History 101: Corregidor, the Spanish, the Americans, and World War II

During the hour-long cruise aboard the MV Sun Cruises, backgrounders about Corregidor and related history lessons were taught to tourist and student excursionists. Let me share with you what I have gathered:

The name Corregidor comes from the Spanish word "magistrate".

The island is situated 26 miles west of Manila; it lies just off the southern tip of the Bataan Peninsula and guards the entrance to Manila Bay. It is dominated by huge limestone formation and is about four miles long and a half-mile at its widest point.

During the Spanish era, this tadpole-shaped island was a signaling station were bonfires were lit apprise Manila of an incoming galleon. Later, Spaniards built a lighthouse on the island.

Corregidor has witnessed numerous Philippine maritime highlights, among them, the destruction of a Spanish fleet by a squadron of U.S. naval convoy, and much earlier, the battle between Spain and Dutch privateers.

Photo courtesy of gregoryperez.

From 1941 to 1942, an embattled force of Filipino and American Soldiers fought one of the great delaying "tactics" of World War II. The big guns of Corregidor were used in support of Fil-Am defenders of Bataan until the island itself was invaded. The restless pounding by Japanese guns, including intermittent bombings reduced its defenses and compelled its surrender.

On January 1945, Corregidor was once again caught in the fury of war as the Americans retook the island after a bloody battle.

Indeed, this forlorn speck of land has played a pivotal part in Philippine and World War history. The stories and history lessons I heard and video clips continuously shown on monitor screens on board have made me much eager to see and experience, though the war remnants left on the island, the thrills and chills of Corregidor.