Day Trip to Corregidor Island

On Saturday, November 2nd we took a break from working and went for a historical tour of Corregidor Island.  There is a reason why I have not created a new posting since last week - we've been working long days (and nights) and that doesn't leave much time for recreational activities.

I have to admit that prior to my trip here I was unaware of the history of Corregidor and the important role that it played during WWII.  So if you are not a history buff then please excuse the next several paragraphs. I promise that after the brief history lesson is a focus on our trip there and the fun that we had.

Corregidor Island, locally called Isla ng Corregidor, is an island located at the entrance of Manila Bay in southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location, Corregidor was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the entrance of Manila Bay and the City of Manila from attacks by enemy warships in the event of war. Located 48 kilometres (30 mi) inland, Manila has been the largest city and the most important seaport in the Philippines for centuries, from the colonial rule of Spain, the United States, and Japan and after the establishment of the Republic of the Philippines in 1946.

Corregidor (Fort Mills) is the largest of the islands that formed the harbor defenses of Manila Bay together with El Fraile Island (Fort Drum), Caballo Island (Fort Hughes) and Carabao Island (Fort Frank), which were all fortified during the American occupation of the country. The island was also the site of a small military airfield, as part of the defense.

During World War II, Corregidor played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces. Heavily bombarded in the latter part of the war, the ruins left on the island serve as a military memorial to American, Filipino and Japanese soldiers who served or lost their lives on the island. Corregidor is one of the important historic and tourist sites in the country.

We discovered this excursion thanks to JM and Hegel, who saved us at least $60 USD each by pointing us directly to the official source of the tour and not through a third party.  If you are interested in taking this tour for yourself please note that Sun Cruises is the one and ONLY operator for the island.  Any other company that sells you a tour will mark it up and turn you over to the Sun Cruises people when you arrive at the docks.  http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/index.html 

David capturing the sights during the journey

Disembarking upon arrival in Corregidor

So the adventure began by meeting at the docks of Sun Cruises at 7am.  It was well past 8am before all passengers were loaded.  The boat held nearly 300 people and most of them spent their time in the air conditioned cabins for the 1.5 hour trip to the island.  We spent most of our time on the back of the boat which was the only placed on the boat where we had access to open air.

The open-air buses made for easy sight-seeing for everyone

When we arrived at the island we went to our pre-assigned bus and began the tour.  Our driver was Bert and our tour guide was Nicki and they both did an excellent job.

The Island is shaped like a tadpole and is divided into four parts, as follows:

Topside - The island's biggest area, which points towards the South China Sea, rises prominently to a large flat area that is called the "Topside". Beneath this was the fortified communications center of the island, as well as the location for the Army headquarters, barracks for enlisted men, a branch of the Philippine Trust Co. bank, the Cine Corregidor movie theater, officers' quarters, underground ordnance shops, the traditional parade grounds, an Officers' Club with a 9-hole Golf Course, tennis courts, and swimming pool, and the bulk of the batteries that constituted the strength of Corregidor.

Middleside - Middleside is a small plateau that interrupts the upward slope from Bottomside to Topside, and was the location of 2-story officers' quarters, barracks for the enlisted men, a hospital, quarters for non-commissioned officers, a service club, PX, and two schoolhouses—one for the children of Filipino soldiers and the other for American children.

Ariel view of Corregidor Island

Bottomside - This is the lower part of the island and is the neck that connects the tail and head of the island. South of Bottomside was Barangay or Barrio San José (near what was Navy Beach); on the north is what was Army Dock, with its three large piers, and, east of Bottomside, is the Malinta Tunnel. The Malinta Hill separates Bottomside from the Tail End.

Tailside - The Tailside or Tail End is not a given name, but it is the remaining portion of the island where different memorials, shrines and the island's airstrip are located. Kindley Field was constructed in the early 1920s and named in honor of an early hero of the U.S. Army Air Corps. The airfield was operated then by the army, and the navy had a hydroplane base. The short runway, cramped and hilly terrain had limited its use.

Eric, Mike, Dave and David checking out the Big Guns

Middleside Barracks

Middleside Barracks - is a large military barracks made up of two three-story buildings which was referred to as the Middleside Barracks because it was constructed in the middleside sector of the island. The barracks were destroyed during the Japanese invasion during May, 1942.

Two of the four 12-inch mortars at battery Way

Battery Way was named in honor of the Coast Artillery Corps of the U.S. Army, which along with Battery Geary, was the mainstay of the Corregidor Garrison during the Japanese invasion. Its 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.

Mike checking out all of the storage rooms at Battery Way

Battery Way played a very limited role during the Philippines Campaign in the Spring of 1942, only becoming active in the last week of the battle. Three of Battery's four mortars were fired for the first time on April 28 against Japanese positions on nearby Bataan. Its exposure to Japanese artillery, air attack, and its limited supply of high explosive shells greatly diminished its effectiveness. By the time of the Japanese landings on Corregidor island only one mortar tube of Battery Way remained serviceable, the other two having been damaged beyond repair by Japanese artillery. Unfortunately advances in naval gunnery and ship design rendered these weapons mostly obsolete by the end of World War I.

More carnage from the bombing of Battery Way

Battery Way was manned by the Japanese after the fall of Corregidor in 1942. The guns were permanently damaged during the retaking of Corregidor by U.S forces in early 1945.

The 12-inch Coastal Artillery Batteries of Battery Hearn

Battery Hearn - The 12-inch seacoast west-ranged guns had a maximum range of 29,000 yards and was capable of firing in all directions. It was one of the last major additions to Corregidor's defense system which was intended to defend the island against enemy naval threat from the South China Sea. Battery Hearn had been in action firing towards Cavite from February 1942 and on April 8 and 9, 1942, towards Bataan. This gun emplacement was captured nearly intact by the Japanese when Corregidor fell and it was subsequently repaired by them and put back into action. It was, however, completely neutralized by American aerial bombardment in January and February of 1945.

You can't have big guns unless you have a lot of places to store ammunition

Dave trying to figure out how to operate the gun at Battery Hearn

The ruins of the Bachelor's Officers barracks

Filipino-American Friendship Park - the 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."

The ten-foot high statue of a Filipino and American soldier

A view from the Cine Corregidor to the Mile-Long Barracks

Cine Corregidor - To the left at the entrance to the Pacific War Memorial are the ruins of what used to be Cine Corregidor, a movie theater. It was erected during the pre-war period to cater to the entertainment needs of the personnel of the garrison as well as their families. Nothing much is left of the building except portions of its concrete walls, a stairway leading up to its upper balcony, and the concrete floor of what used to be its stage. Its former lobby now houses two black vintage cars which were used by President Quezon and Gen. MacArthur.

A view from the front of the Pacific War Memorial

Pacific War Memorial - The memorial was erected to honor of the Filipino and American servicemen who participated in the Pacific War. Financed with an appropriation by the United States Congress, it was completed in 1968. 

A view from under the dome of the Pacific War Memorial

The Pacific War memorial - The major memorial structure is a rotunda in which a circular altar falls directly under the dome's open center through which light falls on the altar during daylight hours. The altar symbolizes a wreath of victory with the following words inscribed on its rim: "Sleep, my sons, your duty done, for Freedom's light has come; sleep in the silent depths of the sea, or in your bed of hallowed sod, until you hear at dawn the low, clear reveille of God." The memorial also houses a museum which serves as the repository of relics and memorabilia related to the history of Corregidor.

A view looking from the Pacific War Memorial to the Cine Corregidor

Various artillery in the foreground and the Mile-Long Barracks in the background

The Mile-Long Barracks - This is a three-story concrete building which was constructed to be hurricane-proof. It was used for the billeting of American officers and enlisted personnel detailed at the garrison. The entire length of the building measures about 1,520 feet that it became popularly known as the world's longest military barracks. Although it is just less than a third of a mile long, it was, however, commonly referred to as the Mile-Long Barracks. The headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur was also located in this building.

The Pacific War Memorial Musuem

A few meters away from the Pacific War Memorial is the Pacific War Memorial Museum which houses relics and memorabilia related to the history of Corregidor.  We could have spent a lot more time looking at the pictures and reading about the history but we had to keep moving along the tour

The courtyard at the Spanish Lighthouse

The Spanish Lighthouse

Spanish Lighthouse - At its current site, the original lighthouse was built by the Spaniards in 1836. Sixty-one years later a need for a much bigger lighthouse was conceived which led to the erection of another structure to replace the old one. However, the lighthouse was destroyed during World War II. The current lighthouse was constructed on the same site at an elevation of 628 feet above sea level. Being the highest point in the island, visitors who climb up the stairs of the lighthouse can have a breathtaking view of Corregidor, Manila Bay, the South China Sea, and the neighboring provinces of Bataan and Cavite. Beside the lighthouse is a small gift shop where visitors can buy souvenirs.

A view from the Corregidor Hotel where we enjoyed a lunch buffet

One of the numerous statues at the Filipino Heroes Memorial

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

Three of the fourteen murals at the Filipino Heroes Memorial

The 10-foot high stone Buddha at the Japanese Garden of Peace

Japanese Garden of Peace - this garden features a 10-foot high stone Buddha with a reflecting pool, 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 families and relatives of Japanese soldiers who served or were killed in Corregidor during World War II. 

Collection of anti-aircraft guns at the Japanese garden of Peace

Also on display within the garden are anti-aircraft guns which are relics of the war. A small pavilion houses some Japanese memorabilia and World War II photographs. 

Dave, David, Eric & Mike posing for one last photo

The Malinta Tunnel is a tunnel complex built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers on the island of Corregidor in the Philippines. It was initially used as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker, but was later equipped as a 1,000-bed hospital. 

A view from inside the Malinta Tunnel

The main tunnel, running east to west, is 831 feet, 24 feet wide and 18 feet high. Branching off from this main shaft are 13 lateral tunnels on the north side and 11 lateral tunnels on the south side. 

One of the many displays during the Light and Sound Show in Malinta Tunnel

The Malinta Tunnel derives its name from Malinta Hill, a 390-foot rise through which its shaft is bored. Malinta is Filipino for "full of leeches", linta being the local word for "leech".

Like we really needed the sign to recognize a potential problem

So needless to say we enjoyed the day and would highly recommend this tour to most anyone!