I’ve been to Corregidor more than 3x already and this is the first time that I enjoyed every moment of it with Rache and Aidan (for the first time). Thanks to Carlos Celdran for creating a very cool itinerary and for attracting the best company! I would like to share with you the 10 best ways to experience and enjoy Corregidor.
1. Sunset Cocktail. Carlos is brilliant! He asked all the participants to bring potluck items for our sunset cocktail party. We had our cocktail party at the Battery Grubbs. The Corregidor Inn provided the waiter service while the participants brought the cheese, crackers and cold cuts. Carlos brought some Chile wines perfect for the Corregidor Sunset.
2. Dinner Bonfire by the Beach. Dinner Bonfire at the South Beach is another brilliant idea. Someone in our group brought the pasta while some brought the dessert. We brought the Mary Grace Chocolate cake to the party. The background music was sounds of the 1940s.
3. Ghost Hunting at the Hospital. When I first came here, it was super scary because of the imposing Balete tree guarding the hospital. In Filipino beliefs, the Balete tree is the home of the spirits. A few months ago, they cut down the Balete and the Ghost hunting @ night was more bearable. It is better to bring point and shoot camera with a third eye to capture the floating “orbs” The hospital was used as the barracks of the Jabidah secret group. The names of our muslim brothers who died in the Jabidah Massacre were written on the hospital walls.
4. Exploring the Lateral Tunnels of Malinta, Finally, I was able to explore all the lateral tunnels in Malinta. I highly recommend it and it was not scary as you would imagine. When we did the lights out inside the tunnels, there were no negative vibes not unlike in the ghost hunting in the hospital.
5. Experiencing the Lost Corregidor. Corregidor is the greek-like ruins of the American Empire during the 1940s… It was a paradise if you were assigned in Corregidor. Before going to the Rock, please read the Corregidor accounts of Selma Harrison Calmes, M.D.. ( Link provided below). In the Corregidor museum, check out the table wares used in one of the last Thanksgiving dinner in Corregidor.
The Lost Corregidor. The Home Front Life Before WWII Part 1 | Part 2
6. Star Gazing at the Eternal Flame. With San Mig Light on one hand, we watched the stars and the distant lights of Roxas Boulevard. The backdrop for the stargazing is the solar-powered Eternal Flame dramatically lighted every night. How we wished we could have brought some tents to sleep in the grassy area and wait for the sunrise.
7. Malinta Tunnel Lights & Sounds Show. This is still one of the best light and sound show in the country today. It tells the story of the fall of Corregidor and its liberation right inside the Malinta Tunnel.
8. Exploring the Mile Long Barracks in the Top Side. Your Corregidor experience won’t be complete without walking through the halls of these mile long barracks. Try to find the ruins of the swimming pool inside the barracks.
9. Conquering the American and Japanese Tunnels. Don’t miss to go inside this short American concrete tunnel in Battery Hearns. Compare it with the Japanese tunnel near the Eternal Flame of Freedom memorial.
10. Strike a Pose. Thanks to Carlos, I was able to bring Rache and Aidan to Corregidor! And we shall return with syoti Josh…
I’m happy and sad that Corregidor is not attracting the local and foreign tourists that much. I’m happy because we can enjoy Corregidor without the crowds. Last Saturday, we had the beach and most of the historical places to ourselves. However, I’m also sad because most Filipinos are missing on one of the most profound historical site in the Philippines.
I Wanna Rock with You with Carlos Celdran(Recommended 🙂
Summer Schedule:
APRIL 26 – 27, 2008
MAY 24 – 25, 2008
JUNE 7 – 8, 2008
JUNE 21 – 22, 2008
Departure 8:00am Saturday. Arrive Manila 3:45pm Sunday.
COST: Php 4,400.00 per person.
Child without bed: Php 3,300.00
Single occupancy for one room Php5,400.00
And be sure to bring a little snack or drink to the sunset potluck cocktail too.
Contact: Kristine Castro 5268888 loc. 9502 or anyone from the Reservations Department of Sun Cruises for more information and current rates.
See Carlos Blogpost: Rocking the Rock Again.
Corregidor Philippines’ Standard Tours
Sun Cruises.
CCP Bay Terminal A, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd. Pasay City (Near Harbour Square)
www.corregidorphilippines.com
Sales Telephone: 527-5555 loc 4511/ 12
Reservations: +63 922 337 0068 / + 632 834 6857 to 58
Day Tour with Buffet Lunch (P1,999). Child Rate ( P 1,111)( Includes roundtrip ferry transfers / shrine, entrance, and terminal fees / guided island tour / buffet lunch )
ETD in Manila (8.00am). ETA in Corregidor (9.15am). ETD in Corregidor (2.30pm). ETA in Manila (3.45pm).
Overnight Package: Single Occupancy (P2,880) Twin/ Double Triple Sharing (P1,999 + 500). Child without bed (P1,550), with bed (P2,250).
( Includes roundtrip ferry transfers / shrine, entrance, and terminal fees / guided island tour / 1 buffet lunch on day 1 / overnight accommodation at Corregidor Inn )
Optional Lights and Sounds Show: P150/ person
Text and Photos by Anton Diaz. Copyright 2008.
I’ve always wanted to join one of his tours 🙂 Hopefully in my next vacation 🙂
I’ve been to Corregidor too with my hubby last March and our tour guide, Armando (c/o Sun Cruises), is one funny fellow too. Hope we can join Carlos’ tour soon, if our budget permits.
Btw, I refused to join the Malinta tunnel night tour because I was so spooked out by very prominent orb-like figures captured on my point and shoot camera taken during the day tour at the hospital/morgue ruins and the light and sound show!
Hi Anton! I enjoyed every minute of the tour! It was short but sweet! I would love to go again – and join Carlos’ tour ulit! Loved it!
Had a great time with you guys!! 🙂
You took great pics ah! Galing!
Those “orbs” are nothing more than dust particles. This was discussed already on Carlos’s blog. I get them in my pictures often, and no, not only in supposedly “haunted” places. 😉
I missed a trip to Corregidor because of a conflict in schedule ;c
It would be great if all the historic sites of the Philippines had their own Carlos Celdran. People, specially Filipinos would be able to appreciate our history more.
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…..orbs or dust particles…..it shouldnt matter coz they are dead meaning they cannot harm you except your own fear…..these dead soldiers needs to be ‘acknowledge’ o even remembered we should care love their sad memories ‘full’of painful hardships loneliness sufferings frightening moments just before they died while ‘remembering’ loved ones they all left behind on both sides…..enemies-foes friends alike…..so ‘PLEASE’ let us go visit ‘corregidor’ as much as possible to at least give those dead ‘frightened’ lonely soldiers some company they never had pay respect to all who suffered for all of us…..coz it could be any of you someday….you will never know how politics vanities cold-prides ignorances and greed will lead the world into…..
Did you bring AD to the Malinta tunnel and Ghost hunting too? How was it for him?
Thanks,
Charisse
who’s the chick with the flash light infront of the Malinta Tunnel??? 😉
i had my intern at Sun Cruises Inc., this reminds me of my free trips to Corregidor.
=)
Medyo mahal kasi ung tour kaya ata medyo wala masiyadong nagpupunta dun. Saka ung iba takot, because of the ghost stories. They’d prefer going to the beach, for the same budget.
so what the filipinos meant by that? wait for a sample of world war 3’s death tortures cruelty pains & sufferings to appreciate the armed forces of the philippines who died for all other filipinos to make sure there will be a future philippines owned run by filipinos but just turned your back from these fellow filipino soldiers coz filipinos do not want o have time to spent their ‘disco’ money bistro restaurants shopping malls ‘allownces to visit their own past their own history NO TIME for filipino heroes is this why filipinos preferred to take their illegal chances in a dangerous middle east journey then when victimized they cry for philippines government help to take care of their carelessness but these legitimate government soldiers who died MUST BE JUST FORGOTTEN why was the other casualties has more relevance has more values is this a new filipino values so they could generate more incomes thru grouping rebels to fight their own filipino soldiers when killed they cry human rights but what about the soldiers being paid has orrdered to get rid of dangerous armed thieves rebels do you know here in america just to hold a gun pointing at police officers that itself entitled
law enforcers to shoot first coz they can never know who will shoot first so i hope this is not a new filipino values coz this will costs govt. more billions of dollars in wasted incomes annually coz of deteriorating values left & right hopefully will not spread
i miss that place!!! its such a nice place although its a bit scary spcially at nyt lol 🙂 anyway like mc arthur said I SHALL RETURN in CORREGIDOR ISLAND Deffintly 😛