Mr Gerald R Anderson

Children of the Sun-subic Bay: How Volunteers Saved Subic Bay from Mount Pinatubo Eruption, Transformed the Former Navy Base Mr Gerald R Anderson

When the Philippine Senate announced in 1991 that it would not extend U. S. military bases in the country, many predicted that the facilities left by the Americans in the former Subic Bay Naval Base would be looted Much to their surprise, the 8,000 volunteers, whom we proudly call the Children of the Sun, proved them wrong. The Americans left behind a $8 billion facility and because of the volunteers not a single thing was stolen. The forest in Subic Bay and its rich flora and fauna were safeguarded. All this and much more were achieved through the efforts of those who willingly served without pay. The Children of the Sun arose as one to meet the herculean trials presented to them, united by a common purpose and by common values-duty, honor, courage, and, above all, love of family and country. This is their story.