page_title: Olongapo
section_title: American period
hierarchical_section_title: Olongapo / History / American period
caption_attribution_description: Aerial view of the Olongapo Naval Station (later the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay) in the Philippine Islands in October 1928, showing the aircraft squadrons of the Asiatic Fleet. The Dewey Drydock is at the left, with the USS Jason nearby.
context_page_description: Olongapo, officially the City of Olongapo, is a 1st class highly urbanized city in Central Luzon, Philippines. Located in the province of Zambales but governed independently from the province, it has a population of 233,040 people according to the 2015 census.
  Along with the municipality of Subic, it comprises Metro Olongapo, one of the twelve metropolitan areas in the Philippines.
context_section_description: On May 1, 1898, the construction of the Spanish Administration Building was hardly completed when Admiral Dewey's flagship, USS Olympia, led the Asiatic Fleet into Manila Bay. A detachment of Admiral Dewey's fleet bombarded the navy yard.  Eventually, after the surrender, Spain relinquished all her rights in the Philippines to the United States.  This marked the end of more than three hundred years of Spanish rule over the islands.
  Realizing the tremendous importance of Olongapo as a naval facility, the U.S. Navy decided to keep the base in functioning order; the President of the United States, then Theodore Roosevelt, on November 9, 1901, by executive order, reserved the waters of Subic and some of the adjacent lands for naval purposes.
  The naval station was widened and with the establishment of the American rule in the Philippines. American defenses in the islands were facilities left by the Spanish Navy which were taken over by the United States.
  Olongapo grew in direct proportion to the growth of the naval station.  More people came to live in Olongapo since the Navy offered employment.  To most Filipinos during that time, it was a welcome change.  The promise of a different kind of experience as shop workers and office help induced many young men to leave their farms and fishing boats to work in the Navy Yard.  Others finding the lure of the sea irresistible joined the U.S. Navy.
  Olongapo impressed its visitors as being one of the finest communities in the country. People passing through the town never failed to comment on its cleanliness and orderliness.
caption: Aerial view of the Olongapo Naval Station in 1928
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