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Corregidor: Remembering the Past

World War II (WWII) returns to life at Corregidor Island.

For my mom’s birthday, my family and I decided to spend the day at Corregidor Island. I couldn’t help but feel intrigued on what the island would look like. There was something mysterious about the island. Perhaps it was because of the famous Malinta Tunnel which people have been telling me about in the past, or perhaps because it was said to be a famous battle station during World War II (WWII).

Curiosity then took over. After days of surfing the computer for pictures of the island, the day of our tour finally arrived.

How freedom came to be

Part of the fun of the Corregidor day tour is the ferry ride. You can go outside the 25-knot passenger fast ferry and feel the wind blow against your face (similar to the feeling of jet skiing) while admiring the beautiful Manila Bay. It is a sure stress reliever. If you’re the type that gets seasick, you can choose to stay inside the boat and take an anti-motion sickness tablet an hour before the trip. Or you can watch some documentary films shown during the ride while sitting comfortably in your aircraft type of seat.

Fresh from the 1-hour ferry ride from Manila, you will come face-to-face with a historical, tadpole-shaped island filled with historical treasures. Feels like a trip to Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island or C.S. Lewis’ Narnia has begun. A tour guide will take you around the island in a tranvia which is really convenient because the island is a few miles long.

Since the island follows the shape of the tadpole, it’s basically divided into four parts the Topside, Middleside, Bottomside and Tail End.

Miles and miles of noteworthy relics from barracks, canyons, to memorials and old monuments surround this island. The area is made up of beautiful sceneries. This is because of the mixture of the historical relics and the forever majestic nature.

Sites to watch out for at Topside are the- Eternal Flame of Freedom, The Pacific War Memorial and the Mile-long Barracks.

The Eternal Flame of Freedom, which symbolizes the sacrifices that the Americans and the Filipinos had to endure to be free, stands proudly here. The said figure also symbolizes an initiative to sustain this freedom attained. At the bottom of the flame sculpture is the caption; “To live the freedom’s light, is the right of mankind”, which reminded me on how much I should value the freedom that I now possess.

The Pacific War Memorial (PWM) pays tribute to the brave American and Filipino souls who fought side by side during the war. There’s also a PWM museum which contains relics from this historical episode.

Also at the topside is a row of imposing barracks more commonly known as the Mile-Long Barracks. Seeing something with so much character and significance gave me goose bumps. I imagine it to have been a really grand structure. The renowned Gen. MacArthur, commander of the U.S. Military in the Philippines, which was then an American colony and later head of the Pacific Forces that recaptured the Philippines from Japan, was said to have resided at this place during the initial stages of the war. To my mind, this makes Corregidor even more historically significant.

The middletop is famous for the Malinta Tunnel. The 250-meter long tunnel which was once a hospital for the soldiers is now a light and sound display highlighting significant events of WWII. As you enter you will hear sounds of gun shots reverberate which will make the experience more authentic. You can also see the place where the Japanese soldiers committed harikiri as well as the site which used to serve as a hospital for the American soldiers. You can also see the spot where the inauguration of the second term of Manuel L. Quezon as President and Sergio Osemena as the Vice-President of the Philippine Commonwealth Government. Both were the also the first people elected for their respective positions in this government.

The eeriness of the tunnel gave me another set of goose bumps. Luckily there weren’t any ghost in site.

All the way down under

At the bottomside of Corregidor you can see a lot of blue (sea) and a lot of green (flora). Here, you’ll find a monument of Gen. MacArthur with his famous message; “I shall return!”, inscribed at the bottom. This famous promise was broadcasted and heard by the entire world before he left for Australia.

Another historical figure, Gen. Wainwright took over the helms when Gen. MacArthur departed. Gen. Wainwright stayed with the Filipino and American soldiers in Corregidor as they made their last gallant stand against the Japanese, which immortalized Corregidor Island as the Rock of Corregidor. A monument erected in his honor is present in this area.

You can also see the different docks where the American and Filipino sea vessels berthed. There’s the Lorcha Dock, South Dock, and North Dock. The Lorcha Dock is famous for being the dock where Gen. MacArthur boarded when he sailed the Philippines for Australia.

Let us not forget that the ‘Filipina’ had her role to play during the trying times of WWII. The bravery and gallantry of Filipino women during WWII is recognized and acknowledged with the Statue of the Filipino Woman.

Another beautiful sunset can be seen here. It looks really dramatic because the splendor happens beside an island. On a good day, the sky is so clear because of the absence of buildings and pollution, and everything looks so peaceful. You might want to bring your SRL camera if you’re into photography.

Having said all this, I highly recommend exploring the island and engaging in a historical adventure. Take a break from modernization and learn about the Philippines’ past.

Watch history come back to life. In Corregidor, history shall return.

Still can’t get enough?

If you feel like one day is not enough to appreciate the place, you can actually stay here overnight.

You can check www.corregidorphilippines.com for the exact rates of the day tour and the overnight stay. The schedules are found here as well. Reservation as well as payment for the tours is a requirement.

Lunch is usually included in both tours, but it’s wise to bring your own bottled water, face towel, shades and extra shirt, especially if you plan to go there during the summer.

References:

www.corregidorphilippines.com
www.corregidorisland.com