Things to do in Philippines, Philippines: The Best Military Bases & Facilities

Reviewed By Invertebrate - Plano, United States

After watching numerous of the WW-2 movies about Corregidor "Cry Havoc", and "They were Expendable" with John Wayne; I decided to make a visit to the Island of Corregidor in June 2019. My interest was seeing the island where history was made and the neighboring Bataan Peninsula. I had certain places that I wanted to see on the island. The ferry from Manila docked at Corregidor at the north dock. This is the exact dock that Lt JG John Bulkeley on PT-41 transported Gen Douglas MacArthur and his family to Mindanao in 1942. The dock is constructed of concrete with rebar and you can see where it has been repaired numerous times from the war damage of both sides. But, I wanted to walk to the end of it slowly and look back at the island to see what Gen MacArthur must have seen and felt when he stepped onto the PT boat. From the end of the dock you can see Cavite and Mariveles. The trams that give the tour are rapid paced so I was unable to spend much time near the islands north dock. My next point of interest was the Malinta Tunnel east entrance. Good tour but the tunnel is darkened for the video effects and many tripping hazards from old rail tracks down the middle. If you tour try to be near the front so you can hear the tour guide. My interest from the 3rd tunnel lateral on the north side from the east entrance. This was the Headquarters lateral for MacArthur and Gen Wainwright. Several of the Laterals have life-sized people and scenes to exhibit the events of the time. The experience is heighten by the flash and thunder of simulated bomb explosions, the soft hushed murmurs of people talking. Wish I had more time in the tunnel itself, but it is a tour in and out . Lunch for the tour was on the Islands only hotel, it was very very hot day the restaurant and loads of cold water and a buffet type food After I attempted to follow the Bataan Death March route from Mariveles back to Angeles City, it is not well marked and the road is under reconstruction. I want to go back and attempt that route after doing more research and putting some Lat's and Longs into my Garmin. "When I return", I want to spend a night on the islands hotel and see in more detail what is called TOPSIDE. This place was on my bucket list and it was emotional to walk where the US soldiers were from December 1941 till March 1942. The tour guide had excellent knowledge of the island and the period in history that I was interested in.