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Corregidor Island, Philippines
Corregidor Island is strategically located at the mouth of the Manila Bay area and directly facing the China Sea. In Philippines history, it is historically important as it was the setting for the Battle of Corregidor - a very grim epic in human endurance and courage during World War II.
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It is now a major tourist destination. In Corregidor, 12,000 grim, gaunt, and weary men stood steadily and fought gallantly for 27 desperate days against the far superior strength of the Japanese invaders.
The Battle of Corregidor was the end of the Japenese Empire's efforts to completely conquer the Philippine Islands. Following the fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, Corregidor Island was the last standing sizable concentration of Filipino and American soldiers against Japan in the Philippines.
The 14th Japanese Imperial Army under Lt. Gen. Masaharu Homma had to overtake and occupy the island fortress in order to fully gain control of the entire Manila Bay area. With extraordinary valor and bravery, the joint forces of Filipino and American soldiers opposed overwhelming force for 27 tiring days of war and bloodshed until they surrendered on the 6th of May, 1942.
Corregidor Island has ha an extremely interesting history. Late in the 17th century it was suddenly occupied by the piratically inclined Limahong who made it the headquarters of his activities. During the Spanish era, Corregidor Island was a signal outpost, an undeniably strong defense fortress to warn the government about the coming of hostile ships. Later it became a penal colony for convicts who were condemned to hard labor. This is the origin of the name corregir, which means "corrector."
Apart from its history, Corregidor is a pleasantly attractive place. It has striking lush vegetation. The impressively tall trees and the vines growing thickly completely cover it, while birds and animals have made it their natural habitation.
Tourists and excursionists continually visit the island to see relics of what was once a strongly fortified position against Japanese invasion. Running deeply into the earth is the Famous Malinta Tunnel, which consists of a very spacious tunnel from which branch out 21 other carefully built lateral tunnels. This was the headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur adn the Philippine government during the Japanese invasion. There is a hospital housing 1,000 beds. Centrally located on the island is a towering eternal flame monument which pays a lasting tibute to the superlatively brave men who lived and died within its compass.