Corregidor Island

I had never been to this is island before. All I know is that it is just one island of the Philippines and it is located somewhere near Bataan. It has also played a historically rich role during the American and Japanese invasion.

It was a sunny day when I met up with my college friends at the Harbour Square near the CCP complex. I was the first person to arrive because I thought that our call time was 6am but I overlooked the text message and it was indeed around 6:30am. While waiting for my friends, I just look around Harbour Square on what restaurants are in there. People were already flocking the area because of the free aerobics class (I really don't have any idea if it is really indeed for free).

Sun Cruises is the only ferry boat who offers daily trips to and from Corregidor Island. It is operated by the Magsaysay Company. Their office is located just beside the Harbour Square. You may book with them online or just drop by their office. VISA, AMEX, JCB and Mastercard credit cards are accepted. They have day tour and over night tour packages.

Day tour costs PhP 1,999, which includes round-trip ferry transfers; shrine entrance and terminal fees; guided island tour and buffet lunch. Child rate for day tour is PhP 1,118.

Daily trips schedule are:
Check-in time: 7am
Boarding time: 7:30am
ETD Manila: 8am
ETA Corregidor: 9:15am
Guided tour with Lunch
ETD Corregidor: 2:30pm
ETA Manila: 3:45pm

You will be boarding a van or a bus going to the port where the Jumbo Palace was docked, near the Coconut Palace.

Upon entering the boat, find your seat number located at the sticker given to you. There will be a historical presentation to be watched on their TV. The boat was clean and really spacious. There are numerous crew within the cruise to assist you. Soldiers are also present.

After an hour and 15 minutes, you will be arriving at the North Dock. Tram-like buses are waiting there for your tour. Each tram will be assigned to those with group tours while the other visitors may take other tram that is available.

According to the tour guide, these trams were made in Japan and the boats were made in Australia.

The tour guides are assigned to each tram and some guides could talk in Japanese, Chinese, French and Spanish, depending on the nationality of the visitors. Our tour guide was so informational and spontaneous. He has been a tour guide for almost 30 years, touring the different historical sites of the Philippines. He was detailed from the dates when it happened and even what the person said and done during those times.

These were used to be one of the barracks of the Americans. The former hospital was was also located here before it was transferred to the Malinta tunnel.

Batteries are scattered throughout the island. Don't take them for granted because they are really huge. The tour guide said some of those batteries were only used less than 15 times but they are worth millions of dollars each.

Tunnels are found everywhere especially near the batteries. Maybe some of them may have an eerie effect.

Some of the artilleries are displayed near the cinema, just outside the Mile-Long Barracks, which is at the back ground. The Mile-Long Barracks was considered to be the world's longest military barracks even though it was only less than a third of a mile.

This is the only movie house in the island and was used by the military and their families for leisure. The walls and the stage was the only remains of the movie house, which could cater up to 700 people inside.

The Pacific War Memorial was built in honor of the Filipino and American people who engaged in the Pacific War. The Eternal Flame of Freedom which symbolizes the heroic struggle of both US and the Philippines for freedom. The museum stores and displays the island's memorabilia.

The Spanish Lighthouse is the only remaining functional structure in the island, using solar energy. However, a newer lighthouse was built beside it to cope up with its demands.

It was already passed noon when we had our buffet lunch since our batch was too many for the hotel to accommodate so we had to make turns.

Rice, noodles, chicken afritada, roast pork and vegetables are served. Soup, vegetable and fruit salad are available too. Pandan flavored iced tea was also served.

After 45 minutes, the tour resumed and the first stop for the afternoon was Gen. Douglas MacArthur's monument near the Lorcha Dock. The Japanese Garden of Peace, features a 10-foot high stone Buddha with a reflecting pool, which the statue is facing Japan.

Corregidor Hotel is visible from the end point of the Malinta Tunnel tour. The Statue of the Filipino Woman, President Manuel Quezon Park, Filipino Heroes Memorial and President Sergio Osmena Park were located in one place at the Tail End portion of the island.

The San Jose Chapel was reconstructed at its former location and based on its original architectural and structural design. Mass is only held here if there are priests within the vicinity. We are the only people who had an opportunity to see what's inside since the tram will just pass through it.

The Malinta Tunnel was so huge and it was warmer inside because the doors are kept closed to the public unless you would avail of the Lights and Sound Tour for Php 100. The tour is good for 30 minutes to 1 hour and presents the life inside the tunnel during those days. The tunnel was dug for 10 years from a solid rock making it a good bomb-proof facility. It was also used as a communication center. There is also an underground hospital with a 1,000-bed capacity.

This is the South Dock, where yachts, boats and ferried may land. A fee is required for docking. Huts are also located here where people could kill time or swim.

There are other activities that you can do in Corregidor like The Rocket Zipline for PhP 150, fishing for PhP 100 and hiking for PhP 100.

We departed the island 30 minutes late than the usual. The trip was exhausting but worth it since it would require you to go down the tram and experience the structures but if you like history, you'll love it like I did! c",)

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Sun Cruises, Inc.
CCP Terminal A. CCP Complex
Roxas Boulevard, Manila
T: (632) 831-8140 | (632) 834-6857 to 5
Fax No: (632) 834-1523
E-mail: suncruises@magsaysay.com.ph