Corregidor Island | Cavite’s Last Stand
Corregidor Island “one of the country’s last military bastions” is located at the southwestern portion of Luzon and was also called as “Fort Mills”.
Corregidor (Fort Mills) is the largest of the islands that formed the harbor defenses of Manila Bay, together with El Fraile Island (Fort Drum), Caballo Island (Fort Hughes), and Carabao Island (Fort Frank). Moreover, they were all fortified during the American colonial period.
PH’s Last Bastion
Corregidor is known for its war wrought barracks and buildings, coastal artilleries, and the Malinta Tunnel. Consequently, they are mute witnesses to the horrible events that signaled the fall of the Americans against the Japanese forces.
The island with a ghastly past: we revisited the remnants of what transpired on the day Bataan has fallen during our tour. Also, this island served as the temporary location for the Government of the Philippines. On December 30, 1941, outside the Malinta Tunnel, Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio Osmeña were inaugurated respectively as President and Vice-President of the Philippines Commonwealth for a second term.
Different mortar batteries are present throughout the island. There were 23 batteries installed on Corregidor, consisting of 56 coastal defense guns and mortars.
As well as skeletal ruins of buildings/barracks that once housed the American forces will be seen as you go along a guided tour. Also, the tour was done aboard the common mode of transportation in the island: a Tram.
The inhabitants of Corregidor Island during its heyday made use of trams, so touring the island in a similar fashion surely took us back in time. The Americans constructed 31.4 kilometers of electric railroad track. The trams were used largely to haul heavy equipment and ammunition from Bottomside to the different Batteries
The Siege of Corregidor
Memorial markers that honors the American and Filipino soldiers who served during the World War II are also present. Moreover, a Japanese Garden of Peace facing Japan is erected in memory of those who has fallen during the war.
The siege of Corregidor has left the Spanish Lighthouse of the island damaged. It was built in 1850 and is perched at the highest point in the island.
Malinta Tunnel first served as an ammunition storage. Then during the war, because of the elaborate network of tunnels running through the mountain, it was used to shelter many of the wounded soldiers. Thus, becoming a makeshift hospital deep into its laterals.
Rekindle the flame of the historic freak in you.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine
How To Get There
- Corregidor Island is located at the opening of Manila Bay. This is 48 kilometers from Manila and falls under the jurisdiction of Cavite City
- Take the Sun Cruises ferry from Manila to Corregidor. The ferry terminal is now located at the Esplanade, Seaside Terminal of SM Mall of Asia (MOA).
- There’s only one trip daily to and from the island. The island is about an hour and 15 minutes away by ferry from the port.
- UPDATE: As of May 16, 2020, Sun Cruises ceased their operations because of the effect of the pandemic on the tourism sector. You may contact Corregidor Foundation for booking and tour options HERE: Corregidor Foundation
Updated May 06, 2017
