Corregidor Island Trip

Courage, strength, valor, sacrifice and heroism of our defenders,
On the World War II it serves a battle ground of our soldiers,
Rocky tadpole shaped island known as “the Rock” ,
R
uins of buildings, big guns, structures, tunnels, parks and barracks,
E
xperiencing Malinta tunnel with lights and simulation of events and bombing,
Gives us idea about our history and the island views are all wonderful and amazing,
I
n this small island there are lots of World War II memories and important histories,
D
ome of Pacific Memorial, the altar, The Fil Am Friensdhip and the eternal flame of freedom,
Old spanish lighthouse in a village that gives a breathtaking view whole island on top as we stand ,
Remembering and feeling nice that we learned a lot in Corregidor small but historical island.
Picture
The Map of Corregidor (shapes like a tadpole)
December 18, 2011 will be our fifth (5th) year wedding anniversary. I am thinking of a place to make it something special.

Unfortunately, on the exact day my labs have work and I'll be coming from my hometown(Antique) from attending our elementary reunion..

We decided to spend it a week ahead (December 11). The next thing to consider is where we can spend it in a day to make it memorable. As a galaera, it comes in my mind  to have a day tour at Corregidor. Since then we always want to go there I think this is the best time.

What  I did first was to research on how I can go on a tour to corregidor. So I ask my friend GOOGLE about corregidor and I found this site about Corregidor Trip.(http://www.corregidorphilippines.com)The Suncruises Inc. They are the authorized tour provider in corregidor.

I e-mailed for inquiry and reservation. Then they sent me a reservation code and account number that I need to pay in the bank (BDO). I reserved a Day Tour.
Inclusions: Roundtrip ferry transfers; shrine, entrance and terminal fees; guided island tour and buffet lunch
 Day tour with buffet lunch - Php 1999.00/person
 Optional: Lights & Sound Show - Php 150.00
 Fuel Surcharge - Php 100.00 
 For complete details of packages(click the link):
http://www.corregidorphilippines.com/packages.html/

Since we need to be there before 7:00 AM for check in. We had  to leave home as early as 5:00 AM, from Carmona we took Jam Line bus to Buendia Taft. We arrived there as early as 5:30 AM so we ate pancake and sausage at Mc. Donald's near La Salle and took taxi to CCP Complex Sun Cruises Office. Unfortunately, there is a Milo Marathon on-going so we need to walk more than 1 KM to reach the Suncruises office.  Though we are sweating we enjoyed that morning excercise. At their office,  I just presented the deposit slip and they provided us with tags, meal ticket, light and sounds ticket and brochures about Corregidor. They also provide shuttle bus to bring us to dock area, where we will be riding in a ferry boat for 1 1/2 hours or less. We left manila at 8:00 AM and arrived corregidor at around 9:30 AM...

Picture
Our Tags provided by the SUN CRUISES...
Picture
The map for the Sun Cruises Office and Dock Area at CCP Complex
As we arrived corregidor there are trams provided as our transportation on the island.There are a tour guide and the name of our guide is Oscar, he has a very good sense of humor. He discussed the History of Corregidor. 
Some of the technical information here was discussed to us by Oscar.
Corregidor is a small rocky island in the Philippines about 48 kilometers west of Manila which is stragetically located at the entrance of Manila Bay. This island fortress stands as a memorial for the courage, valor, and heroism of its Filipino and American defenders who bravely held their ground against the overwhelming number of invading Japanese forces during World War II.
Picture
The trams...
Our first stop is at the tail of the Island where we seen the Japanese Garden of peace and the Jibo Kannon Stone Budha (peace and love). We had a 15 minute tour and picture taking. As per oscar it was a former Japanese Cemetery and the evidence found was a picture of an american soldier with cemetery on the back ground. All the remains were brought to Japan to honor the deads. there are still tombs present on the garden. (see picture below)
After trip in the island's tail we directly went to the Malinta Tunnel. The hill rises abruptly to an elevation of 390 feet and severs Bottomside from the tail end of the island. The 835 feet long East-West passage served as the main tunnel which is 24 feet wide and the height at the top of its arch is 18 feet. 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. The tunnel was named from a blood sucker animal leech or "Linta" in tagalog, because before there are many leeches in that area. But for now all leeches are gone.
The tunnel had been dug through solid rock and offered complete protection from artillery or air attack. Also the Former Commonwealth president Manuel Quezon had served his seat in one of the tunnels.
We experienced the thrills of lights and sound show at the malinta tunnel. Each lateral tunnel shown a re-enacment  of the World War II historical and dramatic event. Also the Commonwealth President Manuel Quezon's suffering on his health was shown. It lasted for 45 minutes. We really enjoyed and felt the importance of the the history and the courage and bravery of our Filipino Heroes. There is a simulation of bombing during the show. The last part of the show is that the Philippine Flag was risen and we sang the Pambansang Awit (Lupang Hinirang). I felt goosebumps and feel the importance of the events that happend in Corregidor and Philippines.
Before we had lunch we went to the bottom side of the island and one of the attaction is the Gen. Douglas Mc Arthur Park. His statue with his famous line "I shall return"  can be found there.

We had our buffet lunch at the Corregidor Inn's La Playa Restaurant. There were assorted vegetable salad, garlic chicken, pasta and fish. Also provided us with fresh fruit, maja blanca and other sweets for dessert. The drinks they provide us is pandan juice. Softdrinks are available but we paid Php 70.00 for a can of coke. To summarize the buffet lunch is satisfying and worth the payment.
After our somptous lunch, our next stop is the "BATTERY WAY". It is one of the gun emplacement which  was the last of Corregidor's "concrete artillery" to cease firing
before the  surrender of Bataan.  There are 4  mortars there. We took pictures of the remains of the mortars and the building with engraved name "Battery Way".
Anyway, the battery is not dry cell it's  term they used to call the gun emplacements found in the Island. There are more than 20 batteries but we just visited 3 of them. The names of the battery came from American Soldiers last name who had an impact on the history.

Our next destination is the Battery Hearn, a 12-inch seacost west-ranged guns had a maximum range of 29,000 yards and   was capable of firing in all directions. This is the longest gun I've seen in the island.
 After some picture taking in the area we continue our journey to another battery, the Battery Crockett. 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 seacost 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. It was located centrally on the island and firing basically south across the   major southern channel into Manila Bay. In there we
This were the 3 batteries we visited. And of course we took pictures in different angles in the areas of the batteries. We really enjoyed learning facts about this gun emplacement.
We also went to the Middle Side of the Island.This is a sector located within the tadpole head of the island where the  ground  elevation approximately ranges between 100 feet and 400 feet above sea  level. It  lies between the Bottomside and Topside sectors where a number of  landmarks,  buildings, and structures are found. Currently, the  Filipino-American Friendship  Park, Aviary and Bird Park, and the Youth For  Peace Campsite are found at  Middleside. It is also at this sector where you  will find the ruins and former  sites of the following: YMCA, Middleside  Barracks, Post Stockade, Officers Club,  quarters for officers and enlistedmen,  warehouses, some service and utility  buildings.
 
The middleside barracks is  the former quarters of the military personnels. There are barriers and limitations. Going near the building is not allowed for safety purposes. So we just took a picture on the road side.
Our last destination is the top side part of the island. Is the highest geographic sector in the island. It is here where to find the ruins of  the Mile-Long Barrackes, Cine  Corregidor, major gun  emplacements . Also the parade ground, a  small golf course, the old Spanish flagpole, and the Spanish  lighthouse are . The more  structures are  The Pacific War Memorial Dome, sculpture of the Eternal Flame of Freedom, and a  museum.
We visit some of these ruins, spots and historical sites and took pictures and enjoyed the view.
What really amazes us is that from  Pacific War Memorial Dome's Top hole we seen a heart shaped sun ray. As per Oscar, one specific day of May the ray is in the center of the altar.
We really enjoyed this trip, we learned a lot from history and had seen wonderful sceneries and all the expenses and efforts are worth.
One of my most memorable experience is hearing the story of the Japanese Soldier which was ordered not to surrender. In the 1970's more or less 30 years after World War II he was found in a certain island by one of the Japanese hunter and inform him that they can go home and WWII was already done long time ago. He answered that he is still waiting for the order of his officer since the last order given is that no matter what happened never surrender.  It was funny but It opened my eyes how disciplined  the japanese are. Fortunately one of the officer is still alive, went to the Philippines and gave order to the soldier to go home since the war is over. Then the soldier followed the order. This story amazes me, I'm not sure if this is true but it really gives me lesson.
After this we again go back to the dock area and we went home to Manila . At 4:30 PM we are already in Manila.
That concludes our memorable and historical corregidor trip. With these, we decided to visit more historical sites to learn a lot regarding history.

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    Just want to enjoy life while we can... Travel to different places and we believe "wag maging dayuhan sayong sariling bayan"... Lakbayin ang Pilipinas at sarili'y  tuklasin....