Corregidor Island is little island located in the mouth of Manila Bay, off the south coast of the Bataan peninsula. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend there with some of my friends and co-workers.
After driving down to the southern tip of Bataan, we rode a bangka across to the island (most visitors to the island catch a ferry from Manila). Our adventures began almost immediately as our bangka broke down part-way across! This first adventure was perhaps not so appreciated by the half of our company who were already feeling seasick, but we did eventually make it across to the island...
Due to its strategic location, Corregidor has played an important role in Philippine history for hundreds of years. Most recent, and perhaps most significant, are the events that unfolded there during World War II.
I wish I were a history buff, but... well, I am not. War history is so complex and I don't understand enough of it to give you a concise, accurate summary of what happened on Corregidor during WWII. So rather than me getting the details wrong, I'll leave it up to you to research the history of Corregidor for yourself if this is something that interests you...
Our official guided tour took us through the main part of the island's extensive tunnel system, to some of the ruined barracks, to several of the gun batteries, and to the war memorial and museum. We also did some exploring on our own.
Bomb craters, bullet holes and ruins bear witness all over this beautiful island to the horrific nature of war. The devastation is inescapable. While I may not know all the details of Corregidor's history, this I do know: I am very glad that I have never had to experience war, and I hope that I will never have to...
Although I enjoyed learning about the history of Corregidor, my favourite part of our trip was exploring the island with my friend Christina. It was so quiet and peaceful. The scenery was beautiful and the weather was perfect. It was just so nice for the two of us outdoor girls to have an opportunity to get away from people and out into nature.
Corregidor's native flora and fauna were almost entirely destroyed during the war, but due to post-war rehabilitation efforts and the speed at which things grow in the tropics, one would never guess that this were the case. The absence of permanent residents on the island has allowed it to become a perfect little wildlife sanctuary.
Since there was no one else around when we were out walking, Christina and I were able to see a variety of wildlife that we didn't see during the guided tour. Over the course of the weekend, we saw geckos, lizards, bats, monkeys and a snake. We also saw many different species of birds, including the Philippine eagle and the critically endangered Philippine cockatoo.
