South East Asian Trips

Corregidor this place served as the most vital harbor defenses of Manila and was the last place to fall into the hands of the Japanese during World War II. There are still different gun batteries, shell of amle long barracks which up to now still stands, the Pacific memorial, and the famous Malinta Tunnel are the points of interest in the Corregidor Island.

Corregidor is a small rocky island in the Philippines about 48 Km west of Manila which is stragetically located at the entrance of Manila Bay. This island fortress stands as am.morial for the courage, valor, and heroism of its Filipino and American defenders who bravely held their ground against the overwhelming number of invading Japanese forces during World War II.

Also known as "the Rock," it was a key bastion of the Allies during the war. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December 1941, the military force under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur carried out a delaying action at Bataan. Corregidor became the headquarters of the Allied forces and also the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government. It was from Corregidor that Philippine President Manuel Quezon and General MacArthur left for Australia in February 1942, leaving behind Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright in command.

Although Bataan fell on April 9, 1942, the Philippine and American forces held out at Corregidor for 27 days against great odds. On May 6, 1942, their rations depleted, the Allied forces were forced to surrender Corregidor to Lt. Gen. Hommam.saharu of the Japanese Imperial am. after having successfully halted the Japanese advance on Australia. It was only two years and ten months later in March 1945 when the Allied forces under the command of General MacArthur recaptured Corregidor ... making good his promise to return to the Philippines.

The big guns of Corregidor are now silent and the ruins of buildings, structures, and tunnels in the island tell a very moving story of a war that has clam.d so many lives. A visit to this former battleground is am.morable experience especially for those who cherish and value peace and freedom. In his speech delivered at the signing of the surrender of Japan aboard the U.S.S. Missouri at Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur said, "It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past - a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice."

This Website was created primarily to portray the Island of Corregidor as it is now seen by those who visit it. It is not intended to be a historical Website. Through photographs, this Website reveals the destruction that war has brought about to the island as well as the improvements and changes made on it. Although some historical facts are given, these are only mentioned to serve as background information. The majority of photographs that are presented here were taken in June 2002 when the Hawaiian WebMaster visited Corregidor to gather the necessary data and material to create this Website. Photographs portrayed in the Corregidor- related Webpages were taken more recently in October 2003.