CARS LINE UP for flag-off rites of 1st Subic Legendary A DOSE OF CREATIVITY won for K8TVT the grand

prize

Adventure. ';- . in the race.' . - - - ' I' .

Fun and excitement ill th~LFir_?~ Subic Bay Legendary Adventure '

By ANNALYN S. JUSAY

Fun and' exciternent in the First

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bic ay Legendary Adventure

By ANNAL YN S. JUSAY

Summer is usually associated with picnics, beach parties and a sundry of sports activities. It therefore came as a pleasant surprise when the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Legend International Resorts Limited CLIRL) held last April 26 the 1st Subic Bay Legendary Adventure, a unique motoring event which combined the wits and navigational skills of the participants with their love for the great outdoors.

It took LIRL chief executive officer Kho Boo Boon to conceive the Philippine version of the race which he says is popular in the United States and other parts of the world as a "scavenger hunt" or an "equestrian rally." The Subic Legendary Adventure was novel and much-awaited in the sense that it was the first contest of its kind to be held in the country. A total of 28 teams .signed up for the challenge and on the Big Day, they showed up in a wide assortment of vehicles - from reliable sedans, bulky pickup. trucks, the glitzy Benz and of course trusty

SUV s. All the cars underwent emission testing in compliance with the strict environmental policies at work in Subic.

The contest worked this way: participating teams were given a question sheet and a trail map which they have to strictly follow. They have to answer the quiz provided in the question sheet before they proceed to' the next destination. The sheet contained the exact distance of the covered routes in meters, additional remarks or instructions and a total of 118 questions which either required factual information or provided a set of clues related to the place being visited. At the forest trail stop, for example, they had to find out "what is the scientific name of the santol tree?", while at the Bat Kingdom, they had to count, just how many flags there were on the bam-

boo pole. Most found out that the hardest part was the anagram where they had to untangle key words to create a new word' or phrase (example: DEBIT CARD can also be jumbled as BAD CREDIT Along the way, the teams were directed to collect certain treasures (with the appropriate clues, of course!) which earned them extra points. In case of traffic violations, the corresponding penalty points were deducted from the total score.

"This contest really is a test of patience,endurance and team-building. You are supposed to think out of the box, to discover the nuances and subtleties of each word or phrase which will lead you to uncos'er the whole mystery of the game," remarked

Bo6flli.o. ,. ,

The'mental challenge and physical excitement of the race were enough to keep everybody's adrenaline

• • • •

going. One of those who joined was a couple of doctors who brought along their kids aged nine, eight and five. Another team consisted of hotel front desk personnel who wanted to win and raise money for their colleague afflicted with a kidney ailment.

While most of the participants were residents of Subic, the top honors of the 1st Subic Bay Legendary' Adventure went to a team from Manila who called themselves K8TVT (a play on "creativity," which is also the name of the multimedia agency they work for).

Earl Palma, the group's leader said "we just heard on the contest from 99.5 RT and we said, why not? We came this far and so, we really set our hearts and minds on winning. We found out that it really pays to be meticulous. We weren't satisfied with just passing by a given route once. We always had to go back and verify our answers." For their efforts, Earl and

his teammates brought home f'30,OOO in cash plus an all-expense paid trip to Malaysia courtesy of the Legend Group of Hotels

and Resorts.

The second prize went to "El Guapitos" led by SBMA marketing man Kenneth Peralta. "We didn't expect to win. We were really just having fun and treated

~ this like any ordinary "gimik."

, I guess our advantage is that

.\ we're from Subic and so we , 'know the place, we didn't have to follow the exact distance of the routes as indicated in the question sheet," he noted. "El Guapitos" were awarded P'20,OOO in cash plus a stay at the posh Subic Bay Yacht Club.

The third prize (and f'10,OOO in cash) went to a group called "Endangered Species." Special prizes were also given to the "Most

Persistent Team" and the one who sported the Best Outfit.

SBMA chairman Felicito C. Payumo congratulated the organizers for once again focusing the' spotlight on the breathtaking natural and man-made wonders of Subic. The Legendary Adventure - which started at the Remy Field of the main business district and ended at the well-appointed Legenda Suites in Upper Cubi - gave participants a good view of Subic's wide, open roads, its lush jungle, its clear, crystal-blue waters and other picturesque attractions.

Even more noteworthy was the fact that the .activity will benefit a good cause. Legenda's Cheryl Singzon said part of the proceeds will go to the Subic Bay Ecology Center's Forest Fire Management and Control Program and the Labor Management Cooperation's Educational Assistance Project.

The- 1st Subic Bay Legendary Adventure has been adjudged an unqualified success that a second outing is being planned next year. Let's drink to that!

.. .....:.:...

'Legendary Adventure' Race to benefit GuBAT Learning Center

OWING TO THE SUCCESS OF last year's event, the "Subic Bay Legendary Adventure" race is back this year to challenge the wit, stamina and teamwork of adventure seekers.

A combination of automobile race and 10 test, the Legendary Adventure requires participants to answer a series of questions as they progress from one destination to another.

The race requires participants to form a car team of two to four members, composed of a driver and navigators.

The winning team is decided on

Sullie Bay Freeport

The Eeo Report • April 2004 9

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BY FRANCIS Y. CAPISTRANO, Reporter

"on a Saturday, 20 teams of two to four

'-..:. ..

members each frantically scampered

about in the whole Subic Bay Freeport Zone while looking for clues and searchlnq for treasures. Guided only by a set of treasure hunting "tulips" and

an ambiguous list of hints and riddles, they tried to beat no only each other and the· six-hour limit but also their own physical and mentallimitptions. Sounds like the Amazing Race?

The Subic Bay Le@endaryAdventure, now on its third year, actually precedes the said reality-based'television show, as Legend

! ~International Resorts L d.Philippines

I Chief Executive Officer 00 Boo Boon has been masterminding such events since 15 years back in Malaysia, his home coun ry.

He said the contest, , . ich is a var.iation of orien cering. is a test of physical stamina ano 'ntellect, as teams riding in their cars are qulded not by a map but a 'st of tulips and distances in meters. rney also bea test on how accurare are rhe trip meters of each team's venicle.

Beside each tulip ana distance mark is a set of instructions or ques ions. Each team must answer e questions or collect treasures baseo on clues

present a e location oointed by the

tulip.

Tne ques ions may be riddles, word plays, or plain statements similar to that on he crossword puzzle.

"I s difficult, you have to really think outside the box. Sometimes, [the questions] are meant to confuse you," said Mr. Khoo, who made the questions and the only one who knew the answers.

For example,the clue"252135"is not a phone number unlike what the other teams thought but is actually the number of an electric meter at 1 ,420 meters from the last location. A seemingly innocent question - the number of rooms are there on Narra Suite of Legendary Suites - proved . to be a tricky one as some contestants included only the number of units and forgot about the bedrooms in the count.

The answer to the question this reporter was wondering about - the symbol of our own insecurity - can be found at the gate of Subic Homes: it was the security guard.

Teams scoured chapels.parks, asked

STARTING PO!NTforthe Adventure Challenge

bystanders and knocked on houses in search of answers. Some teams formed momentary cartels while another brought a dictionary with them,just in case.

The organizers who accompanied the reporters were clueless of the answers,

. so our group just had to follow where the teams went. Fortunately, the teams our group was following did not get lost.

A team of expatriates named "Fortunate Cookies" - the one who lugged their dictionary around - won first place.

Rashedul A. Chowdhury, designated driver-of the team, revealed that the whole. trunk of his car was a "mobile office library"which had encyclopedias and other books.

Though they hardly used it, they just

felt better with it. . .

"It was a break from our monotonous life here," he said. It was his first time to join the contest, as his three other teammates who were regulars tugged him along.

Mr. Chowdry, a Bangladeshi, is vicepresident for operations of D-j Aerospace, Inc., a locator in Subic, while the rest of the team were officers of Legend International . Resorts, No, it was not fixed: employees of Legend International are allowep to join because only Mr. Khoo knows the answers -.

"It is one of the best ways to know , more about Subicand to promote tourism in the area, said Loke Siew Fonq, a Malaysian, and tour opera!ions

FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 6-7,2005

Though they hardly used it, they just felt better with it .

"It was a break from our monotonous life here," he said. It was his first time to join the contest,as his three other teammates who were regulars tugged him along.

Mr. Chowdry, a Bangladeshi, is vicepresident for operations of D-J Aerospace, Inc., a locator in Subic, while the rest of the team were officers of Legend International Resorts. No, it was not fixed: employees of Legend International are allowed to join because only Mr. Khoo knows the answers.

"It is one of the best ways to know more about SU9ic" and to promote tourism in the area, said Loke Siew Fong, a Malaysian, and tour operations

:-''1'

manager-group travel program of

Legend International Resorts

Mr. Khoo, who brought the game to Subic when he took over Legend International Resorts two and a half years ago, said this contest is not just a marketing tool but a "social marketing toolto promote causes.

The l.eqendary Adventure, which

_ always coincided with Earth Day, has' various cause-oriented groups as beneficiaries, in particular, environmental groups such as Haribon Foundation.

I "Earth Day is one of the causes that I want to promote, [which include] environment, children, women and the poor," he said, noting that similar activities they organized in Malaysia

were also for different causes,

This year, it was the Ophthalmological Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. (OFPHIL), a nonprofit organization which focuses on prevention and treatment of blindness among Filipinos, which was named as beneficiary.

Mr. Khoo said restoring the sight especially of the poor and indigenous peoples, which is what OFPHIL does, is important.These people, he said, unnecessarily become blind because they do not have the financial resources and awareness of what causes blindness.

Furthermore, without sight, one cannot see and appreciate the environment. And one cannot even join the Legendary Adventure without it.

II IE DAILVfrir."" Dinah S. Ventura, Editor'

~ I o-mall: [email protected]

I rlday, May 19, 2006

12

ADVENTURE THROUGH

, '

By Fatima de Guzman, Contributor

It was not for the weak of mind, and it was certainly not for the faint of heart.

Participants of the Fourth Subic Bay Legendary Wilderness Adventure soon found this out when their mental and physical capacities were pushed to the limits as they tried to conquer a series of grueling tests in hopes of emerging

as this year's race champ. " ,

Conceptualized by its organizers with an environment theme in mind, the activity was stepped up a notch higher

Two-wheeling tandem

Following the navigationcourse was a cycling and trail running event in the Pamulaklakin Aeta Village area that we tried to follow on foot by crossing a small stream into the beaten path which leads to the Pastolan trails. Pairs, one on foot and the other on wheels, steered up and down the seven-kilometer dirt track under the scorching sun. Clouds of dust were kicked up as some, bikers and runners sailed through the course, others struggled onthe steep ascent. One biker's chain even snapped, making me wonder how he fared in trying to finish the distance.

The competitors said that this leg was what most of them found challenging, frustrating and exciting all at the same time.'

Outrigger scrapper

Duos paddling a one-kilometer stretch of Malawaan in a two-seater kayak proved to be entertaining, as couples strived to maintain their balance and circumnavigate thebuoys which had been placed as pointers for the water course. Apparently new to kayaking, one amusing tandem kept going in circles, both making great effort to slice the water with their paddle blades or foot as other nairs nassed by. Practiced contenders

._j ,

, against the canopy of jungle foliage, rapelled from a height

of sixty feet and coursed through the ultimate catwalk where one climbs a towering post connected to a beam, crosses to the other side, returns to the middle and jumps from there.

Drawing to a close

The final event was another navigational test using turtle symbols which pointed to the directions of a trail or where a certain treasure can be found. Final directions led to Legenda Suites, as one team followed another, some wheezing and slumping on the ground.

Toyota.Evolution-made up of Jimmy Hembra and Gary T,pmon-r;amfl out as the race's too doz team, winning P50,OOO

compared to the previous races as more physically daunting tasks were included. Some of the seventeen pairs of t.hrill seeking pnrticipants w r rookies to the competition while HOIIHl extreme udventurors wore v trans of the PHSt. events.

A wild clues chase

Flagging off at the Subic Bay Boardwalk, explorers in tWIl~ plot t 1'0 n cours« t hrnugh various landmark points 11111111111 the> Subic 1"1' ('pOl'1. ':,.0;011(' it,s hotols, n~S'~l\Il·allt.s, trll' 1111 I'IN parks, wharfs, tourtam gl'flJ"('d esl.ahlishlllcnLs, his Illr ('III sites and proto ·ted wildlife area. A sequ nc of I·,dlliol-l, anagrams and puns s rved as clues which led the H(I(llctll's to their next. destination where they were inst,l'Ilc:!, d to find concealed items or perform a certain task h 1'01'0 looking for their next stop.

Chasing after the contestants was quite exciting especially since we, the media covering the event, also tried our hand at solving the clues. Pretty soon we were zipping around Subic In our designated van making time with the answers, although that might have been because ten heads were better than two. A divergence in directions had us turned around and we had to retrace our steps and concede to losing our "lead," so to speak.

. -

of them found challenging, frustrating and exciting all

at the same time ..

Outrigger scrapper

Duos paddling a one-kilometer stretch of Malawaan in a two-seater kayak proved to be entertaining, as couples strived to maintain their balance and circumnavigate the buoys which had been placed as pointers for the water course. Apparently new to kayaking, one amusing tandem kept going in circles, both making great effort to slice the water with their paddle blades or foot as other pairs passed by. Practiced contenders however cut through the water as would synchronized' dragon boat rowers.

Survival Is no JEST

Tho fourth and firt.h ev nt.i:l of the survival and euuing-ed ro challenges took the participants to the 'amp of Jungle Environmental Survival Training to undergo a crash course on bush-craft survival skills. Using only bits and pieces taken from the bamboo, the pairs were tasked to generate fire by rubbing sticks and catching the park in bamboo shavings. When they accomplished this job they wore given a drink .of water extracted from a lapatan bamboo.

From the survival encampment competitors headed to Subic Extreme Adventure Park, where they were certainly taken to the extreme as they tackled a slide-for-life set

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where one climbs a towering 'post connected- to a beam, crosses to the other side, returns to the middle and jumps

from there. .

Drawing to a close

The final event was another navigational test using turtle symbols which pointed to the directions of a trail or where a certain treasure can be found. Final directions led to Legenda Suites, as one team followed another, some wheezing and slumping on the ground.

Toyota Evolution-made up of Jimmy Hembra and Gary Lemon-came out as the race's top dog team, winning P50,000 in cash and vacation packages. M-Bimby's Greg Doronila and Arnie Bernabe earned second spot taking home P30,000 worth of cash and vacation packages as well.

The event was organized by Legend International Resorts Ltd. together with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and the proceeds from the race will go to the Philippine National Red Cross. The CEO of Legend, Khoo Boo Boon, said that the event which commemorated Earth Day was part of the company's social responsibility efforts through the appreciation and preservation of the environment.

A concert for Mother Earth

The day drew to a close and night began as lights from the stage at Subic's Boardwalk began to come to life. A short stopover at Casa de Kalayaan showed photo exhibits of wildlife conservation and nature related subjects, junk art pieces and the finishing touches being made to body painting contestants.

People filled the waterfront: vendors selling food and handicrafts; exhibitors from dive centers, wildlife awareness organization, and safari destination; skaters who turned the closed off road into a skating area; and concert goers who waited for their fave bands. Rested race contestants had a ball watching their progress as coverage of the race was flashed on the big screen.

Winners of the race were announced, and the Radioactive Sago Project took the stage as the Earth Day Jam 2006 officially began, .Other celebrated performers who paid homage to nature were Akafellas, Lou Bonnevie, Pinikpikan, Paolo Santos, Session Road, 6 Cycle Mind and the Brownman Revival.

Hosted by Lou Bonnevie, the event was graced by personalities like Karel Marquez and Miss Philippines Earth contestants.

__ -----------"..--~--.,-~""""'''''"''',.....,,=VO"y-rrar---rrrg-rrst1TOl:rr:aumry-rarget-nowev-

=-':~-=Y growth. The Purefoods-Hormel Co. Inc. registered another banner year in terms of volume after posting double-digit sales volume and

Monterey sometime m February.' £1 i Number of outlets served in- a creased to 4,108)n 2005 from n 3,961 in 2004. . a

Smokey's outlets opened last b year hit 46, bringing the total c

~ - = =-_:::5~;:; - - ;re.rc~:

.5 - ~ pply-demand

C ions, improved operational efficiencies, and good

er.

. The coffee joint venture business under San Miguel Super Coffeemix Co. Inc., whose San Mig Coffee products were

Promoting tourism by preserving nature

B Raquel P. Gomez

!..'L-\YSIAN KHOO BOO SOON, CHIEF EXeczzive officer of the Legend International ReLtd. in Subic, Olongapo, came to the _ ... ppines in 2002 and was captivated.by the sea and mountains in the former US -7;' base.

-_- pon discovering that Subic was the perfect

- zce for nature adventure activities and out-

: _ sports, Boon immediately embarkedon a 7- -=s:: to promote awareness and preservation

- ::0'c's natural wonders by holding sports

- ::: zventure competitions similar to those in

s Ike ''Amazing Race" and "Survivor." := 300n, the efforts of the Legend group of - - -' Subic during the past four years is pi=- . g because the hospitality industry in ~ :?iilippines rarely focuses on nature _ =:-ration to encourage tourism.

_ :::.mk the development in tourism and' -:iug tourist destinations should co-ex_. preserving the country's pristine ~.--'--~- and forest covers," says Boon. "We make sure that tourism development ..,_._~-_- . be disastrous to the environment, _~ - °e will lose our cultural endowments - - rrral biodiversity. If we destroy what

- then we will no longer be spoken of

_;:_ of tourist destination .because there - :-e anything to see."

...=......: , Legend International -" d the 4th Subic Bay

-::::y Wilderness Adventure

zided with Earth Day eel.~~:s in Subic. The event brought together Z1!~=== seekers, travel enthusiasts and the

- ~ded people all over the country to =::::E:= against each other in several ..........,;=:;......:......:-?acked activities involving mountain - ,'aking, mountain survival skills, tree "-="''-Z::..---'': and mountain trekking, The event :. fund-raising campaign and proceeds == Philippine National Red Cross.

1CYs the hotel has been doing envi-===~o' and cause-oriented activities four ear, For the past four years, since - over Legend International Hotels,

- ::rrougli these activities, was able to

-- for kids' education, eyesurgeries

::...:3"S, victims of spouse abuse, and inmmunities.

::: this philosophy that says that you :.,_ good when you do well. But some . :.3erving and needy communities

BOON

cannot afford to wait fora business to do well to uplift their condition. I think. that this is something that we should constantly support. We should always try to help the less fortu-

nate," he says. . .

. An active sportsman himself, Boon loves to bike, hike and sail. He himself underwent the activities for the Legendary Subic Adventure first before presenting these to the participants. Like the others involved in promoting tourism

in Subic, Boon saw Subic's big . potential in attracting and capturing . tourists who like the . sports he loves todo, aside from

v-, sightseeing of course,

"Subic has very good sites for sport activities, This is the only place where you can find activities within 10 minutes. Within 10 minutes, you could either be in the beach or you could. be enjoying a: game of golf, or hiking the hills. You can do anything here from para sailing to bungee jumping, game fishing, biking to forest trekking."

As to the effect of the hotel's nature awareness promotion to tourism in Subic, Boon says he couldn't yet quantify its impact, except that Subic is becoming more known as the center for adventure and sports.

"In the hospitality business, I think that we're the only one who pushed forward this agenda. But we 'don't look at the instrumental value of what we do. Our premise is really to encourage the tourists from other countries to come here ' and really appreciate the cultural richness as well as the physical beauty of this country."

,

,~ ,

c

Abo Gov.M Kasambagar

, NOTICE OF ANNUAL I

NOTICE is hereby given that the It . VENTURES, INC., will be held- on 15 ~ City Marriott Hotel, Cebu Business Park

. The Agenda of the meeting is as follo

1. Call to Order

2. Proof of Notice of Meeting

3. Determination of Quorum

4. Reading and Approval of the Minute

5. Presentation of the President's Rep 6 .. Approval of Annual Report and Fill!

7. Ratification of the Acts, Resolutions

Officers and Management up to 15

8. Election of External Auditors

9. Election of Board of Directors

10. Other Business

11. Adjournment

Only stockholders of record at the ck

. and to vote at this meeting. Registratior present any proof of identification, SSS/GSIS I.D. Aside from personal idt arid other entities should also present ment showing his or her authority to re: , Should you be unable to attend the 11

. representative. In accordance with the presented to the Secretary forinspectio the opening of the stockholders I meetin , For those unable to attend the Stockl be conducted in Manila on 17 May 20( Hotel, Makati City.

For the Board of Directors.

\

- . ".