I recently had a chance to discover a great historical place right in my own backyard. The island fortress of Corregidor, a focal point of WWII action in the Pacific, it's where MacArthur left with the promise of "I Shall Return". To think it's only an hour's ferry ride from Manila.
Now I've been to other war memorials and places of interest but Corregidor was different. Sure they've put up memorials but also, a good chunk of the island was left untouched. Apart from clearing out the overgrowing jungle, the buildings, the bunkers and the gun placements are pretty much where they were back in the 40's. It's eerie in a way, to be able to walk up to a bunker door and see bullet holes that you can stick your fingers through or to walk down Malinta Tunnel, the last hold out, and experience what it must have been like knowing defeat was right around the corner.More amazing were the Japanese tourists that were with us. A couple were on our tram as we went around and although the spectre of war must have been long gone even before we were born, I couldn't help but notice the reverence they had for the place, including the Japanese War memorial on the island. Standing to attention and a curt nod spoke heaps.
Posts
3 comments:
I remember a friend who went here in a Carlos Celdran Tour and with them was the Japanese Ambassador to our country. Japanese tourists have the option of choosing a "sanitized version", but he bravely chose the regular tour and proceeded head-on with reality. In what could've been a grim, harrowing, and embarrassing experience for a Japanese, the Ambassador didn't mutter a single word and listened attentively throughout the tour.
Marlon, I am a mega fan of all things Japanese so I'm not surprised how stoic and realistic they are when it comes to facing their past. It helps that they are now one of the largest economies in the world and my own personal supplier of gadgets. Go Japan.
You're right. You really have to hand it to them. Their post WWII transformation is really something to admire.
All my preconceived notions of Japanese as a bunch of pompous ass were erased when I entered DB. They're the most pacifist people in the world. I don't think the word rage exists in their lexicon.
Enough with WWII movie flicks. =)
Post a Comment