Corregidor Island 4 stars!

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  • Corregidor Island, locally called Isla ng Corregidor, is a lofty 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 the City of 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, the United States, and Japan and after the establishment of the Republic of the Philippines in 1946.

    Corregidor is also known as "The Rock" because of its rocky landscape and heavy fortifications on the island . Its outline is shaped like a tadpole with its tail running eastward. Along with Caballo Island (which lies about 2000 meters south of the "tail's" tip), Corregidor divides the entrance of Manila Bay into the North and South Channel. Corregidor and the other fortified islands fall under the jurisdiction of the province of Cavite.

    The island is about 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) long, and it is about 2.0 miles (3.2 km) wide at its widest point with a total land area is about 900 hectares (2,200 acres) or roughly 3 square miles (7.8 km2).

    Corregidor and Caballo islands are remnants of a volcanic crater, the Corregidor Caldera, which was last active about one million years ago. However, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology still classifies Corregidor as a potentially active volcano.

    Corregidor comes from the Spanish word “corregir,” meaning to correct. One story states that due to the Spanish system wherein all ships entering Manila Bay were required to stop and have their documents checked and corrected, the island was called "Isla del Corregidor" (Island of the Correction). Another version claims that the island was used a penitentiary or correctional institution by the Spanish and came to be called "El Corregidor."

    In early and pre-hispanic times, it was likely populated by fishermen and no doubt provided a base for pirates who could easily launch an attack against any vessel entering Manila Bay. During the Spanish era this tadpole-shaped island was a signal station where bonfires were lit to alert Manila of a home-coming galleon. Later on, Spaniards built a lighthouse on the island.

    The Spaniards set up a naval dockyard on the island in 1795. This was followed by a naval hospital and a signal station which was used primarily to warn Manila of approaching enemies. In 1836 a lighthouse was built and in 1853 a stronger light was installed. This was replaced in 1897 and remained in use until the outbreak of the Pacific War, during which it was heavily damaged and rebuilt to the same specifications. During the Spanish times, the small town of San Jose emerged to become the seat of government on the island. Later under the Americans, it evolved into a small community with its paved streets lined with the houses of the Philippine Scouts who constituted the bulk of the garrison in Corregidor.

    After the defeat of the Spanish forces by Admiral George Dewey in May of 1898, Spain ceded Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the Americans under the Treaty of Paris which was signed on December 10, 1898. In 1903 a former Spanish garrison building there was converted to a convalescent hospital. The island was designated as a U.S. Military Reservation in 1907 and the army post on Corregidor was named Fort Mills, after Brig. Gen. Samuel M. Mills, chief of artillery of the U.S. Army in 1905-1906. A regular army post was later established in 1908.

    The following year army engineers of “H” company, 2nd Battalion of the U.S. Corps of Engineers began to build fortifications on the island to secure the seaward approach to Manila Bay. This was part of the planned "Harbor Defenses of Manila and Subic Bay" due to the strategic location of Corregidor. Concrete emplacements and bomb-proof shelters were constructed and trails and roads were laid out on the island. This engineer contingent left on March 15, 1912, after laying down the groundwork to make Corregidor a great military bastion. Thus began the transformation of a small fishing village into a fortress and site of one of the most heroic battles in the history of war.

    The big guns of Corregidor in 1941 were used in support of Filipino and American defenders of Bataan until the island itself was invaded by Japanese Forces. The restless pounding by Japanese guns including intermittent bombings reduced its defenses and compelled its surrender. On January 22, 1945, Corregidor was once again caught in the fury of war as the Americans retook the island after a bloody battle.


  • Biking
    A newly-introduced activity in the island. It gives the biking enthusiast the opportunity to conquer the well-paved biking trails and get a glimpse of the island's scenic and historic spots.


    Sunset experience
    Catch the lovely sunset at Battery Grubbs, one of the "disappearing" guns perched on a hill overlooking Bataan.


    Sunrise viewing
    Brave the chilly mornings in Corregidor and go to the island's tailside to catch the sunrise.


    Night lateral tunnel visit
    This is done inside Malinta Tunnel's 1000-bed hospital area during World War II. A walking tour of the tunnel's unexplored side.


    Hiking
    Hike along the woodland trails of Corregidor on a wondrous adventure game. Grab your compass, check your map, and be ready to hack through vines or to drop down into mysterious tunnels.
    First-time hikers could enjoy an easy hike through rediscovered trails to forests and hillsides and discover ruins. Follow the trail of pink Cadena de Amor with a sweeping view of Manila Bay reaching the island's tail.


    Camp adventure
    Live and learn about the great outdoors in a specialized camp training program designed to enhance your knowledge and skills about nature. With jungle survival and exploration instructors, you will learn to respect and develop the confidence to survive in a world of trees, bushes, and man-made underground caverns.


    Birdwatching
    Birdwatchers have spotted species of birds at Corregidor Island such as white-collared kingfishers, Zebra Dove, Blue Rock, Asian Glossy Starlings, Eurasian Tree Sparrows, and black-naped Orioles. Just recently, Philippine Cockatoos have been spotted flying over the grassy area near the Eternal Flame Monument.


    Rock balancing
    Corregidor, also knows as the "Rock" boasts of unique rocks called "bloodstones". These rocks have been aptly called because they are white in color with nice splatters of red.


    Island runabout
    Circle the island on sturdy outrigger boats and view the neighboring isles, La Monja, Caballo (Fort Drum), and the scenic coast of Mariveles.


  • Cruises, Inc. provides 2 internationnaly-classed fast ferries to cater to the daily round trip transfers to and from Corregidor Island. Baycruiser II is 145-seater fast ferry with a top speed of 23 knots while Suncruiser II can accommodate as many as 285 passengers and has a top speed of 22 knots. Both fast ferries are docked at the CCP Bay Terminal A, inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex, just beside Harbour Square.

    Daily schedules are as follows:

    • 7:00AM — Check-in at CCP Bay Terminal
    • 7:30AM — Boarding
    • 8:00AM — Estimated Time of Departure Manila
    • 9:15AM — Estimated Time of Arrival Corregidor
    • Guided Tour
    • 2:30PM — Estimated Time of Departure Corregidor
    • 3:45PM — Estimated Time of Arrival Manila

    During week-ends, the leaving time from Corregidor is postpone of arount one hour to give more time for visitors on the island.


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