WHETHER hiking, trekking, or just craving a wild escape, the tropical Philippines can be a perfect playground - and Subic takes it up a notch.
From three-day full camp experiences to quick day trips, the Jungle Environment Survival Training (JEST) teaches essential skills for surviving the wilderness, all while embracing the grit and grime of outdoor adventure.
As the country’s first and only institution offering such training since 1963, JEST now finds itself in stride with the growing demand for nature-based experiences.
Just under a three-hour drive from the metro, the trip is a fascinating experience in itself, especially with the Ford Everest—a convenient vehicle built for safe long-distance and outdoor driving. Upon arrival, aficionados can enjoy a breather among the greens and blues of Zambales.
For quick trippers with only a day to spare, a four-to-six-hour Camp Craft session is available.
It starts with a 15-minute rocky road drive to the jump-off point, followed by at least a 40-minute hike to Boton Falls, then an hour-long return hike at an average pace.
Midway through the adventure, participants learn ancient bamboo cooking, known as 'luto sa buho,' using only a bolo or machete to craft all the necessary tools and also starting fire using bamboo.
Participants are asked to bring their own raw meat, rice, and other ingredients for the activity. These added supplies fit efficiently in the Ford Everest’s spacious trunk, making it an ideal match for an adventurous lifestyle.
The session also includes a primer on identifying and harvesting wild edible and drinkable plants along the trail.
More than just a breather, this ride packs in sweat, scenery, and a new-found skill from the old world.
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