Iba - Zambales Guide Book V2021-04
A simple guide to the attractions located in Iba, Provincial Capital of Zambales. The Philippines.
A simple guide to the attractions located in Iba, Provincial Capital of Zambales. The Philippines.
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Yourfredownloadable<br />
<strong>Guide</strong>Bokto:<br />
PHILIPPINES<br />
This<strong>Guide</strong><strong>Book</strong>isproducedby<br />
ZAMBALESLIFESAVINGINC.<br />
toassistthe<strong>Zambales</strong>Tourism andResorts<br />
industrytorecoverfrom theCOVID-19pandemic<br />
whichhasefectedthem greatly.<br />
Alprofitsfrom advertisingwilgotoourFreeto<br />
thePublicSwim-safeprogram andourScolarship<br />
program totrainunemployedyouths,male&<br />
female,asLifeguards,foraDrown-free<strong>Zambales</strong>.
Authors introduction<br />
Conveniently located just a few hours drive North West, of Manila. However,<br />
despite being so close, it is largely undiscovered, due, in my opinion, mostly to lack of<br />
promotion and a lack of cooperation amongst local resorts, despite having a reasonably<br />
active resort owners association, which in recent years appears to have become more<br />
interested in social issues, such as Barangay clean ups, rather than attracting potential<br />
tourists, both local and foreign through promotion and advertising along with assisting the<br />
Provincial and Local Government units in forming a long term plan to promote their area.<br />
I make this comment as one of its founders and previously active member of that<br />
association. In fact, I worked on doing this same project prior to my retirement, but could<br />
not convince the executive management that a "digital, on-line" copy was the answer<br />
rather than a printed book, though one such book was produced with the cooperation of<br />
the Olongapo Office of the DTI, but never put into commercial publication.<br />
As I have now been retired for a number of years, in which I have been active as<br />
a volunteer in Drowning Prevention and water safety. However, with the COVID-19<br />
pandemic forcing me to be restricted from my other activities which include Lifeguard<br />
training and the promotion of lifesaving sports, along with a junior lifesaver program for<br />
boys and girls from 5 years of age, I decided to see what I could put together to fulfill the<br />
needs of telling people how much <strong>Zambales</strong> has to offer.<br />
About myself, I am originally from Australia and first visited the Philippines in<br />
1969. I moved to <strong>Zambales</strong> in the mid 1980's and was involved with tourism prior to my<br />
retirement in 2013. I was, during that time, also involved in promoting tourism, as the Vice<br />
President (North) of the Provincial Tourism Council and President of the Botolan Tourism<br />
Council, so I believe I have a fair knowledge of just how much <strong>Zambales</strong> has to offer to<br />
both local and foreign tourists. For foreign tourists, one of the best factors is that English is<br />
basically spoken everywhere, something that for some reason the DOT never advertise.<br />
As in my opinion, the 2 greatest assets of Philippine tourism are, one the people and<br />
second that it is, by population, the third largest English speaking country in the world.<br />
A number of people, some resort owners and Provincial and Local Government<br />
units have assisted with input to make this as informative as possible, I thank them, as<br />
their input has been indispensable in making this guide as accurate and informative as I<br />
hope you will find it.<br />
Roger J. Bound.<br />
Author.<br />
<strong>Guide</strong> <strong>Book</strong> to <strong>Zambales</strong><br />
Online version commenced April 2020<br />
Any profits from advertising will go to <strong>Zambales</strong> Lifesaving Inc. to support<br />
their free to the public Drowning Awareness and Prevention Programs<br />
and the Lifeguard training Scholarship program for unemployed youths.
IBA<br />
Capital of <strong>Zambales</strong><br />
Established in 1611 and with a population of just over<br />
50,000. It boarders with Palauig on the North,<br />
Botolan on the South and Tarlac on the East.<br />
It is the Provincial Capitol of <strong>Zambales</strong> since 1901 when under the American administration it<br />
was moved from Masinloc as <strong>Iba</strong> was more central. As the Capitol, all Government agencies<br />
are located in <strong>Iba</strong>. It has a thriving business area that has seen massive growth over the last<br />
decade, it also has an operational airport.<br />
Tourist attractions:<br />
Known as the "Home of Beautiful Beaches". Its beaches are by far its biggest attraction with<br />
many high quality resorts in the area.
There is an annual Sand Sculpturing Competition held in <strong>Iba</strong> each year.
It is also home to the Dinamulag Festival, (Local dialect name for Mango, for which the<br />
Province is famous for) held each April and the Paynauen Festival held each May.
The Dinamulog (Mango) Festival<br />
is a spectacular event. It<br />
includes Street Dancing<br />
Competition, talent quests and a<br />
trade show of <strong>Zambales</strong><br />
Products. It also includes<br />
information and new<br />
technologies for the Mango<br />
Growers.<br />
The event culminates in the<br />
Crowning of Miss <strong>Zambales</strong> and<br />
Miss <strong>Zambales</strong> Tourism who will<br />
represent <strong>Zambales</strong> in the<br />
promotion of the Province and<br />
Tourism for the coming year.<br />
This event is to celebrate the<br />
fact that <strong>Zambales</strong> Mangoes are<br />
according the the Guinness <strong>Book</strong><br />
of Records, the Sweetest<br />
Mangoes in the World.
Sta. Barbara Waterfalls:<br />
This is quite a trek that requires a 4 X 4 and negotiating some difficult terrain, so if<br />
you want to enjoy the adventure, make sure to leave early in the morning.
<strong>Iba</strong> is also home of the <strong>Zambales</strong> Lifeguard Challenge, sponsored by Standard Insurance and<br />
Tees and Prints, this is an International Surf Lifesaving Sports event and the Junior Lifesavers<br />
Nippers Carnival, (a Junior Lifesaver's event) sponsored by Broadwater Marine and RDH<br />
Marine, for kids 5 and above, generally held every March at Palmera Garden Hotel and Beach<br />
Resort in Bangantalinga, just 4 Km. North of town proper, to showcase the efforts of aquatic<br />
safety and training initiated by <strong>Zambales</strong> Lifesaving Inc.<br />
NOTE: Due<br />
the the<br />
COVID-19<br />
Lock-down<br />
the event<br />
will be<br />
rescheduled<br />
, most likely<br />
Mid to late<br />
November<br />
2020.
Business Directory:<br />
http://www.zambaleslifesaving.org https://www.teesandprints.com/ http://www.rdhmarinesubic.com<br />
https://www.activeboatingwatersports.com/<br />
https://www.broadwatermarine.com/<br />
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Standard-<br />
Insurance/509879392684868<br />
For great food in <strong>Iba</strong>, try the new Seafood Garden.
www.zambalesphilippines.com<br />
+63 (0) 966 659 7513<br />
Email: zambalesguidebook@gmail.com