Back to Corregidor

“Sleep my son… your duty done,
for freedom’s light had come,
Sleep in the silent depths of the sea
or in your bed of hollowed sod
until your hear at dawn the low clear
reveille of God”.


Corregidor is one of the living witness of the struggles and bravery of early Filipinos who shed their blood for the freedom this generation is now enjoying. Today, it boast not just its historical legend but its natural beauty as well. It has become one of the main tourist-historical attraction in the archipelago. As you come to visit this beautiful island, let your soul to travel back in time and feel the struggles and triumphs of Corregidor.

In December 29, 1941, an air raid by 91 Japanese aircraft signaled the start of the war for Corregidor. The estimated 60 tons of bombs that were dropped damaged the Station Hospital, the Middleside and the Topside Barracks, Officer’s Quarters as well as the ships in the bay and the Navy gasoline dump at the tail of the island.

In February 6, 1942, the Japanese artillery emplaced around Naic and Ternate in Cavite opened fire on Corregidor. The siege of Corregidor has begun.

When Bataan fell into the hands of the Japanese on April 9, 1942; Corregidor stood to save the finest harbor of the Orient. May 5 saw the destruction of the shoreline with more ferocious attacks by the well-schemed artillery and dive bombers of the Japanese soldiers. The defenders of Corregidor fired all the guns they had but to no avail. At noon, on May 6, the flag of surrender slowly went the Topside flagpole.

With the return of the Americans in 1945 as promised an intensive bombardment started minesweeping the operations in the bay liberating Bataan. The stubborn battle continued until February 21 when the Japanese set the Malinta Tunnel to explode killing hundreds. The explosions of the former Radio Intercept Tunnel at the Monkey Point, ended the organized resistance making the surviving Japanese defenders an after and end of the war in January 1946.

On October 12, 1947, the American flag was lowered for the last time as Philippines whose flag was hoisted in its stead as witnessed by President Manuel Roxas. The Filipino gained the Island-Fortress.

The story of Corregidor has been a continuing saga of unequaled patriotism displayed by participants in the countless battles that were fought there.

“Corregidor needs no comment from me. It has sounded its own story at the mouth of its guns. It has scrolled its own epitaph on enemy tablets. But through the bloody haze of its last reverberating shot, I shall always see the visions of its grim, gaunt, and ghostly men, still unafraid.” – Gen. Douglas MacArthur