Water buffaloes and children playing at a polluted stream, Pampanga, Philippines (cover photo of the documentary Vapor Trail Clark)
On November 24, 1992, the US lowered the American flag on Clark and Subic bases in the Philippines, the US largest military installations outside the continental US. 26 years later, the US still has unfinished business of cleaning up the toxic contamination left behind in the US former bases in the Philippines.
On November 4, 2018, the Bayanihan Foundation will co-sponsor a free film showing of John Gianvito’s “Vapor Trail Clark“, a four-hour and 25 minute long documentary of researchers investigating the U.S. military’s environmental contamination of the abandoned bases in the Philippines. The film screening will be held at the Pilipino Workers Center, 153 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026. The free film screening will be held from 12 PM till 5 PM, with a half hour merienda break in-between. Filipino snacks and refreshments will be served.
Myrla Baldonado standing in front of a Korean multinational factory in Clark Freeport Zone (2011)
Guest speaker, Myrla Baldonado, will talk about her two decades as the founding Director of the People’s Task Force for Bases Clean-up. Her personal story in fighting to clean up the toxic wastes left behind also became the main highlight of the documentary, “Vapor Trail Clark.” Myrla relentlessly advocated for the victims of toxic contamination and for the environmental clean up of both Clark and Subic bases. Ms. Baldonado lobbied for research studies that confirmed serious environmental and health problems in these areas. In addition, the People’s Task Force for Bases Clean-up also provided medical help to over a thousand victims of contamination.
(standing far right) Myrla Baldonado with members of Saup in Clark, Pampanga (2013)
Documentary filmmaker John Gianvito produced and directed the film, “Vapor Trail Clark.” He initially found out about the contamination issue at Clark and Subic from a news article he read in the Boston Globe. The film examines how and why the former US Air Force (USAF) Base in Clark became an environmental disaster area and what can be done to help the people of Luzon Island. Vapor Trail (Clark) was an official selection at the 2010 Rotterdam International Film Festival. Myrla Baldonado will also conduct a brief discussion after the film screening. Please RSVP by emailing Myrla Baldonado myrla@fdnbayanihan.org
Mural portraying the toxic contamination left behind by the US former military bases in the Philippines
“Being able to continue working on this unfinished task for the Philippine environment and the health of the Filipino people affected by the toxic contamination is one of the many rewards of continuing this fight,” Myrla Baldonado said.
