I know we just did a blog about this resort last week but I just wanted to report on the visit we did last Sunday. It was a while since we last inspected the resort so with camera in hand and one of the staff along as a model (Elvira) we went there to poke around, take some photos and update our sales information. We did a local commute taking an ordinary bus from Olongapo to San Antonio, In Zambales. The bus ride took about 40 minutes even with its frequent stops and cost around 40 pesos. The bus stopped in front of the municipal hall where we crossed the road and got a trike, the trike was 20 pesos a person. The way we went to the resort last year is no longer accessible so now you approach the resort along the beach side. The resort itself is simple. The standard rooms are small stand alone buildings basic but they are comfortable looking. The family rooms are similar just slightly larger and an additional bed.

It is a “resort” for those more interested in the out doors. There is nothing fancy here just basic accommodation, with wonderful views and extensive sandy beach. Last year a very strong typhoon did some rearranging along the shore line of Zambales. Yong's lost a good portion of its land in the last typhoon season. The restaurant had been in the middle of the resort now it is on the edge of the lagoon.
The resort had a number of lagoon side rooms that are no longer there.

On the bright side the enlarged lagoon is very good for swimming and just playing in the waters. The Zambales coast being on the South China Sea can get good size waves. In fact this resort is about halfway between Crystal Beach Resort and Punta de Uian both resorts are well know for their surfing breaks. The lagoon gives a place to play without the waves crashing over you.

One item different about this resort is that it encourages camping and does allow people to bring in their own food. While there is a modest corkage fee the fee also provides a gas stove for cooking. When we visited there were six tents being used. If you are looking for a camping outing this is an excellent place to go. Maybe even combine it with a trip to Anawangin Cove either as a day trip or overnight.

We posted some photos in Yong Beach Resort  gallery so take a look.

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Yong Beach Resort  has now been added to our website an we are now taking reservations for it. This resort is about a year old and opened with the name of Arirang Resort.  Same owners just new name.

Those who love the beach for a beach and not as an canvas to be seen on, look towards Zambales for a beach scene. The Zambales coast is kilometer after kilometer of fine beaches.

the resort is great for those on a budget. Camping is Available, it also has small tents for rent

Beach Time

The hot weather is here, Holy week is here and the beaches of Olongapo and Subic Bay are waiting. it a hot day today at 32 degrees c (90 degree F) and the heat index is 38c thats 100 degree F. So if you are going to be outside the beach is the place for it.

Olongapo city has been working on expanding its Half Moon Bay beach and it is great. Unlike when it reopened three years ago the beach has ample parking now.  the beach area itself is wide and very long.

The area between the beach and the road has been cleaned up and it is availalbe for those who want some natural shade.

Located on the National highway it is on the blue jeepney line from the city center.

Zambales Beaches 

The beaches in Zambales are just a a short easy drive away and some of the best in the Philippines. Our Favorits is in San Antonio which is a popular destination with many small inexpensive resorts. It is also the home of a large upscale Punta De Uian resort.

Start planning your summer now and include at least a few trips to Subic or Zambales

When You Need Something Different

Seahorse tours has added another place to the list of properties that we recommend and represents. Some times a nice hotel or fancy resort is not what you really are looking for when you are staying away from home. As an alternative to the many fine resorts and hotels in the Subic bay area we would like to introduce you to a comfortable alternative, Ero Apartelle. The apartelle is located on the edge of Barrio Barretto, the resort area of Olongapo City. It just minutes from the resorts, entertainment and restaurants of Barretto , only a ten minute drive to the Central Business District of the Subic Bay Freeport and fifteen minutes to the center of Olongapo city. Easily assessable by public transportation, it is on the Jeepney Blue line from the city center. It is conveniently located for those who do not need to be in the center of the action. There is a small beach accessible across the road with two large beaches just three minute walk away

A look behind the scenes.

Around the world nuclear power is looked upon from different levels of acceptance. Many countries fully embrace nuclear power as an clean safe method to generate electric. There are more than 400 nuclear plants all over the world. In other countries, the general belief is that it has too much potential for harm to even be considered. A large portion of the world is still battling the question. The Philippines is one country where the disagreements are still going on. At the center of the discussions is the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. Construction on the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant began in 1976 a project of then President Marcos. Following the 1979


Three Mile Island accident in the United States, construction on the BNPP was stopped, Some design changes were made and Construction was restarted. Marcos was overthrown by the People Power Revolution in 1986. Days after the April 1986 Chernobyl disaster, the succeeding administration of President Corazon Aquino decided not to operate the plant. At the time the decision was made the plant was ready for fueling.

Equipped with a Westinghouse light water reactor, it was designed to produce 621 megawatts of electricity. The BNPP has 3 sister plants operating in other parts of the world today. The KRSKO plant in Slovenia. The ANGRA I plant in Brazil. And, most notably, the KORI II plant in S. Korea. These plants are practically identical to our BNPP. These plants have been operating for over 25 years now without incident, accident and with utmost reliability and economy.

Despite never having been commissioned, the plant has remained intact, including the nuclear reactor, and has continued to be maintained. We are proud to present a one of a kind tour. While many power plants have visitor centers, a visitor at the BNPP can visit inside the plant itself. Having never been fueled visitors are able to go inside the containment area. Call Seahorse Tours to arrange your visit

We have decided to take one of our offering for groups and set selected departure dates and open it up for individual bookings. We will be offering a jungle survival camping overnight. This special outing takes the elements of the highly popular Mini-survival training tour provided by Seahorse Tours and adds an overnight experience.

Experience the jungles of Subic Bay from an old view point and the traditions of the Aeatas. The experience starts at the Pamulakakin Trail. Prior to starting on your hike deep into the jungle Lunch will be served, "Luto sa Kawayan" It is a Filipino dish traditionally cooked in Bamboo consisting of chicken and rice.

Your afternoon will be taken up by the hiking, setting up the camp site and learning more from your Aetas guide about jungle survival. Your evening meal will be prepared by the Aetas guide, do not worry we will bring food with us so you do not HAVE to live off the land, but the food we provide will be supplemented with delicacies found in the jungle. After enjoying a good nights sleep and having breakfast, you will break camp and hike back to the entrance of Pamulakakin Trail for transfer to Tree Top Adventure. At treetop adventure you will do some of the activities we do on our mini survival training tour. Look at the web site for full information. Discounts for group

The other day Ocean Adventure and Camayan Beach Resort held their Partner appreciation day. This is an annual event for them where they invite their travel partners such as travel agents, educational tour operators and transportation companies. During the event they honor their top producers, ( sadly we did not meet the level, the educational tours operators are hard to beat), show off improvements and highlight the new marketing plans.

Recently Ocean Adventure has made some improvements and one of these is a new stadium for the Sea lion shows. The new stadium is much larger and provides a improved guest experience. The stadium has a pool, so now some water activities can also be added to the show. The stadium improvement was just one improvement for the sea lions, They also got a upgraded living and training areas. The guest also now have an underwater viewing port where they can watch the Sea lions underwater.

Camayan Beach Resort has three buildings now and are able to expand their group offerings. A new educational tour was announced that has an overnight with full meals, ocean adventure and beach time from 2,200 pesos per person.

Adventure beach also has some upgrades. Adventure Beach is reserved for larger groups and is away from the Camayan beach resort so the groups will not influence the hotel guest. Check out our offers on the Camayan Beach Resort page, we now have lean season discounts plus further discounts during weekdays

  we have also added some recent photos to our gallery and to our face book

While the resort is still underdevelopment it is in soft operation. Accommodations are currently available in a few types. A native hut with simple sleeping arrangements ( Bathroom facilities in a common area) right on the beach, as well as cottages. Other rooms are still under construction. There is a good size restaurant and a recreation area with a pool table. Karaoke is also available in one of the beach side pavilions. We were served a very nice lunch with both Korean and Filipino foods. San Miguel has a number of small fishing boats and the freshness of the seafood really showed it.

The resort is finalizing its room rates and as soon as they are completed we will be
adding them to our offerings. This resort will appeal to those who want to enjoy the beach in a relaxed uncrowded atmosphere.

During the course of the membership meeting was a election of new officers. Charles Davis President of Seahorse Tours was elected as President of the BOSZ Chapter of Naitas.

Arirang beach resort photos

Betis St. James Parish Church located in Guagua, Pampanga, Philippines is one of the most impressive churches I have seen. It is written that Art enthusiasts compare it to the Sistine Chapel, for its magnificent interior, although the Betis Church is also impressive in terms of symmetry, gracefulness and theme. Fr. Fernando Pinto started its construction in 1660 and was finally completed in 1770 by Fr. Jose de Cruz. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) declared this church a National Treasure, one of only 10 churches in the country bestowed that honor.

Behind the alter is a magnificent retablo. A retablo or altarpiece is a shelf or wall
raised above the back of an altar to support ornaments, pictures, and statues from sacred history. It often has paintings or sculptures sometimes both. Spanish retablos of the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance grew extremely large and elaborate, typically using carved and gilded wood, and rising as high as 40 feet or more. This is the style found here. A side note for those who may not know about the area, Betis is now a part of Guagua but originally was a separate town. Betis is also well known both domestically and internationally for its carved wood furniture and religious statues. Legend has it that the art of wood carvings was introduced to the locals by Chinese artisans brought to the area to build the first church. The locals first mimic the styles of the Chinese and later over time develop their own styles. Given these fact should give you an indication of the splendor of the retablo.

At the Betis church is a map and description of seven other chapels within walking distance. Each of which have detailed Retablos. Before we finalize our our tour offering we will take a more detail look at these other churches.

Bacolor San Guillermo Parish Church is one of the churches we will include. It is one of the oldest (many say the oldest) and largest churches in the Philippines, located in the former Philippine capital (Bacolor). It was constructed by the Augustinian friars in 1576 on the lot of Don Guillermo Manabat, a rich landlord believed to be the founder of Bacolor. The church was restored by Fr. Manuel Diaz in 1897. It has a central nave and well-lighted transept with windows. The main retablo, side retablos and pulpit are gilded with golf leaf. The richness of the docoration of Bacolor church depicts advanced stage of baroque adn rococo. In spite of the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo which half-buried the church on October 1, 1995, the structure is still being used as place of worship. It was already a renowned tourist destination prior to the lahar tragedies; now more tourists flock to the church which remaining features are being preserved and maintained. They are starting to do some work in the cemetery behind the church. The Lahar that half filled the church also covered the graves of hundreds maybe even thouands who were buried there as far back as 1776 and perhaps longer. One building is slowly being unearthed of about 15 feet of lahar.