THE VOTE AND THE BOAT | US sub tender visits former US naval base

From Rappler (Mar 17): THE VOTE AND THE BOAT | US sub tender visits former US naval base



The American submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) across the "Hands That Freed The Nation" Memorial. CHUCHAY FERNANDEZ/InterAksyon.com

SUBIC BAY, Philippines – The American submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) made a routine port call at Subic Bay on Friday, staying on through a hot weekend.

In an image tinged with sweet irony, the USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) docked at a spot on Alava Pier right across the so-called “Hands That Freed The Nation” Memorial immortalizing the historic September 1991 Philippine Senate vote that ended nearly a century of US military bases presence in the country.

The memorial stands beneath what is touted to be the Philippines’ largest flagpole, right beside the pier and facing Building 229, housing key offices in the central civilian authority installed after the US bases pullout, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

The statue of Inang Laya stands in the middle of a row of palm prints rendered in metal plaques, on which are also etched the most memorable excerpts of the explanatory votes of the 12 senators who voted “No” to renewing the Philippines-US bases treaty, and were called “Magnificent 12.”

The 12 senators who voted against the bases treaty were Joseph Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Wigberto Tanada, Victor Ziga, Orlando Mercado, Jovito Salonga, Sotero Laurel, Agapito Aquino, Ernesto Maceda, Teofisto Guingona Jr., and Rene A.V. Saguisag.

The visit of the Emory Land, and its crew of 410 -- 106 of who are Filipino-Americans -- "highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines," the US embassy in Manila said in advance of the boat’s visit.

"This visit will allow the ship to conduct maintenance, replenish supplies as well as give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation," the US embassy said.

Of the Filipino-Americans on the ship, 26 are sailors and 80 are civilian mariners, many of them from Botolan, Olongapo City, San Antonio, and Pasay City.

During the ship's visit to Subic, the crew will conduct "subject matter expert exchanges" with the Philippine Navy and also conduct community service projects in schools, medical institutions, and orphanages, and other activities.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/57299/the-vote-and-the-boat--us-sub-tender-visits-former-us-naval-base