Surviving the Philippines

Subic Bay is about 50 miles from Manila. The bay became strategically important during the Spanish-American War in 1898 and World War II, when American aircraft sank Japanese vessels in the bay. The bay was under American control from 1899 to 1991, during which time significant naval facilities were developed.

After the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, the Americans closed the base, leading to the transformation of the area into the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. In recent years, Subic Bay has attracted tourism, with attractions such as beaches and survival training.

Our journey began with a tour of the inactive Bataan nuclear power plant. Although originally intended to produce 621 megawatts of power, the facility was decommissioned and never put into operation due to safety issues, allegations of corruption, and political influences. Ascending a series of steps, we had the opportunity to enter the dome itself and stand before the well-preserved nuclear reactor. This dome serves as a crucial element of the plant's containment system, specifically engineered to envelop the nuclear reactor and act as a safeguard in case of any emergencies or the release of radioactive substances. However, the plant itself is over 40 years old with such out-dated equipment that it is highly-unlikely it will ever be renovated enough to be functional.

Later, we passed by flooded rice fields, grazing areas for cows, and quaint villages as we made our way to the former US Naval base for a jungle survival training session.

The instruction included skills like starting a fire with bamboo sticks, obtaining water from bamboo, and crafting a sharp implement with a machete.

Additionally, we enjoyed a dance performance by the talented young locals from the Philippines.

We were all set to venture into the Subic Bay Naval Base for lessons on mountaineering, wildlife identification, locating drinkable water sources, and engaging in water activities. However, due to the inexperienced tour guides, the outing ended up being more of a display rather than an interactive experience as anticipated, which was disappointing. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed in a leisurely, relaxing swim in the ship's pool upon our return to our home away from home.