Wreck...: My Corregidor Island Adventure

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. 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.

Nowadays, all that's left in the island are ruins, tunnels and large weapons left by the aftermath of World Ward II. I was invited by my brother and her girlfriend, together with their friends, to explore this historic place.

We saw all then ruins caused by the bombings of Japanese Military during the World War II. It was said that the Japanese targeted the American Headquarters and hospitals which where the soldiers were being treated. It was also said that the reason why the hotel and suites were bombed as well was because the Japanese thought that General Douglas McArthur was staying in one of those hotel and suites. What the Japanese didn't know was the Americans and Filipinos built a tunnel where they moved their headquarters and hospitals.

We also saw the Japanese Garden of Peace where they buried all the Japanese soldiers that died in this place and the historic lighthouse which was one of the most important lights in the archipelago.

South Dock

Malinta Tunnel

Suites Ruins

Suites Ruins (Front View)

American Headquarters Ruins

Hotel Ruins

Japanese Garden of Peace

Lighthouse

Corregidor Beach

After a day tour in Corregidor Island, there is a special tour of the Malinta Tunnel. It is a night tour those who remain overnight in Corregidor. This tour allows visitors to see the different laterals of the 1,000-bed capacity Fort Mills Hospital which was used during the siege of Corregidor.

It is pitch dark inside the tunnel so the tour guide brings along a large flashlight for the tour since the hospital laterals are no longer lighted by electricity. The tour guide showed us the laterals used as medical wards. It is believed that the other remaining lateral was intended for the hospital's administrative office and also for the storage of medicines, medical supplies and hospital equipment.

Later that night, we went back to the hotel for dinner. Then we had fun at the hotel where we were staying and played a game called "Tabbo Word!" while having drinking session. We enjoyed the night because of the game. It's like our bonding of the night.

On the next day, we were supposed to catch the sun rise but we were too lazy to get up early because of what happened the night before. We just went zip lining and swimming at the area near the hotel. It was a good experience.