SBMA Inks Accord with Asian Aviation Group to Develop Subic Airport

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma (left) concludes an agreement with AsBAA Chairperson Jennyn Lao for the development and operation of the Subic Bay International Airport.

NEWS RELEASE:

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) to further develop the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) for business aviation.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said the agreement was signed during the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition 2018 on April 17 in Shanghai, China.

Under the MOU, AsBAA will help develop infrastructures at the SBIA, as well as assist in operations at the airport, while offering business aviation services in the Philippines through Subic.

AsBAA Philippine Chapter chairman Benjamin Lopez said that AsBAA “will support and advise on the initial design and ongoing operation of the SBIA to bring about an immediate and reliable facility that regional business aviation and general aviation operators can access as another option to operate from in the Philippines.”

Lopez, who is also the president of Inaec Aviation Corp., said that the country’s focus on infrastructure development to help decongest Manila in the aviation sector is most welcome.

“Plans have long been discussed and now is the time for action. We are delighted to assist the authorities in advising on these vital enhancements to Philippine aviation infrastructure,” he added.

The AsBAA Philippine chapter was launched in September 2017 and is the newest addition to AsBAA’s regional committees. The chapter started 2018 by leading a delegation of its members on a site visit and investment trip to Manila, Clark and Subic Airports to meet with regulators, airport operators, and aviation stakeholders.

On January 27, AsBAA president Max Motschmann led an ocular inspection of the SBIA to determine the business potential of the area.

The MOU for SBIA was the second agreement that the association signed this year to help develop airport infrastructures in Southeast Asia. The first agreement was with the Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB).


Eisma said that she wants to make SBIA a business aviation airport and to prepare it as well for general aviation; maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services; and charter flights. She added that passenger aviation should be focused in Clark Airport and not here in Subic.

“We can get spillover from neighboring airports like Clark, but I would rather court general aviation and business aviation heavily and have a niche for them to attract tourists with curated experiences,” Eisma added.

SBMA bans 3 brokers in P40-M liquor smuggling try

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has blacklisted three customs brokers for involvement in the attempted smuggling here recently of expensive liquor worth around P40 million.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said this was the initial action of the agency in connection with the smuggling attempt that was foiled by the SBMA Law Enforcement Department (SBMA-LED) just before Christmas.

The SBMA Seaport Department has identified the blacklisted brokers as Ellen Baylon, an authorized representative of the brokerage firm Alava Alliance, Inc.; John Louie Pabico, a processor of Phil-Hohan International Corp.; and Cherry Springael, a freelance processor and authorized representative of Alava Alliance.

“These persons have been banned from doing business with the SBMA Seaport, and the companies they represented have been placed on indefinite suspension pending the final results of investigation by the Bureau of Customs (BOC),” Eisma added.

She added that the BOC, which received custody of the smuggled items from the SBMA, will also file appropriate criminal charges against the brokers for violation of the Customs and Tariff Act, as well as Republic Act 7227, or the Bases Conversion and Development Act.

“Let this serve as a warning that Subic authorities won’t tolerate illegal activities in the Freeport, and we will apply the full measure of the law in cases like this,” Eisma added.

The SBMA said earlier that its law enforcement operatives seized a total of 1,321 boxes of liquor from a closed van that was about to leave the Freeport on Dec. 24, and from a 40-footer container van parked at the Subic Seaport Terminal on Dec. 28.

The seized contraband included 54 bottles of Remy Martin Louis XIII, which sells as much as P170,000 per bottle, and eight boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, which fetches P60,000 per bottle.

The SBMA police began the operation on Christmas Eve after a tipster informed them that a closed van and a Nissan Patrol SUV would attempt to smuggle contraband from the Freeport.

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Subsequently, SBMA-LED operatives posted along the Argonaut Highway leading to Subic’s sea ports monitored the vehicles and tailed them to the 14th Street Gate where they were stopped by sentries.

The Fuso van, bearing File No. 036404 of BCR Trucking, was found to contain 275 boxes of Remy Martin Cognac Champagne, 448 boxes of Martini, 66 boxes of Remy Martin XO, 17 boxes of Remy Martin Champagne, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Louis XIII, 8 boxes of Remy Martin Centaure De Diamant, 7 boxes of Remy Martin Club, and 7 boxes of Remy Martin.

The driver, identified as 41-year old Julio Flores, as well as the helper, 46-year old Marvin Arcega, failed to present necessary documents when accosted by the police, the SBMA-LED said in a report.

Under investigation, Flores reported that he picked up the merchandise from the Subic Seaport Terminal Inc. (SSTI) at the Boton Pier here on instruction of a certain “Ed” who rented his truck for the pickup.

Flores added that a certain “Cherry” assured him that the goods were ready for exit at Subic’s Tipo gate even without any document because two other trucks with similar load were able to exit so.

With this information, SBMA operatives conducted a follow-up operation on Thursday that led them to a white Isuzu Giga cab with the markings “Sinfa Logistics Inc.” that was parked at the SSTI’s Boton Pier facility. The 40-footer container yielded 333 boxes of Remy Martin, 196 boxes of Remy Martin XO, 1 box of Remy Martin Club, 1 box of Martini, 2 boxes of Remy Martin, and 10 boxes of Remy Martin Louis XIII.

Eisma said the SBMA police conducted an inventory of the smuggled items in the presence of representatives from the Bureau of Customs, the SBMA Seaport Department and members of the media before turning over the confiscated items and the vehicles containing them to the Bureau of Customs in the Port of Subic.

IRONMAN Philippines in Subic Bay for June 2018!

The sports capital of the world Subic Bay! Subic Bay caters the majority of the sports happening from local to international; water and land competitions. The favorable waters of the bay to the perfect streets for bike racing and marathon, Subic Bay is well-known for it!

I've witnessed and covered some major and local races and still, no one can beat the beautiful place of Subic. Ironman Asia announces the Ironman Philippines race for next year and again the venue will be here in my hometown Subic!

Registration opens on Tuesday, 1st of August save the date! Check out the link here. Make sure you can book your hotel as early as now, there are lots to choose from within and outside the Freeport. 

See you all here for the Ironman 2018! 

The photo was taken last weekend during my weekend bike ride around the bay.

Herbalife Triathletes begins with a bang at Tri-United Series

Press Release:

Below are the top finishers of the first race for the Tri-United Series held in Subic Bay Philippines, where Herbalife triathletes Lezette Albarote, Laarni Paredes, Madel Argosino, Ronald Molit and Hiroshi Takei proved that they remain a strong contender for this year. 

The Herbalife triathlon team

Race results: 

Lezette Albarote (1st Place = 40-44AG and 3rd Fast Bike Split)

Laarni Paredes (2nd Place = 35-39AG)

Madel Argosino (2nd Place = 18-24AG)

Ronald Molit (2nd Place = 30-34AG)

Hiroshi Takei (3rd Place = 45-49AG)

Lezette Albarote, 1st place in 40-44 age group and 3rd in fast bike split

Roof Top Pool + Mongolian Dinner Buffet Weekend

A few weeks ago before summer season ended here in the Philippines, we took the chance to spend our weekend with sun, water and food.

We were given a free passes to use the roof top pool at Best Western Plus Hotel Subic. The pool is open to walk-in customers and free of use to hotel guests. 

For Php300 ($6.40) you can avail the use of the pool and half of the amount can be use as food and drink consumable over at their snack bar.

We went there Saturday afternoon, it took us less than  10-minute taxi ride coming from SM City Olongapo to Best Western Hotel, the taxi cost Php80 ($1.75).

We arrived there around 4:30 in the afternoon with a few guests of kids and adults using the pool, kids were enjoying the cool breeze and sun covered by dusky cloud ready to set in the bay. 

You can find one big pool and a kiddie pool plus a jacuzzi for their pool amenities. Customers can find two open shower area with shower curtains and three toilet cubicles. They also have a bar and a bartender to prepare your drinks. The pool has a life guard too. Customers can ask for pool towels which they provide for each swimmers.

Since the hotel restaurant offer everyday buffet merienda for Php149 ($3.17) and Mongolian dinner buffet for Php349 ($7.43) we decided to take the dinner.

It was Mongolian buffet that night and we are somehow pleased. 

Make your own taco corner. Taco shells and beef taco filling. 

Burritos and Quesedillas

Taco sauces and lettuce shreds and diced tomatoes, also some prepared pasta plates which diners can request. A choice of red and white sauce pasta are available.

Choices of pork and chicken kebab

Cooked noodles and white rice

Assorted vegetables to choose for your Mongolian mix

Choices of pork cutlets, tofu, chicken breast slices, beef strips, shrimp and squid.

Variety of sauces to mix in to your Mongolian bowl. I chose the seafood with sweet and spicy combination.

Chef in charge with your Mongolian rice and one who is in charge with the kebabs beside him

Seafood soup and unlimited iced tea and water for drinks 

The dessert was not the appetizing to look at and yep even the taste too. It was dull and everything is cake base dessert. No fruit offered that time which is a little disappointing. The salad corner offered a limited option of shredded iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, bell pepper and a couple of salad dressings. The most unexciting corner of the buffet area.

To start up, I had a bowl of hot seafood soup which was very tasty. And for the main course two bowls of Mongolian mix, one seafood and one beef and chicken.

I love the taste and how it was cooked nicely specially the meat in it. They kept it tender and juicy.

I also had quesadillas and burritos and unlimited of the pork and chicken kebab.

The kids enjoyed their buffet meal excluding some of the food they did not prefer to eat. The boy had three bowls of different meat, sauces and spices. Kebab, tacos and burritos. The girl had a little less than what her Kuya (older brother) had. 

To compare with the Mongolian buffet I had a couple of years ago this one is a little better, the only downside of this was the salad and dessert station. I hope the restaurant can make improvements and adjustments for this station in their buffet. I would visit and dine here again if this happen.

We paid for our meal with additional 5% for service charge. Thank you Best Western Hotel Subic for the free use of the pool! :)

Would also love to make a review of the accommodation and other amenities of the hotel... maybe next time! :)

***all photos are property of bitsenpieces.com, unlawful use without permission is prohibited.

The Colors of Sunset!

This blog post contains some sunset photos I have collected over the years. I still have a few more in my files, it's just recently I am into sunset photography once again. Since we started riding our bikes we could catch the amazing sunset here in Subic Bay. Using our camera phones our eyes were delighted by the sun setting for the day. 

I am always delighted about the grandest color of this bright crisp orange-red casting all over the sky, as it is enveloping the gray to black color of clouds. This for me is a sign of how the sun trying to rest the day and preparing another one for tomorrow's sunrise. 

In any place you are right now, the sun will definitely set. The difference of my sunset to yours is how we see it. How we appreciate the beauty of it and how we anticipate the next one for us to witness.

Using Xiaomi RedMi2 phone

April 201, Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Olongapo City, Philippines

Canon a590is

on a tripod, self-timer shutter

September 2010

Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Olongapo City, Philippines

Xiaomi RedMi2 camera phone

April 2016

Subic Bay Freeport Zone

Olongapo City, Philippines

Alcatel camera phone

By The Sea Resort,

Subic Town

Philippines

Pyromusical event, 2011

Canon 500D

18-135mm lens

Manila Bay, Philippines

Pyromusical event, 2011

Canon 500D

18-135mm lens

Manila Bay, Philippines

Wedding prenup pictorial, 2011

Canon 500D

kit lens

Lightroom editing

Subic Bay Freeport Zone,

Olongapo City, Philippines

Wedding prenup pictorial, 2011

Canon 500D

kit lens

Lightroom editing

Subic Bay Freeport Zone,

Olongapo City, Philippines

If you love watching sunset I suggest to take photos of it, even on your mobile phone camera and keep a memory of it through your snap shots. You will enjoy seeing the sunset over and over again by looking at those photos. I hope this inspires you.

Enjoy the rest of the week.