We started the day at 3:30 am, left the house an hour after, and we’re already at the Esplanade Ferry Terminal at around 5am. There were already a lot of War Veterans in the terminal, also waiting for boarding. The cruise started at the exact time we were supposed to leave – at 7am. The yatch isn’t exactly impressive, but it’s “pwede na.” Not spic and span clean, but not really dirty. Maybe a little old. The staff was friendly and very accommodating.
There was a documentary in the WWII that was shown during the whole trip. By the time the Corregidor Island’s top can be seen, a few passengers started standing up to take photos. The excitement was growing especially for my daughter.
We arrived at 8:30am, then transferred to the Sun Cruise bus for the Bus Tour. This I think is what my daughter loved the most. She said she likes the bus and the fact that it’s open on both sides, she liked the tour guide whom she finds funny, and the loved the scenery – caves and mountains and really pristine ocean! I must say the ocean was really breath-taking! Too bad the sun was glaring I wasn’t able to relax and take time to view the beauty of the water. Its blue-ness was exhilarating! If there is one thing I’d like to come back for in Corregidor, it would be the ocean! As I write this article, I’m feeling bad that I wasn’t able to take more photos, haaargh!
The tour ran from 9am till 2pm, including lunch. Our first stop was the War Heroes Memorial where a statue of President Manuel Quezon and his VP Sergio Osmena can be found. The Araw ng Kagitingan Ceremonies was being held when we got there. Veterans, Navy and Army soldiers are everywhere. Everything is grand, but again, the hot climate limits our ability to explore the area. I bought a huge hat for my daughter at the tiangge. They sell shirts from P150-P250, drinks (an 8oz soda costs P20), keychains at P50 and up, chips, ref magnets, wallets and abanikos. My daughter’s hat costs P150.
After about an hour, the ceremony was all done and so we boarded the bus again. We headed for the different areas in Corregidor. We watched a Navy Seals show at the South Beach (wonderful, beautiful, amazing body of water!). My daughter collected a few bloodstones. Urban legend has it that the red stains on the white stones are actually the blood of the soldiers who died during the war. But scientifically, it is because the sun’s heat reacting with the water that causes the discoloration of the stones.
We also spent some time inside the Corregidor Museum, in the Battery Way (where they used to keep their guns, cannonballs, bullets and mortars), in the Eternal Flame of Freedom, etc. My daughter was giddy because she got to see the replica of Gen. Douglas McArthur and she saw how different Philippine Money looked like during the olden times. “Look, mom, Jose Rizal used to be in a two-peso bill! And hey, two pesos used to be a bill!”
At 12 noon, it was time for lunch! We were all very excited because it is a BUFFET LUNCH! The area where they set our lunch was nicely decorated though it’s not in an airconditioned room. Oh well. I especially loved the paella and the pandan juice, while my daughter liked the carbonara. My husband who’s into healthy eating had second servings of the fresh fruits. Other viands were a chicken dish, a fish fillet dish and steamed veggies. For dessert we had macaroni salad.
After lunch we headed to the watch tower thought we didn’t brave to climb up the stairs, plus we were already pressed for time.
We toured some more then went to the Malinta Tunnel, where a Lights and Sounds Show is to be held. Built in 1913, the tunnel looked creepy and is of course, dark. We had no choice but to all watch since this is the highlight of the tour. My daughter was really brave to go through the tunnel and watch the show though she wasn’t expecting the bomb simulation thus she got a bit scared.
At the end of the show, and of the tunnel, as the Philippines was declared free from the conquerors, the spotlight showed a really tall Philippine Flag as we all sang the Philippine National Anthem. I got goosebumps as we were singing not because of the creepiness of the tunnel, but because of the thought that had not the early Filipinos fought for our country, we would’ve been a colony of either Spain, or Japan, or America up to this day.
After the song, as we exited the tunnel, we were so happy to see the sky again. Whew! It was hot inside the tunnel that I kept on hoping there’s no one in the crowd who’s got claustrophobia.
By 2:15, we again boarded the Sun Cruise. We left Corregidor Island at 2:30pm. An hour and a half after, we once again saw Manila, particularly the Mall of Asia, and the MOA Eye. Wonderful how in less than a couple of hours we were transported from the busy city life to an island rich in history and back to the cosmopolitan again. How different the atmosphere, the feel and the experience actually is. I felt like I’ve been in a time capsule and back to the present in just the blink of an eye.
Thankful for the experience. Thankful for history. Thankful for the reminder to love our country and respect the past.
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