Subic Bay Documentary

[OnMyWay]

I happened across this interesting documentary on Subic Bay.  I have not watched all of them yet.

Go to You Tube for parts 2-4.

 

Edited November 29, 2017 by OnMyWay

[OnMyWay]

I watched them all and actually this is a sad story.  Apparently is was made in the late 90's and/or is only up-to-date to that period.

I had often wondered how some of the buildings here came about and now I know about some.  I couldn't imagine that they were all Navy buildings and now it appears that many were built during this splurge in the 90's.  Almost all of the buildings featured in the video are in dis-repair and/or vacated or finally just now undergoing renovation.  20+ years of neglect after the positive beginning just after the Navy left.

The last few years have seen improvement and now there are many new buildings and renovations. 

The "5 star" hotel and casino Legenda has been abandoned for years and now is being turned into a call center, even though it is in the heart of the tourist hotel area.

The airport is semi-closed.  Only a few private flights unless the military is having an operation there.  The former FEDEX buildings are in disrepair.

The high end residences out at Cubi were built for the ASEAN conference they mentioned, I think it was '96.  Bill Clinton stayed in one and I am sure he had many visits from GRO's.  Those houses appear to be in decent shape but I don't see anybody going in and out, so I don't know what the deal is there.  I saw one advertised for sale once.  I think it was p40 mil.  One house closest to the road burned down years ago and just sat there for years.  That is now part of the new high end condos being built.

[Queenie O.]

21 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

I watched them all and actually this is a sad story.  Apparently is was made in the late 90's and/or is only up-to-date to that period.

I had often wondered how some of the buildings here came about and now I know about some.  I couldn't imagine that they were all Navy buildings and now it appears that many were built during this splurge in the 90's.  Almost all of the buildings featured in the video are in dis-repair and/or vacated or finally just now undergoing renovation.  20+ years of neglect after the positive beginning just after the Navy left.

The last few years have seen improvement and now there are many new buildings and renovations. 

The "5 star" hotel and casino Legenda has been abandoned for years and now is being turned into a call center, even though it is in the heart of the tourist hotel area.

The airport is semi-closed.  Only a few private flights unless the military is having an operation there.  The former FEDEX buildings are in disrepair.

The high end residences out at Cubi were built for the ASEAN conference they mentioned, I think it was '96.  Bill Clinton stayed in one and I am sure he had many visits from GRO's.  Those houses appear to be in decent shape but I don't see anybody going in and out, so I don't know what the deal is there.  I saw one advertised for sale once.  I think it was p40 mil.  One house closest to the road burned down years ago and just sat there for years.  That is now part of the new high end condos being built.

What happened?  The Philippines wanted independence from the US, and it appeared that they were off to a good start with all those different enterprises.  Does anyone in the forum know what happened up to now, without getting too political?

[OnMyWay]

13 minutes ago, Queenie O. said:

What happened?  The Philippines wanted independence from the US, and it appeared that they were off to a good start with all those different enterprises.  Does anyone in the forum know what happened up to now, without getting too political?

I only know one theory expressed by friends who grew up in the Olongapo.  They said that Olongapo really went downhill after the Gordon family lost power, so I assume that applies to the Freeport too.

Also, I think general economic conditions in PH were not so good during that time, and have since gotten much better.

[Jake]

2 hours ago, Queenie O. said:

What happened?  The Philippines wanted independence from the US, and it appeared that they were off to a good start with all those different enterprises.  Does anyone in the forum know what happened up to now, without getting too political?

The series entitled "Rising Above the Storm" was about the severe hardship the Filipinos endured after Mt Pinatubo devastated central Luzon and both US military bases (Clark AFB and Subic Bay Naval Station) and of course my hometown of Olongapo.  The Gordon dynasty (mayor, governor and congress) and being the first head of SBMA (Subic Bay Metro Authority) was the motivating force in the massive recovery effort.  

Unfortunately, the senators under Gloria Aquino voted to kick out the US Navy which affected the economy of the Olongapo while they were still digging up all the lahar and ashes from the eruption, located some 40 miles away.  Clark AFB was severely damaged and was abandoned by the US air force.  Those senators were labelled the "dirty dozen" and one of them later became president (Joseph Estrada).  The Gordon family had a bit of a falling out from the central govt of Manila with subsequent SBMA's became more and more corrupt.  Freeport could still be a deep harbor world class cruise ship and resort enterprise but the corruption machine in Manila has too many deep pockets.  

I would still consider living inside Freeport in spite of that.  It is relatively safe and quiet with all the western amenities within the base.  And once in awhile, I would have the opportunity to interface with my fellow US military personnel as they make a port visit.  It has been awhile since I said "hey Joe, throw me coin" under the bridge that spans over Chit River......he, he.  

[OnMyWay]

8 hours ago, Jake said:

And once in awhile, I would have the opportunity to interface with my fellow US military personnel as they make a port visit. 

And you would be able to be alongside many of your ex-shipmates!  There was an older Filipino in my doctors office today with a USS Piedmont hat on so I asked him if he was USN retired, and he was.  I thanked him for his service and then had go see the doc so we didn't talk more.