THE CORREGIDOR EXPERIENCE Not only natural beauty but also history

CORREGIDOR Foundation has

converted the island of Corregidor into

a model of ecotourism, combining its

natural beauty with its historic sites.

Up until recently, visiting tourists were given an island tour

showcasing the significant events of World War II in the

Pacific. However, scant reference was made to the Spanish

presence on the island for 327 years.

During the Spanish era, Corregidor had a lighthouse and a

signal station. It also housed a small fishing village called Barrio

San Jose, complete with a Catholic church and a one-room

schoolhouse run by the clergy.

Fortifications were also set

up on Corregidor and

neighboring islands.

The island was a fortress

guarding Manila Bay. All

ships entering or leaving

the bay had to stop at

Corregidor to have their

papers checked. That's how

it got the name Corregidor,

which means ''corrector'' in Spanish.

Last April 21, Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta and

Spanish Ambassador Delfin Colome unveiled a marker in front

of the restored Spanish lighthouse.

Araneta said it was only fitting that there should be a marker of

the shared history of the Philippines and Spain on the island

where Spain had a presence for more than 300 years.

The marker now stands now as a reminder to both Filipinos and

Spaniards of their common historical heritage. The Spanish

government, through the Agencia Espa?ola de Cooperacion

Internacional, provided financial assistance to set up the marker

and to beautify the garden in the surrounding area. The AECI is

the same agency helping implement the Vigan development

master plan.

Corregidor Island itself was a silent sentinel during the historic

Battle of Manila Bay fought between the Spanish Armada and

the American Navy on May 1, 1898.

The Americans won the battle and the Philippines passed from

the hands of the Spaniards to the new colonizers despite the

newborn Philippine Republic.

During World War II, the island served temporarily as the base

of the Philippine government under President Manuel L. Quezon

and was the last bastion to fall with the surrender of US Gen.

Jonathan Wainwright to the Japanese invading forces.

Today, Corregidor is a national shrine and a tourism zone

managed by the Corregidor Foundation under Executive

Director Alfred Xerez-Burgos.

The island offers tourists a glimpse of the valor of Filipino and

American soldiers and the horrors of WWII, with

bomb-shattered buildings, bunkers, tunnels, bomb shelters,

caves and monuments amid a manicured garden setting ideal for

walking tours.

Rides are also available on picturesque open-sided buses which

resemble the electric trams that once plied the island routes.

The island also offers camping and resort facilities, including

hotel rooms for overnight guests and food and beverage

outlets. Burgos said the foundation was trying to develop more

sports facilities to encourage tourists to stay longer there.

Among the ideas proposed was allowing mountain bikers to

bring their bikes on the ferry and traverse selected routes.

Another was setting up dive trips to shipwrecks in nearby

waters.

Corregidor is accessible by boat. Sun Cruises Inc. offers

package tours leaving Manila at 8 a.m., returning at 2:30 p.m.

The island tour and lunch is included in the P1,690 fee per

person. A half-day trip with a tour and a snack included costs

P780. An overnight stay with meals and accommodations costs

P2,325 per person.

For reservations, call Sun Cruises at 831-8140, 524-8410 and

524-0333, fax 834-1523 and 521-5850, e-mail

scruises@wtouch.net or magtours@wtouch.net.

Jaka Transport Corp. offers the ''Corregidor Scenic Flight''

tour. For details, call 833-3259, 804-0636, 804-0621 and

831-3990, fax 833-3258 and e-mail jakaair@jaka.com.ph.

Corregidor Foundation also offers the walk-in loop tour. For

details, call 525-3420 and 525-3429, fax 523-5605 and e-mail

deptour@mnl.sequel.net.