Visiting the History Lane : Corregidor Island

It's been awhile (February 9, 2014) since I visited Corregidor Island but all the things I've learned, seen and experienced are still fresh in my memory. And it's because today is Valor Day I feel inspired to write about my day tour experience at Corregidor Island.

Brief History
Corregidor is a small rocky island in the Philippines about 48 kilometers west of Manila which is stragetically located at the entrance of Manila Bay. This island fortress stands as a memorial for the courage, valor, and heroism of its Filipino and American defenders who bravely held their ground against the overwhelming number of invading Japanese forces during World War II. Learn More

Getting There

I thought Corregidor Island is part of Bataan Province but it's actually part of Cavite City. I learned that the easy way if not the only way to get to Corregidor Island is by booking a day tour or overnight stay with Star Cruises. Prior reservation is required. My friends and I were lucky enough when one of my friends recommended that DealGrocer has offered discounted voucher as they partnered with Sun Cruises. Instead of paying P2499, I got my voucher for only P1350. Just like the normal rate, the voucher is inclusive of round-trip ferry transfers, entrance fees, tour guide, and buffet lunch except for the additional P200 for the optional Malinta Tunnel lights and sounds show. 

The terminal is at CCP Complex, Fernando Maria Guereero St., Roxas Blvd., Pasay City (near Coconut Palace, at the back of Folk Arts Theater). See Map, Sun Cruises Site

At Sun Cruises Boarding Area

As early as 6:30am we are one of the tourists who fell in line to claim our name tags and yacht seat numbers at Sun Cruises terminal. It is required to be at at the terminal 30 minutes prior to boarding time. Getting our name tags was smooth, we just presented and signed our vouchers to the information desk and our name tags were given to us.

The Yacht/Ferry Ride

Inside the yacht

The Sun Cruises yacht  was clean and big that can accommodate up to 350 passengers or more. All seats were occupied by either local or foreign tourists. It is air condition and there's a small store inside where you can buy chips and drinks but the prices is 50% high compared to normal stores. The travel time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. 

The one's left are holding in to memory....

Our ride was quite smooth as the waves were calm. In the midst of our ride, I saw several Japanese tourists. They were crying while the monk or priest looking guy was praying with them. After the prayer, they threw bouquet of flowers and candies into the sea. I asked their personal tourist guide, who they were and why they were crying, the guide said they are the daughter and son of one of the Japanese soldiers during World War 2 but their father never returned to them. I saw them holding a black and white framed picture and I thought it might be their father. (I was shy to take photos of them).

The Tour Proper

As we arrived in the island, tranvia buses with tour driver and tour guide were already waiting for us. Tranvia bus is like a tram bus, it is open and can accommodate up to 30 passengers and the only mode of transportation during our tour in the island. Our assigned tranvia bus number is printed to our name tags so it was easy to find it.

Tranvia bus in the background

Before the start of the tour, our guide introduced himself and he said that Japanese tourists are not merge in to other tourists. Japanese tourists have have their own tranvia bus and unlike in our assigned tranvia bus, the tourists were from different nationalities, Filipino, American and European among others. He explained why they have to be separated from other nationalities but I will not write the obvious reason here anymore.

While we are enjoying the scenery and slowly travelling from one place to another our guide discussed about what happened during World War 2. After discussing, we get off from the bus to check out the place. In every place that we visited we were only given 7 to 20 minutes to take photos and roam around so that we can visit all the places in Corregidor Island. It was a bright and sunny day, I'm glad that I brought my umbrella with me.

One of the barracks

Pacific War Memorial

One of the barracks

One of the armors

Brothers in Arms Monument

Sleep My Sons, your duty done. For freedoms light has come.
Sleep in the silent depths of the sea or in your bed of hallowed sod until you hear at dawn the low clear reveille of God

Inside the Pacific War Memorial Museum

Battery Geary -Name in honor of Capt. Woodridge Geary, a casualty during the US-Philippine War of 1899. This mortar battery included eaight 12" (305mm) mortars, four M1890 M1 mortars on M1908 carriages Pit B. These could fire a 1000 lbs armor piercing (AP) shell or 700 lbs High Explosive (HE) shell roughly 8.3 miles in any direction. 

Lorcha Dock - MacArthur's Departure Point for Australia 

For Peace and Love

MacArthur Monument

At exactly 12 noon we had lunch at Corregidor Inn, the only hotel in the island. The lunch was okay, we were welcome by one time pandan drink and food choices were soup, paella rice, veggies, fish fillet, salad, lenggua, sticky rice and watermelon fruit for dessert. I was not really hungry at that time so I didn't concentrate to our food.

After lunch, our last destination was the Malinta Tunnel. It was one of the highlights of the tour. We paid additional P200 for the light and sound show. Light and sound show is like a reenactment of what happened during World War 2 in Corregidor Island. Taking photos inside the tunnel is alright but video recording is prohibited. While inside the tunnel I became emotional. I imagined the suffering of hundreds of Filipino and American soldiers or even Japanese soldiers during WW2.

Malinta Tunnel - Begun in 1922 and substantially completed in 1932. The tunnel complex consisted of east-west passage measuring 836 ft. long by 24 ft. wide 13 laterals on its north side and 11 laterals on the south side. Reinforced with concrete walls, floors and overhead arches with blowers to furnish fresh air and a double track electric car line along the main tunnel. Malinta provided bombproof shelter for the 1000 bed hospital, Macarthur's USAFFE Headquarters, shops ans vast labyrinth storehouse during seige of Corregidor.
Before this west entrance of Malinta Tunnel on the afternoon of 30 December 1941, Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña were inaugurated into their second term as President and Vice-president of the Philippine Commonwealth in simple ceremonies attended by members of the Corregidor Garrison.

Malinta Tunnel

Inside Malinta Tunnel

No one wins in war.

I love the Philippines more after the Corregidor tour. I salute all the soldiers and civilians who fought and defended our dear country.
"Lupang Hinirang, Duyan ka ng magiting, Sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil". Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!!

If you happened to be within the vicinity of Manila, Corregidor Island it's a MUST place to visit that is great for educational tour. Many foreign tourists are sparing time to visit this historic place of our country, why not us Filipinos make time to visit it as well. If you can afford to visit other places outside of the country and you haven't paid a visit to Corregidor Island then it's shame on you.

-Lyn, April 9, 2014