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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat
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    Blast from the past - Corregidor day trip

    Hi all, I went on a day trip to Corregidor island during the holidays. The island played an important role during World War II.

    From Wikipedia:
    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. Due to this location, Corregidor was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the entrance of Manila Bay and Manila from attacks by enemy warships in the event of war. Located 48 kilometres (30 mi) inland, Manila has been the largest city and the most important seaport in the Philippines for centuries, from the colonial rule of Spain, Japan and the United States, to the establishment of the Republic of the Philippines in 1946.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corregidor

  2. #2
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    katie23's Avatar
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    Still from wikipedia:

    Corregidor (called Fort Mills by the Americans) 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), which were all fortified during the American liberation of the country. The island was also the site of a small military airfield, as part of the defense.

    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 American, Filipino and Japanese soldiers who served or lost their lives on the island. Corregidor is one of the important historic and tourist sites in the country.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corregidor

    -----

    Katie's Note 1: the islands were given alternate names by the Americans, but to date, we use the old/Spanish names, like El Fraile (the friar), Caballo (horse) and Carabao island.

    Note 2: The Philippines was originally called "Las Islas Filipinas" by the Spaniards, named after Phillip II of Spain. After American colonization (1898), the name was changed to "The Philippine Islands" (shortened as PI). After the establishment of the Republic in 1946, the name was shortened to "The Philippines/Philippines".

    Native inhabitants are called Filipinos/Filipinas, depending on gender or collectively called Filipinos. (not "PHilippinos"!)

    Or in slang, Flippers. Not phlippers!

  3. #3
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    Thanks, Katie...(Flipper)...I wanna see

    Quote Originally Posted by katie23
    Carabao Island (Fort Frank)

  4. #4
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    To get to Corregidor, one must take a ferry from Seaside Esplanade ferry terminal in Pasay City. That's the new ferry terminal, the old one is at the CCP complex. The journey takes 1h 15 min. (Btw, the "g" in Corregidor is pronounced like an H, since it's from the Spanish name. But if you pronounce it with a hard "g" (e.g. Grover) sound, then you'll still be understood. Just don't use a soft "g" sound (e.g. George).

    (Difference between hard G & soft G sounds - G for Grover & G for George - I learned that from watching Sesame Street, a kids show. American influence on television from an early age. But I digress.)

    Here's a map showing the island and Pasay City where the ferry terminal is located.

    Last edited by katie23; 15-01-2017 at 11:05 AM.

  5. #5
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    Not showing, Katie?...

  6. #6
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    ^Ok, there, fixed. Photobucket & connectivity issues.

    Corregidor island belongs to the jurisdiction of Cavite province, which is located to its south. However, it is physically closer to the province of Bataan, which is to its north.

    from wikipedia:
    Corregidor and the other fortified islands of Manila Bay fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Cavite, Cavite province.[1][2] Corregidor, also known as "The Rock" for its rocky landscape and the heavy fortifications, along with Caballo Island, about 1.7 km (1.1 mi) south, divide the entrance of Manila Bay into the North and South Channel.

    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 highest elevation is at 180 m (590 ft) on the Topside. The island is divided into four sections: topside, middleside, bottomside and tailside.

    When you tour the island, you'll explore the topside section first. Another map.


  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post
    During World War II, Corregidor played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces.
    True. But the main significance of Corregidor was in the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese.


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Corregidor

  8. #8
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    You'll have to get to Seaside Esplanade Ferry terminal. The terminal is at Pasay City, 5 min walk from SM Mall of Asia. Here's the terminal, with a few Santas to keep you company. It was Christmas season.



    You'll see some skyscrapers in the distance.
    Last edited by katie23; 15-01-2017 at 11:31 AM.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by nidhogg View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post
    During World War II, Corregidor played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces.
    True. But the main significance of Corregidor was in the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese.


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Corregidor
    Yes, in our history lessons, we were taught 2 dates: Fall of Bataan (April 9, 1942) and Fall of Corregidor (May 6, 1942). Corregidor was where Gen. MacArthur and Pres. Manuel Quezon (president of the Commonwealth Republic) hid - they hid in the tunnels - before the Philippines was turned over to the Japanese in 1942 by Gen. Wainwright. This was months after the Pearl Harbor bombing (Dec. 7, 1941).

    It was good to be reminded of my history lessons. I was quite good in history in my teens - joined contests, sometimes won, sometimes lost. All part of life. heh...

    I'll try to do this thread while the memories are still fresh and I'm not swamped with work yet!
    Last edited by katie23; 15-01-2017 at 11:32 AM.

  10. #10
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    To get to Corregidor, you'll have to book through Sun Cruises Tours. The package includes an all-you-can-eat buffet lunch. There are 2 types of tours: a walking tour (slightly cheaper) and a tram tour. I suggest taking the tram tour since you'll see more places.

    Sun Cruises
    Sun Cruises Philippines: Corregidor Islands

    Inside the ferry


    The crew perform a (surprise) short dance number prior to departure.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat Jesus Jones's Avatar
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    Off to the Philippines next month. No time for sight seeing unfortunately! Next time though, i hope.

  12. #12
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    The ferry leaves at 8am, check-in at 7am. If you haven't had breakfast due to the early hour (in my case), there's a 7/11 & another coffee shop at the Ferry Terminal.

    Lifejacket demonstration


    During the ~1 hr journey, you can either sleep or watch historical documentaries about the place.


    Approaching the island. Crew member doing his stuff...

  13. #13
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    The boat used is the MV Sun Cruiser II, owned by Magsaysay Shipping. It travels at 23 knots. (I took notes! lol). Ramon Magsaysay is a former Phil. president. His son became a Senator. Pres. Magsaysay was the 7th president and served from 1953-1957. He died from an accident - the plane crashed on Mt. Manunggal in Cebu island. No foul play was suspected - just bad weather, bad plane and bad luck.

    Accdg to my dad (he was a kid during Magsaysay's time) - Magsaysay was a beloved president, and the whole country mourned his passing. He was a rags-to-riches guy, and had a good heart. He also fought as a guerilla during WWII. Accdg to wiki, he was the first Philippine President born during the 20th century and the first to be born after Spanish colonial era.

    Anyway, to continue... arrival at the island - ppl disembarking from the boat


    At the check-in counter, you'll be assigned which bus to board. They called this open-air bus a "tramvia".

  14. #14
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    Some scenes upon arrival. I like boats.


    Crew members doing their thing


    Welcome to Corregidor!

  15. #15
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    There are 3 docks used in the island. This is one of them, North Mine Wharf.


    Lorcha Dock, which Gen. MacArthur used to leave on a submarine bound for Australia.


    On a personal note, I'm sorry that I didn't know about this tour when my dad was still alive. If I did, I would've taken him to this tour (even if it's a bit pricey, for me) as I'm sure he would've appreciated it. He was born during the war; I was a late child. He had several stories about post-WWII, the Magsaysay era, his family's hardships, the Vietnam war, etc. But then, as a kid/teen, I really didn't listen to those things. Sigh.. but his spirit lives on...

    My photobucket is acting up. To be continued...

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23
    On a personal note, I'm sorry that I didn't know about this tour when my dad was still alive. If I did, I would've taken him to this tour (even if it's a bit pricey, for me) as I'm sure he would've appreciated it. He was born during the war; I was a late child. He had several stories about post-WWII, the Magsaysay era, his family's hardships, the Vietnam war, etc. But then, as a kid/teen, I really didn't listen to those things. Sigh.. but his spirit lives on...

    This is beautiful and well worth repeating...My father had a brilliant mind for history...Luckily, I got the chance to spend some quality time with both my parents in their later years...Would supply them with books...

    His father before him was in the navy and was sunk twice, once being pulled down with the stricken ship's suction because he couldn't swim far enough away as it descended...A huge burp of air saved him after being suspended for "minutes," like Christ on the cross holding a plank of wood over his head...

    I miss them both...The wealth of knowledge...Wisdom...Peace...

  17. #17
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23
    Mine Wharf
    Oh dear. Scarey name for a place boats tie up.

  18. #18
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    Thanks for sharing that with us Katie23, its good to have an "insiders" view .

    Another for the bucket list.

  19. #19
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    Always enjoy your tour descriptions. Very much appreciated.

  20. #20
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    Thanks for all nice comments and the greens. As with my previous PI threads, I try to include a map and some background about the place, to give an idea about the location, since there are 7,107 islands in the PI!



    (yay, the emoticon worked! I got that from neverna & norton)

  21. #21
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    This is a post WWII Liberation song. It was sung by the grandmother of a good friend. I watched the video of her grandma singing this song, and I transcribed the lyrics as best as I could (she sang with a thick accent). I've met her grandma; she's 90+ and still of sound mind and body. The song shows the sentiments of Filipinos post-WWII towards the Japanese - bad blood during those times. However, after 50+ years, sentiments have changed drastically, as the land of the rising sun is now considered as an ally.

    WWII Liberation Song

    We are the members of the 60th fleet
    We are gladly celebrating with it
    We are expecting MacArthur and his landing
    The puppets and the pieces, and the Japs collaborator
    With the Filipino traitor
    Better change up their minds
    Also tell the Japanese
    Anytime, anywhere they please
    For they will be in here and jump
    Show them the Stetson, show them the chocolate bar
    Show them the new life as free
    The free Philippines!
    With a taste of genuine Camel
    and a pack of Lucky Strike!



    (To the non-seppos, Stetson is a type of hat usually worn by cowboys, Camel and Lucky Strike are cigarette brands).


  22. #22
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23
    Camel and Lucky Strike are cigarette brands
    Used to get them in our C ration packs. How times have changed.

  23. #23
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    To continue with the tour, we boarded the bus/tramvia and passed by some Spanish style buildings - the Americans didn't tear down the buildings and kept the Spanish architechture.



    We also passed by the Corregidor Inn. It's where guests stay if on an overnight tour. However, at the moment overnight tours are not offered since the Inn is under renovation. The 2D/1N tour includes a night-tour of the tunnels (creepy but good for those who like ghost hunting).


  24. #24
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    It really is an excellent tour. I took it years ago, during my first posting here. A number of my Dad's West Point buddies died there, as well as on the Death March. None of his classmates, as he graduated in January '43, but several officers he knew.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Used to get them in our C ration packs. How times have changed.
    So the soldiers now don't get free cigs anymore?

    I remember some ads of Camel & LS on television from my childhood. Now, it's only the Marlboro Man who has survived, I think.

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