Day 2 - Blogabond

After making all our calls it was time to head to Subic but a visit to the old church was in order. The Bolinao church was built in honor of St. James who has been attributed for protecting the town while the surrounding areas would get devastated by typhoons. Outside the church there is a monument commemorating St. Ordonico, an Italian priest who supposedly said the first mass in the 1300’s there in Bolinao debunking history books claiming the same in Cebu in the 1500’s. The church will be celebrating its 400th year anniversary next year and a fete is in the planning. I hope that the sons and daughters of Bolinao come to the aid of their church as the interior is in a bad state. It is such a shame for something so historic and worth being really proud of.

We left Bolinao at about 10 AM and were informed that the drive would take about 4 to 5 hours. As earlier mentioned we turned southward in the town of Bani instead of going all the way back to Alaminos. The interior roads in this part of Pangasinan are narrow but well paved making for a pleasant drive. The countryside is resplendently green and beautiful as we move inland again before returning by the shore in Zambales. We stopped in Iba for a leg stretch and a smoke midway of the leg and arrived in Subic at about 6 PM. Please note that there is a town before Olongapo named Subic and not to be confused with SBMA which is in Olongapo. It is still half an hour to an hour from the town to Subic to SBMA depending on the traffic which can build up as you get closer to Olongapo proper.

The beaches along this stretch are really great and it is a wonder why no big resorts have been established. There are a number of islands off the coast that make for good day trips and even overnight stays. Past Iba you will notice the profusion of pine trees on the dunes by the shore. Nearer to Olongapo there is Crystal Beach in San Narciso which is a surfing destination but definitely not a place to swim specially for children. There are rooms and cottages for rent right on the beach. Surfing lessons and boards are likewise available.

The problem with the tricycles in the Alaminos to Olongapo road is just as bad if not worse than the Romulo Highway since traffic is denser. I don’t know if these guys talk to each other but they all have same modus operandi of slowing to a crawl when cars behind them are waiting to pass. Better to keep a safe distance from these pests.

written by

Joey Carlotta on November 19, 2008 from Subic, Philippines

from the travel blog: Bolinao – Subic – Mariveles

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