Subic Bay’s Transformation
Subic is a first-class municipality in the province of Zambales, on the northern coast of Subic Bay.
Along with Clark Freeport Zone, Subic is most commonly associated with being the former home of one of the largest US military facilities outside of the US mainland, the Subic Bay Naval Base (source: Wikipedia).
Subic has a rich history as a naval location. It was first used as a naval station by the Spanish in the late 1700’s. In 1899, America took over the naval base during the Spanish/American War.
The Japanese then took over Subic during World War II. The Americans later reclaimed the area. Since then, the Americans have departed. Subic has now been transformed into a commercial zone.
This has seen it become one of the fastest-growing municipalities in the region.
Main Attractions in Subic
Two of the main attractions in Subic are Zoobic Safari and Ocean Adventure. Zoobic Safari is an open range zoo featuring tigers and crocodiles amongst other indigenous animals and reptiles and features an entertaining show performed by local indigenous people.
Ocean Adventure is a water park featuring dolphins, sea lions, turtles and other marine creatures, with various shows and performances featuring these animals. There is also a large aquarium featuring a broad diversity of marine life.
It is best to book in advance. Regular promos are always on offer. There are also has a number of hiking trails, water activities, camping locations, historical landmarks, resorts, a horse stable, bird sanctuary, go-cart track, yacht club and golf course to keep you occupied.
Great Weekend Getaway
Subic has become a very popular location for expats due to its low cost of living. There are a diverse number of activities which makes it a popular weekend getaway for locals. It is well worth a visit.

A beautiful sunset shot looking over Subic Bay from the restaurant at Vasco’s Resort and Museum.

There are a large number of beachside restaurants and cafes to chill out and chew the fat over a few beers or a coffee.

Camayan Beach Resort is a nice resort and has a real tropical feel to it. Ocean Adventure is basically next door so it makes for a great location if you have a family.

The swimming pool at White Rock Resort, right on the fringes of Subic Bay. As you can see, there are great views of the Zambales mountain range in the background. White Rock is arguably the best resort in the area and offers a multitude of accommodation options and water activities.

The family and I feeding a tiger to Zoobic Safari. I’m pretty sure the tiger was under some sort of sedation. However, it was still an amazing experience to be up close to this magnificent beast.

An elevated view looking back to the resort strip of Subic Bay. It is hard to believe this area is a former US Navy base. It has been developed into a very respectable getaway from Manila.