Last Sunday May 19, 2013 I went to Corregidor again. I was so excited to be back on a sunny day. This time around I dressed for the task! ( I wore a cotton tee and cargo pants, comfy sandals and a cap.) And to add to the excitement, this time we are going to explore the island by foot. Yes, walking. We (Kei, Me and Matti) have availed the Old Manila Walks test tour for Corregidor with the cheery Ivan Man Dy as our tour guide! (If you frequent the Binondo/Chinatown area of Manila you are sure to have seen him, because he also does a Chinatown foodie tour.)
This time, the cruise to Corregidor is a smooth one, no more fog! I can see the sea/sky clearly through the windows! Mad happy and ready to go on a long walk!
looking at the window
Then we arrived. This time we docked at a different dock.
welcome signage
And like the last time, we rode the tram. This time we will pick off from where we left last time. The lighthouse.
I was so happy to finally take photos of the place with better lighting!
Faro De Isla Corregidor
We then proceeded with the walk. We walked to the Flagpole taken from the Spanish warship (top left), Senior Officer’s Family homes-Trivia: these houses have genuine chimneys! Hello chimneys in the tropics! (bottom left), Bachelor Officer’s Quarters (top right) and their parade grounds with a helipad at the back! (bottom right)
We walked to these places
We also sat by the steps of Fort Mills Post headquarters and Chapel. Where Ivan (our Guide) told us the story of these places.
History 101, with laughs!
After that we walked to Cine Corregidor. It is now reinforced (blue steel bars) to preserve it from collapsing. We took photos at its ticket booth and strolled around the area.
The ruins of Cine Corregidor
We then headed over to the Mile Long Barracks.
Mile Long Barracks
On our last trip, we only looked at the barracks from the outside (front view) this time we went inside and walked through it to the back! Look at the photo above closely you can see the front view of the barracks (top left), the back (top right) and the enlisted men must have quite a good life here they have an indoor pool (bottom left) and they also have the luxury of a tub (bottom right).
Walked some more and our guide found something not common in the Philippines. And excitedly told us what it is.
eucalyptus tree
Its an Eucalyptus tree! Usually found in Australia, food of the koala bears! If you rub the leaf in your hand you can smell its scent. I took one of the leaves home as a souvenir.
Walking along, we are now back to Battery way. (This time we can take photos with the big guns without having to worry about getting wet! So, we really took quite a lot of photos.)
Hello again! Battery Way
Here are some of the stuff I didn’t get to take photos of before.
The bomb crater in the middle of the gun emplacements in Battery Way.
there are inscriptions on the mouth of the barrel!
more ammo storage rooms. (left), A run down guardhouse? or is it a toilet? (right)
Last time we were here, I mentioned that we took shelter from the rain in the ammunition storage area of Battery Way, I wanted to go inside the shell room, but was too chicken to do it. this time I did went inside this room. (the camera picked up a lone orb look bottom left) It was really cold inside despite the sweltering heat outside. Although its comfortable to stay in there, I cant shake off the eerie coldness of the place. I went out after 3mins.
inside Shell Room No.2
Then next came the Fort Mills Hospital. Not to be confused with the Fort Mills Lateral Hospital, This Hospital is made to cater to the wounded and sick in the battle, but was one of the “newer” infrastructure in the island, but unfortunately, before it was even completed (they were using the structure even if it was still undone), it was bombed. (despite the red cross painted on it) Then after that they had to transfer the patients to what is now known as the Fort Mills Lateral Hospital or the 1,000 bed hospital inside the Malinta Tunnel.
Fort Mills Hospital
We had the chance to go inside and upstairs of this hospital, it smells different inside. I cant really place what kind of smell it is but, I assure you it doesn’t smell like the regular hospital smell (alcohol/antiseptic smell).
Inside Fort mills Hospital
But there is another incident that happened here. The Jabidah Massacre. And to prove there is such an incident, there are wall graffiti inside placed by those secret Muslim soldiers that was killed. Here are some of the graffiti.
graffiti inside the hospital
After that goosebumps inducing story, we then walked to the site of Corregidor’s exchange store and the so called Golden staircase. (not really gold, and nothing special, it was just called golden because it has 70 steps.)
Their old PX (Philippine-American Exchange) store, taken from the steps of the Golden Staircase.
The steps of the Golden Staircase.
golden staircase
Worked up a sweat climbing those steps! we are then back again to the Middle side/Mile long Barracks, and went inside the Pacific War Memorial. This time, I can show you this.
The altar
The circular marble altar, which is lit by the sun. (during the week of May 6, the anniversary of the fall of Corregidor, the sunlight directly hits the altar)
And because I need to get a nicer photo of the Eternal Flame of Freedom monument, I took this. Better than before. Finally.
Eternal Flame of Freedom Monument
Walking to the edge of the Mounument you can see the tail end of Corregidor.
View of the Tail end
And I am also happy to see that Corregidor uses solar panels for energy! Woot!
We are now off to eat lunch and prepare for the next part of our walk.
end of second post
So, this is it for now. I will be posting my experience with the Malinta Tunnel Lateral Walk next.
If you would like to see my 1st Trip to Corregidor the post is here.
*This Tour is graciously provided by Ivan Man Dy, and Old Manila Walks. They really made the walk educational, relevant and fun! Enjoyed this trip better than the first!
*All my reviews, opinions, and other stuff expressed here are my own and based on my own experience with Corregidor, Corregidor Hotel and Sun Cruises. We paid for the Cruise and food from our own pocket(s). This is not a sponsored post.
life of a cuddlebit 