CORIGEDOR: The Memoirs of Philippine History 

By: Mark Cua 

Corrigedor was one of the few tourist destinations near Manila. Just an Island across the Manila Bay and it had been a historical place not only to the Filipinos but also to the old soldiers who fought the Japanese in World War II. 

Since Spanish times it had been an Island Protecting the Port of Manila by Sea. It is through this Strategic Location the Spaniards enforced the protection of Intramuros. By the time of the Americans it was used as military base in case there were forces invading by Sea.

The Japanese swept like tsunamis and bombed it like a stronghold.

In the early 70s President Marcos used the Place as a secret training ground for young Muslim Militants. After 2 decades, the Philippine tourism board made renovations and made Corrigedor a known tourist destination in the Philippines.

There are several places to go to Corrigedor:

1. The old Officers Quarters
The ruins of World War II being heavily bombed by the Japanese. The quarters are made of stone and marble. It housed number of United States Military Officers during the American Colonial Period (1900-1946) in the Philippines.

2. The Old 1900s Cannon
The Cannons that was built to fight ships and men landing on shores. They were built to shoot kilometers away from the shore. Some have the obsolete design of the early 1900s artillery.

3. The Spanish light tower
The light tower constructed by the Spaniards during the 19th Century. It had a 200 years history. Conserved by the Department of Tourism for tourism purposes the light tower and all its surrounding premises are like the way it looks like 200 years ago. This had already thousands of ships to Manila for centuries now.

4. The Malinta Tunnel
Used in World War II as an underground hospital and bomb shelter during the Japanese Raids in 1942. The Tunnel mostly sealed by rocks crumbling from the heavy bombardment. As you enter the tunnel, there will be lights and sound shows.

5. The Gun and Military Museum 
The tourism board made a museum of World War II guns, medals, uniforms. There you can find the museum full of collection of old guns and old pins from the Marines and the soldiers who wore them.

6. The Red Coloured Beaches
based on stories, the beaches are still colour red because of the blood that flowed from the dead bodies of soldiers from both the Japanese and Allies side. Rocks are stained with blood and can't be washed by Sea water.

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