Zg239. This is one of 5 images, shot in 2023, of the SBFZ Magsaysay Bridge being reconstructed. The picture of the bridge construction sign was shot by Carlito Pickering. Notice all the changes of construction in the SBFZ around the entrance of the New Magsaysay Bridge. Aguinaldo Street, our former Liberty Route is also newly re-concreted.
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This is the 2nd album of news from Subic Bay, for the first album, click here:
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The former Naval Base Main Gate Bridge is being replaced. This project is now already 3 years in progress but it seems it, is now pursued with new energy. The bridge now is called the Magsaysay Bridge by the new management of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ). In March my friend Carlito Pickering noticed a new sign was posted, he took that picture and it sports a picture of the new bridge when completed. The other 4 images were shot in late April 2023.
Zg240. This is one of 5 images, shot in 2023, of the SBFZ Magsaysay Bridge being reconstructed. The picture of the bridge construction sign was shot by Carlito Pickering. Notice all the changes of construction in the SBFZ around the entrance of the New Magsaysay Bridge. Aguinaldo Street, our former Liberty Route is also newly re-concreted.
Zg241. This is one of 5 images, shot in 2023, of the SBFZ Magsaysay Bridge being reconstructed. The picture of the bridge construction sign was shot by Carlito Pickering. Notice all the changes of construction in the SBFZ around the entrance of the New Magsaysay Bridge. Aguinaldo Street, our former Liberty Route is also newly re-concreted.
Zg242. This is one of 5 images, shot in 2023, of the SBFZ Magsaysay Bridge being reconstructed. The picture of the bridge construction sign was shot by Carlito Pickering. Notice all the changes of construction in the SBFZ around the entrance of the New Magsaysay Bridge. Aguinaldo Street, our former Liberty Route is also newly re-concreted.
Zg243. This is one of 5 images, shot in 2023, of the SBFZ Magsaysay Bridge being reconstructed. The picture of the bridge construction sign was shot by Carlito Pickering. Notice all the changes of construction in the SBFZ around the entrance of the New Magsaysay Bridge. Aguinaldo Street, our former Liberty Route is also newly re-concreted.
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This segment of 4 pictures is from Carlito Pickering. He was a Brownshoe-Sailor and likes to check up on his old duty station the former Cubi Point Naval Air Station. He noticed that the former boat pier landing for the former Hanjin Shipyard is refurbished and has a new sign. It seems the new investors, who acquired the former Korean Company Shipyard, are using it for the same purpose. It is a lot shorter route to the Agila Subic Compass, Inc., than the long road drive via the Municipality Castillejos.
Zg244. This is one of 4 images of the former Hanjin Shipyard boat landing, it is now used for the same purpose by the new management of Agila Subic (Agila Subic Compass, INC) which took over the Hanjin Ship Yard. It is located on the north side and near the west end of the former Cubi Point Naval Air Station Runway, now the Subic Bay International Airport.
Zg245. This is one of 4 images of the former Hanjin Shipyard boat landing, it is now used for the same purpose by the new management of Agila Subic (Agila Subic Compass, INC) which took over the Hanjin Ship Yard. It is located on the north side and near the west end of the former Cubi Point Naval Air Station Runway, now the Subic Bay International Airport.
Zg246. This is one of 4 images of the former Hanjin Shipyard boat landing, it is now used for the same purpose by the new management of Agila Subic (Agila Subic Compass, INC) which took over the Hanjin Ship Yard. It is located on the north side and near the west end of the former Cubi Point Naval Air Station Runway, now the Subic Bay International Airport.
Zg247. This is one of 4 images of the former Hanjin Shipyard boat landing, it is now used for the same purpose by the new management of Agila Subic (Agila Subic Compass, INC) which took over the Hanjin Ship Yard. It is located on the north side and near the west end of the former Cubi Point Naval Air Station Runway, now the Subic Bay International Airport.
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Press release by the US Embassy in Manila, it includes the aircraft image at Subic Bay:
From April 11 to 28, more than 17,600 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. military participated in Balikatan 2023, an annual bilateral exercise between the two allies and the largest iteration of Balikatan to date.
This year marks the 38th iteration of the exercise, incorporating training activities throughout the Philippines.
USS John P. Murtha LPD-26 participated, and is moored at Rivera Wharf of the former Subic Bay Ship Repair Facility (SRF).
Zg248. Through the Balikatan 2023 Joint Mobility Coordination Center, a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III carrying equipment to support the Philippines’ oil spill response in Oriental Mindoro lands at Subic Bay International Airport on March 25.
Zg248. USS John P. Murtha LPD-26 participated in Balikatan 2023, an annual bilateral exercise between the two allies and the largest iteration of Balikatan to date, and is moored at Rivera Wharf of the former Subic Bay Ship Repair Facility (SRF).
Zg249. USS John P. Murtha LPD-26 participated in Balikatan 2023, an annual bilateral exercise between the two allies and the largest iteration of Balikatan to date, and is moored at Rivera Wharf of the former Subic Bay Ship Repair Facility (SRF).
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The Masons of Zambales erected an Obelisk to Highlight Subic Bay and all its Citizens and Residents. It is right in front of the former Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot (NSD) Gate. Notice, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chose to keep the NSD Name. At the picture of the NSD Gate, the first two large ware houses at right were built by the new Subic Bay Freeport Zone Management (SBMA). The Navy building or buildings there collapsed under the Mt. Pinatubo Lahar and the Typhoon rainwater. The three big warehouses further-in are the original Navy ones and they survived Mt. Pinatubo and another 31 years under a new management.
Zg251. This is one of 7 images of the new Obelisk the Masons of Zambales erected recently in front of the former Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to Highlight Subic Bay and all its Citizens and Residents.
Zg252. This is one of 7 images of the new Obelisk the Masons of Zambales erected recently in front of the former Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to Highlight Subic Bay and all its Citizens and Residents.
Zg253. This is one of 7 images of the new Obelisk the Masons of Zambales erected recently in front of the former Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to Highlight Subic Bay and all its Citizens and Residents.
Zg254. This is one of 7 images of the new Obelisk the Masons of Zambales erected recently in front of the former Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to Highlight Subic Bay and all its Citizens and Residents.
Zg255. This is one of 7 images of the new Obelisk the Masons of Zambales erected recently in front of the former Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to Highlight Subic Bay and all its Citizens and Residents.
Zg256. This is one of 7 images of the new Obelisk the Masons of Zambales erected recently in front of the former Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to Highlight Subic Bay and all its Citizens and Residents.
Zg257. This is one of 7 images of the new Obelisk the Masons of Zambales erected recently in front of the former Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone to Highlight Subic Bay and all its Citizens and Residents.
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Four Historical Pictures from Subic Bay, 1953-55 Subic Bay Naval Station Food Service Department.
These pictures were provided to the Historian of the Battling Bastards of Bataan, Federico Baldassarre who passed them on to me because he knew that I am interested in Subic Bay pictures but he could not tell me anything about the source or dates.
After sharing the pictures on Facebook, a highly knowledgeable and interesting person identified the pictures and offered this information. He is Steven C. Karoly and has a Facebook page, he is a retired Senior Chief Mess Management Specialist from the U.S. Navy. He wrote this:
These photos were taken between 1953 and 1955. Chief Pay Clerk Chester Millard Smith (Jan. 15, 1911-Feb. 25, 1993) received orders to Naval Station Subic Bay sometime around May 1953. Around March 1955 he transferred to the Naval Supply Depot Subic Bay. He was transferred to Stockton, Calif., around June 1955.
This information comes from the Navy Supply Corps Newsletter, May 1953 issue (p. 51), March 1955 issue (p. 29) and June 1955 issue (p. 29), respectively. Smith retired Sept. 1, 1957.
Smith was a World War II POW, captured after the USS Pope (DD-225) was sunk by the Japanese in the Second Battle of the Java Sea. He was repatriated in late 1945. He was a Ship’s Cook First Class at the time of his capture in March 1942.
Zg258. One of Four Historical Pictures from Subic Bay, 1953-55 Subic Bay Naval Station Food service Department or the U.S. Naval Station 3002 Commissary Department 1953 to 55.
Zg259. One of Four Historical Pictures from Subic Bay, 1953-55 Subic Bay Naval Station Food Service Department or the U.S. Naval Station 3002 Commissary Department 1953 to 55.
Zg260. One of Four Historical Pictures from Subic Bay, 1953-55 Subic Bay Naval Station Food Service Department or the U.S. Naval Station 3002 Commissary Department 1953 to 55.
Zg261. One of Four Historical Pictures from Subic Bay, 1953-55 Subic Bay Naval Station Food Service Department or the U.S. Naval Station 3002 Commissary Department 1953 to 55.
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Barretto Bypass Road, Package 1, Zambales, Php 84,478,848.00.
It is really happening; they started the work. On 5th of June 2023 I walked to the bridge over the Matain River and discovered the project is continuing! I took these pictures. I speculate it is really an Olongapo City Bypass Road.
For this email presentation I chose these 11 pics.
I uploaded 25 images in high resolution into this Flickr album if you are interested:
Uploaded to Flickr as an album in the Subic Bay 2021 and up album collection, Click here:
Flickr image description:
This is one of about 25 images of starting to build a Barrio Barretto Bypass Road. I suspected this project was in the works but on the 5th of June 2023 I discovered they are actually doing it. Some of the pictures have descriptions. Basically I followed the road cut about 200 meters, had to turn back at a point because work was going on and I would have been in the way.
I suspect it is really part of a bigger project, to build an Olongapo City Bypass Road and I have addressed that point before when a new bridge was built over the Matain River and a concrete road to it. I posted pictures and comments in these 4 venues in regards the Olongapo Bypass Road:
Uploaded to Flickr as an album, 16 images, click here:
Uploaded to Facebook and shared with: WESTPAC SAILOR, Retired Sailor,SBH3, The Raging Main, I lived in NAVSTA SUBIC & Cubi Pt.,I remember NAVSTA, Barretto Bars, Subic Expats, click here:
Uploaded to K’s web, Subic Bay, Subic Bay News, 5 images, click here:
Uploaded to the forum, WWII Then and Now, Subic Bay-SBFZ-ex Naval Base, page 24, click here:
The Pictures for this Presentation:
Zg301. One of the Barrio Barretto Bypass Road Project public notice sign.
Zg302. My GPS track following the construction of the Barrio Barretto Bypass Road Project.
Zg303. zoomed in section of my GPS track following the construction of the Barrio Barretto Bypass Road Project.
Zg304. A few months ago they had to dig a trench here to let a small creek pass thru this project. Today I find they put in a culvert for that small creek in Sitio Alibang.
Zg305. The road cutting has started for the new Barrio Barretto Bypass Road Project, it started here in Sitio Alibang, Barangay Naugsol, Subic Municipality.
Zg306. The road cutting continues for the new Barrio Barretto Bypass Road Project, it started here in Sitio Alibang, Barangay Naugsol, Subic Municipality. At right we see the peak of the mountain, inland and close, to the Santa Monica Subdivision.
Zg307. The road cutting continues for the new Barrio Barretto Bypass Road Project, it started here in Sitio Alibang, Barangay Naugsol, Subic Municipality.
Zg308. The road cutting continues for the new Barrio Barretto Bypass Road Project, it started here in Sitio Alibang, Barangay Naugsol, Subic Municipality.
Zg309. The road cutting continues for the new Barrio Barretto Bypass Road Project, it started here in Sitio Alibang, Barangay Naugsol, Subic Municipality. The backhoe almost reached the top of the ridge in this direction. Here the road cut got to make about a 90 degree turn to the left up to the Kalaklan Ridge.
Zg310. I’m on my return march; we are looking across the Sitio Alibang Valley. Those two peaks ahead should be familiar to the walkers in our community. Behind the right peak is the community Sitio Tralala, on top of that ridge and which is part of Gorgon Heights.
Zg311. Last look at the construction site of the Barrio Barretto Bypass Road Project. More details are in the album links above.
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Barrio Barretto Afternoon, Sunset Beer Time 23-02-14
Sometime when visitors arrive we may finish the day with an Afternoon/Sunset Beer. That is what we called in the States:”Miller Time”. You get a little view of Barretto now when the evening starts. And we have more visitors now.
Barrio Barretto has a long military History. Before WWII it was Naval Rifle Range, was used by the Marines for field training. The Army from Fort Wint had placed 155mm GPF artillery pieces here which fought later in the Battle of Bataan. In 1945 it became the Subic Bay Naval Supply Depot, and was used as such perhaps to 1959 when it was returned to the Philippine Authorities. Then it became a popular Beach Bar District for elderly Petty Officers, like me, and ex White Hat Naval Officers because it was a laid back entertainment district, no loud life bands etc.! Now it is an international resort area!
For this presentation I chose these 6 images, 14 images were posted in other venues, see the links below:
Zg321. (-00). A high-rise in Barrio Barretto, where did all the nipa huts go? Do today’s visitors have more money than we sailors did during our time here? This big new hotel is called Central Park Reef Resort. In that location the Marmont Hotel had built a 3 storey new hotel but never got permission to open it. It was leveled for this project.
Zg322. (-00a0. The pictures in this album were shot from the location, on top of that building, indicated on this Google Earth image. It is provided for your orientation.
Zg323. (-02). Across the National Highway, which runs north thru Zambales, is the By the Sea Hotel. The building at right is a new construction and the front entrance has been redone. I paid recently for Christmas visitors 4,000 pesos for a room.
Zg324. (-04). I’m looking inland, down the Del Pilar Street, which is the street that took you to the Marmont Hotel. The Marmont Hotel is now called the Belle Monte Hotel but manage only that. Part of the Marmont land has become a new hotel, called Dennito; you can see its sign at the upper left of the picture. The middle section of the Marmont Hotel is now apartment rental units. Across the former Marmont Hotel was our VFW 11447 Post but it is now the Beer Garden, you can see the sign. The VFW has now a meeting place in the Dennito Hotel but it is not a canteen.
Zg325. (-05). This is view of the National Highway running thru Barretto; we are looking in a SE direction, toward the former Naval Base. It has been widened in the last 3 years, the speed of the traffic has picked up. One got to be real careful crossing this highway now.
Zg326. (-12). Well, we are sitting on the 3rd floor of this building and it is a bar, I forgot the name but it is right at the NW intersection corner of the National Highway and Del Pilar Street. The sun has set and we can see the “Cheap Charlie Bar” and the lights of the new Container Port at Cubi Point.
If you are interested:
Uploaded 14 images to PhB Philippines including walking, No2 Phil Events by year, 2023, click here:
Uploaded 12 images to FB, click here:
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Barretto Beach Walk, 2023-09-06
Barretto Beach Walk with new camera and after big rain the night and other days before.
I posted 55 images in this Photobucket album. If you are going to look at it, click the icon “ i ” to open the photo descriptions, click here:
Here are 5 sample images:
Zg470. (-#05). Pictures #05 to 09 were shot in front of or just inside the By The Sea Hotel area at the Barrio Barretto Beach.
Zg471. (#10). Picture #10 is the Barrio Barretto rain flood drainage discharge next to the new High Rise Hotel.
Zg472. (-#14). 14Pictures #12 to 15 are from the short walk from the Barrio Barretto Beach to the entrance of Baloy Long Beach. Noteworthy is embankment construction thru the ridge running to Baloy Beach. And even more noteworthy is the new fact that the Baloy Beach Tricycle waiting area was moved just now, further into the Baloy Access road. The rumor has it that the construction of a new MacDonald’s is about to begin.
Zg473. (-#14). 14Pictures #12 to 15 are from the short walk from the Barrio Barretto Beach to the entrance of Baloy Long Beach. Noteworthy is embankment construction thru the ridge running to Baloy Beach. And even more noteworthy is the new fact that the Baloy Beach Tricycle waiting area was moved just now, further into the Baloy Access road. The rumor has it that the construction of a new MacDonald’s is about to begin.
Zg474. -#44. Pictures #44 to 48 are from the North West End of Baloy Beach. It was low tide at the moment and this is the mouth of the Matain River. I walked to the development area, walls on three sides and one or more guard towers are built. But today I didn’t see even one guard. I asked the people nearby but they assured me that there are guards on duty.