The terrain of Subic

With over 36,000 kilometers of shoreline, the Philippines is literally peppered with coastal communities that feed off the warmth of the seas and live in the warm embrace of the land. More often than not, these people enjoy a balance of the calm serenity of the ocean and the deep unknown of the jungle.

Amongst all these communities, none perhaps can offer a starker contrast than those found in Subic Bay, Olongapo. What once was a U.S. Naval Base during the World War II is now one of the country’s busiest industrial and commercial areas - the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The transition from a military facility to a full-fledged commercial district brought on a shift of lifestyle that adapted to the duality of the area’s terrain. From the luxurious establishments at the district’s center to the rugged and untamed wilderness on its outskirts, Subic offers a mix of leisurely activities with the adventures of eco-tourism to achieve a harmonious balance.

The untamed trail

As much as the appeal of leisure attracts the presence of travelers to this destination, there is always a sense of adventure that looms just within reach of Subic Bay’s territory. Deep within the backyards of this seaside community is a vast wilderness covered with lush greens and sprawling vegetation.

Outdoor sports brand Salomon provided the necessary venue to explore this seldom chartered land with their X-Trail Run Pilipinas. The run, as the name suggests, is a course designed to explore the annals of Subic’s thriving jungle. The race covered most of the Pamulaklakin Forest Trail, including the surrounding communities of Subic’s native Aetas, as well as parts of Subic Golf’s facility.

The trail started with a modest run within the confines of the golf course. The race suddenly shifted after a short road run to the more challenging trails of the Pamulaklakin Forest. Inside this is a dense and humid environment that, although marked with a clear trail, still remains as it once was.

After a heart-stopping ascent through what is mostly tropical vegetation and giant trees, the trail plunged, a descent that was nothing short of suicide, except that this stage of the course was set amid a dense bamboo jungle which is dangerous as much as it is captivating.

With nothing but trees, shrubs, and vines along with the sensation of flowing earth underneath, the experience of running really reduces the complexities of life in their simplest. Set in the magnificent, albeit unforgiving jungles of Subic, one gets to know the terrain and finds inner peace at the same time.

Power of the sunset

To appreciate the magnificence of a destination, one needs to be calm and let the scenery sink in and touch a place within the soul where pleasure resides. The sunset in Olongapo is one moment that will make you stop and marvel .As soon as the blazing heat of the sun descends and shifts its hue to an amber blanket of light, emotions run high and dips low and for a moment, the heart is lulled into a stupor.

A great way to absorb the magnificence of this golden spectacle is in the middle of the open greens. As daylight transforms, the landscape of Subic Golf turns into a haze smoldered by light. It is at the driving range where the sunset becomes more serene. Although held at similar times, the moment of a sunset significantly varies as the environment changes. Aboard one of the yachts that call the Subic Bay Yacht Club home, the experience becomes all the more dramatic.

Once clear out of the Yacht Club’s Marina, the ship opens up and lets loose. As the wind picks up, the yacht’s engine dozes of and lets the power of the wind guide it as it slices the water.

Darkness descends and it’s time to head back. The captain sets his bearings to the visible light of the Lighthouse Marina Resort. From there, the ship heads back to the marina and will wait in slumber until the time comes for the next journey.

The contrast between these two environments can be as different as darkness and light. But this just shows that a landscape as diverse as Subic Bay can thrive and coexist in harmony as long as there is a genuine zeal for nature and a true love for its beauty.

[ Subic Bay Freeport Zone Wiki ]