Corregidor Island, formerly the strategic port and battle ground most notable during the World War II, is now a well-maintained historic site and tourist destination.
First of all, I'd like to acknowledge pakyaw.com and Sun Cruises for offering this great deal. Without them, my friends and I would not have gotten the idea of going for a day tour. The regular day tour costs Php 2150 and we were able to avail it for only Php 998.
Ferry Ride
The journey towards the island took around 1.5 hours. I wasn't sure if it was the most comfortable ride. Good thing they provided barf bags to the passengers.
We arrived at Corregidor Island at 10 am. After alighting the ferry, the guests were split into groups, each assigned a tram accompanied by a tour guide. I'm glad our tour guide kept us up by filling in jokes and some interesting anecdotes from time to time.
The Malinta Light & Sound Show
Set under the Malinta Tunnel, this thirty minute show presents the key events that shaped Corregidor Island and the rest of the country during the World War II.
I was surprised to see it maybe because I had a different expectation. It was not a typical show where one would passively watch, it allows to do even more, that is to imagine what it was like, to relive the experience.
McArthur Statue
"I shall return." These immortal words we all remember Gen. Douglas McArthur for were uttered in this very island. I did not know or perhaps I'd forgotten.
Buffet Lunch
For our lunch we went to Corregidor Inn, the only accommodation available in the island. This was inclusive in the day tour package offered by Sun Cruises. The food was average which was to be expected given what we paid for. It was enough to recharge us for the remaining journey ahead.
Barracks
If I were to picture Corregidor Island, it would not be complete without the barracks. A lot of the ruins can be seen. They did not dub the island "The Rock" for nothing.
The Batteries
One of the main attractions and icons of Corregidor is the battery - the major artillery used for warfare. Around four kinds can be found in the island. The tour took us to Battery Hearn and Battery Way.
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| The Battery Hearn, the longest and able to fire to the farthest distance |
Spanish Lighthouse
The Corregidor Lighthouse may have been severely damaged during the war. But thanks to Corregidor Foundation it is now repaired and standing even taller at the top-side of the island.
Aside from a Spanish Museum and gift shop, also within the Spanish lighthouse quadrangle is the observatory tower built around two decades ago. The tower also serves another purpose as a cell site of Globe Telecom. So Globe subscribers need not worry about the signal during their stay. :)
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| Observatory Tower |
Pacific War Memorial
Built in honor of the Filipino and American soldiers who fought with their lives to regain freedom in the Pacific Ocean area.
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| The writing on the center altar of the memorial dome |
To convey what our heroes aimed for, behind the memorial is an artistic structure that symbolizes freedom.
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| The Eternal Flame of Freedom |
Japanese Memorial Garden
This garden was built to honor the numerous Japanese casualties during World War II. Very zen, this was the most calm and serene place I've seen at the island. We even got the chance to enter a small museum full of memorabilia, photographs, artifacts of the war.
The tour ended at 2:30 pm, it was time for us to go home and head back to Manila.
It was enlightening and at the same time heartbreaking to see the many horrors of war. Corregidor island lives on to continually remind us of how our fathers fought so that we may become free. We owe it to them. That being said, I'd like to end with a message of hope, of just how the world should be.
