Gen. McArthur welcomed us on our visit! Or rather saying goodbye.
My best friend from elementary days, who turned out to be an impulsive, kind-of-a-daredevil-travel buddy, agreed with me to have a weekend getaway that was not so far away from the city and only requires us only to spend a whole day. So here we go. We just read about the island during our history classes in school, and I seriously thought that it was too far away from the metropolis. All I ever knew about the place is that it is full of history as the frontier of an impending battle that decided the country’s fate during the World War II, as what the textbook says
Even going to the docks that would lead us to the island was an adventure itself. Even though I was kind of a Manila girl for 4 years during my college days (was it 2 years ago already!?) I was not pretty much good with commuting within the city.
North Dock
We opt for the walking tour package of Sun Cruises, and definitely enjoyed walking under the scorching heat as to stretch out our limbs away from our usual environment (a.k.a., the corporate world). Our assigned tour guide, Kuya Gener was great, and it was actually his first day! He also had an eye for great compositions and angles! Because of that, I had a lot of portraits of my own. Even the other tourists enjoyed his photography!
We started our walking tour by passing by the Battery Way. The armory was named after 2nd Lt. Henry N. Way, 4th US. Artillery, in honor of his bravery.
From the artillery, our tour guide lead us into the jungle let us try the “Duck Walk Tunnel.” Kinda creepy, yes. Good thing it was only a short distance from the light (though the light was not seen in the picture, I promise you that it was close enough).
There was a Gecko (Tuko) inside the tunnel! Almost smashed those eggs as I reach for the walls while walking in the dark. Good thing Kuya Gener pointed it out.
Next stop would be the star of this trip, the ruins. We rode a shuttle that would take us on the Topside. The island has three parts, the Tailside, Middleside and the Topside. On this trip, we frequented the Topside and Middleside part. Maybe I could go back there again and trudge through the other side as well.
The first ruin we’ve gone to was the hospital. It was bombarded while there are still patients inside, so the hospital has been transferred to the Malinta Tunnel.
The Hospital was also the refuge of our Muslim Brothers, in the infamous event called the Jabidah Massacre, wherein ’till now the event is still causing a ripple in our country.
Shopping Center“No Parking”
The next ruin we visited was the shopping center of the Americans. They stayed at the Topside, the uppermost part of the island while the Filipinos are on the Middleside and Tailside of the island. The shopping district was one of the many facilities found on the topside. Other facilities includes Bachelor’s quarters, a cinema, a swimming pool inside the Mile Long Barracks, and other recreational places for the American soldiers.
Mile Long Barrack
Not quite a mile-long, but the famous Mile Long Barrack was the longest barrack in the world. It covers most of the topside and houses a humongous number of facilities. All the ruins are composed of German-made tiles, with cement that are imported from US (if my memory serves me right). Standing at the third floor of the ruin, I realized that Corregidor was also a beautiful island, with lots of vegetation that houses a lot of animals, and is a very good weekend getaway, even without the ruins and artillery. Being at Corregidor is painful and overwhelming at the same time. Painful for the fallen heroes, thankful because of our freedom. As we go on our tour I was thinking, I hope war would never happen again in our country, and I hope it’ll stop.
Cine Corregidor, which is also adjacent to the topside barracks.
The empty pacific war museum. Majestic, I’m telling you.
After the ruins, we visited the Pacific War Museum to learn, even just a bit, about the history of the island, before and after the war.
Eternal Flame of Freedom
Statue commemorating the American-Filipino friendship during war.
Dome of Peace
Adjacent to the Museum is the Pacific War Memorial where we shared a minute of silence for our fallen brothers. Beyond the dome was the Eternal Flame of Freedom. Overlooking was the sight of Manila Bay and Cavite.
Our tour guide while going to our next destination…
The Spanish Lighthouse
View from the lighthouse, with a bit of the Topside (Mile Long) Barracks.
We ate our Jolibee burgers at the lighthouse, while feeling the fresh breeze from the sea. That was definitely relaxing.
We finally finished the walking tour. Bitin! Apparently that was what only includes in the package. Kuya Gener lead us to a shuttle and let us stay in the South Dock, the beach part of the island. There, we freshen up for it was really a sunny day and enjoyed the beach. A couple of “Bloodstones”. There are legends that the stones were tainted with real blood by the way.
South Dock
Looks like we’re not in Corregidor.
We ate snacks at the nearby sari-sari store while waiting for our shuttle bound to the ferry boat that would take us back to Manila.
We asked the driver of the shuttle to let us see Malinta Tunnel, but it was closed maybe because there was a show inside. Oh well.
That concludes our trip! And I must admit that it really was not enough. Maybe I could try the night tour or the Sunrise/Sunset package next time. And it was indeed a fulfilling weekend.
Hi, I’m Anthea, a Filipina trying to live in the moment. A registered pharmacist with an office day-job, a traveler of sorts in weekends-whether in actual outdoors or within books, through the screen, or through music. This blog is dedicated to all the wonders of this world (and the universe).
Luzon
