I write this post to clarify what seems to be a confusion relative to the identity of the Cavite Naval Base vis-à-vis that of Sangley Naval Station. I had come across a lot of websites and blogs often interchanging the two.

After  the American Expeditionary Force under Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay, they took over the facilities at Sangley Point, most recently referred to as US Naval Station Sangley, prior to its turnover to the Philippine government. If you look at the map of Cavite City, it is shaped like a crab’s pincer. The upper pincer would be where Sangley is located. The lower part of the pincer would be where the shipyard facility was situated, known as the Cavite US Navy Yard, before it was relinquished to the Philippine Navy. This shipyard was part of the US Naval Station Sangley.

The Cavite US Navy Yard was turned over to the Philippine government shortly after we were granted independence. It was made into the main Philippine Navy base and renamed as Cavite Naval Base (CNB). It was at this base that I spent almost two decades of my growing up years. Sometime in early 1970’s, CNB’s nomenclature was officially changed to Naval Base Cavite (NBC), though some people continue to refer to it as Cavite Naval Base.

The US Navy retained its use of US Naval Station Sangley until September 1, 1971, when the facility was officially turned over to the Philippine government. The Philippine Navy subsequently occupied it, with an Air Force tenant unit taking over the area surrounding the air strip. This facility is now referred to as Naval Station Sangley. It is under the command jurisdiction of Naval Base Cavite.

My eldest brother and a brother-in-law, who were with the Navy, occupied officer’s quarters inside Naval Station Sangley with their families.