It is nice to be able to visit a place you haven't been to in a very long time. My memories of Corregidor when I was young have become fragmented and needed refreshing. So it was nice of the Lord to provide me the opportunity to be part of a tour of Corregidor this past week.
I remember climbing up World War II cannons during my childhood and I remember the Malinta Tunnel. But I no longer had any recollection of ruins of U.S. military barracks and buildings that are located all over this tadpole shaped island. Why dd the U.S. invest millions in making this island a military fortress? Perhaps because of its strategic location, being a bastion at Manila Bay.
What was once a prison, not unlike the "Rock" or Alcatraz, has been converted to a tourist destination. After disembarking from a ferry, fleets of open-air buses await visitors who have signed up for the tour. Each bus has a designated tour guide who will gladly assist and explain to the passengers the history related to each destination and pit stop on the island. We were lucky to have been under Mr. Joe Banal, a long-time guide on the island aware of its rich history.
We passed several battery locations, seeing different kinds of U.S. cannons used during the second world war. I was also able to climb up the Corregidor light house for the very first time which offers an excellent panoramic view of the entire island as well as its neighboring islands, (Carabao Island, Caballo Island, and El Prayle Isand). There are also newly built tourist destinations such as the Eternal Flame of Freedom, Japanese Memorial Garden, and the Pacific War Memorial.
The people with me were looking forward to the zip line ride on Corregidor. Sadly, this service seems to have been discontinued due to safety concerns. And if you have a white sandy beach envisioned, you might be better off going to Boracay. Corregidor's beaches are better for rock balancing activities than for swimming.
But if you are a World War II history buff, Corregidor is a rich treasure trove of WWII memorabilia and information. Make sure to prepare a bit of cash though since prices are steep compared to city prices. There are also no commercial establishments such as McDonalds or Starbucks on the island. You either eat at the local hotel or local restaurants on the island. As soon as your ferry gets back from the island, these usual food destinations are available at Manila Bay.
A day is enough to cover all tourist spots as long as you start early. Make sure to allot about 2 hours of travel to the island by ferry, and 2 hours back.
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