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Recognizing
the value of a fully sheltered deepwater harbor in a beautiful
natural setting only 64 kilometers from Manila, the Spanish
in 1885 erected an arsenal and small fort at Subic Bay
in what was to be the first step in a long history that
would stress Subic's role as a bastion of strategic security.
During the Spanish American War in 1898, the American retook
over Subic Bay. In 1942 the Japanese took over the facilities;
the American retook them in 1945. When the Philippines which
had been an American colony since 1898 became independent
in 1947, the American retained the use of the facilities
under the 1947 Military Base Agreement.
Between 1947 and 1992 the U.S. Navy operated Subic Naval
Base, which became the busiest port in the Pacific and was
America's largest Naval installation outside the United
State. Aside from Naval operations, the base with its sprawling
virgin rainforest and spectacular beaches was used for jungle
survival and maritime operations training. During the Vietnam
era the recreational facilities were developed and enhanced
and Subic became the premier Rest and Recreation destination
in the Far East. In 1992 the base reverted to the Philippine
Government conversion on the base into freeport is a national
priority program of the Philippine Government.
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