Corregidor: Ghosthunting, True Ghosts Stories and Hotel Accommodations

After the exhausting team building/light trek activities and forgettable dinner by the beach (didn't I tell you food in the tourism-accredited facility is not worth the price tag?), most of us raised our hands when one of the leaders asked us if we wanted to hunt for ghosts in the old hospital building where ghosts of dead Japanese soldiers still on tour of duty can be caught on film.

Oh boy, this is the most exciting and much awaited part of the day!

But sadly, one of the guides informed us it was already too late since too many spirits will be disturbed, the foundation banned ghosthunters to stray near the alleged haunted grounds.

To my dismay, I just pointed my camera towards the pier where Gen. Douglas MacArthur mentioned the all-too-familiar "I shall return" before boarding a PT boat to escape and leave his men behind and here's what I got:
I saw a black cat crossed the frame of my camera but it did not register on the picture-- not even a slight shadow. There are many black cats at the recreation center, by the way.

The following day, I took my friends on the tutubi DIY (do-it-yourself) tour of corregidor and went to places not normally visited by regular Corregidor day tours. One of those places are the ruins of the hospital, abandoned and creepy, with its walls showing signs of bullets and bombs, it's halls filled with litter, crevices filled with plants and trees. We're the only people in that forsaken place with writings on the wall, vandalism, graffiti, and vestiges of a true ghost of history that is the Jabidah massacre that happened here during the repressive Marcos years.

A strange picture pointed to me by one of my officemates later in the office, that a photo taken at the hospital, there's a shadow of a man inside the dreary place even if I was the first one to enter the place and my officemates were busy taking pictures outside. I traced the sequence of my pictures since I have captures that corroborates the claim that all of them were still outside when I released the shutter of my camera. (click the picture if you want a large one)



I have to tell you the truth though, the truth that I'm not afraid of ghosts, if there really are such things. I'm more afraid of the living!

Amenities and other activities in the island fortress

For overnight accomodations there's nice Corregidor Inn that my macho officemates were so afraid to sleep alone at night (this I found out with my roommate). You can ask for free tranvia service if you want to tour the island. There's also a van for hire there.





For budget travellers, there's dormitory-like accomodation (that I call charity ward) at P500/night/pax

For backpackers, you can pitch a tent at the beach or near some ruins for a haunted and chilly sleeping experience.

Small swimming pool for children (no lifeguards, swim at your own risk) and the beaches for bumming around.

Aside from the accomodations, there's recreation center, with its all-too-familiar videoke machine, billiards et al, conference room for meetings etc.

Getting to Corregidor requires a ferry ride at the CCP complex (Manila, near Harbour Square) or if you're adventurous, try the outrigger boats on the shores of Mariveles, Bataan. Another option, and free at that, is to join the annual trip sponsored by the Philippine Navy, with it's WW2 vintage ships. Also you may want to join the annual tree planting activity by the Clean and Green Foundation (IIRC).

The daytour to the island is highly recommended due to its being highly organized, but the food, the food at the hotel is lamentable and pathetic for a tourism-accredited establishment serving Filipino food. (I was there thrice and this hasn't changed. Calling Sun Cruises and Corregidor Foundation people, why didn't you act on my comments and suggestions?)

More information about Corregidor tours and hotel accommodations can be found at the official website of Sun Cruises.

And you thought I'm gonna blog about Corregidor for eternity? :)

Related Posts:

Fall of Corregidor,
Corregidor Guided Tour Part 1,
Corregidor Guided Tour Part 2,
Corregidor Teambuilding and Light Trek Activities,