Corregidor Island

HISTORY
Corregidor comes from the Spanish word corregir, meaning to correct. One story
states that due to the Spanish system wherein all ships entering Manila Bay were
required to stop and have their documents checked and corrected, the island was called
"Isla del Corregidor" (Island of the Correction). Another version claims that the island
was used a penitentiary or correctional institution by the Spanish and came to be called
"El Corregidor."
In early and pre-hispanic times, it was likely populated by fishermen and no doubt
provided a base for pirates who could easily launch an attack against any vessel
entering Manila Bay. During the Spanish era this tadpole-shaped island was a signal
station where bonfires were lit to alert Manila of a home-coming galleon. Later on,
Spaniards built a lighthouse on the island.
Corregidor Island, locally called Isla ng Corregidor, is an island located at the entrance of
Manila Bay in southwestern part of Luzon Island in the Philippines. Due to this location,
Corregidor was fortified with several coastal artillery and ammunition magazines to defend the
entrance of Manila Bay and the City of Manila from attacks by enemy warships in the event of
war. Located 48 kilometres (30 mi) inland, Manila has been the largest city and the most
important seaport in the Philippines for centuries, from the colonial rule of Spain, Japan and
the United States, to the establishment of the Republic of the Philippines in 1946.
Corregidor (Fort Mills) is the largest of the islands that formed the harbor defenses of
Manila Bay together with El Fraile Island (Fort Drum), Caballo Island (Fort Hughes) and
Carabao Island (Fort Frank), which were all fortified during the American liberation of
the country. The island was also the site of a small military airfield, as part of the
defense.
During World War II, Corregidor played an important role during the invasion and
liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces. Heavily bombarded in the latter part
of the war, the ruins left on the island serve as a military memorial to American, Filipino
and Japanese soldiers who served or lost their lives on the island. Corregidor is one of
the important historic and tourist sites in the country.

TRIVIAS
Corregidor Island also known as THE
ROCK is a small rocky island in the
Philippines which is part of the municipality of
Cavite City and not Bataan. QUITE
INTERESTINGLY ABOUT IT WAS, THE
ISLAND IS SHAPED LIKE A TADPOLE.
Corregidor's garrison resisted for 12 days after
the Japanese successfully landed on the
island which is FALSE because the island surrendered LESS THAN 24 HOURS after
being invaded. WOW!
Corregidor comes from the Spanish word corregir, meaning to correct. One story
states that due to the Spanish system wherein all ships entering Manila Bay were
required to stop and have their documents checked and corrected, the island was called
"ISLA DEL CORREGIDOR" (ISLAND OF THE CORRECTION).
PLACES TO SEE IN CORREGIDOR ISLAND