Sailing Association, according to PSA vice chair Jun Avecilla.

IRC Cruiser A champion Red Kite II skippered by Anthony Root, however, will not participate this year.

Since 1962, international yachtsmen and women have pitted themselves against the cold rough seas off Hong Kong and the sun-drenched slope of the windless days off the Philippine coast.

This year, the race from Hong Kong will end up in San Fernando, La Union (480 nautical miles).

Avecilla said the Commodores’ Cup will feature several races of different kinds of training boats, including the Optimists, Flying 15, 420s and Streakers.

“Blessed with one of the best race management teams in Asia, safe marina facilities and the wide expanse of Subic Bay, the Commodore’s Cup Regatta makes for an exceptional racing experience,” Avecilla said.

He added that this year marks the expansion of the PSA sailing program in Subic Bay which is spearheaded by Judes Echauz, PSA chairman.

PSA sailing coach Medy Fidel, who is aiming for Olympic qualifier, will be the head of the expansion training this summer.

Filipinos have always been considered as one of the best sailors in the world. Pong’s crews are mostly Filipinos coming from Cebu, Bacolod and Manila. They have been sailing and competing for more than 20 years.

Pong, Asia’s top sailor and Asian Yachting Grand Prix Skipper of the Year, is one of the leading supporters of sailing in the Philippines. His donation of new sails for the training boats of the SAGS Sailing School in partnership with the PSA has helped jumpstart the sailing program in Subic.

“Whenever I can, we help out here and there. Oftentimes, youngsters have a limited budget and the people helping them also needs assistance,” said Pong.

The inshore races from Hong Kong to San Fernando are organized by the Saturday SAGS Club, in conjunction with the Asian Yachting Grand Prix in cooperation with The Lighthouse Marina Resort, Watercraft Ventures, Inc., Standard Insurance and the Department of Tourism. (The Philippine Star)

PHOTO:
The eighth Commodores’ Cup will feature various races for different kinds of training boats.


http://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/04/01/1439801/8th-commodores-cup-regatta-subic

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Zip through the tigers, Zoobic dares visitors

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Zoobic Safari has opened a zipline cage that takes visitors over a den of tigers, the first ever in the world to have this kind of ride.

Aptly named as Kamikazoo – a play on kamikaze, the Japanese term for suicide aerial attacks – the heart-stopping 130-meter ride puts tourists inside an enclosure made of metal that resembles a cage then
slowly zips them through a den of tigers.

Owner Robert Yupangco said the metal capsule has a capacity of eight persons and will have dressed chickens dangling on the cage’s side. From a height of 10 meters, the capsule will drop down to about one feet from the ground. “This will test the bravery of the tourists,” he added.

Aside from the zipline, Zoobic Safari has so many attractions that will keep tourists occupied and entertained.

The theme park also has the only black camel in the country, and pigmy donkeys that can only be found here.

The company has ensured that safety is its utmost concern, adding that there are emergency response teams on standby in every ride. First aid outposts are also found around the facility. (Jonas Reyes, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO:
A group of tourists ziplines through a den of tigers at the Zoobic Safari in Subic Bay Freeport. Kamikazoo, the newest attraction in Zoobic Safari, puts tourists inside an enclosure that ziplines thru a den of tigers. (Jonas Reyes)

http://www.mb.com.ph/zip-through-the-tigers-zoobic-dares-visitors/

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Subic maritime conference highlights growth potentials of Central, Northern Luzon gateway

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), in cooperation with the Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC), is holding the 2nd Subic Bay Maritime Conference & Exhibit on April 24, 2015 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Themed “Subic Bay: Your Gateway to Central and Northern Luzon,” the conference will provide comprehensive updates on the Freeport’s exciting prospects as a booming logistics hub and investments destination in Asia.

Among topics to be taken up are the latest processing improvements at the hub, the launch of the Subic One-Stop Shop which will consolidate into one location all offices related to shipping through Subic port, and updates on new terminal equipment installed.

There will also be status reports on proposed development projects such as the construction of the New Container Terminals (NCT) 3 and 4, the Tipo Road expansion, and the planned Subic-Clark Corridor and Clark Green City.

Speakers and panelists, including SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia, SBITC general manager Roberto Locsin, SBITC vice chairman Francisco Delgado IV, USAID Compete Chief of Party Dr Enrico Basilio, and Bases Conversion Development Authority president and CEO Atty Arnel Casanova, will likewise discuss potentials and opportunities at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The 1st Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibit in 2012 attracted more than 500 shippers and cargo service providers.

This year’s conference comes at a time when Subic port has emerged as a vibrant complementary hub to Manila and international seaport for shippers in Central and Northern Luzon and is setting new records in container traffic.

In January this year, the facility posted a record volume of 14,892 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a 433.6% increase year-over-year and overshooting the 14,175 TEUs handled in November 2014, its previous highest volume in a single month. For full-year 2014, Subic handled 76,652 TEUs, 104.6% higher compared to the throughput posted the year before.

For 2015, the port expects to see cargo volume increase by 55.8% to 120,000 TEUs, or 20% of the 600,000-TEU combined annual capacity of NCT 1 and 2, according to SBMA chairman Garcia.

The Subic Bay Maritime Conference & Exhibit will be participated in by Freeport zone locators, logistics and supply chain executives, import and export managers, manufacturers, shipping line executives, key national and local government officials, and other stakeholders.

Boeing Material Handling Corp., Isuzu Phils, The Lighthouse Marina Resort and TNL Express have signed up as bronze sponsors. Event partners include Subic-Clark Alliance for Development, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. Region III, and the Philippine International Seafreight Forwarders Association.

For more information on the Subic Bay Maritime Conference & Exhibit, please call event manager PortCalls at (02) 552-7072, 551-1775, 551-1972, 551-387, or (0917) 555-5273. You may also email info@portcalls.com. (MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
The 1st Subic Bay Maritime Conference and Exhibit in 2012 was attended by more than 500 local and international participants. The 2nd conference, set for April 24 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, is expected to welcome a similar number of delegates in a discussion of Subic port’s potentials as a Central and Northern Luzon hub.

http://www.portcalls.com/subic-maritime-conference-highlights-growth-potentials-of-central-northern-luzon-gateway/#

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