Olongapo City: Unveiling Authentic Charms and Intrigues Along the Subic Bay

Olongapo City

As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, Olongapo City is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. It is situated along the western coast of Luzon, facing Subic Bay. Here are some key points about Olongapo City,

1. Geography and Location:

   • Olongapo City is nestled at the southern tip of the Zambales Mountains and is known for its scenic views and proximity to Subic Bay.

2. History:

   • Olongapo has a rich history, and its development is closely tied to the presence of the U.S. naval base, Subic Bay Naval Base, which was established during the American colonial period. The city played a significant role in the economy during the years the U.S. Navy operated the base.

3. Economy:

   • The closure of the U.S. naval base in 1992 had a significant impact on the local economy. However, efforts have been made to transform the area, including the former naval base, into the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, attracting investments and businesses.

4. Tourism:

   • Olongapo City, being near Subic Bay, has become a tourist destination. The area offers various attractions, including water activities, zoos, and historical sites. The Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari are popular tourist destinations in the vicinity.

5. Infrastructure:

   • The city has developed infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and commercial establishments, to support its population.

6. Local Government:

   • Olongapo City operates as a chartered city with its own local government. It is independent of the provincial government of Zambales.

7. Population:

   • The population of Olongapo City includes a mix of residents, and its demographic makeup has been influenced by the historical presence of the U.S. naval base.

Olongapo officially the City of  Olongapo and often referred to as Olongapo City, is a highly urbanized city located in the province of Zambales, Philippines. Along with the town of Subic it comprires Metro Olongapo, one of the twelve metropolitan areas in the Philippines.
Populer legend about Olongapo City there once a group of warning tribes who lived in this area and around what is now the modern city. One old man '' known as Apo'' seeing the perils of disunity exerted great effort toward uniting the warring tribes. There were, however some who bitterly opposed his idea and one day this old man just disappeared.

They are so many time search this old man and old mans body found but with the head missing. It is said that the tribesmen launched search parties to locate the severed head of the man.
But these effort proved to be futile and search was eventually called off. A boy however vowed to himself that he would not stop searching until he found the elders head, he search for weeks but found nothing.

Then a day he chanced upon what appeared to be old mans head resting on top bamboo pole the boy run back to his people crying olo nin Apo, olo nin Apo and ''head of the elder translate olo ng apo in Tagalog'' running hysterically from village to village. The phrase stuck and that acording to legend is how area got is name OLONGAPO.

Olongapo City have 3 period and world war period.

British Period : 

1762 - 1764 this period and the British invasion of the Philippines was the first challenge to Spain's control of the archipelago after 191 years of rules.

Spanish Period : 

Year 1868, a Spanish military expedition was dispatched to study the possibility of relocating the Cavite Naval Station in Subic Bay due to its unhealthy condition. Spanish King Alfonso XII through a Royal Decree made Subic Bay (then called Subig) as Spain’s stronghold in the Far East in 1884. Vice Admiral Juan Bautista de Antiquiera made Olongapo a settlement for the Spanish Navy.

American Period : 

On May 1, 1898, the construction of the Spanish Administration Building was hardly completed when Admiral Dewey's flagship, USS 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 though the town never failed to comment on its cleanliness and orderliness
World War II