Left by the Ship

[beejay 123]

"For nearly a century, American servicemen were stationed at Subic Bay in the Philippines, and many of them fathered children with the women who lived nearby. When the base closed in 1991, hundreds of these children were left behind, stripped of their fathers and their sense of identity."

This is a 52 minute version of an 80 minute film that is available to watch on the PBS Independent Lens website until May 31st. The documentary spends most of it's time with three young adults who were either abandoned or never acknowledged by their American fathers' but the underlying question presented by the film is why the Amerasian Act has not been extended to include children born in the Philippines to American Servicemen during the time of the US Naval base in Subic Bay and presumably the unmentioned Clark Air force base.

Left by the Ship documentary

independent lens documentary website

Director website

(Unfortunately I think the video content will not be viewable outside of the US.)

[sjr09 155]

Clearly shows the side effects of lust, protrusion and prejudice, that these young kids shoulder. Sad to say this go's on every day.

The Philippines, at some government level turns a blind eye or allows protrusion clubs to continue in the name of money, and men from all walks of life continue to seek out young lady's not just in the PI but world wide.

The sad reality of life.

[Removed-02242014 19]

This was an excellent film ... thank you for the link

[Hank_ 9,174]

Vietnam suffered the same problem.

[Kang 22]

I have seen this last year (courtesy of a friend) and I have mixed feelings about the film. I appreciate it that the film makers are bring up a long forgotten issue but I do not appreciate the generalization (I have Amerasian friends whose mothers were not sex workers as the film has made out to be in the case of Amerasians and I know of some cases where the father has been looking for their children for many years). Also, the film has many factual errors. The Amerasian act did NOT grant citizenship but rather it provided PREFERENTIAL IMMIGRATION to Amerasians in other countries.

They filed a lawsuit in 1993 for $68 million. It baffles me why they sued for child support and not the amendment of the Amerasian act? Oh well, several "NGO's" cannot gain anything financially if they sue for inclusion over money, right? I am not against the inclusion of Amerasians. It's sad that some anti-US forces out there use the Amerasian issue for their own purposes rather than for genuine help for Amerasians.

I know of some Amerasians who does not like the film due to hasty generalization

http://filamerasians.blogspot.com/

Edited June 14, 2012 by Kang

[Ilovemypinoy 9]

I haven't seen the film but I will see if it is still available. My grandfather was stationed in the Philippines as a teenager and got a local pregnant. He later become a preacher, a strong man of faith. He married my grandmother and knew of the child. I understand he may have kept in touch with his daughter or her mother over the years but did not tell his own children until he was on his death bed. I think he may have been 16 when he was stationed there. I think he was young and made a mistake. I tried to find my aunt last year while in Phil but my family has not provided me any information except her age and where my grandfather was stationed. I could not find any records with my grandfather's name. The consulate was not able to help me...

[Shawn C 11]

Not to belittle the plight of the Amerasian children in the Philippines (I know when I was stationed there almost every sailor on my ship provided money to the Pearl S Buck Association because we knew of this issue), but don't forget that there are many unwed mothers and children without fathers/support right here in the US also.

[actob99 156]

Of course it's sad that that their are children out there without father's and mother's. This is a worldly problem shared by every culture and society.. Very easy to argue the point that this shouldn't be directed at American's and the American Military... I will refrain unless provoked.

But I do agree that their are children out there that should not be abandoned.

[Kang 22]

Not to belittle the plight of the Amerasian children in the Philippines (I know when I was stationed there almost every sailor on my ship provided money to the Pearl S Buck Association because we knew of this issue), but don't forget that there are many unwed mothers and children without fathers/support right here in the US also.

That is why the solution here is to extend US access to these if they can prove their fathers are US citizens. I do not agree too about tax payer support for these as what almost happened in 1993 where NGOs filed 2 $68 million against the US Navy. That is ridiculous and an NGO attempt to rip off US taxpayers. They can't rip off Phil tax payers so they do it to US taxpayers, LOL

Edited July 5, 2012 by Kang

[JoBri 548]

I cant imagine any father abandoning his child, anywhere. I am so thankful for my beautiful son

[ChrisB0707 4]

Let's not forget the Filipino senate voted to not extend the contract of the US to keep the base open. If they had let the US stay then this wouldn't be a problem. Don't get me wrong it's bad what happen to those kids. I'm US born and married to a Filipina and we have a daughter. I have been there many times and hate to see the street kids. I always feed them. I think the US always makes it so hard for Filipinos to come to the US. They need to find a better way. Also don't think it's fare just to say most were born by working girls or wife for rent. What about the women who actually were in love and thought they were loved back and were not working girls. I could go on and on but I won't. I just hate to see negative things said about the Philippines because I love the country so much. The govt. there is so bad and doesn't care about its people. The rich get richer an the poor get poorer. The last 2 presidents are in jail. The current president is a good person so let's hope he can fix things.

[Kang 22]

The kids had the chance to demand equality in the homecoming act back in 1993. But the Leftist NGOs in the Philippines opted to extort US taxpayers with $68 million.

Now, if they sued that the kids in the Philippines be included, that would have been better.

But think of it, what will these NGOs take if they opted for immigration preference over $68 million?