Second & Last day on the Island

Our Second & Last Day on the Island:

The morning weather was an ongoing battle between the sun and the storm. The wind started to rise but we still had a leisurely breakfast in the restaurant. Suddenly a receptionist came and told us that our trip going back to Manila was cancelled, because of the tropical storm that hit the place. We had no choice but to stay for another one night.

After breakfast, a lady from the tour group approached and asked us if we wanted to go with them for a more detailed tour around the island. Without hesitation, we all said yes.

Good thing the weather was on and off, so we were able to to take some photos. The South Dock was formerly a U.S. Navy wharf. Currently, it is used by yachts, ferry boats and vessels of the Philippine Navy. The South Dock offers a convenient alternative for landing on days when strong winds make it difficult for vessels to dock at North Dock. (source: corregidor island)



We paid a visit to the San Jose Chapel. It was reconstructed at its former location and based on its original architectural and structural design. During the pre-war days, religious services were conducted in this chapel for the military personnel in the garrison as well as for their families.



There is also an Aviary and Theme Park that we visited. A 3,000 square meter complex managed by Feathered Friends Foundation which houses local and foreign varieties of birds.

Throughout the night, we started getting a heavy rain and winds again. So, we were not able to go out.

The next morning, after our breakfast, one of the staff told us that Suncruises ferry boat was coming and we had to get ready for the early departure. Afterward, we had our lunch at 11:00 am and we settled all our accounts. Good thing, our extra night at the hotel was free and they gave us a 50% off from the normal rate of all the food.

Visiting Corregidor Island is like silently paying homage to our Filipino ancestors and to those who died. It permits us in a brief moment to assimilate the rich history of the past.

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MALINTA TUNNEL NIGHT TOUR

Malinta Tunnel Night Tour is a special tour which is not included during the regular day tour. This will be availed only by guests who stays overnight in Corregidor.

The hotel's van, along with our tour guide came to pick us up (with our fellow overnighters) at the hotel's lobby at 5:00 pm in the afternoon. Our local guide brought us again to the Malinta Tunnel and explained a little further about the history. It is said that some of its laterals were so secret only those working there knew of their existence. Branching from it are 13 laterals on its north side and another 11 laterals on the south side. Each lateral averaged 160 feet and 15 feet in length and width, respectively.



and then we entered to one of the innermost laterals of the tunnel.



Our exploration began. I heard before that these tunnels are notoriously hunted but our guide started to demolish our apprehensions and superficial perceptions about the place.



This tour allow us to see the different laterals of the 1,000-bed capacity Fort Mills Hospital that was used during the seige of Corregidor.



Quarters for the female staff of the hospital was the only lateral inside the Malinta Tunnel which was secured with a heavy steel door and bolted at night for the security and privacy of the women who were billeted in it.

Our little adventure...

The most exciting of all was when our guide told us to switch-off all the flashlights. There was a cold and eerie feeling when we were exposed to the total darkness. The pitch blackness enveloped us and we felt the numbness in all our senses.

The MacArthur's Escape Tunnel, an escape tunnel supposedly dug especially for MacArthur.

The "air vent" near the hospital tunnels was used by the looters as their passageway in taking innumerable items.

The Malinta Tunnel Night tour is far different and a lot more unique than the regular day tour. This is an exciting activity that should not be missed.

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MALINTA TUNNEL DAY TOUR (LIGHT & SOUND SHOW)

Constructed from 1922 to 1932, Malinta Tunnel has a main tunnel 835 feet long and 24 feet wide and 24 laterals branching from it.

Originally an arsenal and an underground hospital, its unique location beneath the Malinta Hills made it ideal bombproof headquarters for embattled Filipino and Americans, and served as the seat of Philippine Government under President Manuel L. Quezon.


We visitors experienced a good half hour the thrills of Malinta Tunnel in a vividly staged Light and Sound show (P150.00 per person as of 2003).


Scripted by the late, noted Filipino film director Lamberto Avellana, the show is a reenacment of World War II's dramatic event.

Our Malinta Night Tour Adventure >>>

BATTERY WAY

Work on setting up of Battery Way started in 1904 and it was completed in 1914 at a cost of $112,969. It was named in honor of 2nd Lieutenant Henry N. Way of the 4th U.S. Artillery who died in service in the Philippines in 1900. Armed with four 12-inch mortars, it was capable of lobbing a 1000-lb deck piercing shell or 700 lb high explosive shell 14,610 yards in any direction.

This gun emplacement was equipped with anti-personnel firepower. It was designed to penetrate the thin deck armor of warships and against any enemy entrenched on higher grounds in Bataan. Its firing elevation was from 45 degrees minimum to 70 degrees maximum. The length of its rifled bore is 10 ft. To fire each mortar, a standard crew consisting of 14 men were needed. Three of the serviceable mortars opened fire on April 28, 1942 and on May 2, 1942. After the 12 hours of continuous firing, the remaining mortar finally frose tight on May 6, 1942. It was the last of Corregidor's "concrete artillery" to cease firing before the surrender of Bataan.

(source: corregidor island)

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FILIPINO HEROES MEMORIAL

The Filipino Heroes Memorial is one of the newest landmarks in Corregidor which honors Filipino heroes and martyrs in their struggle for freedom and independence.

It was erected and inaugurated in 1987 and 1992, respectively, and has 14 murals depicting the different eras in struggle from the Battle of Mactan in 1521 to the more recent People Power Revolution in 1986. Other murals depicted include the Dagohoy Revolt in 1744, the 1782 Palaris Revolt in Pangasinan, the 1896 Philippine Revolution, and World War II. The memorial complex was designed by Francisco Manosa while the murals and a statue of a Filipino soldier-farmer were sculptured by Manuel Casal.

(source: corrgidor island)

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FILIPINO-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP PARK

The Filipino-American Friendship Park, commemorates the close friendship and camaraderie between the Philippines and the United States in times of war and in peace which is depicted by ten-foot high statues of a Filipino and American soldier.

A plaque at the park bears the following statement:

"In these hallowed surroundings where heroes sleep may their ashes scatter with the wind and live in the hearts of those who were left behind. They died for freedom's right and in heaven's sight. Theirs was a noble cause."

(source: corregidor island)

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LIGHTHOUSE

The Lighthouse is located on Topside, 628 feet above sea level. You can see the breathtaking view of Manila Bay, the South China Sea and bird's eye view of the island from atop the lighthouse.

The original lighthouse was built in 1836 by the Spaniards. A bigger one was erected in 1897 but was destroyed during World War II.

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MIDDLESIDE BARRACKS

A large military barracks made up of two three-storey buildings which was referred to as the Middleside Barracks because it was constructed in the middleside sector of the Island.

Personnel of the 60th Coast Artillery Regiment and the 91st Philippine Scout Coast Artillery Regiment were billeted in this barracks. It was also briefly occupied by elements of the 4th Marine Regiment upon their arrival in Corregidor on December 1941.

PACIFIC WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM

The Pacific War Memorial Museum houses the repository of relics and memorabilia related to the history of Corregidor.

Inside the museum

There are also statue of some personalities and costumes in corregidor's historical past.

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ETERNAL FLAME OF FREEDOM

Eternal flames are most often used as a symbol to acknowledge and remember a person or event of national significance, or a group of brave and noble people connected to some event, or even a laudable goal such as international peace.

The monument is a large steel sculpture which symbolizes the Flame of Freedom burning eternally. It is behind the Pacific War Memorial Dome of Peace, on a raised platform above a reflecting pool. (photo source: wikipedia)

Beside the Eternal Flame of Freedom and the surrounding area

Designed by Aristides Dimetrios, the sculpture commemorates the sacrifices, and the heroic struggle of the US and Philippines to preserve freedom for future generations.

Battery Crockett

Battery Crockett, this gun emplacement was initially constructed in 1905 and was completed in 1908 at a cost of $290,049.

It was one of the six "disappearing" gun batteries that formed the interlocking field of fire which totally encircled the island. The battery was armed with two 12-inch seacoast guns mounted on disappearing carriages behind a concrete parapet. Its range was 17,000 yards and was capable of 170-degree traverse with overlapping fields or a total of 220 degrees coverage for the battery. The design of this battery was very similar to Battery Cheney and Battery Wheeler. It was located centrally on the island and firing basically south across the major southern channel into Manila Bay.

(source: corregidor island)

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JAPANESE GARDEN OF PEACE PARK

Japanese Garden of Peace Park is located at tailside, the park features a 10-foot stone Buddha, a Shinto Shrine, and various Japanese soldier memorial shrines and anti-craft weapon relics. This is also a place of prayer for Japanese war veterans and their relatives.

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BATTERY HEARN

The Americans started setting up Battery Hearn in 1918 and completed work on it in 1921 at a cost of $148,105.


This cannon had a range of 17 miles, and used 1,000-lb. projectiles, facing out to the South of China Sea and was capable of firing in all directions.

During the seige of Corregidor, Battery Hearn pummeled enemy troops as far as Naic, Ternate and Puerto Azul in Batangas, as well as different areas in Bataan within its range. Battery Hearn is located Southwest of Battery Way.

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CORREGIDOR HOTEL

After the half-day tour, we were brought to the Corregidor Hotel for a buffet lunch. We did get to sample all the dishes that were laid out on a simple table setting. Decent food but nothing spectacular. But the dining area was definitely a homely and welcoming atmosphere.

With us, our veteran Corregidor tour guide Mr. Alonzo, who is articulate, very pleasant and knowledgeable to share about the history and sights. It is clear to all of us that he really likes what he does.

After a fulfilling lunch, we then completed the rest of the tour. In the mid-afternoon, the day-trippers were brought back straight to the ferryboat for their return trip to Manila that departs from Corregidor at 2:30 pm. Then us overnighters were brought to the hotel to check in and spend the rest of the days at our own leisure.

Corregidor Hotel:

The Corregidor hotel offers accommodations with private facilities for those who wish to prolong their journey back into history.


There are 31 fully air-conditioned rooms with hot and cold showers, 30 standard rooms (single, twin or triple occupancy) and 1 suite. The hotel has recreation center, a clubhouse and outdoor basketball and tennis courts.

The lobby,

The hotel's restaurant, La Playa Dining



hotel's mini-bar,



and the hotel's swimming pool.

TRAMVIA BUS

After almost an hour of water travel, we arrived at the main dock on the Island of Corregidor. It was a cold and wet drizzly day.

We then boarded a Tramvia bus for a guided and narrated tour on the island. Tramvia is a vehicle that looks like a streetcar designed for the transport of passengers.

Everything proceeded like clockwork and went smoothly with just some interruptions due to on-and-off rain showers. So, we were unable to get down to some sites.