Vasco’s Restaurant, Magellan's Museum
Oct 29, 2022 9:21:15 GMT 8
EXO, chadhill, and 1 more like this
Post by Karl Welteke on Oct 29, 2022 9:21:15 GMT 8
Vasco’s Restaurant, Bar and Grill, also a Resort and Hotel
Magellan's Landing Maritime Museum
This place is located in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, the former Subic Bay Naval Base.
I collected about 50+ pictures and decided to present them in 3 segments. This is the first segment with the first two sections.
The Vasco’s Restaurant, Bar, Grill, Resort and Hotel and the Magellan Landing Maritime Museum (it is really one place) is a very unique, interesting, relaxing and refreshing place, so is the owner, Brian Homan, an adventurer and entrepreneur! I love to go there and I especially like to take visitors, they are astounded by the charm of the place. It has a Maritime Atmosphere of sea treasures, early South East Asia Trading History and the history of European Ocean Explorations.
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This first section of this Vasco’s and Magellan presentation is a write up, news clips and pictures from this Facebook page called: Subic Bay- Olongapo City Residents Page, click here:
www.facebook.com/SubicBayResidents/posts/subic-bay-storiesbrian-john-homan-born-march-25-1952-owner-of-magellans-landing-/2741838065873326/
December 9, 2019
Subic Bay Stories
Brian John Homan. Born March 25, 1952. Owner of Magellan's Landing, Vasco’s, along Argonaught Highway, Subic Freeport Zone, Australian national.
He arrived in Subic Bay in 1992, two weeks after the departure of the Americans and he arrived with a vision.
Prior to this, he had his first shipwreck dive expedition on August 21,1983. When the whole country was in turmoil and was mourning the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, Brian was celebrating the discovery of many ancient Chinese Dragon Jars at sea.
9 years after, he came back speculating on valuables under Subic Bay. His return was on board a Spanish Galleon made out of European Pinewood. This caught the attention of then Chairman of SBMA now Senator Dick Gordon.
"The chairman called for me after seeing the Galleon docked in Barretto. I want you to bring the Galleon to SBMA", the chairman said.
And so Brian sailed it into the Freeport, docked it in what was to be the spot of the Subic Bay Yacht club.
It was under the administration of Chairman Felicito Payumo, March of 2000 that Brian would conceptualize what would be today's Vasco’s restaurant, Magellan's Landing Maritime Museum and a boutique hotel by the bay. It is a 24 hour restaurant where you can enjoy the best view of Subic's sunset.
"This place had nothing! It was a coaling-refueling station of the U.S. Navy. It was a wasteland," he said. Even Chairman Payumo was scratching his head on what he could possibly develop in the area
This novel Subic real estate he developed with passion, as close to the bay as one could be, with good food and drinks and good company would be his refuge to many stories at sea. From being called in to clean up the chemicals from the Fedex plane crash, to being part of that rescue effort in the Bocaue Pagoda tragedy in 1993, being part of the rescue effort after the floating Pagoda capsized. 257 bodies mostly children were recovered, "I've been doing what I've loved since I was a teenager. I am so committed to the sea and diving that I lost 2 good wives...I have since slowed down as I don't want to lose my 3rd wife." said Brian.
While he says this, and entering his 70s, he reminisces the days he was in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, excitedly saying it meant PORT OF THE GALLEONS and MINE OF GOLD (Mindoro). He also says he is setting his sights on the underwater treasure around Vigan as they have pinpointed other possible wrecks just waiting to be discovered.
Thru it all, he says, he has been around the world but his real treasure is Subic which he considers home, "the best place in the world!" While many of us, wittingly or unwittingly throw our waste at sea, Brian recovers so much, and builds us a museum of what we have...what is ours...our history, patrimony, legacy.
And so we say jokingly, if you lose your 3rd wife Brian, marry a mermaid to have the best of both your worlds. Subic Bay loves you and your place! Thanks for all the treasure! Cheers to you!
Zf879. Vasco’s menu cover page. This is an image from the Subic Bay- Olongapo City Residents Page, click here:
www.facebook.com/SubicBayResidents/posts/subic-bay-storiesbrian-john-homan-born-march-25-1952-owner-of-magellans-landing-/2741838065873326/
Zf880. This is the Vasco’s Restaurant, Bar and Grill with the Boss Brian Homan, it is maritime all the way and one gets great views from here. This restaurant is sitting on the pilings of the old Navy Coaling Pier. This is an image from the Subic Bay- Olongapo City Residents Page, click here:
www.facebook.com/SubicBayResidents/posts/subic-bay-storiesbrian-john-homan-born-march-25-1952-owner-of-magellans-landing-/2741838065873326/
Zf881. This the replica of a Galleon Brian Homan brought to Subic Bay in the 1990 and unfortunate it got wrecked here in Subic Bay in one of the common storms. This is an image from the Subic Bay- Olongapo City Residents Page, click here:
www.facebook.com/SubicBayResidents/posts/subic-bay-storiesbrian-john-homan-born-march-25-1952-owner-of-magellans-landing-/2741838065873326/
Zf882. The news clipping about the galleon in Subic Bay of Brian Homan. This is an image from the Subic Bay- Olongapo City Residents Page, click here:
www.facebook.com/SubicBayResidents/posts/subic-bay-storiesbrian-john-homan-born-march-25-1952-owner-of-magellans-landing-/2741838065873326/
Zf883.These are partial news clippings about Brian Homan and his Treasure Hunting Adventures. This is an image from the Subic Bay- Olongapo City Residents Page, click here:
www.facebook.com/SubicBayResidents/posts/subic-bay-storiesbrian-john-homan-born-march-25-1952-owner-of-magellans-landing-/2741838065873326/
Zf884. this is another view Restaurant, Bar and Grill with the Boss Brian Homan, it is maritime all the way and one gets great views from here. This restaurant is sitting on the pilings of the old Navy Coaling Pier. This image was captured from the www.
Zf885. This is one of Vasco’s Hotel and Inn structures with the swimming pool in front.
Zf886. This is the Google Earth image with the location of Vasco’s and Magellan indicated.
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9 Views from the Vasco’s Restaurant. This is the 2nd section of this segment.
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Zf887. The new Container Port, left of it is the old Carrier Leyte Wharf which is now a Grain Port.
Zf888. A US Naval Ship from the Military Sea Lift Command (MSC) is in port, moored to the former Ship Repair Facility (SRF).
Zf889. A great view of the former Ship Repair Facility (SRF), I see a Philippine war ship, many tugs, a cable laying ship, a yacht and two dry docks at right.
Zf890. This is a shot across the old fuel pier towards the former SRF and we see the modern Philippine Navy Ships which have now moved to their new base at the Agila Subic Yard, the former Hanjin Shipyard.
Zf891.Eentrance to Vasco’s and the floating plane building. This floating plane organization was run by a retired Navy Aviation man. Vasco and Magellan Restaurant, Bar and Inn are famous, very popular and are run by well known Australian and sit exactly on the old concrete pilings of the old Navy Coaling Station.
Zf892. This is an old LCVP boat, which stands for Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel, that was my first job in the Navy, driving this type of boat and making beach landings. This boat belongs to Vasco’s.
Zf893. This day was a rainy day and at this moment it was raining cats and dogs at the Vasco’s parking area.
Zf894. This day was a rainy day and at this moment it was raining cats and dogs at the Vasco’s parking area.
Zf895. This day was a rainy day and at this moment it was raining cats and dogs at the Vasco’s small boat landing.