Remembering the Rock

CEBU, Philippines - Traveling can be fulfilling, fun and adventurous in so many ways. I travel because there is so much out there that I don’t know about. It is close to impossible to learn even a good part of what the world is like without seeing it firsthand. I’ve made it my goal in life to get out there and experience everything; well, almost everything… travel included.

On our recent trip to Manila with members of NAITAS, (the National Association of Independent Travel Agents), led by tour specialist Ricky Tio of Cebu Holiday Tours, some opted to  spend an entire day at Corregidor Island, considered one of the most important historic and tourist sites in the country.

Also known as “The Rock” for its rocky landscape and heavy fortifications, Corregidor, due to its location, was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the entrance of Manila Bay and the city of Manila from attacks by enemy warships in the event of war.

Under the Spanish rule, the island served not only as a fortress of defense but also as a penal institution and a station for Customs inspection wherein all ships entering Manila Bay were required to stop and have their documents checked and “corrected”. Corregidor comes from the Spanish word corregir, meaning to correct.

In 1898, after almost 400 years of colonization, the Philippines was ceded by Spain to the United States after payment of US$ 20 million. Soon after, the island was used as an army post and named it Fort Mills in honor of Brig. Gen. Samuel Mills. They built bomb-shelters, concrete emplacements, a hospital and trails around the island. In 1922, construction of the Malinta Tunnel started to protect military installations  and wares in case of war.

In 1941, hours after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invaded the Philippines. Corregidor served as the last resistance point of the retreating Filipino and American forces fighting the Japanese. Gen. Douglas MacArthur used Corregidor island as a base for the Allied forces from 1941 to 1942. It also served as the temporary shelter for the government of President Manuel L. Quezon and his family for two months prior to the eventual exile of the Philippine commonwealth government to the United States. After the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, to the Japanese, Corregidor surrendered after holding out for 27 days.

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 Filipino, American and Japanese soldiers who served or lost their lives on the island.

Here are some memorable and  historical landmarks worth visiting in Corregidor Island.

Pacific War Memorial. The memorial was erected to honor the Filipino and American servicemen who participated in the Pacific War. It houses a museum which serves as the repository of relics and memorabilia related to the history of Corregidor.

The major structure is a rotunda in which a circular altar falls directly under the dome’s open center. It symbolizes a wreath of victory with the following words inscribed on its rim. “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.”

Malinta Tunnel. The last stronghold of the joint Philippine and American military prior to the Japanese takeover during the last world war,    is now home to an audio-visual presentation by National Artist Lamberto Avellana of the events that took place on the island, including the reluctant departure of General Douglas MacArthur and the evacuation of the Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon and his family to unoccupied areas of the Philippines and eventually in exile in the United States.

Mile Long Barracks. A three-story concrete building which was used for the billeting of American officers and enlisted personnel detailed at the garrison. The entire length measures about 1,520 feet and although it is less than a third of a mile long, it was however commonly referred to as Mile-Long Barracks. The headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur was also located in this building.

Eternal Flame of Freedom. The large steel sculpture designed by Aristides Demetrios commemorates the sacrifices, hopes and aspirations and the heroic struggles by the United States and the Philippines to preserve freedom for future generation. The sculpture stands as a reminder that all men will fight as one if need be to defend the nation’s liberty.

Spanish Lighthouse.  At its current site, the original lighthouse was built by the Spaniards in 1836. Later a need for a bigger lighthouse was conceived which led to the erection of another structure to replace the old one. However it was destroyed during World War II. Being the highest point in the island, visitors who climb up the stairs can have a breathtaking view of Corregidor, Manila Bay, The South China Sea and the neighboring provinces of Bataan and Cavite.

Army Hospital. The three-story building was formerly used as the island’s main medical facility prior to its transfer to Manila. The building was shaped like a cross when viewed from the air to distinguish the structure from the other buildings in Corregidor.

Aviary and Theme Park.  A 3,000 square meter complex managed by the Feathered Friends Foundation which houses local and foreign varieties of birds such as the red-vested cockatoo, Indonesian parrot, Philippine horned owl, Brazilian sun conure, and the Indonesian rainbow lory. A number of monkees are also kept in a large cage. It has a propagation facility for showcasing eco-tourism.   

Spanish Flagpole.  This old historic flagpole just like the many other relics, buildings and structures in Corregidor serves as a reminder of the island’s colorful and glorious past. The flagpole was the mast from a Spanish Warship captured by the American fleet of Admiral George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898 and erected at its present site by the Americans. Finally on October 12, 1947, in a moving and colorful ceremony signifying the turnover of Corregidor to the Philippines, the stars and stripes was hauled down for the last time and the Philippine flag was hoisted in its stead.

Filipino-American Friendship Park.  The park commemorates the close friendship and camaraderie between the Philippines and the United States in times of war and in peace which is depicted by ten-foot high statues of a Filipino and American soldier. A plaque at the park bears the following statement. “In these hallowed surroundings where heroes sleep may their ashes scatter with the wind and live in the hearts of those who were left behind. They died for freedom’s right and in heaven’s sight. Theirs was a noble cause.”