Corregidor Island and Historic Fortifications of Manila Bay

Description

Corregidor Island is a 5.5 square kilometer island at the entrance of Manila Bay in the Philippine island of Luzon located 42 kilometers from the City of Manila. It was a heavily fortified island built tactically and strategically as part of the Harbor Defense of Manila Bay. Corregidor (Fort Mills) was the largest of the four harbor defense fortifications in Manila Bay, that also included El Fraile Island (Fort Drum), Caballo Island (Fort Hughes), and Carabao Island (Fort Frank), that were all fortified during the colonial administration of the United States in the Philippines.

Veering away from his predecessors’ objective to claim the Moluccas in Asia, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi focused his attention on an island in the north near China, Ryukyu and Japan: Luzon, particularly the Manila Bay. Conquered by Legazpi in 1571, Manila Bay perfectly suited his proposal to the Spanish authorities that a permanent Spanish settlement be established in a place with a good port and relatively far from Portuguese attacks claiming the Moluccas. The bay has a narrow opening between the cape of Maragondon on the east called Barra de Maragondon (later became a town named Ternate, Cavite) and the cape of Bataan peninsula on the west called Camaya (now part of Mariveles, Bataan). Right at the center is a group of islands which served as the first line of defense of Manila Bay (together with Barra and Camaya): one of which is the Corregidor, the biggest among the islands. There in Manila, the Spanish capital in Asia was established, while military and trade ships docked south of it, particularly on Cavite Puerto (now Cavite City).

It was in Manila Bay where the trade goods from China and other Asian empires, kingdoms, and polities were disembarked as part of the trans-Pacific trade facilitated by the Spaniards between Acapulco and Manila called the Galleon Trade, the first global trade. It was also here that the goods from the Americas were brought for the Asian market, especially silver from Peru and Mexico. Since it was important in global trade, the Manila Bay was exposed to threats from Asian and European maritime powers (e.g., Chinese invasion, Dutch incursions, British privateering). Thus, Maragondon and Camaya formed a corregimiento or a province-like political unit headed by a corregidor or a military chief. It was named Corregimiento de Bataan during the governorship of the Philippines of Gonzalo Ronquillo de Penalosa in 1580 and later came to be known as Corregimiento de Mariveles. It is theorized that the corregidor of Mariveles held office in a very strategic spot–the now island of Corregidor, thus, the name. In 1754, the Corregimiento of Mariveles was dissolved to pave the way for the establishment of the civilian government over the cape of Bataan known as the Province of Bataan. Maragondon, on the other hand, was transferred to the civilian government of Cavite while Corregidor remained under the control of the Spanish forces stationed at the Cavite Puerto.

Corregidor’s importance in the defense of Manila was acknowledged up to the American period since the new colonial power continued exercising its authority from the Spanish Manila. The American government poured its attention in fortifying and equipping Corregidor with the advanced armory of the time. They made it an outstanding example of a fortified island composed of fixed seacoast fortifications and heavy and medium ranged coast artillery guns. It had 16 fixed concrete seacoast gun batteries and 8 semi-fixed batteries with 60 seacoast guns. It was the most heavily fortified island outside the United States, divided into three areas – Bottomside, Middleside and Topside – a small city with a thriving civilian community that lived on the island before it became a fortification and even as a military facility, with winding trolley lines, two big barracks and five barrios with recreational facilities with soldiers and dependents living in them. The island also had an extensive mine system, land defense system, and elaborate tunnel system among other defense fortifications. While the fortifications were outstanding examples of building and technological advancements in military fortifications, the fact that the island became a battle cry and a symbol of hope during the early dark days of World War II, the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government in early 1942, and a major shrine for all sides today also underlines its significance. Also noteworthy is how both Americans and Filipinos defended the complex. The island was fought over but has now become a symbol for peace, so much so that the place has been preserved since 1945, was designated the Corregidor Island National Shrine in 1954, and contains various shrines ang memorials including the Pacific War Memorial.

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

Corregidor Island and the Historic Fortifications of Manila Bay is an outstanding complex of fortifications at the mouth of the Manila Bay. It witnessed early globalization through the Galleon Trade and the subsequent fight for democracy and human dignity in Asia-Pacific during World War II. Owing to its strategic location, it was equipped with outstanding military installations during the early 20th century, evidences of which are the structures and installations found thereat. Since the Galleon Trade in Manila Bay began in 1571, the complex provided continued security for the galleon ships entering and exiting the bay, notwithstanding its role in protecting the Spanish government in Manila. Its later engineering accomplishments, built to US Army specifications but with local adaptations, was an outstanding example of a fortified island and military architecture and planning for an island and sea fortification, among the most heavily fortified islands in the world, but with modern comforts and amenities. 

The island was witness to the last years of the modern empires of Spain, Japan, and the United States in the far east. The island became a battle cry and a symbol of hope during the early days of World War II and it was consecrated as hallowed grounds for the fallen soldiers, making it a major shrine for Filipinos, Americans and Japanese war veterans today.

Criterion (iv): Corregidor Island and Historic Fortifications of Manila Bay were outstanding examples of building and technological advancements in military fortifications. The ensemble, with its engineering accomplishments, was an outstanding example of a fortified island and military architecture and planning for an island and sea fortification, among the most heavily fortified islands in the world, but with modern comforts and amenities.

The island was divided into three areas – Bottomside, Middleside and Topside – a small city with a thriving civilian community that lived on the island before it became a fortification and even as a military facility, with winding electric trolley lines, two big barracks and five barrios with recreational facilities for both officers and enlisted men, local business establishments, movie houses, schools, a YMCA gymnasium, and a cold storage plant. The living quarters such as barracks, senior officers and family quarters were built to US Army specifications but with local adaptations such as the use of large capiz shell sliding windows for proper ventilation. Living quarters had proper water and sewage systems, and several sanitation and waste disposal systems were built on the island which also benefitted the local populace. There were interdenominational religious services in the administration building and elsewhere in the communities.

The island had 16 fixed concrete seacoast gun batteries and 8 semi-fixed batteries with 60 seacoast guns. The ensemble of fixed concrete gun batteries was constructed in US Army standards and mounted with the most modern weapons of the era. Special attention was given to the location of each gun battery as Corregidor Island had an elevation of almost 400 feet giving the armaments extra range beyond its maximum and proper fire control and coverage of Manila Bay. Given that the nearest supply base was at least 5,500 miles (Hawaii) or 7,400 miles (US West Coast), specially made bomb proof concrete magazines and concrete lined tunnels were built to store extra ammunition and supplies in case resupply would be delayed due to hostilities.

Modern broadcasting facilities such as radio and transmitters were also established for military and commercial use as well as a “listening station” where cryptologists were deciphering Japanese diplomatic and military transmission. Malinta Tunnel was an extensive headquarters, with storage areas, hospital and communications facilities which enabled radio contact with the United States even while under siege.

Criterion (vi): The island of Corregidor was of strategic importance in providing continued security for the Galleon Trade along with protecting the Spanish government in Manila. This fortification allowed the continuous facilitation of cultural, technological, and intellectual exchanges, diaspora, and dispersal of floras, among others during the two and a half centuries of the Manila Galleon Trade.

It was witness to the last years of the modern empires of Spain, Japan, and the United States in the far east. During World War II, the commander of the USAFFE, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, along with Philippine President Manuel Quezon, sought refuge here, serving as the seat of government of the Philippine Commonwealth. The Fall of Corregidor in 1942 and the Battle of Corregidor in 1945 where several thousands of defenders and combatant lives were lost has consecrated the entire island as hallowed grounds for the fallen.

Statements of authenticity and/or integrity

Corregidor Island has been preserved as a shrine since 1945. The Corregidor Island National Shrine (CNS) was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 58 dated August 16, 1954, which stated that the battlefield areas in Corregidor Island and Bataan province except such portions as may be temporarily needed for the storage of ammunition or deemed absolutely essential for safeguarding national security were to be opened to the public as tourist attractions and scenes of popular pilgrimages and were declared a National Shrine.

Most of the structures that remain were built during American colonial period although they suffered damage due to war and are slowly deteriorating due to the elements. This includes the Malinta Tunnel, the ruins of Topside and Middleside barracks, Topside Cinema, officer’s quarters, hospital, and the piers (some of which are still usable today), and the remains of the gun batteries and their magazines. The remains of the old Spanish fort (one wall) and the cistern tank in Topside are also present. The historic lighthouse is still in the same location but most of it has been reconstructed.

Comparison with other similar properties

With regards to military fortifications, comparable sites included Gibraltar which was heavily fortified but not an island and the Singapore coast defenses but which did not live up to their name. Singapore surrendered on February 15, 1942, after the Japanese attacked it from the Malay peninsula. Most of its big guns were unable to delay the Japanese advance unlike Corregidor, which stood its ground and forced the Japanese to land far away since they could not break Corregidor and use Manila Bay. This is a significant difference from Singapore. Japan has Gunkanjima or warship island which protected a naval installation but was built with forced labor. In terms of engineering accomplishments, coupled with historical significance, Corregidor stands out.