The RullodaBros Lifestyle: ArteSuaveTravels: Corregidor Island

History is written by those who won.

The struggles of those involved are chronicled in a way that favors one as protagonists and the other as the enemy. Their stories of heroism, patriotism and fight for a just cause echo through the years in books, memoirs and countless documentaries.

Fast forward to present day Manila.

It is here in the heart of the capital lie all that is past and present. Remnants of old influences infused with modern amenities. There is definitely a different kind of battle that goes on every day. One of them is the unending line to get inside almost anywhere.

Today’s agenda led to a vast space filled with co-habiting booths that provide leisure for those who seek adventure a.k.a. - A Travel Expo.

Two hours of walking, destination booked and payment served led to a trip several miles off the coast of Manila Bay into an island that played a vital role in Philippine history.

The boat was spacious and nice. On board entertainment was all four versions of the music video "halika biyahe tayo" on loop.

There I stepped on the docks of our version of The Rock – the island of Corregidor.

Lorcha Dock

Our chariot of the day. It was cute and comfortable

A statue of Gen. MacArthur greets visitors of the island.

Much of the things I learned about Corregidor came from high school textbooks that only provided me with snippets of significance when it comes to our nation’s being. Much of what I remember about the island was being a military outpost during the Second World War and serves as the podium for Douglas McArthur’s declaration of “I Shall Return”, before heading out to Australia.

College provided me with an increased curiosity and educators who encouraged not settling for what books tell you. History will always find a way to unravel itself to those who seek it. The thought of what really happened during our nation’s yesteryears always lingered at the back of my head.

This trip provided me with a few answers and a lot of surprises.

Here is a brief background of the island as far as I remember the words of our tour guide:

This tadpole shaped island is six kilometers in length and two kilometers in width. Divided into four major sides as they would call it; the Top Side facing the west Philippine Sea can probably be the head of the island. With a large land area, it housed the communications center of the island together with a few barracks and the soldier’s clubhouse so to speak. Complete with swimming pool, tennis courts and a mini golf course (not sure how many holes). The Middle Side is the fondly labeled (by yours truly) as the residential area of the island. Placed here are big barracks for soldiers, a hospital and two schools that displayed the best social segregation that America can offer (One school is for american kids while the other is for Filipinos). Bottom Side has another small village, piers and the iconic Malinta Tunnel. Last is Tail Side where its small landing ports are available for small vessels and is also where used to be the island’s air strip can be found.

Corregidor has been used for several functions depending on which colony lorded over Manila. During the Spanish era, it was the “Corrector’s Island”, wherein all trading ships entering Manila’s ports have to go through the Corrector and have their papers approved – much like the Bureau of Customs today. When the Americans occupied the Rock, it became a naval outpost filled with large guns that could level a city should they please it. Our guide also said that it was Uncle Sam’s stay that converted Corregidor into a mini country club of sorts for American soldiers.

The Japanese era marked one of the bloodiest and darkest years of the island. For long periods it was heavily bombarded by the Japanese via aerial strikes. They invaded the coast line and took control of Corregidor. American forces came back with a vengeance and reclaimed the island as part of the United States’ efforts to win the war in the pacific. Douglas MacArthur fulfilled his promise by returning to a much publicized and choreographed Leyte Landing ceremony.

If there’s one thing very visible on Corregidor – has to be their guns. And I mean BIG GUNS.

Humans are pint sized beings next to a "baby gun".

I gotta have me one of these.

Those spots in the barrel are from sulfuric acid compounds dropped by Japanese forces from the sky in order to "melt" the canons and kill the ones operating them.

These massive mortar and gun powder propulsion mechanisms have been the staple remnants of this island’s past. They are strategically placed on the borders of Top, Middle, Bottom and Tail side facing the sea. All of which have served as the first line of defense for would be unwelcome guests of Manila.

Other spectacular sights are the ruins of old barracks, hospitals, schools and artillery ports.

Caved in storage for artillery

Barracks for Filipino soldiers (Middle Side)

Corregidor's lighthouse

Several shrines are erected to commemorate heroes and monumental events in the island’s history

Listen to the story why the last words on the top of the inscription were scraped off.

Probably the nicest and weirdest ploy of the Japanese to merge Christianity and Buddhism.

Dedicated to the "Angels Of Bataan and Corregidor". Listed are the names of the nurses who tended to the needs of wounded soldiers and never left their sides 'til the very end.

The guided tour of the island sanctuary can only give chills down your spine and an emotional reverence to the people who took part in the struggles and anguish during that time. Many of us will never comprehend how it was to live during times of war. There are probably more unsung heroes whose stories will never be told. Going through the famous Malinta Tunnel armed only with a flashlight gave me a small taste of the harsh living conditions that Filipino and American soldiers had to undergo while being bombed by the Japanese forces from above. Damp, muddy and extremely dark tunnels gave sanctuary to many soldiers and in its own way kept the idea of our government alive.

The famous Malinta Tunnel.

A detailed lay out of Malinta Tunnel

The coaster trails in the island could only spew bits and pieces of spoken anecdotes from historians based from personal accounts but its unadulterated biography has yet to be uncovered. Much of it all is still within the souls of each ruble, caved in tunnels and undiscovered passageways. Many years have passed and our tour guide was quick to admit that there are still so many undiscovered parts of Corregidor. There are still catacombs of endless shafts to be explored, artifacts waiting to be unearthed and more truths to fill the books for future generations.

This part of the of the memorial park provides a timeline of events on what happened during World War II.

What remains of Corregidor are mementos of history.

A harsh reminder of what transpired in a period of struggle.

How times of war transform nations into tactical minds of destruction.

And how it affects smaller countries caught in the crossfire.

Each Side tells a story.

Each gun manned by a hero.

Soldiers labeled as patriots.

Serving a motherland worth dying for.

Today, passionate minds are out there waiting for you to take a ride with them so that they can tell you its story. Someday I will be back and remind myself once again. Perhaps listen further on things I’ve missed the first time. Maybe stay a little bit longer and experience the silence that haunts Corregidor. Come back to the city with an enriched mind and a more adoring appreciation towards my countrymen.