by: Joel Villaraza

Aerial view of former American naval base in the Philippines with Cubi Point airfield on top left.

Military base is an extension of territorial might of a state. It projects power and influence in a country or in a region. Subic Naval Base and Clark Air Base were the biggest military installation outside the United States. Subic base was the U.S. Navy's principal supply and ship-repair facility with a land area of 262 square miles about the size of Singapore while Clark Air base covered an area of around 244 square miles. The two bases were vital military installations in Asia during the Cold War. It became a backbone of logistical support during the Vietnam War in terms of men and materiel.

In 1991, before the expiration of the Military Bases Agreement, there was an ongoing negotiations between United States and Philippine government. The Philippines was proposing $825 million a year for 7 years while the Americans were offering $360 million a year for 10 years. The proposed amount was based on the huge acre of land the Americans were using and for its strategic location in the Pacific region. Philippines thought the proposed lease was fair basing its amount with the billions of dollars in aid Egypt was receiving. However, the Americans stuck to their offer and would not budge.

There was a rough misunderstanding between the two parties in the use of words regarding the occupancy of US military bases. Philippine government said that they were receiving 'RENT' while the United States government believed that they were giving 'AID'. Stephen Bosworth, 1984-1987 US ambassador to the Philippines was once interviewed on a taped telecast about his reaction on the topic. He could not seem to hide the scowl on his face when he heard the word 'RENT'.

Some thought by encouraging people to stage protests in front of American embassy in Manila was a good way to show discontent over the progress of the agreement. However, many other people who were present were groups of pro-COMMUNIST sympathizers who were against the presence of American bases. They were protesting with their fist in the air and shouting for Americans to go home.

Mt. Pinatubo unleashing its destructive fury by throwing unimaginable amount of volcanic toxic waste in the air.

This is how it got ugly. While the people were protesting and chanting out on the streets, without any warning, Mount Pinatubo, a dormant volcano not very far from the American bases erupted violently. On June 15, 1991 it shot up volcanic ashes and debris into the sky and blanketed the surrounding area with thick toxic wastes. It exploded with a force 8 times greater than the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens. The eruption together with typhoon which was coincidentally passing over northern Luzon made it miserable and unbearable to the residents of the two bases. The storm together with heavy rain, lightning and thunder, threw rain soaked ashes.

Buildings everywhere collapsed under the heavy weight of wet sandy ashes. The damage to the country and to the American facilities was devastating. Clark Air Base was declared a total loss. Around 100 buildings were destroyed and twice the number of those ruined buildings sustained heavy damage. After the eruption, Americans thought that it was not worth the effort and money to restore the bases. In short, instead of Americans fixing the big damage and renewing the contract with the Philippine government, it was actually decided that it was a practical step for the American fleet to leave the country.

Aerial photo of collapsed buildings and thick ashes around Subic Bay after violent volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.

Months before the expiration of the Military Bases Agreement, Philippine government under Corazon Aquino together with representatives from the United States worked out intense negotiations and formulated a treaty that would have extended the lease. However, on September 13, 1991, the Philippine Senate with Joseph Estrada leading the charge, cited article 18, section 25 of the 1987 constitution which banned foreign military bases in the country, rejected the ratification of the treaty. It was a close vote of 12 to 11 in favor of those who rejected the extension. Later on, as a result, the 12 senators were branded as the 'Dirty Dozen'.

On November 24, 1992 the American flag was lowered for the last time. The remaining marines and sailors left Subic Naval Base aboard USS Belleau Wood.

In conclusion, it was NOT the overall sentiment of the Filipino people to close the American bases at Subic naval station and Clark air base. Despite having some misunderstanding between Americans and Filipinos, given the choice, if only a referendum was held to decide the fate of the two facilities, Filipinos would still have chosen for the Americans to stay.

U.S. sailors on deck the USS Independence formed a line on the carrier to express their farewell.