Last week while I was inside a movie house watching “Cheaper by the Dozen” (yeah, it’s an “after-school-special” movie, so what?) I received an unexpected text from Mommy Cely asking me if I wanted to join her in an excursion to Corregidor the next Wednesday. With nothing much to preoccupy me these days, I said yes without any second thoughts. We’re to meet at Wendy’s Dapitan by 6 a.m. and I shouldn’t be late.
That Wednesday morning came, and with only 4 hours of sleep that night (couldn’t go back to sleep when I woke up at 2 a.m.), I was off by quarter to 6. I was to meet Minette and Luz at Wendy’s, the others would go directly to the dock.
The ferry to take us to the island would start boarding at 7:30 and would leave at 8:00. The CCP compound where the dock was located was filled with people doing their exercises, tai-bo classes and what not.
Minette, Luz and I waited for the others.
Then Raquel and Dindo came. Passengers were already boarding the boat. It was already the third call, and yet Mommy, who organized the whole thing, was still somewhere in Roxas Ave. (yeah right, as if we believe that one.)
At last, Mommy arrived 10 minutes to 8:00.
And we started to board the boat.
The one hour trip to the island was amusing to say the least. The historian/tour guide who gave an introduction on the island was a hoot, and of course there was that incidence of the two hundred year old ring which he found in the island -- whoever fits the ring becomes his wife. One ring to rule them all.
When we arrived in the island, we took tramvias or the guided tour. We took bus number 3. Although, I imagine bus number 4, where the Japanese tourists were, would be swell. I presume their guided tour would be much different from ours. I wonder what their version of World War II would be like.
The tour guide was fun. We laughed at the guide’s jokes and her misses. I wonder how many times she had used the line: “My name is _______, but you can call me V.G. --‘very good’ for short.” to welcome her passengers.
Like any other tourist, we took pictures -- lots of them. And often, we would be the cause of the tour’s delay.
Half expecting, while on the tramvia, I was waiting for a dinosaur to jump out. The island reminds me of Jurassic Park.
At one time, I’ve wanted to ask the tour guide if it was really absolutely necessary for McArthur to return. The Americans were building the atom bomb. Sooner or later, the Japanese would surrender and leave the Philippines. Million lives would have been saved. But not wanting to start a boring conversation, I remained mum.
I guess a little bit of the island’s background is in order. Although the pamphlet says that the island of Corregidor means “magistrate,” I like this explanation better: that its name came from the Spanish “La Isla del Corregidor” or The Corrector’s Island where during the Spanish rule, the island was the waypoint for ships entering Manila Bay to be inspected. Its strategic position in Manila Bay became advantageous to the security of Manila; hence it was fortified throughout the years -- from the Spaniards’ time up to the Americans. It became the last bastion of the Philippine Islands during World War II, and she fell April 9, 1942 to the Japanese.
The tour lead us to the Malinta Tunnel to watch the light and sound show. This was where the American and Filipino soldiers took cover from Japanese bombardment. How could I’ve been so duff to miss that its name came from the Tagalog word meaning “lots of leeches”?
Unfortunately, there were no more leeches. There were no ghosts either.
After the trip to the tunnel, it was time for lunch. I took this picture of a wooden pig at the receiving room of the hotel.
After lunch, it was time to see the big guns.
And ghost hunt.
Well, we didn’t find any, so I made some to send Minnete on e-mail.
After taking a picture of this graffiti wall, my camera (a cheap webcam con digital camera and video) ran out of memory. Sighs. I wasn’t able to get pictures of the lighthouse and of the pacific war memorial. Bummer.
We were back at Manila around 4 p.m., where we walked more than a kilometer from the dock to Bay Walk in search for someplace to eat. We found one, and ended our day in a Chinese deli along Remedios. Sweet!
I really don't have anything to write, although I've lot of things I want to tell you. Perhaps it's not yet the opportune time? So for now, I'll pick a topic from the hat.
Star search shows are big right now. And I'm perturbed about it. Why?
We got this psych patient who came in because [i]she [/i]broke up with her girlfriend. She said she wanted to become a contestant like Rainier (one of the winners of the star search) and wanted to be like him. I can't help but sigh on the consequences of being a star struck nation -- jam-packed psych wards. Afterall, the incidence of schizophrenia in general population is the same to that of diabetes.
I'm sorry if i haven't written for a long time, it's just that i've been showing lack of interest and energy doing my usual activities like proofreading for PG, watching DVD, going to the movies, surfing the net, writing a blog...
Though some might point this as a sign of depression, which I am not, this only means that it's time for me to look for a new hobby -- I'm bored! :(
Anyway, I've just finished reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, [i]another[/i] work about the search for the [i]Goddess[/i] or the female divinity. It was a fun read, though quite novel. I'd consider the book more to the level of a Sydney Sheldon or a John Grisham than that of an Umberto Eco as the blurb had suggested.
Argh! What's worse than have nothing to do is to have your allergies act up because of the unprecedented heat -- and it's not summer summer yet. :cry:
The ferry to take us to the island would start boarding at 7:30 and would leave at 8:00. The CCP compound where the dock was located was filled with people doing their exercises, tai-bo classes and what not.
Minette, Luz and I waited for the others.
Then Raquel and Dindo came. Passengers were already boarding the boat. It was already the third call, and yet Mommy, who organized the whole thing, was still somewhere in Roxas Ave. (yeah right, as if we believe that one.)
At last, Mommy arrived 10 minutes to 8:00. 
And we started to board the boat.
The one hour trip to the island was amusing to say the least. The historian/tour guide who gave an introduction on the island was a hoot, and of course there was that incidence of the two hundred year old ring which he found in the island -- whoever fits the ring becomes his wife. One ring to rule them all.
When we arrived in the island, we took tramvias or the guided tour. We took bus number 3. Although, I imagine bus number 4, where the Japanese tourists were, would be swell. I presume their guided tour would be much different from ours. I wonder what their version of World War II would be like.
Unfortunately, there were no more leeches. There were no ghosts either. 
After the trip to the tunnel, it was time for lunch. I took this picture of a wooden pig at the receiving room of the hotel.
And ghost hunt.
After taking a picture of this graffiti wall, my camera (a cheap webcam con digital camera and video) ran out of memory. Sighs. I wasn’t able to get pictures of the lighthouse and of the pacific war memorial. Bummer.
Went to Corregidor today. Lots of fun. Probably will write a travelogue tomorrow. For now, I'm sleepy and tired. Walked a lot today.