28/05/2026
Truly, Peoples Senate.
On September 16, 1991, the Philippine Senate voted 12 to 11 to reject the renewal of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement. 🇵🇭 With that single vote, the Philippines told the most powerful military in the world: your time here is over.
For nearly a century, American bases at Clark and Subic Bay had defined Philippine sovereignty on American terms. The U.S. called them "mutual defense." Filipinos called them what they were: occupation with a lease. Senator Jovito Salonga led the fight, and 12 senators chose their nation over the pressure of Washington, the IMF, and decades of colonial dependency.
This was not just a vote. It was a declaration. The same kind of declaration Filipinos have been making since 1896. Did your school ever teach you that the Philippines kicked out the largest U.S. overseas military base in history? Drop a 🇵🇭 if you're proud of this moment. Tag someone who needs to know this story.