Corregidor Tour

              On March 19, 2011, Saturday at exactly 8:00 in the morning, we planned to visit the beauty of Corregidor right after our work even though we were so attenuated. We took MV Sun Cruiser II again for the 2nd time around and travelled for an hour and a half and kind of mulling over how corregidor really looks like.

After an hour and a half of traveling from Manila Bay to Corregidor, at last! we have seen the beauty of corregidor and so excited to know the history behind it. So, when we got there we took a Tram, usually lighter and shorter than conventional trains and rapid transit trains. However, the differences between these modes of public transportation are confusing.

           

While we were on our tour around the place we found out what really corregidor is according to our tour guide, that Corregidor Island was named from the Spanish word “Corregir” which means “to correct”- all ships that sailed into the Philippine capital city of Manila had to pass through Corregidor for the required check and correction of papers, the island was also used to signal the Manila government of the coming of hostile ships (although another version claims that the island was used as a penitentiary and corrections institution- which probably explains another affectionate nickname for the island- the Rock- reminiscent of the notorious Alcatraz), thus, the Spaniards called the biggest island of the five islands straddling the bay between the shores of the provinces of Bataan in the north and Cavite in the south – Isla del Corregidor which means Island of Corrections.

  

The Rock was a key bastion of the Allied Forces during the war. When the Japanese Imperial Army descended upon the Philippines in December 1941 immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Gen. Douglas MacArthur carried out a delaying action at Bataan and the island became the operations center of the Allies as well as the de-facto seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government. It was from the island that Philippine President Manuel Quezon and General MacArthur fled for Australia in February 1942 with Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright left in command.

We have also seen the Flame of Freedom, a tall steel structure erected to commemorate the hopes, struggles, sacrifices and aspirations of the Philippines and the United States.

After almost 3 hours of tour, first set of our tour, we ate at Corregidor Inn, The meals at Corregidor Hotel are included with the tour package (php1,999.00, day tour) so you dont need to pay extra for meals and it was a buffet. Some people though, especially those on a tight budget can opt budget or on school tours usually bring food with them or if the meals are to be taken with another place aside from the Corregidor Hotel it has to be arranged with the tour agent in advance. For convenience sake, Coregidor Tour plus meals, which almost always end up at the Corregidor is the best way to go, and it was our first time to drink PANDAN JUICE, awesome!

We also went to Malinta tunnel and to the bottomeside, where the docks are located, including the Lorcha Dock where MacArthur uttered his famous message “I Shall Return”. Whether MacArthur indeed meant to return is the stuff of debates between war historians. One thing was for sure, MacArthur would have wanted to return to Manila since it was an open secret that he kept a mistress at the Manila Hotel.

We really enjoyed having that day tour at corregidor and we just want to say to everyone that You should be a history buff with a huge interest in the events of World War 2 in the Pacific. For sons and daughters of the war veterans, it is an emotional and learning experience. For the young, it serves as a painful reminder of what a war can bring to humankind.

Justine and I would like to thank also to ZOE, CARL and KETCHUP for joining us on that wonderful tour!!!!!!