Corregidor: A Blast from The Past

I NEED TO HAVE A BREAK! After a long time of being sick and absent from work, I had a catch up week with my work. I felt down and stressed, I thought I just needed some time away, well after my get away last December. I had also been thinking of doing a solo trip for quite some time now, so I then decided to choose an affordable yet easy day tour, thus I thought of Corregidor.

Corregidor also called as the rock is known as one of the major tourist attractions in the Philippines. It's located 48 km west of Manila, in the mouth of Manila Bay. It is a Tadpole shaped island 6 km long 2.4 at its widest point. There are 2 fast ferries to corregidor, MV Bay Cruiser with 145 passenger capacity & MV Sun Cruiser 2 with 285 passenger,  Sun cruises is curently the sole operator of the fast ferries & major tour provider in Corregidor. Tram busses are used to tour corregidor to see the 23 Batteries, Battery Geary, Battery Hern, Battery Way. Pacific War Museum & Eternal Flame were additional attractions built after the war in memoriam of the courage & bravery of the soldier & officers who fought in the war. Other ruin-attractions are the Middle Side Baracks which houses the American Officers & Filipino Scouts, the Top Side Barracks which houses only American Officers, & the restored Spanish Lighthouse which was built before the Americans arrived in the Philippines. One can also experience the world famous Malinta Tunnel's Lights & Sounds show as well as the beauty of the Corregidor Beach Resort, South Beach, Japanese Tunnels, & other world war 2 ruins, The island has it's own 21 bed hotel, the Corregidor Inn with its Aplaya Restaurant  that can seat 150 persons. Newest activities that tourist can enjoy are the Rocket zipline, which is 40 ft high &  200 m long, Night Caving in the Malinta Tunnel, the Hiking trails, Biking tour & as well as Bird watching. (source: Sun Cruises' video presentation)

The tour was already a package tour operated by Sun Cruises, all you have to do is hop on the boat, the tram & bring extra money for souvenirs & of course, your camera.

The departure time was 8am, but since you still have to check in yourself, I went there as early as 6:30 am. The loading docks/ terminal was just beside Vikings in MOA. It is still new & it was really nice & clean I also like how you can see the view of Manila Bay from there.

Docking Area

I was seated in the middle of the cruise ship, MV Sun Cruiser II, I was in the front also (just 1 row away from the window) so I was able to still see a great view. 

 

After an hour & a half, we arrived to our destination. After hoping off MV Sun Cruiser II, we rode our bus/trams for the tour. I rode Bus 1, we had a mix of foreigners & old locals as well as 3 friends who were around the same age as I am (spoiler: I did not attempt to interact with them, I was enjoying my solo moment the whole time).

First stop was the Middleside Barracks, which was the quarters of the 60^th Coast Artillery anti-aircraft rehimen, United States Regular Army and the 91^st Coast Artillery, Philippine Scouts. It was destroyed by Japanese bombs on December 29, 1941.

The next stop was the first set of guns & mortars at Battery Way. I enjoyed learning some snippets about how powerful these things are, but then again compared to the armors by the enemy it was not even of comparison. Battery way was the house of 4 120inch (305mm) M1890 Mortar Carriages which were capable of lobbing a 1,000Lbs (454.5kg) deck piercing shell OI 700 lb (318 kg) high explosive shell 14, 610 yards (8.3 Miles of 13.35 km) in any direction. Firing elevation of the said Mortars were 45 degrees to 70 degrees. Standard crew per mortar were 14 men at least.

The Mortars were said to be able to break medical glasswares at the nearby hospital, the battery eas placed out of service during peacetime. It remained unmanned Until April 17, 1942, when an anti-aircraft search light and radar unit, battery E 60^th coast artillery took over No. 1 Mortar was left unserviceable by the 20^th, the men were able to fire Mortars 2, 3 & 4.

On May 2, Nos. 3 & 4 was disabled by direct hits on the barrels, leaving only No. 2. After midnight May 6 this last Mortar went into action against Japanese Landing Craft in the north channel between 4:00am & 6:00 am. Lt. henry Way, together with three 155mm guns still in action on Corregidor & the four 14 inch (355.6mm) guns of Fort Drum dispersed an attempted landing at North Dock. Way continued firing all morning despite a rain of shells dropping into the pit. This caused 70% casualties amongst its gun crews.

They strap the bullets into this slider, to move it easier from the storage to the guns.

The damaged cause by the last bombs

The largest gun was housed in Battery Hern

Next was Battery Hern, it was the biggest of all the Batteries. It is armed with a 12inch (305mm) gun model 1895A2, mounted on a barbette carriage model 1917, which with a maximum firing elevation of 35 degrees could fire a 1,000Lb (454.5kg) shell propelled by a 270Lb (122.7kg) separately loaded bagged charge to a range of 30,000 yards 17 miles or 7.4km at a firing elevation between 15 & 35 degrees, the gun could cover 360 degree field, from 15 down to zero degrees. Maximum rate of fire is one round every 55 seconds. Standard complement was one officer and 33 enlisted men of whom 4 were stationed in the wall beneath the carriage when in action.

Storage of Battery Hern

On May 6, 1942, the gun carriage were disabled by the crew before surrendering but the Japanese had American Pow’s place the battery back in service by replacing the mounted gun with the spare nearby and stripping parts from Battery Smith to rebuild the carriage. In early January 1945, a large bomb dropped by an American B-24 bomber exploded beside the Gun putting it permanently out of action & a second bomb collapsed the underground passageway behind the gun.



 Next stop was the world’s longest military barracks. A trivia for this, It is actually not a Mile long it only actually measures 1,520 feet in length, but how come it’s called Mile-Long? Because it has 3 stories, add them all… 1,520 feet x 3= 1 mile! J It is located in the Topside part of the island just meters away from the Cine Corregidor & Pacific War Memorial and across the site where the Paratroopers landed when they alighted from the plane carrying them with barely parachutes to save them from instant collision on the land. (reference: www.markmaranga.com/corregidors-mile-long-barracks/)

In between the Mile Long Barracks & The Top Side Parade Ground

Top Side Parade Ground

 

After a couple of meters from the Topside Parade Grounds just across is the Bachelor Officers Quarters. Where those officers who are not yet married are housed, and just a few meters adjacent to the quarters is the Cine Corregidor which showed Gone with The Wind as it’s last movie before the breakout began. In the middle of the two is the pathway towards the Pacific War Memorial which firsts seen on it is the statue of helping brothers, an American & a Filipino helping each other. In it also is the Pacific War Memorial Museum, which houses the pictures & things used by people during that time, from dinner ware to medals & publications.

In the middle, is the Pacific War Memorial grounds which houses the stone grave, in which is the tribute for the unsung heroes of the war in Corregidor. Engraved in the stone, “ 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.” Then further into the grounds, is the Pacific Flame tribute figure. We were then brought to the hill top to see the view of the tail of the island.

 

Inside the Pacific War Memorial

Pacific Flame

The view from the clif near the Pacific Flame Statue. THE TAIL OF CORREGIDOR

Next stop was the Spanish lighthouse, we were able to see the whole head of the island and buy some suovenirs. Built even before the comming of the Americans it was also restored into its almost original state.







 

The view after 50 Steps to reach the deck of the light house

 
Then just before heading for lunch, we passed Battery Geary where the biggest effect of the war is seen. A ground zero of remaining guns and Battery Crockett, these were the house of guns which were 12 inches disappearing emplacements begun. It was constructed in 1905-1908, transferred on February 2, 1911 had a conventional design during that time & was state of the art. This armament was still carried in 1928, but noted for replacement. The battery still has the #13 Bethlehem, and #27 Watervliet. As with the other Batteries at Mills, Crockett saw extensive service during the early stages of the pacific war. Major damage to the Battery was done by a 240mm barrage on April 24, 1942. Resulting in permanently damaging one gun and starting fires in the shot hoists. More damages was done by an Aerial bomb on May 3 which pierced  the loading platform floor.

Ground Zero

One last loaded gun.

The last gun seen in Battery Geary

Battery Crocket

Largest noticeable damage at Battery Crocket

A buffet lunch was served at Corregidor Inn. I chose the outside seats since it had the nicest view of Corregidor there.

After lunch, we headed out to the Lorcha Dock, which was the site where Mc Arthur departed from Corregidor. Thus, Mc Arthus said these words as he gave up on the President’s orders,

The President of the United States ordered me to break through the Japanese lines and proceed from Corregidor to Australia for the purpose, as I understand it, of organizing the American offensive against Japan, a primary objective of which is the relief of the Philippines. I came through and I shall return.

After that we headed out to the Japanese Memorial Garden which was just discovered in 1985 by a photograph brought to the discovery of the site by Veteran, Zoeth Skinner. In 1986, with the permission of the Philippine Government, the remains, the remains were exhumed and returned to Japan the area still remained as the Japanese Memorial Garden. In this site you could appreciate the view of Ternate Cavite & Caballero Island and the statue of the God of Grace. A part of the site, also is the location of the said Suicide Cliff where the Japanese jump to save their selves from the shame they probably brought.

Japanese God of Mercy

The Picture that traced where the cemetery was located.

Last stop was the Malinta Tunnel experience. In the West Entrance is the 1932 engraved which was when the said tunnel was constructed. Inside the tunnel you can view the Lights & Sounds Show, the one & only in the world. It may have old effects but you can feel the feeling of people who lived their lives inside the tunnel to be saved from the impending tragedy. The show comprises the lives & stories of the people inside the Malinta Tunnel.

At the end of the tunnel before exiting, the Philippine National Anthem is then played with the flag raised in its glory & grace in the middle of the end of the tunnel. Which somewhat brought me into tears remembering all what I have learned in this journey. All these sacrifices brought by our brothers are really the main reason why we have this so called freedom.

I really appreciated more the heroism of our brethren who were courageous enough to fight for our freedom despite knowing that they are up for a sure loss. Also, I appreciated how the Americans tried to stay by our side during the time of the Japanese occupation and how forgiving Filipinos are to the Japanese. To conclude the tour was not just a sightseeing, it was not just a walk down memory lane, it was a reflective one. I recommend this tour for those who long for the field trips we had during our childhood days in school. It was a field trip for adults who wish to reminisce how our heroes showed bravery by fighting for this country.