CORREGIDOR

It was last April 6-7 when there was a free trip to Corregidor aboard navy ship BRP Bacolod City - LS 550. It was a yearly intended for veterans and families trip in celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan. Missed the trip last year since I was late for registration and was about to miss it again this year since the list was already closed when I inquired.  Luckily some last minute backout and I was able to make it. My lolo is a former veterans and he even had pension via PVAO. I didn’t know there are associations all over the country for daughters and sons who are mainly composition of the trip. And according to them even grandsons and granddaughters can join.

BRP Bacolod City - LS 550

Arrived at the Sangley Point docking area around 6 pm and it was jam packed with people. The ship sailed at 2 pm. 8 hours waiting time.

We arrived before 6 am but it was around 7 am when the ship was opened. I almost took an hour before the ship was finally positioned, tied and everything by the crew.

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. The island is under the jurisdiction of Cavite City in the province of Cavite. It is a historical site to commemorate Philippine history and pay respect to the brave Filipino and American soldiers

The tadpole-shaped island, with its tail running eastward, is about 6.5 km (4.0 mi) long, about 2.0 km (1.2 mi) wide at its widest with a total land area of about 900 hectares (2,200 acres). The island is divided into four sections: Tailside, Bottomside, Middleside and Topside. The highest elevation is at 180 m (590 ft) on the Topside.

Didn’t ride the standby tram vehicle on the island like majority of the people in the ship which is after the program for the veteran's celebration. Found out later Tourism Secretary Romulo was there. Too bad I missed it I want to see her in person. Others who joined are after to go swimming at the beach.

We were negotiating for a bus tour to which a guy in black riding a motor gamely obliged. But after few minutes of forming a group of 19 persons he was nowhere. When he came back to our surprised told us there was another group who rented it. It was my friends in AHP. I could have joined them upon the invitation but what about the other group of disappointed peeps I organized. So ended up not joining and touring the Corregidor Inn to which I forgot to take a photo lol, the church and the beach area.

The inside of the San Jose Church

Sandwiched between the South and North Dock, hidden behind trees is this small eerie looking church. This church served Barrio San Jose residents in Corregidor during the pre-war times, then later on by the soldiers stationed at the island as the Second World War rolled into the Pacific. 

This is supposedly the third reincarnation of the chapel. It’s now made of concrete as opposed to the wooden structure it was before.  

 

The Beach

There are jelly fishes that day and one child we are with at the ship got stung that she is crying loudly in pain.

A military helicopter nearby on which guests are taking photos at.

Lunch time we went to one the small food shops and ordered mushroom tocilog to which I forgot again to take a photo. It was yummy. Also bought some pasalubong. Since it was still 2 pm to go back to the ship someone in the canteen organized a bus tour. For the second time we were expecting but after the driver excused himself he will just eat lunch he didn’t came back. So we went to the ship without seeing the whole of the island. A few minutes inside the ship it was announced it will depart at 4 pm. Oh my more than 3 hours of waiting. One of the two ladies we slept beside that night who toured the place before decided to tour the island and get a vehicle. For the 3^rd time we got excited.

Finally we were able to board a bus in our 3^rd attempt even we only went around 5-10 minutes per historical places.

Battery Stockade

Battery Way

 Historic site with WWII-era mortars

Remains of an artillery battery comprising 4 12-inch mortars used to defend the island in the 1940s.

Battery Hearn

Home of the largest military gun in Corregidor Island. 

The 12-inch gun could fire 1000-pound projectiles, at a range as far as 17 miles or 7.4 

km.

Mile-Long Barracks

Middle Side Barracks

 Ruined concrete military quarters that were destroyed by Japanese bombers in 1941.

Brothers in Arms

Peace Dome

The Peace Dome built in 1968, serves as a place for contemplation and spiritual reflection

Pacific War Memorial Museum

World War II museum with weapons, photos & memorabilia & a domed white memorial.

Corregidor Island Lighthouse

The lighthouse on Topside is one of the oldest landmarks in Corregidor, first lit in 1853. In 1897, the defective lighting apparatus was changed, extending the range to 33 miles (53 km). The grounds and keeper's dwellings were further improved during the American occupation. During World War II, the lighthouse was damaged during the siege of Corregidor. The lighthouse was totally reconstructed in the 1950s with a different design and stands on the same spot where the first lighthouse once stood. The whole lantern of the lighthouse was recently replaced by the Philippine Coast Guard to run on solar power.

Japanese Garden of Peace

This garden was built as a memorial to the Japanese soldiers who served and died on the island during World War II. The park includes a praying area, shrines, markers and a small pavilion that houses photographs and memorabilia. A Buddha monument that stand as a fertility idol for those who want to bear a child.  

You can also see aircraft guns on the hills edge looking facing the sea.

Caballo Island

Caballo Island is a bluff, rocky island located at the entrance to Manila Bay in the Philippines. It is about 1.2 km long with the highest elevation at 381 feet high. Caballo, along with the larger Corregidor, divides the entrance to the bay into two broad and deep channels, known as the North and South Channel.

 Malinta Tunnel

Too bad the tunnel was closed that day.

The Malinta Tunnel, which is the last stronghold of the joint Philippine and American military prior to the Japanese takeover during the World War II.

Overall too bad we are on a time limit but still thankful because I still got the see the rich history the island which is still part of Cavite City is offering. Thanks to this ate who I forgot to ask the name na madiskarte who organized the trip.

Seeing the ruins for real rather than in pictures and the canyons feels like you are time travelling. It will make you wonder how it was during the grand military times of yesteryears.

We boarded before 4 pm. 

The ship was filled with live band music by the navy band named SeaBees. 

Some even joined the singing.

Arrived in Sangley at 9 PM. It was a very memorable trip.

Thank you very much to my former teacher Mam Remy Ordoñez and to Mam Fe Jarbino.

Here are some of the super fun and laughtrip company we are with during the short bus tour.

And lastly thank you so much ate. 

I didn't know your name but if weren't for your organizational skills we had not seen the entire island. Gracias ! 

If only the government will organize the tourism aspect of Cavite City this can be the main source income of the city. We have so many rich stories of history to tell. #IfOnly