We soaked up the sun on Zambales’ beaches, then escaped the crowds to Subic—relaxing, simple, and surprisingly refreshing. Curious how the trip went? Read my blog!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated

Date of Trip: May 06-07

May 11, 2022 – Buendia, Philippines

My friend Mia took me to Zambales, where she grew up. I’ve heard wonderful things about the Northern beaches, so I’m eager to check them out for myself.

Zambales, a province of the Philippines, is situated in the island’s central region, Luzon. It’s in close proximity to surf places, beaches, and scenic landscapes. As one of the easily accessible tourist spots close to Manila, it is only a three-hour drive away. Home to the popular Duty-Free shopping destination of Subic, the province is a major draw for tourists.

Restrictions

Zambales is accepting leisure travelers provided that they follow the standard health protocol. No medical certificates, S-pass, RT-PCR test or vaccination card to be presented to some establishments or checkpoints. But I suggest to always bring your vaccination card and for your protection, have yourself vaccinated.

Getting Around Zambales

I boarded a bus bound for Olongapo in order to see Mia and her buddy. Taking the bus was a nightmare. Unfortunately, as a traffic-relief measure, all regional buses were barred from entering Metro Manila, particularly EDSA and other key thoroughfares. Buses entering the NCR (National Capital Region) have a window hour between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. since traffic is mild. It was so inconvenient since it was implemented without even considering public commuters’ other modes of transportation.

I took a grab from Pasay to get to the EDSA terminal, but the driver said I had to return at 10 o’clock at night if I wanted to take another bus going to Olongapo. I was at a loss for words; it was awful that folks had to shrug off this setback and figure out a workaround on their own. I was so disheartened that I seriously considered calling off the trip. But I had to get together with my pal. It would be more heartbreaking not to go on this vacation with my friend, as we’ve been planning it for a few months. She, too, is packing her bags for a work trip to Taiwan. Inconvenience isn’t worth sacrificing a friend over. This vacation has taught me everything I need to know about love. Haha

Because of this, I booked a Grab from Pasay to Caloocan, where it was thankfully the public buses were readily available, and therefore avoided the aforementioned trouble. It took me three hours and Php265.00 to get from Caloocan to Olongapo via bus.

To get to Limliwa Beach Resort from Olongapo, we had to take a different bus for Php107-00. It cost us Php30.00 each to take a tricycle from San Felipe to Limliwa Beach Resort. The resort is a short trip away on a tricycle. Travel time between Olongapo to Limliwa is roughly one hour.

After what felt like a whole day of bus travel, my friend and I rented a car to drive back to Olongapo from Subic. Mia’s brother came to the resort to pick us up.

Budget

In total, I spent less than Php3,000 on lodging, food, and transportation for my short weekend getaway.

Limliwa Beach Resort
Sitio Liwliwa
San Felipe, Zambales
May 06 5:00pm

There are a variety of room types available at this beachside resort. We expected a large crowd because it was a holiday weekend (Mother’s Day was on May 08), so we reserved a VIP air-conditioned room for three people in advance. We spent around PHP4,500.

The restroom, in particular, was a major letdown for us at the hotel. There was no hot water or heating system. The air conditioning was slow to chill and there were no complimentary toiletries. The reality was completely different from the pictures on their Facebook page. And at night there was a band that was completely off key. You wanted to scream at the top of your lungs and tell him to shut off his mic. I’m relieved the brownout put a halt to their singing. The resort’s service was generally unsatisfactory, but I have faith that it will become better with time.

Even though the beach was really choppy, I appreciated its cleanliness. Witnessing a beautiful sunset is another one of my favorite things to do. The ocean is one of my favorite places in the world. It was still nice to be able to see the ocean and take it easy on the beach.

The following morning, we got up at the ungodly hour of 5 a.m. to have breakfast at Kwentong Dagat, an eco-friendly resort that features a vegan menu. Even while I enjoy some vegan dishes, they are not my usual fare. The sausage was tough and tasteless; I’d rather eat something that actually adds some excitement to my meal. The nipa huts and mango shake were highlights of my stay.

This is hardly the beach resort for anyone seeking relaxation. I doubt that I will ever visit again. I had a great time with my pals, however Luzon has far nicer beaches.

Subic, Zambales
May 07, 2022

Jojo, Mia’s brother, picked us up at lunchtime for a drive through Zambales. This was my favorite part of the entire vacation. The people of Subic are generally calm, and they carefully enforce traffic laws. They feature some of the finest dining establishments in addition to being tranquil. We started our day with a trip to Meat Plus for lunch because their steaks were reasonably priced. For about Php600-00, the rib eye steak was exceptionally flavorful and tender. Burgers are available, too. To put it simply, go for it.

In addition to the Meat Plus, I also tried the Bayan Ice Cream outside the restaurant and found it to be delicious. In the Philippines, they call it “dirty ice cream.” This word was coined by concerned parents to discourage their children from purchasing ice cream from street vendors who did not protect their hands with disposable gloves. Despite the name, this ice cream is clean as a whistle. There’s a wide range of tastes available, from mango to cookies and cream. How delicious, homemade, and lovely! For twenty pesos, you can get your hands on it.

We also visited Boardwalk in Subic, where we shared hilarious and touching tales of our friendship over delectable mango shakes at an outdoor bar. The mangoes of Zambales are legendary, and for good reason. The mobile restaurants and the lighthouse were other highlights. Subic was so pleasant, I wanted I could extend my visit.

Subic has several great restaurants, and I’m curious about the Magic Lagoon Bar and the water parks there, so I definitely plan to return.

Having good company on a trip greatly enhanced the experience. If I were to do another journey, it would be with them.

I had a hard time catching a bus because they were all filled. After waiting for an hour, I was able to take the only available seat on the Saturday night bus from Olongapo back to Manila. It took me three hours to get back to Manila, and when I finally did at 10 o’clock at night, I couldn’t find a car because of the high traffic caused by an election rally. It was the first time I’d ever needed to use a motorcycle app (Angkas) late at night.

On Mother’s Day, I returned to Batangas to be with my brother and the dogs. With love, from north to south haha

Love,
Maria, sometimes Niskie