Subic Attractions: Dolphin Friends Show in Ocean Adventure Park

I'm finally trying to wrap up my Subic, Philippines Ocean Adventure Park attractions list. So basically, there are four different shows to check out during your visit. In no specific order, there's the Dolphin Friends Show, Walk on the Wild Side, Sea Lion Marine Patrol Show, and the Balancing Act.

Dolphins and Trainer putting up an amazing show for the audience.

I won't elaborate on the best order to watch these shows as long as you're one of the first audiences to arrive in each of them. This is so you can pick a nice spot.

That's some balancing act. It's like seeing a skateboard/ speedboat hybrid.

We watched the Dolphin Friends Show during noon time. It was stark bright on the cemented bleachers. The Canon Camera couldn't take decent pictures because we were sitting in the front most area where the heat of the sun was striking directly at our feet. LOL. By the end of the show, I felt dehyrdrated.

And after an amazing performance of both man and dolphins, you get to see Ocean Adventure Park's dolphins swimming into the sunset.

The Dolphin Friends Show is featured in the El Capitan Theater at Ocean Adventure Park, Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo City, Zambales, Philippines. To get there from Manila, you may follow this map of Ocean Adventure Park.

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Ocean Adventure Park Dolphin Friends Show schedules are as follows:

11:30 am

02:30 pm

04:45 pm  

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Traveling Around the Philippines: Manila Domestic Airport

I've always disliked leaving Manila through the Manila Domestic Airport a.k.a NAIA Terminal 4.  It's not the best looking Philippine airport and I should shoot myself for being so shallow. Here's the thing... boarding a plane from the Manila Domestic Airport has its own perks. 

Before anything else, here is a list of airlines that uses NAIA Terminal 4.

1. Zestair - who has recently been suspended for "technical issues"

2. Tigerair - whose flights got 6 hours delayed last August 24, 2013

3. Seair

4. Others... probably.

Manila Domestic Airport / NAIA Terminal 4 Arrival Area

As I've said earlier, boarding at the Manila Domestic Airport has its own perks. For one, it has free Wi-Fi. If you have a Wi-Fi enabled phone, laptop or tablet, just scan for "itsmorefuninthephilippines" and connect to it. Make sure to sign-in via your web browser and click on "I Agree" to send those last minute emails. 

Note: If you can't connect to it, try inputting "www.google.com" to activate the page that has the "I Agree" button on it.

At the departure waiting area, there's Goldilocks, Cinnabon and Seattle's Best. The comfort rooms are clean too (which is good). Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of the said area.

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Where to Eat in Iloilo: Roberto's

There's no denying that Roberto's is definitely one of the best places to eat at when you're in Iloilo. They have lumpia shanghai, meatballs, burgers and siopaos. I won't even call it Chinese cuisine because it caters to Filipino taste, too.

My favorite order would be Roberto's fried rice and lumpia shanghai (spring rolls).

Give or take facing-out a couple of spring roll varieties, they've been selling the same menu ever since.... FOREVER. I mean, it was my sister's favorite place to eat at when she was still young (and now she's 39). What's more amazing is the fact that the taste of their food has remained the same for decades now- unlike other restaurants. I guess that's because Roberto's never opened for franchise thereby maintaining a certain quality.

Roberto's Meatball Sauce has as much right to be featured as all their other selections.

They're cheap and the food is well worth the wait in line, especially when there's often a long line of customers outside. 

Just to give you an idea of how much their food actually cost. Of course, prices are subject to change without prior notice.

For those who have eaten the Queen Siopao, you must be familiar with the fact that a) it has its own selling schedule and b) it's a giant siopao (yes, giant small bun!). I recall one of our friends saying that when one eats Queen Siopao, one has to have rice on his plate because its filling is enough to complete a main course.

Total damage... 240.49 php for the three meals inclusive of Iced Tea plus S.C. discount. Not bad for good food.

Roberto's is located at J.M. Basa St., Iloilo City

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RACKS: Great Dine-in, Super Fantasic Barbeque Sauce for Take-out

Aside from eating at Racks, one of our favorite traditions is bringing home with us a couple Racks Barbecue Sauce bottles. Racks has one of the best barbeque sauce and we don't mind spending a couple of hundreds on them for our own grilled cookouts.

Racks Original Barbeque Sauce

So, what's there to eat at Racks?

For appetizers, nothing beats Racks Onion Brick for some good old deep fried crispy goodness. At 165 php (or is it 195 php now), this appetizer can literally be your main course if you're a big fan of onions and crunchy grub.

Onion brick made of sliced large sweet onions fried in crispy goodness.

Add in some Cesar Salad and you'll be regretting ordering that main course without having a tummy of steel. If I remember correctly, this one cost me my Baby Back Ribs meal because I was too full.

Sure, I can eat Racks Cesar Salad alone. But what about my Pork Ribs?

As an avid eater, I certainly recommend eating lightly to enjoy more flavors. This means a salad here, a rib portion there, some iced tea and the rest is history. 

Coleslaw and Mashed Potato Sidings? Not bad!

Sharing is loving and what we usually do as a family is to order 3 courses if there are 4 of us eating. This is to make room for the Mississippi Mud Pie dessert- a must have for the sweet tooth.

This memorable Racks meal was courtesy of the El Pueblo branch at Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

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Ocean Adventure Park Shows and Schedules: Sea Lion Marine Patrol

One of the best parts in going to Ocean Adventure Park is the variety of shows tourists can choose from. From the amazing African Acrobats on the Balancing Act to the talented Sea Lions in the Sea Lion Marine Patrol.

Just one of the many signs found in the background of the Sea Lion Point Stadium

Both children and adults will have a blast laughing at the adorable sea lions. The first act where Simba (the blind sea lion) announces to everyone the beginning of the show was hilarious and memorable.

Amazing how a blind sea lion can pinpoint where the microphone is... She literally slid her way to it.

Some parts of the show involved a guy competing with the other sea lion called Sophie for the "Olympics". He fell into the water and got a free t-shirt and pair of shorts for doing the silliest things.

This nice young lady got a wet, juicy kiss from Simba! You don't get any luckier than that.

Like all the shows, the Sea Lion Marine Patrol at Ocean Adventure Park in Subic, Philippines also promotes reduce, reuse, and recycle. The sea lions take part in encouraging the use of cloth bags as part of raising environmental awareness.

Note: Sorry about this next picture. I "over gamma-ed" it

This is Sophie. She was the official sea lion competitor in the Olympics. 

The Sea Lion Marine Patrol Show is held at the Sea Lion Point Stadium. There are 3 shows in a day. I suggest watching the show at about 12:30 because it will be terribly hot at the Dolphin Friends Show which usually start at 11 am.

Sea Lion Marine Patrol Show Schedules:

12:30 pm

03:30 pm

05:00 pm

 *Schedules may vary depending on Ocean Adventure Park's management.

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Balancing Act Show and Schedules in Ocean Adventure Park at Subic Bay, Philippines

As I've said previously, Ocean Adventure is one of the best places to go to. Along with the entire family, visitors can enjoy a day in the sun (or rain) watching their favorite sea animals doing tricks and educating them about sea life.

The Balancing Act Show in Ocean Adventure Park

Not only are the shows fun, but they're also educational. The trainers and performers are quite entertaining. Today's feature is the Balancing Act. This a short 15-minute show with jumping African acrobats whose physical capabilities in dancing, tumbling and well, balancing are nothing short of intense (in a good way).

Just love that "Let's Party" atmosphere with these African Acrobats group.

These African Acrobats are simply amazing. They're entertaining to watch and we had lots of laughs seeing them dance with their lean and limber bodies.

With fun and merriment comes the responsibility to be educated with the ways of the sea.

I can't remember who this "Kuya" is, but he certainly was memorable. The first costume he wore was a bottle cap of some unbranded soda/water bottle.

This is just one of the many stunts visitors will enjoy while watching the Balancing Act.

Th Balancing Act with African Acrobats is shown in the Sea Side Stadium.

Balancing Act park schedules are as follows:

11:45 am

01:15 pm

02:45 pm

*Note: These schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

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