US Bases Leaving Philippines Anniversary
30 years since the last US military bases left Subic Bay, American influence can still be felt in its policies that affect Filipino migrant workers, and in our culture that still believes that “West is Best”. Up to today, the effects of the US base’s tenure on Philippine soil are undeniable and unbecoming of a country that claims to be an ally of the Philippines:
Prositution, AIDS, and children of US soldiers known as “Amerasians” became the norm in Olongapo and Angeles City, nearby cities in Subic Bay.
Tens of thousands of children fathered by, and left behind by US soldiers. They can only be eligible for US citizenship if their American fathers acknowledge paternity, which is rare. When the US troops withdrew from Subic, they went back to their wives and children in the US, forgetting about the children they fathered in the country.
Toxic waste that is still there, and is refusing to be acknowledged by the US. These carcinogenic contaminants have now given way to death and deadly ills for poverty-stricken Filipinos living in Olongapo.
The Philippines have long claimed its sovereignty, yet it continues to fall prey to powerful nations who do not give a second thought to abusing it. We call for accountability and justice. We call on Filipinos to stand for genuine independence rooted in dignity.
References: