Corregidor

Corregidor Island, Philippines                                                                                              April 23, 2023

Corregidor is an island situated at the mouth of Manila Bay in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Philippines and is considered as part of the province of Cavite contrary to the Map as it is very near and neighboring Bataan peninsula. During the Spanish Colonial times, the island was used to home prisons or a penal institution, from the name itself "Corregidor" comes from the Spanish word "Corregir" in English translation for "Magistrate" or literally "To correct". It became Isla Del Corregidor which literally means, Corregidor's Island. While during the years of American Colony, due to the strategic location of the island, Corregidor has historically been fortified with Coastal Artillery batteries to defend the entrance of Manila Bay and Manila itself from the attacks of enemy warships. It became a Military Paradise at that time. The Americans established 2 Barracks, Hospital, Store, Airport, Military Ground, Cinema, Ports and Military Tunnels and a lot more. 

Now, after several decades post the war, many people mostly veterans visited the island because of its history. Corregidor now serve as a historic monument and a tourist destination. Pre pandemic, there was a boat ride service and a day tour from Seaside Esplanade near Mall of Asia, it was shut down due to the spike of Pandemic and still non-operational as of today. 

Villa Carmen Dock Port, Corregidor Island in the background. 

If you want an escape and a not so common get away, Corregidor Island Day trip is recommended. There's one operating Day Tour with Guia Del Mar's Travel offering daily trip to Corregidor Island. This day tour includes how to get a tour in the island and visits in the historical places that played an important part during the Invasion and Liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese Imperial Army. First book a tour with Corregidor Island Tour on your preferred date. They can be reach thru Facebook messenger and Whatsapp. Tour is for P2,500 per person. Food is not included in the tour fee. 

Tour includes:

Outrigger boat transfer from Bataan to Corregidor and Corregidor to Bataan after the tour. 

Tour Vehicle in the Island (Tranvia Bus)

Department of Tourism Accredited Tour Guide

Island Entrance Fee

Tour Coordinator

As for Food, tourist may coordinate with the travel tour agency to include you on a plated meal or packed lunch. Bringing packed meal is also ideal as food in the Island is a bit expensive. 

Meet up Place is at Cabcaben Alas Asin originally but was moved at the docking port at Villa Carmen, Cabcaben Mariveles Bataan. Changes with the plan of going to Mariveles happened when the Agency change the place of Boat transfer. Took the Genesis bus at 9PM last trip to Mariveles, stayed at the JAT lodging. Booked for 24 hours to keep personal stuff safe in the room. P1150 for 24 hours, Airconditioned and with own restroom, Comfortable bed and fleece. Good deal for few hours of use only. 

After taking breakfast at Cabcaben

7AM call time for the Boat transfer, took breakfast around 6:15 AM and met the organizer at the docking port in Villa Carmen. At the port of Villa Carmen, I met a family of four, Both Mother and Father and the 2 children. The father sounded very obsess with Philippine History as well as the son. They said they will head to Mount Samat after Corregidor Island. A man suddenly approached along with Marlyn, the Agency representative and greeted everyone. 

At Villa Carmen Dock port

The man's name is Edward, we call him Sir Edward, he gave a short rundown of the island's history. 
He introduced himself as he will be our guide in the entire tour. As the man is talking to the Man in the family I met, he sounded very familiar.   At Exactly 7:15, we rode the boat that will take us to the Lorcha dock port of Corregidor Island. It took 25 minutes to reach the island, the boat man did not stretch the boat into full speed because of the waves in Manila Bay. 

All tourists are to register at the Corregidor Foundation, they gave us 15 minutes to take pictures and go to the restroom. We took picture in the port and the Tranvia before the driver starts the engine. 

Heat of the sun is still tolerable, the tour started at exactly 8AM, we rode the Tranvia bus, only 6 of us on the bus. The first stop is at General Mac Arthur's monument in the island at Lorcha Dock Port. As they said, it's a life size statue and it was just elevated. I look small standing beside it. Sir Edward kept the tour with no dull moments, he tried to extract how well the tourists are knowledgeable of the history and his unforgettable jokes related to the island's history keeps everyone smiling and laughing. He asked everyone, where did Mac Arthur said his very famous line, "I Shall return". None from the Bus was able to give the right answer. Contrary to the public belief, the famous statement he gave "I came through and I shall return" was not given on the shores of the Philippines but at an Australian train, 10 days later after his audacious escape from the Corregidor Island. 

We went straight to the very tail of the Island and passed by the North entrance of the Malinta Tunnel. We had a stop at a view deck showing the other side of the Manila Bay where Fort Drum (El Fraile Island) and Fort Frank (Carabao Island) can be seen. Just right in front of the Pico De Loro Mountain. The other 2 Islands used are harbor Defense is the Corregidor itself (Fort Mills) and Caballo Island (Fort Hughes). Both Fort Drum and Fort Frank are very small at this distance. 

North Entrance of the Malinta Tunnel

The other side of the Manila Bay, Fort Drum (El Fraile) and Fort Frank (Carabao Island) in the distance.

The next stop is The Filipino Hero Memorials. This is not part of the old Corregidor structures. Built in 1987 to honor to the courage of the Filipino heroes in their struggle for Philippine sovereignty.  This place showcases 14 murals which portrays diverse scenes in Philippine History - starting from the Battle of Mactan in 1521 until the very first People Power in 1986. Statues for Both Former Presidents Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmena are also erected in the area. In honor for the Filipino Woman, a statue was made symbolizing peace and inspiration and also their involvement in the many events in our history. 

One of the Murals in the Filipino Hero Memorial

A Bayonet and a helmet of a soldier of WWII

Former Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon's Monument

A statue of a Filipino Woman

Former President Sergio Osmena's monument

Next stop is at the Japanese Garden of Peace. Since Japanese soldiers also resided in the island for 3 years, this place was dedicated for the late Japanese soldiers who fought during the war. The garden symbolizes the peace and friendship between Filipinos and the Japanese people. The garden also features a 2-meter-high stone Buddha of Fertility, A Shinto Shrine and other Japanese Soldier memorial shrines and markers. It is also used as a praying area for Japanese war veterans and the family and relatives of Japanese Soldiers who were killed during the Second World war. The stone Buddha of Fertility, as the legend says, Woman who touches the statue of the Buddha will get pregnant. 

At the Japanese Garden of Peace, Caballo Island (Fort Hughes) in the Background

The site of the Japanese Suicidal Jump (Kamikaze)

Some of the Japanese Artillery

The Stone Buddha of Fertility

The Park is also the site where the Japanese soldiers committed suicide by jumping off the cliff instead of surrendering themselves to the American Soldiers during the retaking in 1945. It is a disgrace to their emperor if they allow themselves to be captured. 

The next stop is the Malinta Tunnel. Tunnel was completed in 1932. It took a decade for the Americans to dig the cave and create a haven and a headquarters in the Malinta hill. The name "Malinta" came out during the time the American started to dig the cave, there were "linta" all over the place and the expression "Malinta" gave the name to the Tunnel. 

Sir Edward welcoming the group in the West side of the Malinta Tunnel.

It was year 1932 when the tunnel was completed.

Going inside the tunnel, the boy at my right is the youngest in the family I met in the tour.

We were supposed to be a large group to enter the tunnel together with the Fil American trainees of Balikatan. It'll take more than an hour to wait for the Balikatan people to come to the island and join the tour. The Tour in the Malinta Tunnel is excluded in the tour package, we were supposed to pay P350 per head, but our Cool and very kind Tour guide Sir Edward did the tour for us for free. We manage to visit the laterals inside the Malinta tunnel, the 1000 bed hospital where the people from the Corregidor Hospital moved after they had a taste of the first bombing in 1941. There are laterals for the High-Ranking officers, laterals for General Mac Arthur and Wainright. Had a glimpse of the Old tables and chairs, Typewriters and other war equipments, Sir Edward cracked a joke, "if you want to see if these are still working, come back here at 12 midnight!" Everyone stunned! We also saw the Mac Arthur escape tunnel. This was where General Mac Arthur passed to get out of Malinta Tunnel to escape from Corregidor going to Mindanao to Australia when he got an order from the US to leave the Philippines. Sir Edward cracked his joke in the dark place where he was standing, "So if you want to go to Australia, take the trail in this tunnel". Everyone laughed! 

Some of the laterals use in the light and sound show in the tunnel

Original tables and chairs from the war times in place.

Sir Edward lighting our way to the 1,000 bed hospital lateral

The Mac Arthur's escape Tunnel.

In the Main tunnel, several Laterals have portraits or statues of the soldiers who once made the Malinta tunnel as their home before the island was surrendered. Original equipment during the war times is intact and in original place when the Tunnel was still serving as a Headquarters for the Americans. One Lateral still has its original door and the only lateral with a door. Why? All Female Nurses and Doctors are in this lateral which serves as their dormitory in the tunnel. According to Sir Edward, some psychic who had a tour in the tunnel are seeing the female Doctors and the Nurses in this lateral. Creepy!!! This part of the tunnel is a bit cold; the air ventilation is still intact and distributes to the rest of the laterals. What a wonderful American creation indeed. 

Lateral for Female Doctors and Nurses

The first few laterals near the Entrance of Malinta Tunnel were all ruins. These are the places where the Japanese blew themselves with grenades and also where the Americans pumped gas inside the tunnel and blown all the Japanese inside. It is very evident inside the laterals because of the fallen rocks, we used helmets while exploring this part of the tunnel. It was a bit suffocating because the air passage was blocked by big rocks when American pumped gas and blew the tunnel during the retaking of the island. It's very warm here! We went off the tunnel and head back to the tranvia. 

I was supposed to watch the Light and Sound show but Sir Edward did well in narrating the history, no need for such film watching.  A separate fee for the Light and Sound show should be accounted to the tourist but we had it for free!!!

The Main Gate of the Malinta Tunnel

Malinta Tunnel is the highlight of the entire Island. Glad to see it was maintained and utilized properly as tourist destination in the island. 

Next stop is at the South Beach side. It's an open beach for tourist who love to swim and for those who will spend overnight in the Island by camping at the beach side. We spent 30 minutes while waiting for the Balikatan people to arrive at Lorcha port. 

South Beach side

Finally, the Balikatan people arrived and joined us in the Tranvia. There were about 21 of them who rode with us. We head straight to the Middle side Barracks. Sir Edward asked us to come down and walk the street to see the entire ruins of the barracks. Under the heat of the sun, we took pictures of the barracks. Sadly, tourists were not allowed to go down and come near the skeleton buildings. 

The First building of the Middle side Barracks

Ruins looks untouched since it was bombed several decades ago. Some parts are falling apart, and supports were installed to keep it standing. 

Next point of visit is the Battery Way. 

The Ruins of Battery Way

The Bunker served as the stock room. 

One of the four 12 Inch Mortar in the Battery way

Battery Way, it was named after Lt. Henry N Way, which along with Battery Geary. It used to be the mainstay of the Corregidor Garrison during the Japs Invasion. The 4 12-inch (305 mm) mortars, capable of a 360- degree traverse, could fire on land targets at Bataan. They brought the most destruction on Japanese positions during the attempted landings on the southwest coast of Bataan late in January to the middle of February 1942. These mortars were silenced by enemy shelling in May 1942.

The guns here played a very little role during the Philippines campaign in the Spring of 1942. It only became active in the last week of the battle. The Battery had been out of service for several years, but three of the four mortars were returned to service with a crew from Battery E, 60th Coast Artillery (AA), evacuated from Bataan. These were fired for the first time on that day against Japanese positions on nearby Bataan. Its exposure to Japanese artillery, air attach, and its limited supply of high explosive shells greatly diminished its effectiveness. By the time Japs landed on the island on May 5, 1942, only one mortar tube of Battery way remained serviceable, the other two having been damaged beyond repair by Japanese artillery. The guns were permanently damaged during the retaking of the island by the US Forces in early 1945. 

We were able to get inside a Bunker like rooms which serves as the stock room for am monition. It's kind a cold inside the rooms. I had the chance to take pictures with the guns installed in the Battery Way. Sir Edward took the picture of me in the hole of the first gun near the entrance. The floor and the walls in the area was evidently hit hard by the bombings. The guns are in place and in good conditions. 

Next place we visited was not really part of the tour, but our cool and generous tour guide Sir Edward took us also in the ruins of the Corregidor Island store and the First hospital. The ruins are appearing to be a cross shape, Balikatan people and the family who came along with us on the boat went down to take pictures. I decided to stay on the bus and take the pictures of the exterior of the ruins. 

Ruins of the Corregidor Hospital. Damaged during the first bombing in 1941.

Next stop is the Batter Hearn, the Largest in Corregidor along with Battery Smith. It was also known as Smith No 2. This is a very famous one especially to Japanese tourists who remembered the "Banzai" victory photos of their countrymen/ troops when they conquered the island. The Balikatan people took photos reenacting the Japanese shouting the "Banzai". 

The Battery Hearn, famous for the Japanese Victory Photo shouting "Banzai"

Next stop is the Mile Long Barracks, now we are on the Top side of the Island. This is said to be the "World's longest military Barracks" with a length of 1,520 feet. About a length of 14 Tourist bus.  Although its length does not really reach a mile, the Mile long Barracks are considered to be the longest that we have in the world. The remains are just one of the few sites in Corregidor where travelers are allowed to roam around and explore. Even during the day, the iconic skeletal building exhibits the dark and empty ambiance that would remind one of the Island's war-ravaged pasts. 

Ruins of the Mile-Long Barracks

Next stop is at the Top Side view deck. The place allows you to see the entire Manila Bay and the tail of the island. You can also see the gates of the Malinta tunnel from there, very small of course. Sir Edward told us to walk to the Pacific war Memorial Garden, but our driver took us there because of blazing April summer sun. We went down and took pictures in front of the Cine Corregidor. The rest of the Balikatan people went along with Sir Edward to see the Japanese War tunnel. I decided not to come as it is somehow risky for my shape to take the trail. 

Top Side View Deck, Malinta Tunnel's gate in distance. Manila Bay on the background. 

Cine Corregidor, this said to be the last place where the 1939 movie "Gone with the wind" played. 

Cine Corregidor Ruins

Brothers in arms, this commemorates the help or the bondage between Americans and Filipinos. Try not to miss this place as this reminds us of who our friends are. 

Brothers in Arms Statue

Its noon time and heat of the sun is no longer tolerable, we were directed to the Museum, according to the guy working in the island, The museum is air conditioned and that they sell refreshments and souvenirs. Without having second thought, we went straight to the museum. The museum is full of War memorabilia, Old Pictures of Corregidor during the Peace time, old uniforms and some pictures of the High-Ranking officers. A Copy of the instrument of Surrender signed in 1945 was also framed and displayed in one of the walls of the Museum. The nostalgic guns once used by American and Filipino Soldiers was also displayed on a separate room. We went to the souvenir shop; typical souvenirs can be found in the store. Shirts, ref magnets, key chains. A display of the old Philippine peso bills is also there. What's refreshing is the soda and the cold water they are selling. 

Pacific War Museum's entrance door

A Photo of General Jonathan Wainright Frontpage of the TIME Magazine.

Me, reading the copy of the Instrument of Surrender signed in 1945.

After the tour in the Pacific War Memorial, we passed by the Fort Mills Headquarters and Chapel ruins, the Barracks of the High-ranking officers and also the place of Battery Crockett. 

Fort Mills (Corregidor Island) Headquarters and Chapel ruins.

Battery Crockett, this gun was armed with two 12-inch disappearing guns. During the bombing, Japanese shelling damaged the carriage of No. 1 gun beyond repair, and destroyed the plotting room, shot hoists and power plant. The Japanese captors ordered the American POWs to restore No. 2 gun, but only to disabled again during the retaking in 1945. The remains of the place said to be untouched and still in place when it was damaged during the bombing and retaking of the island. One gun plunged into a hole like in the rock formation and others were dismantled on the ground. 

Battery Crockett

Finally, Lunch time and it marks the end of the tour. We took our plated lunch I reserved near the Lorcha Port. Again, best to bring a packed meal. 

Sir Edward, our cool and generous tour guide, featured in several TV Documentaries.
Highly recommended for a day tour. 

It's time to ride the boat again but before we head back, Me and the family I met took a picture with Sir Edward. The tour was somehow memorable to me, educational and well detailed and worth paying. The tour could've been perfect if Sun Cruise Boat service will be back soon, more people will get job and more people will get to enjoy what is in store in the island for everyone. A lot of people loss their job when pandemic surges, Corregidor Hotel is still non-operational. It will mean a lot if these people will be reinstated with their work. With the Island's rich and big chunk in our history, Corregidor's tour should be promoted to many.