Finding Nellie: Olongapo mystery solved by father-daughter team

On November 6, 2021, Dr. Leo De Castro —a Philosophy professor at the University of the Philippines—received four birthday cakes from an old grade school friend. They both studied at Nellie E. Brown Elementary School (NEBES), a public school in Olongapo City.

Connected to Subic Bay and facing the West Philippine Sea, Olongapo is known for being part of a US Naval Base from 1901 to 1959. Placenames in Olongapo tell stories about this time, as streets, schools, and establishments carry foreign names – most of which can easily be traced to navy officials who were previously stationed there, local government officials, and even American presidents.