Summary

More than an Island of Stone: Rediscovering Corregidor

By Cooky Araneta   

As one of the volunteer representatives of the class tasked to make arrangements for the field trip, I went through various websites searching through different Corregidor tour packages, seeing images of the place and scanning through descriptions. After settling everything however, I was still faced with the same question I had at the very beginning: What exactly happened in Corregidor again? The name no doubt rang a bell, and I knew it was a very significant place in our History, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I had resided to simply find out, or rather, rediscover what Corregidor was, going into the field trip.

     At 6:00 early in the morning, I met up with my group mates and excitedly, with full energy, we boarded the cruise ship, only to find ourselves fall asleep the moment we hit the cushiony seats. I tried to listen as the cruise guide told us a brief history of what went on in Corregidor, but my attention wouldn’t give in. Eventually, we approached the island, and I remember saying how beautiful it was seeing it from a distance.

     Upon arrival, the tour jeeps were already there waiting for us. I had hoped to get the foreign-looking, slightly stout tour guide, just because he looked like a lot of fun. I was right. Even before leaving, their jeep was already howling with laughter. I, together with my other jeep mates on the other hand, had to sit while our tour guide and his monotonous voice immediately began talking about Corregidor. The first thing that caught my eye was the statue of Gen. McArthur with his famous words, “I shall return” plated at the bottom. The first site we hit was the Malinta Tunnel for the lights and sounds show. Throughout the entire show, I imagined how it was to be there in the dark, breathing stuffy air, for so long. Watching the clips and hearing the role-plays, I couldn’t help but imagine how hard it really must have been living in those conditions. I felt the same thing seeing and walking through the various barrack sites we visited. It all felt so chilly, depressing, and dark. I remember saying how I couldn’t imagine myself in a place like that, living in those types of quarters. The ruins, I have to admit, were quite the site to see. I remember saying what a gorgeous site it would be for a photo shoot, but then realized right away what an insensitive thing that would be. Those were the ruins of a structure which our fellow countrymen built, only to have it bombed and attacked, eventually dying in the very walls that were there to protect them. I couldn’t help but feel remorse. The same feeling stuck with me throughout the entire trip—a mix of amusement with the sites, but also a sense of reflection on what actually took place there. The cannons, the lighthouse, statues, and fallen buildings were all worth seeing, but of course I had my moments of thinking about what they meant for those who actually lived in the time of the war; what they stood for, and what people experienced. I mean this in no sentimental, cheesy way, but yes, I did take time to reflect. Of course the scorching heat which eventually became nothing but plain irritating didn’t exactly help with this, but I do believe it was all part of the trip.

            After a while, as we approached the end of the tour, I couldn’t wait to board the cruise ship. The air con was calling to me. As we sat down and settled in, I remember feeling happy and content with the entire experience. Sure, I wished we had gotten the fun, lively tour guide, and yes, I wished it wasn’t so excruciatingly hot, but all in all, I would call it a very fulfilling experience. Forgive the cliché, but I did gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for our troops, Filipinos and Americans alike, who braved the living conditions and war at Corregidor. History will always have more meaning if you can, even in some simple way, experience for yourself what those of our past sacrificed and went through—the fight for freedom all for the love of our country. At the end of the day, with everything I’ve learned and experienced, I will always be thankful.

Travelling to Corregidor

By: Paco Razon

Visiting the nation's most war-torn battlefield – the historic island of Corregidor – felt like going to a place that did not move along with time. The experience was like a blast to the past – experiencing a short but important segment of the 1940s.

Even the tour buses were replicas of transportation back in the day, passing by the same roads that the soldiers did during the war. It was a great experience, seeing all the ruined buildings, the remaining guns, and even the uniforms of the soldiers in the museum. Seeing them really gave me an image of how things looked before.

I always try to imagine how the ruins looked in their heyday. I try to picture the old dilapidated buildings when they were still new and when they were full of people and activity. I imagined how the Americans marched in the fields beside the building and how they fought alongside Filipinos during the war. I also try to imagine the huge guns in action – how the soldiers load the gun with enormous shells and how huge the explosion must be once they fire them.

But I also pictured how war-torn, bloody, and violent the place must have been during the war. The  island must have been as barren as a dessert – since Americans leave no jungle behind when they occupy a place and since it was bombed so many times in World War II.  Corregidor must have also wrung of death. Dead bodies must have been scattered all over the place. The very soil I that I was standing on could have been the same spot where a soldier from years ago have been lying as a corpse in. The rooms I was entering in could have housed the dying in the war. And while I was enjoying the presentation in the tunnel, there was nothing to stop the souls of the war to be watching me as well.

Corregidor is rich of history but there is a certain eeriness to it. It somewhat had a life of its own. Probably at night, one would be able to hear the feint sounds of crossfire from a distance. Or hear the painful cries of war and death of the people who fought in the small island.

Corregidor Island
By: Clarice Manuel

    Ang isla ng Corregidor ay puno ng mga kaganapang pangkasaysayan. Maraming mga sundalong Filipino at Amerikano ang nagbuwis ng buhay upang iligtas ang mga Filipino mula sa pananakop ng Hapon. Kakaiba ang hugis ng isla na ito, ang korte nito ay parang isang butete. Kung noo’y halos walang mga halamang makikita sa isla na ito dulot ng giyera, ngayon nama’y puno na ito ng mga halaman at puno. 

    Naglakbay ang klase ko sa History166 tungo sa isla ng Corregidor upang makita ang napapaloob sa isla na ito.  Kinakailangan munang sumakay ng isang ferryboat bago makarating sa isla, umaabot ng 1 oras ang biyahe, kung kaya’t may oras upang matulog, kumain, maglaro atbp. Pagdating sa isla may mga bus na kailangan sakyan upang malibot ang isla. Sa tingin ko, mas maganda sigurong libutin ang isla nang naglalakad kaysa nakasakay sa bus. Hindi naman ganoon kalaki iyong isla kaya’t mabuti na ring maglakad.

Sa bawat bus ay may tour guide upang magkwento sa bawat lokasyon sa isla. Sa aking pagkakaalala si Mr. Ramon ang napuntang tour guide sa amin, nakakatawa ang paraan niya ng pagkukwento sa kasaysayan at mga karanasan niya sa isla na iyon. Madalas niyang banggitin ang tungkol sa mga ligaw na kaluluwa sa Corregidor, hindi naman kami siguro interesado malaman ang mga kwento niya ukol dun dahil hindi naman iyon ang ipinunta namin sa Corregidor.

Maraming magagandang lokasyon doon. Maganda iyong mga memorial para sa mga Hapon, Amerikano at Filipino. Ang mga luma nilang mga canyon ay napakalaki, mas malaki pa sa 3 tao na pinag-sama sama.

Ang pinakanagustuhan kong lokasyon ay yung lighthouse ng mga Kastila. Maganda ang pagkaka-rehabilitate nila dito upang mapanatili ang kagandahan nito. Ang matatanaw mo sa taas ng lighthouse ay napakaganda, mga puno, ang malawak na dagat, halos kita mo na ang buong isla ng Corregidor sa tuktok nito.

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na pumunta ako ng Corregidor at masasabi kong babalik ulit ako sa Corregidor upang makita ulit ang lahat ng mga lokasyon at mas maging maalam sa kasaysayan ng lugar na ito. Sapagkat kulang ang 1 araw upang libutin ang buong isla.

   

Una at (Hindi) Huli
By Ninna Zornosa

Marami na akong naririnig na mga kwento at nakikitang mga larawan ukol sa Corregidor. Akala ko nga nakapunta na ako roon dahil na rin sa aking mga kaalaman tungkol sa nasabing historikal na isla. Ngunit, nagkamali pala ako. Marami pa pala akong kailangang malaman at maranasan na hindi kalian man mapapalitan ng mga kwento at larawan lamang.

 Sa 21 taon kong nabubuhay dito sa mundong ibabaw, ngayon pa lamang talaga ako nabigyan ng pagkakataon upang masulyapan ang napakagandang isla ng Corregidor. Nakakaaliw malaman na bago ka pa makapunta roon, kinakailangan mo munang sumakay ng isang cruise at lakbayin ang Manila Bay. Muli, natatanaw ko lamang ang Manila Bay kapag ako ay napapadaan sa Roxas Boulevard o ‘di kaya’y namamasyal sa SM Mall of Asia. Ngunit, sa pagkakataong yaon, ako na mismo ay nasa gitna ng nasabing yamang tubig. Isang mapayapang paglalakbay naman ang cruise dahil na rin hindi masyadong maalon ang dagat. Bukod pa rito, nakakaaliw rin panoorin ang pinapalabas na mga excerpts ng mga giyera noong World War II. Ultimo’y kinukundisyon na kami tungkol sa mga makikita naming mga labi ng nasabing labanan.

Matapos ang higit kumulang na isang oras, nakarating na rin kami sa Corregidor. Sinalubong kami ng mga makukulay na tour buses na kung saan kami’y isinakay kasama ng aming tour guide. Sa una pa lamang, mapapansin na komersyalisado na rin ang lugar sapagka’t marami nang nagtayuang mga souvenir shops at mga palikuran. Subalit, hindi pa rin maitatanggi ang mayamang nakaraan na napapaloob sa lugar na ito.

Una kaming dinala sa Malinta Tunnel na kung saan maraming mga ipinakitang mga eksena mula sa pamahalaang Komonwelt hanggang sa matapos ang World War II. Napaka-historikal ng tunnel na iyon sapagka’t doon mismo namalagi ang mga Pilipino at Amerikanong sundalo noong digmaan pati na rin ang dating presidente Manuel Quezon. Halong takot at pagkamangha ang bumalot sa akin habang nasa loob ng nasabing lagusan.

Sari-saring mga istatwa, museum, hardin at tabing-dagat din ang aming nadaanan. Lahat sila ay may kanya-kanyang istorya na naglalarawan ng katapangan ng mga Pilipino at Amerikanong nakipagsagupaan sa giyera. Napakasarap sariwain ang kani-kanilang mga kwento kung paano nila nalampasan at pilit na ipinaglaban ang Pilipinas mula sa mga Hapon. At syempre pa, hinding-hindi ko rin makakalimutan ang mga barracks ng mga Pilipino at Amerikanong sundalo. Kung titignan, isang napaka-gandang tanawin ang mga ito dahil na rin sa makalumang konsepto at sira-sirang disenyo. Subalit, kung susuriing maigi, hindi lamang magandang tanawin ang makakalap mula sa mga barracks na ito. Kung mapapansin kasi, magkahiwalay ang tirahan ng mga Pilipino at mga Amerikano. Parehas man silang mga sundalo, mataas pa rin ang tingin ng mga Amerikano sa kanilang mga sarili. Pati nga mga dagat na kanilang nilalanguyan, kailangang hiwalay pa sa dagat na pinupuntahan ng mga Pilipino.

Bukod sa magagandang mga tanawin at istruktura, hindi rin maikakaila ang aking pagkamangha sa mga nakita kong kanyon at sari-saring mga armas pang-giyera. Nakakatuwang isipin na napanatili at naalagaan pa ang mga ito. Bukod sa kanilang kalakihan at kabigatan, makikita rin dito ang mga ukit mula sa mga tama ng baril. Napakagaling ng pagkakagawa ng mga ito dahil lahat sila ay may iba’t ibang mga gamit sa giyera at ginawa sila upang tumagal ng maraming taon. Kung iisipin, sadyang matitikas nga ang mga sundalo noong panahon ng giyera dahil nakayanan nilang paganahin at pasabugin yaon habang nagpuputukan at nagtitirahan sila ng mga kalaban. Napakaganda rin puntahan ang storage area ng mga bala ng kanyon. Sa kadiliman nito, nakakatakot pa nga itong pasukin sa simula.

Mula sa ilang mga karanasang aking nabanggit, masasabing nababalot ng sari-saring misteryo ang lugar ng Corregidor. Marami mang nakipaglaban at namatay sa nasabing lugar, isa itong magandang pook upang gunitain ang katapangan at pagnanais ng mga Pilipino ng kalayaan at kapayapaan. Kung iisipin kasi, halos naipit lamang ang Pilipinas sa digmaang kanilang naranasan. Subalit, mula sa mga larawan at mga kuwentong aking narinig, masasabi nating lumaban ng isang magandang laban ang mga Pilipino.

Alam kong sa mga karanasan at tanawing aking nakita, marami pa ring mga pagkatago-tagong lugar na kailangan ko pang puntahan at pasukin upang mas lalong mapatindi ang aking kaalaman ukol sa mga nangyari sa mga Amerikano at Pilipino noong panahon ng giyera. Masyado mang mataas at mainit ang sikat ng araw noong mga panahong iyon, marami talaga akong natutunan at mas napatindi ang pagmamahal ko sa aking sariling bayan. Alam kong isa lamang ang Corregidor sa  mga magaganda at historikal na lugar dito sa Pilipinas. Bakit pa ba ako maglalakbay sa ibang bansa kung sa Pilipinas pa lang, marami nang pwede puntahan? Ito man ang una beses kong pagbisita sa lugar, tinitiyak kong hindi pa ito ang huli kong pagpunta sa napakagandang-isla ng Corregidor, kagaya nga ng sinabi ni Gen. Douglas McArthur noong umalis siya sa Pilipinas tungo sa Australia, “I shall return!”.

The Second Half

by: Pau Vasquez

                ‘twas a little more than 30 minutes after the end of our lunch break. The sun was sending its powerful rays almost right above my head. The heat of the afternoon was slowly making the tour more tiring than exciting. Sometimes, the fluffy clouds would pass by and create a natural shield from the sun.

                Finally, we’re on our way to the second-to-the-last destination of our tour – the lighthouse. Excitement suddenly rushed to through my veins when the tour guide said that we can climb up to the top of that tower. It has been one of the experiences I wanted to have since then. I often picture myself looking at an island and the sea from a location of high altitude. “At last,” I told myself quietly.

                I stood up even before the bus made a full stop. I remember that I was the first one to alight from the bus. Then I started to take big steps towards the tower entrance. I was so excited and I just could not hide it. After taking a flight of 40 steps, another staircase with a little less than 90 degrees of inclination welcomed me. I took one step – packed with nervousness and thrill – a time. When I reached the end, there was another staircase – with the same inclination as the previous one. But when I looked up, I could already see the light coming from outside. The nervousness was diminished and the thrill was hyped. One step after the other and I saw myself standing in front of the door leading to the main gallery of the lighthouse. “This is it!” my heart and soul seemed to say it in harmony.

                Finally, I reached the balcony. The lush forest seemed to be connected to the blue green waters. It seemed like the paradise was just within my reach. I could see birds flying at my eye level. I went around the balcony and saw the ‘tail’ of the island. It was just as fantastic as I thought. I could sense peace everywhere – in the calmness of the sea, in the serenity of the forest, in the light form the heavens and from the sweet twitter of the birds. The feeling was one of a kind. And until now, the picture is clear in my mind. Corregidor – where most bombs landed, where most explosions happened, where many soldiers died and where not a single blade of glass grew after the war – was a paradise in my eyes filled with tranquillity which was deemed unimaginable 65 years ago.