The connection with the United States runs deep for those that remember WWII
Dad had some Navy transport pilot friends and they knew little of the Philippines except it was hot and they spent layovers in the A/C of the officers club where the beer was cheap.
We hired 2 new nurses this week and both have parents born and raised in the Philippines… one had visited relatives once and the other has never been.
33 years ago from not having any staff with connection to the Philippines to now with 60+ percent ties to the Philippines even if born here.
Some go back every year and have homes there and plan to retire there and others have never been to the ancestral home.
In high school I bought a Camaro with Subic Plates from a Navy guy… it had been in a typhoon awaiting stateside shipping… it had fine rust everywhere but ran great with only 19,000 miles… was a very dependable car for $400
I guess it was in a salt bath best I can describe because every inch of exposed underside and engine bay rusted…